The Insta360 X5 is the new benchmark in 360 cameras. Given that previous iterations have 8K resolution, you could argue that there’s no need for a slightly pricier upgrade, but the Insta360 X5 comes with the most precious of camera upgrades: a larger image sensor.
Its 1/1.28-inch sensor makes a significant difference in low light, but there are more upgrades, including user-replaceable lenses and InstaFrame for easy editing. It continues to evolve toward 360-degree perfection, but is the Insta360 X5 worth upgrading to?
If you want a content creation powerhouse that will soon support native playback on the Apple Vision Pro, it almost certainly is.
Insta360 X5 review
Price and release date
The Insta360 X5 is available now at Insta360 for $550/ £520/ AU$ 930. That’s about 10% more than the original price of the X4, which sells for around $500/ £500/ AU$ 880.
There are no fewer than 13 different bundles, each with different accessories. One is the Essentials Bundle ($659.99 / £609.99), which adds an extra battery, fast-charging case, 114cm Invisible Selfie Stick, lens guards, lens cap, and carry case.
Specifications
(Image credit: Jamie Carter)
- Video resolution: 8K @ 30fps / 5.7K @ 60fps / 4K @ 120fps
- Image resolution: 72MP (360)/18MP (16:9)
- Sensor size: Dual 1/1.28-inch
- Battery: 2,400 mAh
- Battery life: 88 minutes (8K 30fps)/135 mins (5.7K 30fps) 185 mins (5.7K 24fps Endurance Mode)
- Display: 2.5-inch touchscreen display
- Waterproofing: 15m/49ft without case (IP68)
- Connectivity: USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
- Mounting: 1/4 inch thread, magnetic
- Weight: 200g/7oz
- Dimensions: 46×124.5×38.2mm/ 1.8×4.9×1.5 inches
Design and build quality
(Image credit: Jamie Carter)
The new Insta360 X5 is more muscular-looking than before, with textured, rubberized diagonals that give it a look akin to Batman’s armored Batsuit in The Dark Knight.
Those edges and its physical buttons for power and shutter make it easy to grip even with gloves on, which will delight skiers, cyclists and motorcyclists. It’s got stamina, too – 88 minutes for 8K and up to 185 mins in a lower-resolution “Endurance Mode” – with its batteries charging up to 80% in 20 mins and 100% in 35 mins.
However, the Insta360 X5 does have all-new batteries, which will annoy anyone with a collection of spares and chargers for previous iterations. At least that hardware annoyance is neutralised by a new option, an off-the-shelf replaceable lens. That will please long-term users seeking a quick fix for a scratched or smashed lens.
Features
(Image credit: Jamie Carter)
The modes on the Insta360 X5 haven’t changed since the X4: there’s starlapse, timelapse, interval road mode, loop recording, bullet time and time shift. But this camera has levelled up. There’s a new Triple AI Chip for fast processing and a new 1/1.280 inch sensor (compared to the X4’s 1/2″ sensor).
The rest of the improvements are more tweaks than new features: a larger mic design with wind filters built-in (a steel mesh protects the mic), a magnetic design (that means it slips easily in and out of its new quick-release mount) alongside the usual a traditional 1/4-inch tripod thread, and a gesture-based twist-to-shoot control for hands-free operation.
Are these new features game-changers? Probably not, but they keep the Insta360 X5’s momentum as it climbs even higher up the best action camera charts.
Performance
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The Insta360 is fast. From powering on and starting to record to its touchscreen and menus, it’s relatively quick to operate, though operating it via its smartphone app does entail a short lag in recordings starting and stopping.
The 2.5-inch touchscreen is bright, responsive and intuitive, with a swipe-based interface that’s easy to navigate, with quick access to modes, resolution settings, and frame rate options.
However, a lot is happening (and much of it’s new to this model), so it’s wise to take the time to get to know it. Switching between shooting modes (360 video, PureVideo, Me Mode, Timelapse, Bullet Time, and more) is seamless.
The content it produces is excellent – fluid, sharp and colorful – with a Dolby Vision option for adding extra wow factor. Are there the occasional stitching issues? Yes, there are; possibly not helped by the fact that the Insta360 X5 is a touch fatter than before (38.2mm compared to the X4’s 37.6mm), so the gap between the two 360 lenses is larger.
However, everything that comes out of the Insta360 X5 is cutting-edge content. That continues at night on this new model thanks to the PureVideo mode, which debuted on the Insta360 Ace Pro.
Low light has always been a problem with 360 cameras, but with its new larger sensor, the Insta360 X5 can handle not just twilight but even darkness, producing much cleaner video and photos, thanks to notable improvements in both noise reduction and dynamic range.
It enables its Starlapse mode – a time-lapse mode that records the trails of stars across the sky as the Earth rotates – making it genuinely worth attempting.
Editing
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In previous models, the Insta360 mobile editor app has been a central component of the user experience. It remains so, but it’s no longer the easiest way to edit quickly.
Debuting on the Insta360 X5 is InstaFrame, which eliminates an annoying editing step by allowing users to pre-select what the finished video should look like.
With the camera in InstaFrame mode, there are options to choose the perspective (rear view, front view, MegaView 95º, bottom view and a custom view, swap between 16:9 (for YouTube) and 9:16 (for social), and choose the AI-powered ‘selfie view’ to keep you in the center of the image. It’s useful and makes quick videos less time-consuming to produce, but InstaFrame is limited to 5.7K 30 frames per second.
The Insta360 X5 then produces a pre-cropped version while retaining the original. It’s a nice alternative to using the app or Insta360 Studio desktop software, although we had repeated problems transferring files to a MacBook Pro, which prevented us from even trying out the latter.
Battery life
(Image credit: Jamie Carter)
With a significant battery upgrade from 2,290 mAh to 2,400 mAh, the Insta360 X5 offers users around 88 minutes in 8K and 135 minutes in 5.7K 30 frames per second, the latter the same as the X.
There’s also a new 185 minutes-long ‘Endurance Mode,’ but that only works for 5.7K 24 frames per second. The latter will be helpful for those shooting for extended durations and/or creating content for the Apple Vision Pro, but for most, 8K will be the default option.
Although the battery on the X5 is an upgrade, during testing, it became very hot after shooting in 8K, on and off, for about an hour, and also when left to charge on a sofa.
Verdict
The Insta360 X5 isn’t a revolution. If you’re happy with the 8K content going out of your Insta360 X4, there are arguably not enough reasons to upgrade to the Insta360 X5. However, if you’d appreciate a bit more speed, a significantly superior low-light performance, smarter AI edits and peace of mind from replaceable lenses, the Insta360 X5 is hard to resist, and easily claims the title of best 360 camera.
Also consider
Insta360 X4: A still-excellent 360 camera is now available at a lower price. Offers 8K video and superb usability but lacks PureVideo mode and lens swappability. Best for those on a budget and who don’t shoot much in low light.
GoPro Max (2025 update): The GoPro Max has undergone a minor refresh this year, introducing USB-C charging, the MAX Enduro Battery, and an upgraded mounting system. However, it’s still stuck at 5.7K resolution.
KanDao QooCam 3 Ultra: It dates back to 2023, and its video and app quality aren’t quite at Insta360’s level, but this 5.7K-capable 360 camera offers a decent level of functionality and shooting modes.
