GoPro MAX2vsDJI Osmo 360: 360 Camera Comparison

The DJI Osmo 360's 1-inch sensor is more than twice the size of the GoPro MAX2's 0.43-inch chip, and that is the single biggest image difference here. A larger sensor captures more light per pixel, which usually means cleaner footage indoors, at dusk and in any dim scene where 360 cameras normally struggle. It also lets DJI push stills to 120 MP against GoPro's 29 MP, a real gap if you plan to crop frames out of 360 photos.

The GoPro's counter is its f/1.8 aperture against DJI's f/1.9. That is a small edge, not a night-and-day one, and it does not close the sensor gap. If most of your shooting happens in daylight the two will look close; if you shoot at night or indoors, the DJI has the physical advantage.

Both cameras top out at 8K and both shoot 10-bit HEVC with a log profile, so color grading headroom is a tie. The split is frame rate: the Osmo 360 reaches 120 fps at 4K where the MAX2 stops at 100 fps. That extra 20 fps gives you a slightly slower slow-motion result straight from the camera, which matters for action shots you want to stretch in editing.

GoPro answers on bitrate. The MAX2 can record at 300 Mbps, well above DJI's 170 Mbps, but only after you install the optional GoPro Labs firmware, since the stock ceiling is 120 Mbps. Higher bitrate preserves more detail in busy, moving scenes, but it eats card space and only pays off if you actually install the firmware.

The two batteries are effectively identical at 1,960 mAh and 1,950 mAh, so runtime will not be the deciding factor on paper. What is missing is GoPro's own runtime figure, which the company has not published; DJI claims up to 190 minutes. Without a GoPro number there is nothing to compare, so treat the DJI claim as the only hard data point here.

In the hand the Osmo 360 is noticeably narrower and lighter, at 183 g and 36.3 mm wide against 195 g and 64 mm. The MAX2 is shorter and shallower, which makes it a bit more pocketable depth-wise. For helmet or chest mounting, DJI's slim profile tucks in better; for a grip or tripod, the difference is minor.

The Osmo 360 is rated to 10 m underwater without a case, double the MAX2's 5 m. Neither maker publishes a depth rating with a dive case, so for snorkeling and shallow surf both are fine, but for actual diving the DJI has more headroom out of the box.

The DJI also publishes an operating range of -20 °C to 45 °C. GoPro does not publish either figure, so if you shoot in serious cold, the DJI is the only one with a stated number to rely on. That is a documentation advantage as much as a hardware one, but it is what a buyer has to work with.

For action and travel, the MAX2's built-in GPS is a real convenience, tagging speed, altitude and location without a phone or accessory. The Osmo 360 has no GPS at all, so if route overlays and location metadata are part of your workflow, that is a gap you cannot patch later. GoPro also wins on price and on built-in storage being absent from both spec sheets, so both rely on a memory card up to 1,024 GB.

Live streaming is a tie at 1080p, but the MAX2 requires a paid GoPro subscription to stream. External audio is also a tie on paper, though GoPro's approach pairs Bluetooth mics like AirPods directly rather than offering a 3.5 mm jack, which is convenient but not a wired option. Travelers who want GPS overlays lean GoPro; those who want the best image in varied light lean DJI.