Don't buy a GoPro 11 Mini

[DirtyD]

If you're looking for an amazing little action cam that takes really smooth videos at crazy high resolutions then the new GoPro 11 Mini is the camera for you. If you want the camera to charge it's internal battery for more than a couple of times then the GoPro 11 Mini is not for you. I've had 2 of them so far and they've both shit the bed after very little use. Obviously they've got a big problem with their new camera. I'm not sure how a company as big and successful as GoPro can drop the ball so badly. I'm not even going to warranty the second camera until they figure something out. What's the point? It's just going to crap out again.

 

[cg_ops]

What kind of charger are you using? I've heard that some of the more powerful GaN chargers (especially cheap ones) are frying electronics/batteries b/c they're delivering more current than the battery can handle.

I fried a tablet with a "cheap" GaN charger last year. Picked up one with much higher reviews (and price) and have been trouble free since.

 

[PorradaVFR]

“GaN” ?

 

[cheez]

“GaN” ?

Based on a Gallium Nitride semiconductor. Good to see you, brother.

Gallium nitride (GaN) is a very hard, mechanically stable wide bandgap semiconductor. With higher breakdown strength, faster switching speed, higher thermal conductivity and lower on-resistance, power devices based on GaN significantly outperform silicon-based devices.

 

[DirtyD]

I’m just using the charging cable that came with the camera plugged into a USB charging station. Nothing special.

 

[kpke]

Yeah, strange how this company does stuff like this. My latest GoPro camera is a "normal" 10 black. It was a gift. It works brilliantly and then occasionally will lock up (mostly when doing 100 mile-per-hour wheelies and stoppies (that's why I've never recorded one)) requiring battery removal to reset it. Just like my other two versions did. Many, many people have reported the same thing. I find it quite amazing their stuff continues to have the same failure mode. Next action camera will not be a GoPro.

 

[PorradaVFR]

Based on a Gallium Nitride semiconductor. Good to see you, brother.

Back at ya man!

I looked that up after my post and I get it...but I don’t get it.

Why would the material used in the charger damage the battery? I would think the power output is set by the port style (e.g. USB-A would deliver 0.5A IIRC) regardless of the material being more or less heat generating / efficient and the devices themselves should be “smart” enough to only absorb the power levels they can tolerate.

What am I missing here?

 

[DirtyD]

Back at ya man!

I looked that up after my post and I get it...but I don’t get it.

Why would the material used in the charger damage the battery? I would think the power output is set by the port style (e.g. USB-A would deliver 0.5A IIRC) regardless of the material being more or less heat generating / efficient and the devices themselves should be “smart” enough to only absorb the power levels they can tolerate.

What am I missing here?

What are you doing? Don't think critically. This is 2023. Put on your tinfoil hat and regurgitate something you read on the internet. That's how it's done these days. Obviously you're right. You can jump-start a motorcycle with a car battery all day long. Extra capacity never hurts. Extra voltage, now that's another story. The new GoPro Mini has a fatal problem. I may have to exchange it for the full size camera if GoPro can't fix the damn thing.

 

[PorradaVFR]

Next action camera will not be a GoPro.

I’m still rocking an ancient Contour - shape was and remains preferable to me (the tube is more streamlined on the side mount I use), it holds charge and the footage is plenty clear, although not up to modern levels it meets MY needs of documenting commute idiocy or interesting stuff I come across. I dread the (likely sooner than later) day it croaks as it has served me well.

 

[FXCLM5]

i replaced my contour roam 2 last year after buying a new mount for it

the mounts are all unobtanium now since the brand shutdown years back

i have a gopro10, bought it like 2 months before the 11 debut, oh well I needed dashcam footage of my commute rides, no issue with it at all other then the cheap aftermarket remote I bought (not oem gopro) has a shit battery life on it

 

[kpke]

What is the

"the cheap aftermarket remote I bought (not oem gopro)"

Will you post a link please?

Other than battery life does it work ok?

Thanks.

 

[FXCLM5]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07WLY8VDV?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

The battery would die not keep a charge, so the remote would go blank and I would think my GoPro stopped recording.

I complained they mailed me another one in like Nov and I haven't really ridden my bike since

 

[Hooli]

I’m still rocking an ancient Contour - shape was and remains preferable to me (the tube is more streamlined on the side mount I use), it holds charge and the footage is plenty clear, although not up to modern levels it meets MY needs of documenting commute idiocy or interesting stuff I come across. I dread the (likely sooner than later) day it croaks as it has served me well.

I have an old Contour and the form factor was perfect for use of its helmet mount during crazy Bay Area commute hours. Alas, it died a while back and even a replacement battery didn't resurrect it.