Gopro Max 2 Review: There's A New 360 Camera Contender In Town

In a break from tradition, GoPro hasn’t announced a caller Hero Black camera this fall. Instead, this year’s flagship is nan much-rumored Max 2 360 camera ($500). The Max 2 lands astatine a clip erstwhile spherical video is having a mini renaissance, taking connected Insta360’s X5 ($550) and DJI’s Osmo 360 ($550). Perhaps surprisingly, GoPro’s Max 2 is nan astir affordable of nan three, suggesting that nan institution mightiness beryllium looking to summation crushed connected its rivals and, hopefully, make nan creatively warped world of 360-degree video much accessible.

With a operation of pro features for illustration Timecode, GP-Log (with LUTs) alongside mobile-focused editing, GoPro intelligibly hopes nan Max 2 will entreaty to demanding and casual users alike. The institution has besides focused heavy connected improving nan personification acquisition alternatively than going for axenic technological advances and aft a week aliases truthful of testing, that feels for illustration a sensible move.

Design and features

The Max 2 brings a decent solution bump from its 5.6K predecessor, offering afloat 8K pinch 10-bit color. This puts it connected par pinch nan DJI Osmo 360 and Insta360 X5, but GoPro claims that Max 2 is nan only 1 of nan 3 pinch “true” 8K. That’s to opportunity it doesn't count unusable pixels connected nan sensor aliases those that are utilized successful overlapping for stitching nan footage from nan 2 lenses together. GoPro goes arsenic acold to opportunity that this results successful location betwixt 16- and 23-percent higher solution than its rivals.

You tin now sprout 360 video astatine 8K/30 fps, 5.6K/60 fps and bully ol’ 4K astatine 90 fps successful 360 mode. When you sprout successful single-lens mode (aka, non-360 mode), nan max solution disposable is 4K60, up from 1.4K/30 connected nan original Max. But axenic solution isn’t nan only value summation this clip around, nan Max 2 now joins its Hero siblings pinch 10-bit colour and a apical spot complaint of 120Mbps, which tin beryllium accrued to 300Mbps via GoPro’s experimental Labs firmware.

Other hardware updates see a gentle redesign that matches nan existent Hero and Hero 13 cameras pinch heat-sink style grooves complete nan beforehand look and centrally-placed lenses (rather than successful a left-right configuration arsenic before). The beingness size and style of nan Max 2 different matches nan OG Max. There is 1 new, and overmuch appreciated change, though. With nan Max 2, nan lenses twist disconnected for easy replacement. As there’s a lens connected some sides, it’s ever going to onshore “butter-side down” erstwhile dropped. The probability of scuffing aliases breaking 1 is truthful overmuch higher, but pinch Max 2, replacing them is simply a trivial matter and a coagulated value of life improvement. The Insta360 X5 has replaceable lenses too, but DJI’s Osmo 360 requires sending nan camera to nan institution for a refresh.

As for audio, nan six-mic array is directional, pinch sound focusing connected wherever nan action is taking place. As pinch nan Hero 12 and 13 Black, you tin besides link AirPods aliases a Bluetooth microphone (such arsenic DJI’s Mic 3) to nan GoPro straight for narration aliases extra-clear shrieks of fear. There’s nary uncertainty this makes nan Max 2 much appealing to vloggers and societal creators.

There’s nary onboard retention here, which is existent for each GoPro cameras, but worthy mentioning now arsenic DJI’s Osmo 360 ships pinch 105GB of storage. Given nan magnitude of times I’ve headed retired pinch my camera only to find I near nan representation paper successful my PC, I’d really emotion to spot GoPro make it a modular summation to its cameras too.

Video and photo

After years of testing action cameras, I’ve learned that while immoderate models excel successful 1 area aliases terrain, they tin struggle successful others. I unrecorded adjacent a immense parkland pinch a assortment of colors, trees and pockets of water, which makes it a cleanable testing ground. The Max 2 fares good crossed nan board, pinch vibrant, earthy colors and mostly balanced exposure. You’ll announcement transitions successful nan vulnerability arsenic you move from nonstop sunlight to shadow, but that’s reasonably typical.

When you reappraisal and reframe your footage, you’ll instantly beryllium reminded you’re moving pinch a 360 camera. The infinitesimal you resistance your digit complete a video to rotate it aliases zoom retired for that drone-like “floating” footage, you’ll besides present immoderate warping. Sometimes it’s a spot frustrating trying to find nan correct equilibrium of warp and pleasant framing, different times it really makes for a bully effect. If you zoom retired fully, for example, you’ll extremity up pinch 1 of those “tiny planet” videos.

It’s besides worthy talking astir stitch lines. Where nan 2 lenses overlap, you’ll sometimes announcement wherever nan video is being stitched together, often via immoderate flimsy wobbling aliases a break successful a thoroughfare markings and truthful on. Again, it’s a truth of life pinch existent 360 photography, and you will announcement it pinch nan Max 2 from clip to time.

Conversely, 360 video allows for highly bully stabilization, particularly successful azygous lens mode. I tried signaling myself pinch a agelong selfie stick, precariously perched connected my bike’s handlebars (not locked successful pinch a mount) and contempt nan camera moving for illustration a food connected onshore arsenic I rode complete uneven crushed and potholes, nan footage still came retired impressively smooth. In friendlier conditions — specified arsenic stepping pinch nan camera — footage is moreover smoother and instantly fresh for sharing.

New additions this twelvemonth see 8K timewarps and a caller (for Max) “HyperView” which is simply a 180-degree ultrawide FOV that conscionable uses everything nan sensor captures for other immersive footage. As pinch HyperView connected nan Hero cameras, it’s a small utmost pinch tons of warping but it feels for illustration you’re being sucked into nan image, cleanable for constituent of position footage.

Which brings america to nan aforementioned Selfie Mode and POV mode; some are much astir removing clash than adding immoderate caller imaginative tools. As you don’t request to person a 360 camera facing you while shooting a selfie, nan video isn’t ever oriented pinch you successful framework erstwhile you unfastened it successful Quik. With Selfie/POV mode, it will load up framed correctly, truthful you tin spell correct into sharing your clip.

Think of it arsenic a hybrid betwixt 360 and single-lens mode. You will still seizure everything successful 360, and tin move nan changeable astir to show different things, but if your POV aliases your look talking to camera are nan main focus, you don’t request to do immoderate reframing to get there. The camera besides applies nan optimal stabilization, reducing nan magnitude of editing needed to get from camera to export. The first Max would ever unfastened videos from nan beforehand camera constituent of position regardless, leaving you to excavation astir for what you really wanted to attraction on.

Photography pinch a 360 camera is some elemental and analyzable astatine nan aforesaid time. On nan 1 hand, you don’t request to interest whether you’re successful shot, arsenic you’re going to seizure everything, but likewise you’re going to want to make judge you drawback nan correct infinitesimal aliases nan champion angle. A caller Burst mode alleviates immoderate of that interest by taking a bunch of photos for a group play of clip (one to six seconds). giving you nan expertise to onslaught a fewer poses aliases make judge you drawback nan champion changeable if nan taxable is moving. You tin past edit and reframe successful Quik arsenic pinch immoderate different media.

GoPro Quik editing

Unlike a regular camera, pinch 360 video you can’t debar astatine slightest some editing. At minimum, you’ll request to corroborate framing for exporting to a level (dewarped) video. That said, editing is wherever each nan nosy is. Being capable to sprout 1 video and make it move pinch panning and zooming is 1 of nan awesome benefits of this type of camera. Quik is wherever you’ll beryllium doing astir of this, and dissimilar DJI, which is simply a comparative newcomer to nan category, GoPro has a fewer years’ headstart connected nan app broadside of things.

The consequence is an editing acquisition that’s intuitive that strikes a bully equilibrium betwixt imaginative anticipation and easiness of use. For a elemental punch retired video wherever you group nan framing and zoom magnitude and past export, it’s conscionable a fewer fastener clicks earlier you person a video you tin share. You tin of people spell backmost and re-edit and export successful different facet ratio if, say, you want an Instagram Reel successful image alongside a regular 16:9/widescreen type for YouTube.

Quik besides includes immoderate filters that whitethorn aliases whitethorn not beryllium to your taste. Much much useful are nan preset effects, including a assortment of spins, rolls and pans that are intelligibly aimed astatine action footage, but tin beryllium utilized creatively for immoderate type of video. You tin besides way an entity automatically via AI. It’s cleanable for keeping your kid aliases pet successful nan changeable while they tally astir pinch 1 click and an easy measurement to make your video dynamic. Overall, editing successful Quik feels for illustration a coagulated pipeline for posting to societal media, but it is still a spot cumbersome for thing longer. Desktop editing options are Adobe Premier and After Effects via nan GoPro Reframe plugin. The institution besides precocious announced a beta plugin for Davinci Resolve.

Battery life

The Max 2 ships pinch a 1,960mAh “Enduro” battery, which is designed to past longer moreover successful utmost cold. GoPro claims that it should past “all day” but that of people depends what you’re doing pinch it. When I took nan camera retired for a time of filming, visiting different locations and pulling nan camera retired erstwhile I recovered thing interesting, nan artillery lasted for nan full six-hour excursion. That’s not existent signaling time, obviously, and I possibly grabbed astir 30 minutes of existent footage. But that’s maine stepping astir pinch nan camera on, aliases successful standby, and hitting grounds sporadically complete that period. In fact, location was still astir 15-percent artillery near erstwhile I went to export my footage nan adjacent day.

That’s much of a existent world trial pinch maine connecting nan camera to nan telephone and transferring files, which will output little signaling clip than if you conscionable group nan camera down and property record. This is astir connected par pinch what I’ve knowledgeable pinch regular GoPros that tin usually grounds for astir an hr and a half successful a “set and record” scenario.

Wrap-up

A reasonable magnitude of clip has passed betwixt nan Max 1 and Max 2, truthful if you were hoping for a top-to-bottom spec overhaul, you mightiness beryllium a small disappointed. But pinch 360 video, root solution is nan main upgrade and Max 2 tin output 4K/60 video, which is by acold nan astir important thing. That improved solution has filtered down into each nan important timelapse and video modes, and that makes nan camera consciousness existent and mostly complete.

I do deliberation it’s astir clip that GoPros person onboard storage, astatine slightest arsenic an option, arsenic that removes a really elemental symptom point. The truth that DJI is doing it mightiness good springiness GoPro nan nudge it needs.

A batch of what sets nan Max 2 isolated from DJI will beryllium successful nan editing experience. It’s elemental and good thought out, pinch immoderate useful devices and effects that make getting footage into thing you want to stock beautiful straightforward. Although DJI’s onboard retention and higher maximum framework complaint will beryllium tempting for many. Insta360’s app is mostly considered easy to use, too, truthful pinch nan X5, GoPro’s advantage is nan value (at slightest for now). What really sets these cameras apart, are nan videos you extremity up sharing, and successful that respect GoPro’s stake connected “true 8K” and nan app acquisition mightiness conscionable beryllium enough.