Head-to-head · Best 360 Cameras

GoPro Max 2 vs Ricoh Theta X

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

The short answer

GoPro Max 2 comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.6 vs 4.3). The gap is mostly about Professionals and action shooters who want the best daylight 8K quality and GoPro's rugged mounting ecosystem. — read the strengths below before deciding.

Higher ratedRanked #2 in Best 360 Cameras

GoPro Max 2

4.6

$499as of Jun 7

The GoPro Max 2 is the 360 camera for pros and daylight action shooters. It boasts the best bright-light image quality in the category, adds true 8K with 10-bit Log for serious post-production, and brings GoPro's rugged build and unmatched mounting ecosystem. It loses ground in low light and is waterproof to only 5m, so it is less suited to night and underwater work.

Strengths

— Best bright-daylight image quality of the current small 360 cameras
— True 8K capture with 10-bit color and Log for maximum post-production flexibility
— Tool-free replaceable lenses and the best built-in mounting options in the category

Watch-outs

— Low-light performance trails the Insta360 X5 and DJI Osmo 360
— Waterproof to only 5m, far less than the X5 and Osmo 360 at 15m
— Tool-free lenses can suffer condensation when conditions change rapidly

$499 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Ranked #5 in Best 360 Cameras

Ricoh Theta X

4.3

$596.95as of Jun 7

The Ricoh Theta X is the 360 camera for photographers and virtual-tour creators rather than action shooters. It captures enormous 60.5MP spherical stills, stitches photos and 5.7K video in real time so they are ready to use instantly, and adds practical touches like a big touchscreen, swappable battery, and expandable storage. It is less about 8K action video and more about fuss-free immersive imaging.

Strengths

— Massive 60.5MP (up to 11K) spherical stills with excellent color and detail
— Real-time in-camera stitching means photos and 5.7K video are ready to use with no processing
— Large 2.25-inch touchscreen, interchangeable battery and expandable microSD storage

Watch-outs

— 5.7K video tops out below the 8K action cameras here
— No RAW capture for stills
— Less rugged and not as waterproof-focused as the action-camera rivals

$596.95 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

GoPro Max 2

Has the best daylight image quality in this group, beating the Insta360 X5 and DJI Osmo 360 in ideal light, but loses to both in low light and is waterproof to only 5m versus their 15m. Far more rugged and action-focused than the Ricoh Theta X, and a major upgrade over the original Max that preceded the Insta360 X4 era.

Ricoh Theta X

The photo-and-virtual-tour specialist of this group, prioritizing 60.5MP spherical stills and real-time stitching over the 8K action video of the Insta360 X5, GoPro Max 2, Insta360 X4 and DJI Osmo 360. Its video resolution is lower than those four, but its still-photo resolution and instant-use workflow stand above them.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	GoPro Max 2	Ricoh Theta X
Capture	True 8K 360 video	—
Color	10-bit, GP-Log	—
Waterproof	5m without housing	—
Lenses	Replaceable (tool-free)	—
Mounting	Built-in folding fingers	—
Customization	GoPro Labs firmware	—
Stabilization	HyperSmooth + 360 horizon lock	In-camera image stabilization
Ecosystem	GoPro mounts and accessories	—
Photo	—	60.5MP (up to 11K) 360 stills
Video	—	5.7K/30p or 4K/60p 360
Stitching	—	Real-time in-camera, no processing
Display	—	2.25-inch touchscreen
Storage	—	microSD expandable
Battery	—	Interchangeable
Body	—	Magnesium alloy with built-in GPS

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