When GoPro released its Max 2 360 camera this fall, I paid close attention to the early reviews. Nearly every article and YouTube video raved about its capabilities, and PC Magazine even named it an Editors’ Choice as the top action camera on the market. That sealed my decision.
I’m deeply rooted in the GoPro ecosystem, having owned multiple models over the past decade. The cameras are compact, rugged, and easy to pack, and transferring photos and videos to my iPhone takes only seconds. The Max 2 continues that tradition, but the real game-changer is its 360-degree recording. Think of it as capturing multiple camera angles in a single shot—an enormous creative advantage for travelers who don’t want to haul gear.
The Max 2 offers GoPro favorites like timewarp, timelapse, and star trails, so I don’t lose any features I rely on. The only downside is editing: GoPro’s Quik app lets me adjust individual 360 clips, but it can’t yet assemble multiple clips into a seamless timeline. GoPro says an update is coming, and I’m looking forward to it. The good news is that shooting, saving, and sharing are still fast, intuitive, and beginner-friendly.
I tested the Max 2 on a recent trip to Key West. Along with the camera, I packed GoPro’s nine-foot invisible pole, sold separately. The camera’s software automatically removes the pole from your shots, creating a floating-camera effect that feels like drone footage—without a drone. It’s impressive, especially when filming from boats, beaches, and boardwalks.
Video of GoPro Max 2 in 360 timelapse mode. This is one clip with movement created in the GoPro Quik mobile app.
Drone effect photo using the invisible pole. You see its shadow but not the pole in my hand.
Press play to see how the Max 2 performs while I walk the beach with the invisible selfie pole.
The GoPro Max 2 retails for $499, but I used my GoPro subscription to save $100. I applied the same discount to the invisible pole, knocking $17 off the $153 price. For what it delivers, the camera is absolutely worth it. It has already become my go-to travel camera, and it now comes with me on every trip.
If you want a single lightweight camera that captures everything—selfies, landscapes, action, underwater scenes, and drone-style footage—the Max 2 is the one travel camera you can’t live without.
