The GoPro HERO 11 Mini is a great camera for FPV drone pilots and those looking for a small and rugged camera to capture video.
However, at $299 it was a little expensive, especially when you can get the HERO 9 Black — which includes a touchscreen and photo modes — for $249.
Well, today is your lucky day if you’ve been holding off buying a GoPro 11 Mini, as GoPro has temporarily (until 7/28) slashed its price by $100 down to $199.
But before you rush right out and get this deal, let’s make sure it’s actually a good one.
GoPro 12 Mini around the corner?
GoPro always releases its new cameras in September.
The HERO 11 Mini & 11 Black were both released in September 2022 and no doubt, like clockwork, the GoPro HERO 12 cameras will be released in September this year.
However, there is no guarantee they will release a follow-up to the Mini camera.
Sales of the HERO 11 Mini have lagged behind the more popular HERO 11 Black as most people seem to prefer having the built-in screen interface.
With that in mind, the $199 temporary sale might be a trial of what will eventually become a permit price reduction — positioning the 11 Mini as the entry point into GoPro’s ecosystem.
Looking at GoPro’s history though, they rarely discount cameras until the new camera is released in September, and even then, they usually only drop the price by $50.
This leads me to believe that we will not only see a HERO 12 Mini this fall but that it will be radically overhauled — adding the missing photo mode and maybe even some extra hardware features like a screen or removable battery.
The HERO 12 Mini might also sport a lower price tag of $250 as well.
I suspect this because the price cut appears to be GoPro’s attempt to clear out excess inventory of the underselling HERO 11 Mini before a price cut to $199 isn’t enough to convince people to buy the 11 Mini over the Mini 12.
So is it smart to buy the HERO 11 Mini on sale now?
Yes and no.
If you’ve been eyeing the 11 Mini for a while and are planning on taking a trip in August where you could use a new action camera, then picking up the HERO 11 Mini for $100 off is a great deal.
You’ll be able to get almost 2 months of use with this camera before we even know if the 12 Mini is real or not.
Plus, we probably won’t see the 11 Mini discounted below $199 for quite some time.
However, if you already have a GoPro/action cam that still works and are just thinking of buying this purely because it is on sale, I would advise possibly waiting until September when we’ll know what GoPro has planned for the Mini lineup going forward.
GoPro’s deal on the HERO 11 Mini is available through the following websites:
- GoPro.com – In stock, and free shipping (arrives in 3-5 days)
- B&H Photo – currently back ordered for 7-14 days
- Best Buy – In stock with free 2-day shipping. Also available in-store.
That’s it for today.
Hopefully, you found this helpful but if you have any questions or corrections about something I mentioned, feel free to tweet at me on Twitter or DM me on Instagram.
