But while the larger screen is a big improvement over the One X2, the main video resolution hasn’t changed since the last generation - so if standard 360 shots are you main use case, it’s not worth upgrading just yet. Your One X2 is plenty magical enough already. For photographers or those using single lens mode, the upgrade is a much bigger leap.
But is it worth upgrading if you already have a One X2?
Why Record in 360 Degrees?
I know what you’re thinking: 360-degree videos are for VR, right? And they’re… a terrible experience. Yes, yes they are. But don’t click away just yet. While the Insta360 X3 is perfectly capable of filming that style of video (and the output is impressive, as far as 360-degree videos go), that’s really not what it’s designed for.
Instead, Insta360’s intuitive software is designed to let you “shoot now, point later”.
Rather than tediously setting up your perfect shot angle, heading out on an adventure, then crying because your camera clip slipped and you were actually filming the sky the whole, with the X3 you just… press record. Then later, when you’re back in the studio—or even on the smartphone app—you choose which part of the shot to use. You can change the field of view, track a specific target object, retime the action, and more.
There are a few reasons why this is such an ingenious approach to recording an action video:
It keeps you in the action, and lets you enjoy the moment. Just put the X3 camera on the selfie stick, and hit record. Figure out the rest later. It lets you do some amazing trick shots, and gives best-in-class image stabilization. If you love creating innovative content for TikTok or Instagram, the X3 is perfect. Output the same sequence at a different screen ratio easily, and create compelling short-form videos using a constantly expanding ready-made selection of templates. Reuse and combine the same shot in multiple ways. Perhaps you’ve recorded a walk around a famous landmark. For the first shot, you might want to keep the camera focused on you, maybe even a vlog. For the second shot, you could angle the camera on the landmark and have it track it as you walk around, for some interesting b-roll. For the third shot, you could turn it all into a forward-facing super-smooth hyperlapse. All from the same sequence that you recorded once.
Insta360 X3 Specifications
From a hardware perspective, the X3 weighs 180g, and measures 114 x 46 x 33mm. That’s about 30g heavier and 3mm thicker than the One X2 (One X2 left, X3 right):
You’ll find four hardware buttons to operate the X3, as well as a 2.29" rectangular touchscreen. On the side is a power button and quick shot mode (hold it down to jump into a menu containing your favorite shooting modes). Underneath the touchscreen are two more buttons: one to record, and one to switch lenses.
The touchscreen is a huge improvement over the One X2, which featured a 1-inch round small screen. It was fiddly to say the least.
The additional hardware buttons are nice too, but not something I found myself using often.
Internally, the X3 now features two 1/2" sensors (compared to the 1/2.3-inch found on the One X2). Each lens shoots at a super wide angle with an f/1.9 aperture (compared to f/2.0 on the One X2). Finally, the battery is upgraded to 1800mAh (compared to 1630mAh on the One X2). This gives about 80 minutes of continuous 5.7k 30fps 360-degree recording.
The battery can be removed, so you’re able to carry spares if you need to. Charge the X3 using the USB-C slot on the side, hidden under a waterproof flap.
Finally, the X3 is fully IPX8 waterproof to a depth of 10 meters out of the box. If you need to dive further, the Dive Case lets you go down to 50m.
What Video Modes Does the X3 Capture?
The main way you’ll be using the X3 is to capture full 360-degree videos in 5.7K resolution, at 24 or 30fps. These shots are used in nearly all the trick shot templates, and give the greatest freedom to change the field of view, reangle, retime, and edit later.
However, it’s worth bearing in mind that 5.7K represents the full 360 degrees of captured footage. Once you take a slice of that, the native resolution of the output may only be 1080p (and will vary according to what field of view you opt for).
However, should you wish to use the X3 like a more traditional action camera, you can switch to Single Lens Mode. This can then record 150-degree wide angle at a maximum of 4K at 30fps, or 3.6K at 60fps (and various other lower resolutions).
You can also capture at “FOV+” 170-degree ultra-wide, but this is limited to 2.7K resolution. This is great for strapping the X3 to your chest and recording some first-person-view shots.
New on the X3 is Me Mode. Used in conjunction with the selfie stick, this is a quick and easy way to shoot stabilized selfie footage of yourself. Since you’re holding the selfie stick, the camera knows where you are, and you needn’t worry about having to perform any human-tracking algorithms after the fact. This simplified mode can capture up to 60fps, but only at 1080p.
Another new mode is Loop Recording, which works exactly like a dash cam, constantly recording and writing over previous footage until you tell it to keep a particular event.
Insta360 also offers a generic timelapse mode, as well as a special Star Lapse mode with longer exposure time. The results are quite stunning, but make sure you disable the LED status lights and hook up an external battery pack if you’re going to try these. You can see the full clip of the above example I shot in the review video.
Finally, you have the photographic mode, which takes an incredibly detailed 72MP full 360-degree image.
Insta360 Studio vs Insta360 App
There are multiple ways to edit your footage, and arguably the greatest strength of the Insta360 line of cameras lies in its software.
First is the desktop studio app. This will get you the highest quality output, and if you prefer to edit with a mouse or keyboard, or you’re familiar with the concept of keyframes, this is probably your best option. However, there’s one big limitation to the desktop app: it doesn’t include any templates for trick shots or stories. Instead, you’re just presented with a professional editing interface. The one trick that is shared from the smartphone app is auto-frame, which uses AI to extract clips of any objects it finds—people, animals, or buildings.
If you prefer to work within Adobe Premiere or Final Cut, that’s also an option, with the Insta360 plugin that allows you to manipulate the .insv 360-degree footage directly there.
For editing on the go, you could use the intuitive smartphone app. This is perfect if your final output is for social networks, as the resolution and quality is somewhat limited. But the smartphone app has the advantage of containing lots of impressive templates for trick shots, as well as comprehensive video instructions on how to best to shoot them.
Some of the templates can be created made from a single shot, while others will require you to choose multiple matching shots. In all cases, the Insta360 does all the heavy lifting—you just need to choose which files to use, and sometimes click on the person in the shot to tell it what to track. Then you can preview, and save the shot to your camera roll.
Some results are better than others—check out the full review video for a few samples.
Optional Extras: Invisible Selfie Stick, and More
You can buy the Insta360 X3 standalone, but it’s far better when combined with a few accessories. At an absolute minimum, you should purchase the “Get Set” package, which includes a lens protector, memory card, and “Invisible Selfie Stick”. Here’s a full rundown of the accessories you should consider:
The Invisible Selfie Stick is exactly as it sounds. Due to the properties of light as well as some smart software stitching, the Invisible Selfie Stick will magically disappear from your output. It looks as though you have your own private cameraman standing in front of you and following your every move. If you buy in the bundle you’ll get the 120cm version, though you can separately purchase a smaller 70cm one if you’d rather.
The Extended Edition Selfie Stick can extend to a frankly comical three meters.
This gives the illusion of a low-flying drone—perfect for places where an actual drone is banned, or if you need to take a big group shot. Or if you just really want to say “check out the size of my stick”.
That said, your arm will get tired quite quickly with the X3 on the end of this, so don’t skip arm day.
The Bullet Time Cord is a secure piece of cord that attaches to the bottom of the X3. You can then whirl the X3 around your head, and shoot in 120fps to achieve a Matrix-style bullet time slow-motion effect. The quality isn’t nearly as good as standard shots, but it’s a fun effect that’s worth trying.
Insta360 X3 vs One X2
I’ve mentioned some of the key differences in the specs, but in terms of image quality, how does the X3 improve upon the One X2? For most people, the answer is probably …not much.
For my first test, I strapped both the One X2 and X3 to the Bezior fat-tire ebike, and went out for some trail riding. Note that in the comparison shots below, you can see the other camera. The one that’s recording is hidden, but of course, with both strapped to the bike side by side, they will end up recording each other. In normal use with a single camera, it would be invisible.
To be honest, there’s very little difference here, and any differences you can see are likely due to small changes in the dappled lighting from one side to the other. Both the X3 and One X2 record at 5.7K resolution natively (up to 30fps), so the only real difference would be the ever-so-slightly larger 1/2-inch sensor on the X3.
In theory, low-light recording should then be improved on the X3 thanks to more light being captured. To test this, each camera took turns riding around our LEGO log cabin train line. This is relatively low-light, even in the daytime, so I use plenty of LED lighting. Most cameras struggle with this, and while neither the X3 or One X2 were as good as they are in daylight, the footage is still equally impressive with very few differences between them.
It was only once I got down to ultra-low light nighttime shooting that I could truly notice a difference. The One X2 footage is significantly grainier, with the X3 smoother and more color accurate.
So unless you’re shooting in very low-light situations, standard 360-degree 5.7K footage is not going to see an improvement.
There are however some real improvements in photography, with the maximum resolution shooting up from 12MP to 72MP. This takes a lot longer to save, but the difference is clear when zooming in on details.
Should You Buy the X3 as Your First Insta360 Camera?
If you have yet to experience the magic of Insta360, the X3 is the best starting point. It’s simply the best action camera around, with incredible image stabilization and innovative footage styles. You’ll love the trick-shot templates if you’re a regular TikTok or Instagram poster.
The One X2, and now the X3, has been my favorite second camera for years now. I wouldn’t use it to record everything, but it’s perfect for shooting action shots, quickly recording memorable events, or for pretending you’re riding on your own tiny LEGO train. It’s just such a fun camera, capable of so much, with so little effort.
If $500 is outside your budget for an action camera, consider the older One X2 model instead. You’re likely to find a bargain on second-hand models as people upgrade to the X3, and in most cases, the footage you can get from the One X2 will be just as good as the X3.
Should You Upgrade from the One X2?
It’s clear from my testing that the standard 360-degree 5.7K footage is almost unchanged from the previous iteration. The larger sensor size helps to reduce noise in very low-light environments, but in daylight, it’s not worth upgrading if that’s your main use case. The additional buttons and larger screen are nice, but again, not worth replacing your device for. You should wait until the main image sensor is further upgraded.
However, if you use the One X2 regularly in single lens mode, it’s well worth the 2.7 to 4K resolution bump when upgrading to the X3. Additionally, photographers will see the greatest benefit, from the maximum 12MP of the One X2 to the whopping 72MP of the X3. This will be especially useful if you’re using the X-series for Google Streetview contributions, or for low-light shots such as Star Lapse sequences.
