GoPro Max 2 — Review summary and key specs
GoPro’s Max 2 is the company’s new 360 flagship ( MSRP ~$500). It focuses on practical improvements: a meaningful resolution bump to what GoPro calls “true” 8K with 10-bit color, replaceable lenses, improved user experience, and stronger Quik editing tools aimed at both casual creators and pros.
Quick highlights
- “True” 8K 10-bit 360 (8K/30), 5.6K/60 360, 4K/90 in 360 mode; single-lens 4K/60
- Top bitrate 120Mbps (300Mbps via experimental Labs firmware)
- Replaceable lenses, heat-sink style redesign, six-mic directional array, Bluetooth mic/AirPods support
- No onboard storage (use microSD). Battery: 1,960mAh Enduro cell — good real-world endurance
- Improved Quik editing with new presets, AI tracking, 8K timewarps, HyperView (180 ultrawide)
Design & build
Max 2’s shape is similar to the original Max but with a refreshed front face and centrally-placed lenses. The new twist-off, replaceable lenses are a welcome quality-of-life upgrade, making lens replacements trivial compared to DJI’s service-only approach.
Video & photo
Images and footage are vibrant with balanced exposure. You’ll still see occasional stitch lines where lenses overlap — a common 360 issue — and warping when reframing, but stabilization (especially in single-lens mode) is excellent. New features like Selfie/POV modes reduce friction when sharing social clips.
Editing
GoPro Quik remains the strong point: intuitive reframing, presets (spins, rolls, pans), AI object tracking and mobile-first workflows make it fast to get share-ready clips. Desktop options include GoPro Reframe plugin for Premiere/After Effects and a beta Davinci Resolve plugin.
Battery & real-world use
The 1,960mAh Enduro battery gives good standby and sporadic-recording endurance; in real-world testing it lasted a full day of intermittent use (about six hours of exploring with ~30 minutes recorded) with ~15% left.
Verdict
The Max 2 isn’t a total overhaul, but the higher source resolution, 10-bit color, replaceable lenses and smoother user experience make it a solid 360 contender. GoPro’s price point positions it competitively vs Insta360 X5 and DJI Osmo 360. Onboard storage would be a welcome future addition.
Links & availability
- Official GoPro cameras page (check for updates): https://gopro.com/en/us/shop/cameras
- Amazon product/search (affiliate search link): https://www.amazon.com/s?k=GoPro+Max+2&tag=f1rede-20
- B&H search page: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=GoPro%20Max%202
Note: At the time of checking, the Max 2 information is available via product reports and reviews; availability on Amazon or major retailers may vary — use the links above to monitor stock and official product pages.
Source material summarized from public reviews and product pages; original review published on tech sites (not linked here).
