360 Cameras review

GoPro MAX review: the cheapest way into 360 video

The original GoPro MAX is now one of the best-value 360 cameras in the UK — invisible selfie stick shots, reframe-later footage and a proper front screen, for less than a mid-range action camera.

By the Camera Kings team ·

The GoPro MAX is not new, and that is precisely why it is interesting. A 360 camera that once sat at the top of the range now sells for less than many mid-range action cameras, which makes it the cheapest credible way to find out whether 360 shooting suits you.

Shoot first, aim later

The pitch for any 360 camera is simple: two fisheye lenses record the entire sphere, so framing becomes an editing decision rather than a shooting one. You clamp it to a bike, ski pole or bag strap, press record, and afterwards pan around the footage to find the shot. For anyone who has ever come home with a perfectly steady video pointed at the wrong thing, this is a revelation.

The invisible selfie stick effect remains the party trick. Hold the MAX on a pole and the software removes the pole, producing floating, orbiting shots that look drone-like. It still gets a reaction, years after launch.

The resolution reality check

Here is the honest part. The MAX captures 5.6K of 360 footage, but that resolution is wrapped around an entire sphere. When you crop out a normal flat video, you are using a slice of it, and the result lands somewhere around good 1080p rather than crisp 4K. In bright daylight it looks fine. Indoors and at dusk, the small sensors show their limits.

This is not a flaw unique to the MAX — it is the fundamental trade of 360 capture — but modern cameras start from a much higher resolution, which is exactly what the GoPro Max 2 addresses.

A good camera even when you ignore the 360

Switch to HERO mode and the MAX becomes a single-lens action camera with a front-facing screen and Max HyperSmooth stabilisation, which is genuinely one of the steadiest modes GoPro has shipped. For talking to camera while walking, it is more useful than the resolution figures suggest.

Living with it

Two practical warnings. First, the lenses bulge outwards and scratch easily — use the lens caps every single time it goes in a bag, because a scratch sits permanently in the middle of every sphere you record. Second, budget time for editing. Reframing 360 footage is creative and enjoyable, but it is not fast, and a phone or laptop will work hard doing it.

Who should buy it

Buy the MAX if you are curious about 360, shoot mostly in daylight, and would rather spend the difference on mounts and a spare battery. Buy a current-generation 360 camera if you need sharp, deliverable 4K from your reframed clips. And if you only ever want conventional footage, a straightforward action camera like the GoPro HERO will give you a better image for the money.

What we like

  • 360 capture means you never miss the shot
  • Invisible selfie stick effect still looks like magic
  • Doubles as a very good single-lens vlogging camera
  • Now sells for a fraction of its launch price

What to watch

  • 5.6K spread around a sphere is not as sharp as it sounds
  • Exposed lenses scratch easily without caps
  • Editing 360 footage takes real time
  • Superseded by the much sharper Max 2

The verdict

An ageing camera that has aged into a bargain. If you want to try 360 without spending flagship money, the MAX is the obvious entry point — provided you accept softer footage than modern 360 cameras and commit to the editing time.

Where to buy

Live prices from the retailers we track, updated daily. We may earn a commission if you buy through these links — it never changes what you pay.

Frequently asked questions

Is the GoPro MAX still worth buying?

At current UK prices, yes, as an entry point. The footage is softer than a current-generation 360 camera and the processor is slower, but the core trick — capture everything, choose your angle later — works exactly as well as it ever did.

What is the invisible selfie stick effect?

Because two lenses cover the full sphere, the software can erase the thin pole directly between them. The result looks like a drone shot orbiting you, from a stick you are holding. It is still the single most impressive thing 360 cameras do.

Can I use the GoPro MAX as a normal action camera?

Yes. HERO mode uses one lens for conventional wide footage at up to 1440p, with excellent stabilisation and a front-facing screen — which makes it a surprisingly good talking-to-camera device.

GoPro MAX vs GoPro Max 2?

The Max 2 is a substantially sharper, more modern camera with far higher 360 resolution and replaceable lenses. The original MAX wins only on price. If your budget stretches, the newer camera is the better buy; if it does not, the MAX still delivers the effect.

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