I Took This 360-degree Camera Around The World - Why It's Still The Most Versatile Gear I Own

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Insta360 X5 successful hand.
Prakhar Khanna/ZDNET

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The Insta360 X5 is my favourite recreation camera. I emotion it for its versatility, easiness of use, and user-friendly app. It is much costly than its predecessor but offers amended video quality, replaceable lenses, improved artillery backup, and more. I started utilizing this 360-degree action camera successful May, and wrong 3 months, it had earned a imperishable spot successful my recreation backpack. It is now connected waste for Labor Day.

Review: Insta360 X5

The Insta360 Labor Day sale brings a $30 discount to its latest 360-degree camera. It mightiness not look for illustration much, but this woody closes nan value hike spread betwixt nan caller X5 action camera and its predecessor. You tin now get it for $520 instead, which is conscionable $20 much than X4's motorboat price.

I travelled pinch nan Insta360 X5 to a fistful of activity trips and a solo trip. Here's why I deliberation I person recovered a near-perfect recreation camera.

The easiness of usage amazed me

Insta360 X5 successful hand.
Prakhar Khanna/ZDNET

When I sewage nan Insta360 X5, I went successful pinch debased expectations, because astir action cameras deficiency an awesome artillery backup, execute poorly successful thing little than agleam sunlight, aliases make it really difficult to edit nan footage. 

The past 360-degree action camera I utilized was nan GoPro Max, and while I person spent a bully magnitude of picnic clip pinch nan newer GoPro Hero 13 Black and different Insta360 cameras for illustration nan Go 3s and Ace Pro, they deficiency X5's versatility and easiness of use.

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I recorded astir of my footage successful InstaFrame mode (because I wanted to effort nan caller mode), which shoots q 360-degree footage arsenic good arsenic a modular video successful 5.7K+ aliases 5.7K while automatically search you. 

Thanks to nan upgraded 1/1.28-inch sensors (over  1/2-inch sensors connected nan X4), nan footage looks sharp, afloat of details, and awesome for a 360-degree camera. Recording successful nan 360-degree video mode is simply a amended thought if you are pinch a group of people.

The Insta360 X5 tin sprout 8K 30 fps and 5.7K 60 fps astatine nan precocious end. That said, an 8K 360-degree footage intends 4K solution in-app video connected your phone. I compared a fewer shots to nan last-gen X4, and they were considerably better. It offers fantabulous move scope pinch much specifications successful nan clouds and much pleasing-looking bluish skies. It tin besides grounds HDR footage without overprocessing your videos (in 8-bit and BT 709 colour abstraction alternatively of DCI-P3).

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While I tin get a amended value video connected an Insta360 Ace Pro 2, nan X5 gives maine nan elasticity to conscionable move nan camera connected and framework my changeable later -- without losing image quality, which wasn't imaginable successful nan past. Plus, it records clear audio, unless there's beardown wind. 

The full editing process is very intuitive, too. I tin simply link nan X5 to my phone, transportation footage wrong nan app, and move a standard-looking video into 360-degree footage pinch a pinch-out action. With conscionable a fewer swipes and pinches, I tin framework nan changeable to springiness maine perspectives I could ne'er imagine. The built-in transitions and effects make it easier than ever to edit my action camera footage. 

The Insta360 X5 is mini and convenient to carry

Hands connected nan Insta360 X5 camera

Hands connected nan Insta360 X5 camera

Ant Pruitt/ZDNET

The Insta360 X5 isn't nan smallest action camera around. It is overmuch bigger than nan likes of GoPro Hero 4K aliases nan Insta360 Go 3s. However, for a 360 camera, it is still easy to carry. The slim shape facet helps maine shop it conveniently successful 1 of my bag's mini pockets. It besides supports lens replacement now. So if you hap to break your Insta360 X5's lens, you tin switch it pinch a $30 replacement kit -- alternatively of replacing nan full camera. 

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I urge buying an other artillery since a azygous compartment won't past you for a full time outdoors. Unfortunately, nan Insta360 X4 artillery isn't compatible pinch nan X5, truthful immoderate aged batteries lying astir won't work. Oh, and nan caller Insta360 action camera is now compatible pinch GoPro-style mounts, acknowledgment to nan caller magnetic quick-release system. 

Overall, I emotion this camera for its expertise to connection 360-degree footage without losing nan sharpness and move scope of a regular action camera. From getting unthinkable arena shots astatine nan Galaxy Unpacked to making my Vietnam vessel rides memorable, nan Insta360 X5 has made everything better. If you are successful nan marketplace for a 360 action camera, you should decidedly see nan X5.

Based upon nan 5-6% disconnected savings being offered, ZDNET's standing strategy gives this a 1/5 Editor's woody rating. However, this is nan champion connection we've seen for Insta360's flagship X5 camera since launch. It mightiness not beryllium nan astir enticing discount but thing disconnected connected this tin camera is worthy grabbing, truthful I've bumped up nan rating.

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Insta360's Labor Day waste is unrecorded till September 1, 2025. Although, Deals are taxable to waste retired aliases expire anytime, though ZDNET remains committed to finding, sharing, and updating nan champion merchandise deals for you to people nan champion savings. Our squad of experts regularly checks successful connected nan deals we stock to guarantee they are still unrecorded and obtainable. We're sorry if you've missed retired connected this deal, but don't fret -- we're perpetually uncovering caller chances to prevention and sharing them pinch you at ZDNET.com. 

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