- A new, official GoPro Max 2 -teaser shows that it is finally ready for launch
- 360-degree action-Cam has been in the works for years
- It competes with the newly closed DJI Osmo 360 and Insta360 X5
GoPro Max 2 has been under development for so long that it has almost achieved mythical status, but the 360 camera is finally ready to officially start – as some new teaser images have just confirmed.
GoPro shared the two MAX 2 photos showing two skydivers using the camera across all its social media platforms, including X (formerly Twitter). They were accompanied by the one-word tagline “dropping”, which suggests we could finally see the camera soon.
The pictures do not tell us a huge amount about the true successor to the original GoPro Max, which launched far back in 2019. Like the GoPro Hero 13 Black, the camera body has a finy cooling plate on the front to help it avoid overheating. Max 2’s lens also appears to be more centralized than on its predecessor.
Gopro’s long -awaited camera falls into an increasingly crowded space. The battle for the title of the Best 360 camera has been recently heated with the arrival of the Insta360 X5, recent leaks that scattered DJI Osmo 360, and Akaso today, revealing the cheapest 360 camera so far, Akaso 360.
But despite the growing competition, GoPro remains the most recognizable name in action cameras – so we look forward to seeing what the incoming max 2 brings.
Analysis: Competition can only be good for 360 cameratans fans
GoPro Max 2’s back story is not a promising. Gopro initially told us that his Insta360 -rival was “in the works” far back in September 2023, almost two years ago. Then in May 2024 it was planned for a launch at the end of that year, only to slip to 2025.
So why the long delay? GoPro has not yet gone into detail, but it is no secret that the company has struggled recently. Earlier this year, CEO Nick Woodman volunteered his salary to help the company, but Gopro’s share and revenue have both refueled in the past year.
Still it is good to see MAX 2 Final Skydive in through some dark clouds. Although it is likely to fight for Eclipse Insta360’s latest flagships (the Chinese company has launched four iterations of its flagship 360-degree camera since the original MAX), MAX 2 will hopefully bring some new features like interchangeable lenses and improved software to make it a good match.
The good news for GoPro is that the benefits of 360 cameras still can’t really be replicated by smartphones. To shoot everything around you and then point the camera where you want afterwards is still a very useful editing trick. And the 360 camera site will benefit from having a rejuvenated GoPro in the mixture-self-its Chinese rivals has learned how to thrive in the camera world after action.
