Action cameras have become extremely popular among adventurers, travelers, and athletes who want to capture their experiences in stunning video quality.
Two of the most popular action camera models on the market are the GoPro Hero 8 and the newer GoPro Hero 11. But which one is right for you?
In this in-depth comparison, we’ll examine the key features and performance of the GoPro Hero 8 and Hero 11 to help you decide which is the better buy. We’ll look at factors like video quality, image stabilization, battery life, durability, and more.
A Brief Comparison Table
| Features | GoPro Hero 8 | GoPro Hero 11 |
| Video Quality | 4K60, 1080p240 | 5.3K60, 4K120, 2.7K240 |
| Photo Resolution | 12MP | 27MP |
| Image Stabilization | HyperSmooth 2.0 | HyperSmooth 5.0 |
| Waterproof | 33ft (with case) | 16ft |
| Touch Screen | Yes | Yes |
| Live Streaming | Yes, 1080p | Yes, 1080p |
| Voice Control | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 1-2 hrs | 1.5-3 hrs |
| Price | $299 | $399 |
Overview of the GoPro Hero 8
Released in 2019, the GoPro Hero 8 was hailed as a major upgrade over previous models thanks to its dramatically improved stability and ease of use.
The Hero 8 shoots video up to 4K60 resolution and 1080p240 for super smooth slow motion. The image quality is superb with excellent dynamic range and color thanks to GoPro’s custom GP1 processor. It’s a very versatile camera that performs well in virtually any shooting scenario.
One of the biggest improvements with the Hero 8 was GoPro’s new HyperSmooth 2.0 stabilization. Using a combination of software and hardware (the physical gimbal) it provided gimbal-like stabilization to footage making it smooth and steady without any jitter or warping effects. For fast-paced activities, this was a game-changer.
The body of the Hero 8 introduced an all new streamlined, folding design making it much more pocketable compared to old GoPros. It’s also slightly lighter while still maintaining waterproofing down to 33ft with the included case.
Overall, the Hero 8 was designed to be versatile, easy-to-use, and produce great looking footage out of the box. It featured handy tools like horizon leveling, timewarp hyperlapse, night lapse, and stunning 1080p live streaming. Voice control made it easy to operate hands-free. The Hero 8 remains an excellent action camera choice today.
Overview of the GoPro Hero 11
In late 2022, GoPro released their latest and greatest model – the feature-packed Hero 11 Black. It improves on the Hero 8’s capabilities in just about every way from video quality to stabilization to battery life.
The headline feature is the ability to shoot up to 5.3K video at a blistering 60fps. It gives creators tons of flexibility in post-production to crop, zoom, and tweak shots without any loss in resolution. The max bitrate has also been bumped up to an incredibly high 120Mbps for superior image quality. Slow motion gets a boost too with 4K120 and 2.7K240 options.
The new HyperSmooth 5.0 technology in the Hero 11 takes stabilization to the next level making even the most jarring, fast-paced footage look like it’s on a gimbal. It’s like having a Hollywood steady-cam operator following you around. Low light performance is also better on the Hero 11.
While not completely waterproof on its own anymore, the Hero 11 is now more durable than ever capable of withstanding drops from up to 6m. The battery has been improved too providing an extra hour or so more shooting time on a charge.
Some other nice upgrades include a higher resolution 27MP sensor for crisp photos, 360-degree horizon lock for keeping footage level, and a new simple mode eliminating complex menus. Overall, the Hero 11 is the most advanced GoPro yet.
Also Read: Comparison Between the Max and Hero 9
Key Differences Between the GoPro Hero 8 and Hero 11
Now that we’ve provided overviews of both models, let’s do a detailed comparison of their differences:
Video Quality
- The Hero 11 can shoot up to 5.3K resolution at 60 fps. The Hero 8 tops out at 4K60.
- At the critical 4K resolution, the Hero 11 can shoot up to 120fps for super slow motion. The Hero 8 maxes out at 60fps in 4K.
- In terms of framerate, the Hero 11 goes all the way up to 240fps in 2.7K resolution. The Hero 8 only reaches 240fps at the lower 1080p resolution.
- The max video bitrate on the Hero 11 is a very high 120Mbps providing more data for crisper image quality. The Hero 8 tops out at 100Mbps.
- Bottom line, the Hero 11 gives you more resolution, speed, and information per frame resulting in higher video quality potential. It’s better for slow motion and for cropping/zooming flexibility in post.
Photo Resolution
- With its new 27MP sensor, the Hero 11 captures 27 megapixel photos with amazing levels of detail.
- The Hero 8 has a 12MP sensor that still produces nice photos, but can’t match the resolution of the Hero 11.
- If photography is a priority, the Hero 11 is the clear winner here. Its photos are a lot more flexible for printing large or heavily cropping.
Image Stabilization
- GoPro made massive improvements to stabilization with the Hero 11 thanks to HyperSmooth 5.0. It provides gimbal-like steadiness to even the most jarring activities.
- HyperSmooth 2.0 in the Hero 8 is still very good, but can’t quite match the buttery smoothness of the Hero 11’s footage. Side by side you’ll really notice the difference.
- This makes the Hero 11 the better choice for mountain biking, motocross, skiing, and other fast action sports. The stabilizer difference is amazing.
Waterproof Ability
- The Hero 11 is waterproof on its own down to 16ft without a case. The Hero 8 can only go as deep as 10ft without housing.
- With the included housing, the Hero 8 remains waterproof up to 33ft. The Hero 11 currently has no deep water housing available.
- So the Hero 8 has the edge for SCUBA diving and other underwater use cases below 16ft. But the Hero 11 is just fine for swimming, surfing, etc.
Design
- Both cameras share a very similar compact, folding form factor that’s easily mountable and portable.
- The Hero 11 is a couple of millimeters taller and thicker to accommodate the new battery. But it’s still extremely pocketable.
- The folding fingers are pretty much identical so all your Hero 8 mounts and accessories will still work seamlessly.
- While the redesign from the Hero 7 to Hero 8 was significant, the Hero 11 is more of an iterative improvement in terms of physical design.
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Battery Life
- Thanks to a higher capacity 1720mAh battery, the Hero 11 sees a nice bump in battery life over the Hero 8.
- You can expect roughly 1.5 to 3 hours of use from the Hero 11 depending on features enabled. The Hero 8 was usually closer to 1-2 hours.
- Power users will appreciate the extended shooting time they get with the Hero 11. Carrying extra batteries is less of a necessity.
Price
- With any new GoPro model there’s always a premium to pay for those latest features.
- At launch, the Hero 11 retails for $399 USD while the Hero 8 originally went for $299.
- Currently, you can find the Hero 8 for around $200 used/refurbished making it the more budget-friendly option.
Also Read: Differences Between Canon EOS Rebel T7i And EOS Rebel T8i.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes, the Hero 11 is an improvement over the Hero 8 in pretty much every way. It shoots higher resolution and faster frame rate video, has much better stabilization, has a higher resolution sensor for better photos, improved battery life, and newer software features like 360 horizon lock. The upgrades are significant enough that if buying today, we’d recommend going straight to the Hero 11.
For most people, yes. The boost in video quality, stabilization, battery life, and features makes the Hero 11 a worthy upgrade over previous models. Unless you’re on a tight budget, you’ll be very happy with the improvements. Stabilization alone is massively better making the upgrade worthwhile.
The Hero 8 and Hero 11 share an extremely similar compact, folding form factor. The Hero 11 is a couple of millimeters taller and thicker to accommodate the new battery but it’s negligible. Overall they are essentially the same size and very pocketable. All existing Hero 8 mounts and accessories will work on the Hero 11.
From the Hero 9 to the 11 you’ll get noticeable improvements in video quality (5.3K60 Vs. 5K30), stabilization (HyperSmooth 5.0 Vs. 3.0), and photo resolution (27MP Vs. 20MP). The upgrade may be worth it if you shoot a lot of fast action footage and want the highest quality. But for casual users, the Hero 9 is still highly capable and not badly outdated.
Also Read: Is Panasonic Lumix ZS100 Better Than ZS200?
Final Thoughts
When it comes to top-of-the-line video performance in a durable, portable form factor, both the GoPro Hero 8 and Hero 11 excel. You really can’t go wrong with either. That said, the Hero 11 does provide meaningful upgrades that advanced users will appreciate.
The Hero 11 pulls ahead thanks to its 5.3K and 4K120 video modes, vastly improved HyperSmooth stabilization, and higher resolution photo capabilities.
For slow motion shots and stabilization alone, it’s likely worth upgrading from any older GoPros you have. But the Hero 8 remains a great option at a lower price point, especially for underwater use deeper than 16 feet.
Hopefully this detailed breakdown has helped highlight the key differences between these two action camera titans. Whether you’re capturing family adventures or pushing your extreme sports skills to the next level, GoPro continues to be the leader in versatility, image quality, and stabilization.