GoPro MAX: 360-degree video that actually looks good...

Creates great-looking; dynamic clips; Multi-function capabilities; Solid app experience

No 4K video capture; Expensive; Android 10 app needs work

The GoPro Max is GoPro's second 360-degree camera, following 2016's . But to think of it as a straight sequel to the GoPro Fusion is to get off on the wrong start. "This isn't Fusion 2," says GoPro Vice President of Product Management Pablo Lema.

So here’s the thing. The Max is an incredible camera if you’ve never used a GoPro Hero 7 or Hero 8. It’s also far more streamlined than the GoPro Fusion ever was. Fusion was a great tool, but the barrier to usage for day to day scenarios was high from a workflow standpoint.

The 360-degree GoPro Max camera promises an easier, more streamlined workflow than last year's Fusion, but has more niche appeal than the less expensive Hero8 Black.

360-degree capture; Also works as a single-lens camera; Intuitive software tools; Strong stabilization; Good in-camera audio; Waterproof without a case; Integrated mounting clips

Effective resolution is really 1080p; Single-lens capture tops out at 60fps; Requires more editing time to get the best results from spherical footage

The GoPro Max could be the next evolution of two product categories - 360-degree camera and action camera. GoPro's innovation when it comes to in-app editing transforms 360-degree footage into something anyone, irrespective of expertize, can enjoy and can make look truly dynamic.

360; action and vlogging cam; Innovative app experience

No 4K 16:9 capture; Pricey

This is so cool. Makes amazing videos and pictures. So much you can do it that makes it so good and different. Can't wait to try it out more

“360 still has growing up to do, but the GoPro Max is a step in the right direction.”

Excellent mobile app; Great image stabilization; Good audio quality; Rugged and waterproof; Keyframe-based reframing controls

Video quality is OK; Imperfect stitching; No subject tracking

Each new 360 camera that hits the market carries with it the promise of being the one that gets immersive video right. None have yet delivered on this promise. We’ve looked to GoPro before to be the savior the format so desperately needs, but 2017’s Fusion, GoPro’s first 360 camera, left much to be desired. Two years later, GoPro takes the lessons learned from the Fusion and wrapped them up into the smaller, cheaper, and easier-to-use Max. It’s a hybrid camera that can be used in 360 mode or “Hero” mode, where it operates more like a standard GoPro Hero camera, albeit at just 1080p resolution. As with many other 360 cameras today, the Max’s spherical footage can be re-framed in post, allowing you to “direct” the camera and add pan, tilt, and zoom effects. It’s a step in the right direction for GoPro. However, the Max is haunted by the 360 format’s usual ghosts, and does little to propel the segment forward. 360-degree video still isn’t ready for serious editing. While the Max is $200 c...

Excellent mobile app; Great image stabilization; Good audio quality; Rugged and waterproof; Keyframe-based reframing controls;

Video quality is OK; Imperfect stitching; No subject tracking;

10/10

One of the main attractions of shooting with a 360-degree camera is the ability to capture a scene without the need to stitch multiple shots from my DSLR camera and make it into a photo format that can be read as a spherical image.