GoPro unveils new action cameras with 360-degree video and inbuilt light

GoPro announced two new action cameras on Wednesday, introducing the MAX2 360-degree camera and the compact LIT HERO. Revealed alongside GoPro's new AI-tracking gimbal Fluid Pro AI, the MAX2 and LIT HERO seem to target videographers across the spectrum, facilitating either "professional-looking 360 content" or more casual, "whatever, whenever" filming.

GoPro MAX2 360-degree action camera

GoPro made a few design changes between the 2019 MAX and the new $499.99 MAX2, centering its lenses so they're directly opposite each other rather than offsetting them to the sides. The latest addition to GoPro's series of 360-degree cameras, the GoPro MAX2 is capable of filming 360 video in 8K resolution, a considerable upgrade from the MAX's 5.6k stitched together video. A high resolution is important to ensure 360-degree footage is sharp, as many more pixels are needed to fill the wider field of view. 

Another significant upgrade to the MAX2 is the introduction of replaceable lenses — a feature also seen in Insta360's X5 earlier this year. Previously, scratching the MAX's lens would mean having to replace the entire camera. The MAX2's dust- and water-repellent replaceable lenses should make such damage less of an ordeal, as well as considerably less expensive. GoPro states that the MAX2's lenses simply twist off when they need to be removed and replaced.

Fortunately, the GoPro MAX2's removable lenses apparently haven't impacted its durability. Like the MAX, the MAX2 is waterproof to 16ft (5m) and boasts a six-microphone system to capture surrounding sound. The MAX2 does have an improved 1960mAh battery, though GoPro did not provide an estimate of how long the camera can run on a single charge.

The GoPro MAX2 will be available from Sept. 30, with pre-orders open now.

GoPro LIT HERO action camera

The $269.99 GoPro LIT HERO takes its name from its built-in LED light, which helpfully illuminates your subjects in dark environments. This light is located on the front of the LIT PRO next to its lens, GoPro's HERO series forgoing a front LCD screen as found on its HERO Black cameras. With three brightness settings, the LIT HERO also comes with a diffuser that you can attach to its light to give you less harsh, more natural lighting.

Weighing 93g, the GoPro LIT HERO is a smidge larger and a few grams heavier than the HERO. However, it offers an improved frame rate compared to its predecessor, filming at its maximum resolution of 4K at 60fps as opposed to 30fps. This still isn't quite up to par with the HERO 13 Black's 5.3K resolution at the same frame rate, and the LIT HERO it is only waterproof to 16ft (5m) as opposed to the HERO 13 Black's 33ft (10m). Even so, the LIT HERO's lower waterproofing and 4K resolution seems adequate for the vast majority of users, assuming they aren't wanting to cinematically edit their scuba diving adventures.

Billed as intended for "whatever, whenever" capture in any lighting conditions, GoPro states that the LIT HERO's LED light is able to give a "retro vibes" aesthetic to captured content. The company also claims that the LIT HERO's 1255 mAh battery allows it to continuously record for over 100 minutes on its highest video setting with the light off, or over 75 minutes with the light on high.

Again, this isn't as long as the HERO13 Black's 2.5 hours, with GoPro's popular HERO Black series still packing in more settings and features than its HERO cameras. Still, the GoPro LIT HERO offers a more affordable action camera that should be enough to address many users' needs.

The GoPro LIT HERO will be available from Oct. 21, with pre-orders open now.