GoPro’s new Max 360-degree action camera is hell-bent on bringing spherical video to the masses. A new suite of on-camera processing removes the major pain-points from 360-video production, and integrates editing and reframing tools into the GoPro smartphone apps. It also bumps up the spherical resolution to 5.6K, offers flat 16:9 digital shooting lenses and will even live-stream in Full HD. Unfortunately, the limited 2D shooting modes are still a long way off competing with single lens action cameras. That said, the GoPro Max makes it easy to capture compelling and immersive reframed and 360-degree shots that are fundamentally impossible on traditional action cameras.

5.6K 360 video; 360 video reframing; On-camera stitching; Digital stabilization; Fits on existing mounts;

Limited shooting modes; Low-res 2D footage; Poor in low light/ underwater

The GoPro Max is a genre-defining product – the best 360-camera we’ve ever used

Incredibly flexible; Great image quality; Easy to use;

Bulkier than a regular GoPro; Can’t shoot in 4K;

Last year, Insta360 revolutionized the idea of what a 360 camera could be capable of with the Insta360 One X. The One X was marketed not as a 360-degree camera, but instead a camera that could shoot 360 degrees of possible angles that could be accessed after the fact.

Familiar; durable GoPro hardware; Great audio quality; Responsive touchscreen

Stabilization is jittery; especially at night; Linear; non-fisheye footage is grainy; Doesn’t have as many resolution and frame rate options as the Hero 8

Don't buy the GoPro Max if you want the very best 4K action camera footage around. Don't buy one if you want to shoot underwater, either. Do buy a GoPro Max if you want to have creative fun with an action camera. Its 360-degree editing is super-easy, it makes some wild-looking effects possible; and the "Warp" time-lapse video is great. This feels like a real 2-in-1 action camera.

Easy to use; Simple editing; Good environmental audio capture; Multiple fields of view;

Non-360-degree video quality not near Hero 8 Black level; Cheaper alternatives are now plentiful;

Nothing combines action cam and 360 video as well as the Max. There's a clear direction for improvement but it gets so much right and makes working with 360-degree video an absolute dream

The GoPro Max completely rethinks how to shoot and edit 360-degree video compared to the company's last attempt, the GoPro Fusion. It makes working with 360-degree footage a breeze and doubles as a capable GoPro Hero action cam too, boasting astounding image stabilisation and great versatility across its feature-set and shooting modes. Better colour science, low-light performance, image fidelity and UI stability are all areas to work on but the issues in their current guise are minor when you look at the overall offering provided by the Max.

One of the most versatile cameras to date, thanks to its dual-cameras setup and 360-degree footage possibilities. It's easy to use and easy to edit footage afterwards. But if you want 'normal' video then the Hero 8 is your better bet.

Really simple to shoot with; Editing from the mobile app is easy; Durable build; Fits most existing mounts and handles;

It's not cheap; Video captured in Hero mode isn't as good as an actual Hero; Sometimes struggles with exposure and shadows;

GoPro's second-generation 360-degree action camera, the Max ($499.99), is a lot friendlier to use than its first effort, the Fusion. You don't have to fiddle with dual memory cards, the software tools to work with 360 footage are a lot better now, and the camera has a touch screen so you can more easily adjust settings. It costs a bit more than our favorite action camera, the GoPro Hero8 Black, an item that's a better fit for most action videographers, but is worth a look if you're all-in on 360-degree capture and editing.A Smaller Fusion The Max takes its basic design cues from the Fusion. It has the same matte gray finish with a rubberized exterior, built to withstand drops and go underwater without the need for an external housing. But it's smaller all around, and adds a color touch screen so you can preview the frame from either of its lenses, and adjust settings via touch. The camera measures 2.7 by 2.5 by 1.6 inches (HWD), weighs 5.8 ounces, and is waterproof to 16 feet. It...

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 ease of use on this camera is incredible. It's really easy to start shooting from the moment you pull it out of the box. It's possibly the most fun camera to use for any lifestyle videos. What's extra special about this camera is the way it works with the GoPro app. I mounted the camera onto our horse and filmed the kids going for a ride. Using the app, I edited the video by choosing my angles, saved it to my phone and then shared the video around with the family.

the 360 mode which uses 2 cameras is awesome. Horizon lock is easy to use and gives a very stable video. Awesome camera