The GoPro Max 2, a long-awaited 360-degree action camera, offers true 8K 30FPS spherical video and 29MP photos, representing a significant hardware upgrade with features like easily replaceable lenses. However, its software experience remains a major drawback, resembling its 2019 predecessor. While daytime footage is sharper with preferred color science compared to the Insta360 X5, the X5 outperforms it in low-light audio and video. The Max 2's editing workflow across its mobile app, desktop player, and NLE plugins is cumbersome and buggy, making reframing a "hellish" experience. Despite its excellent single-lens POV mode and competitive $500 price, the video concludes it's not entirely worth the wait for current Insta360 users due to the software limitations, though GoPro fans might appreciate its color science.
Comparing the GoPro Max 2 and Insta360 X5 for screen size
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The GoPro Max 2 is GoPro's new 360-degree camera, capable of shooting spherical 10-bit 8K 30FPS video and 29MP 360-degree photos.
This is a significant improvement over the original Max, which topped out at 5.6K.
GoPro markets this as "true 8K," distinguishing it from competitors like Insta360 and DJI, whose cameras (7.4K and 7.2K respectively) have pixels that overlap due to stitching, according to GoPro.
The reviewer prioritizes good-looking, true-to-life images over pixel counts, noting that the Max 2 delivers this quality, but "at a cost."
Video specifications: It supports 10-bit log 8K spherical video at up to 30 frames per second or 5.7K at 60 frames per second.
Audio capabilities: The camera has six microphones and a new FOV audio feature designed to match audio to the field of view during reframing, though this feature was unavailable for testing.
Insta360 X5's Pure Video mode delivers much brighter and more usable images, blowing the GoPro out of the water, despite occasional smoothing effects.
Low light footage comparison between GoPro Max 2 (left) and Insta360 X5 (right)
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Daytime Shooting:
The GoPro Max 2 produces a sharper image and the reviewer prefers its color science, which is described as more magenta with less punchy blues and a less processed feel.
Daylight footage comparison between GoPro Max 2 (left) and Insta360 X5 (right) at the beach
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The Insta360 X5 tends to over-process colors, making the sky appear excessively blue.
Overall Image Clarity:
Both cameras can produce a clear image without extreme zooming, making color science preference and the need for night shooting the deciding factors.
Quick-release mount: Described as super quick and reliable for mounting.
GoPro Max 2 being mounted on a quick-release bike mount
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Battery life: Good performance, allowing for extensive shooting (e.g., 50 gigs of footage on a single charge with 15% remaining).
Settings: Intuitive and easy to change.
Adjusting settings on the GoPro Max 2's screen
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Replaceable lenses: A major advantage, allowing users to easily fix broken or scratched lenses without specialized tools.
Cons:
Slow quick capture: Takes a long time to boot and start shooting when using the quick capture setting.
Countdown on the GoPro Max 2 screen indicating boot time
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Small screen: The screen feels small, especially compared to the Insta360 X5, and lacks advanced functionality like swiping to navigate the frame, only allowing switching between front and back lenses.
GoPro Max 2 next to the Insta360 X5 showing screen size difference
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The Problem with the Max 2: Software Experience [5:11]
The primary issue with the Max 2, and 360 cameras in general, lies not with the hardware but with the software used for editing and reframing the footage.
GoPro Max 2 next to a smartphone displaying the Quik app editing interface
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GoPro's editing workflow offers three main options, all presenting challenges:
GoPro Quik App (Mobile):
This is the most "plug-and-play" option, allowing users to download clips, trim, crop, add pre-made movements, apply subject tracking, color looks, and custom keyframes before exporting a flat video.
Hands editing a 360 video in the GoPro Quik app on a folding phone
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GoPro Player App (Desktop):
This app is severely limited, offering only basic controls like cropping and custom keyframing.
A major frustration is that it only allows importing one clip at a time, leading to the computer freezing when attempting to open multiple files. The reviewer described the experience as "literal hell."
The reviewer reacting to the GoPro Player app freezing after attempting to open multiple files
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Premiere/DaVinci Plugins:
To use these plugins, footage must first be transcoded through the GoPro Player app, adding an extra, time-consuming step (GoPro states this will be resolved by the end of the year).
Export queue in the GoPro Player app showing transcoded files for plugin use
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Even after transcoding, the Adobe Premiere plugin was noted to be laggy on an M1 MacBook Pro, a machine that typically performs well for the reviewer.
The GoPro Reframe plugin interface in Adobe Premiere Pro
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Despite the software issues, the single-lens POV mode of the Max 2 stands out as its best feature.
This mode provides the widest single-lens POV available in the GoPro lineup.
Using this mode eliminates the need for complex 360 reframing, which directly bypasses the frustrating software experience. The reviewer suggests it's almost worth buying the camera just for this feature.
Reviewer using the GoPro Max 2 in single-lens POV mode while cycling
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The reviewer is uncertain if the GoPro Max 2 was truly worth the five-year wait, primarily due to the software remaining largely unchanged and feeling stuck in 2019.
Recommendations:
For Insta360 users: The software limitations mean there's no compelling reason to switch; "stick where you're at."
For existing GoPro fans: If you appreciate GoPro's distinctive color science, then the Max 2 will be appealing.
Price: At $500, the Max 2 is competitively priced.
Concluding remarks for GoPro: A plea to fix the audio and significantly improve the software experience.
