The GoPro (*11*) 11 Black Mini is one of the most exciting action cameras we've seen in a few years, but unfortunately we'll have to wait a bit longer to see it: GoPro has delayed its long-awaited availability until next month.
Packing most of the shooting power of the GoPro (*11*) 11 Black into a smaller, cheaper form factor, the (*11*) 11 Black Mini was supposed to start shipping today. But GoPro has updated this availability scheduled for November 18.
Interestingly, GoPro didn't blame the delay on supply chain issues, which is the typical reason we've seen camera shipping delays. Instead, GoPro CEO Nicholas Woodman simply said that "we're giving ourselves a little more time to perfect the product for our enthusiastic customers."
This suggests some initial problem of some kind - we've asked GoPro for more details, but we'll probably just have to wait an additional three weeks and hope everything has been resolved properly.
Considering the relatively short delay, the issue is most likely software related. One of the big differences between the (*11*) 11 Black and its Mini sibling is that the latter doesn't have a touch screen, instead just offering a small monochrome screen on top next to the shutter button. That means changing settings and shooting styles involves using the GoPro Quik app, which will likely be updated when the (*11*) 11 Black Mini is released.
Another challenge for the (*11*) 11 Black Mini is probably battery life and reduction of overheating. The action camera has a 1500 mAh non-removable battery and GoPro has yet to release its expected lifespan per charge. The camera also has heat sinks on the back to keep it cool, but we'll be interested to see how it performs when shooting continuously with and without airflow.
Analysis: Hopefully minor lag means minor issues
The delay in the delivery of the (*11*) 11 Black Mini is both good and bad news. On the plus side, it's nice that GoPro plans to fix all startup issues before the action camera starts up, which isn't always the case. Nor has it been delayed until next year.
In recent years, we have seen many products, such as the DJI Mavic 3, released long before they were ready, requiring numerous firmware updates to bring them to the levels of performance and functionality they claim.
On the other hand, we still don't know why the shipment of the (*11*) 11 Black Mini was delayed, and this expected availability is dangerously close to peak shopping season.
We'll be putting the (*11*) 11 Black Mini through its paces ahead of its November 18 ship date, so stay tuned for our full review until then. For a breakdown of how the compact action camera compares to its big brother, check out the GoPro (*11*) 11 Black vs (*11*) 11 Black Mini comparison.
And, if these two new action cameras are a bit over your budget, it's worth keeping an eye out for GoPro's Black Friday deals. While it's unlikely we'll see big discounts until November, our guide tells you what to expect and which older GoPro models are likely to offer the best value during this year's sales.