Insta360 X3 Review - Worth The Upgrade?

So here it is, the new Insta360 X3. I also have with me the older X2 which came out about 2 years ago with some already impressive features such as 5.6K up to 30fps, 4K up to 60fps, 18MP 360° Photo Mode resolution, Voice Command, and a fair upgrade from the X1 coming with a mini viewfinder in the middle.

But here now with the X3, an obvious upgrade is that it now comes with a 2.29" screen. So besides that, are there any massive improvements from the X2? To find out, I took the X3 out for a spin around the city and let's just say that the slightest of improvements can actually go a long way.

With a new 1/2inch sensor, image outputs are still quite similar topping at 5.7K30fps, while other new updates such as MeMode gives you that third-person effect - having the camera angle locked to your movement when paired with the invisible stick. Quite a neat feature for more action based shots but may have to require some monitoring on the Insta360 app as 16:9 or 9:16 aspect ratios will be fixed as to how you operate the camera. MeMode also only tops at 1080p60fps so that might be a dealbreaker for you 4K-must goers.

It also weighs a little heavier than before weighing 180g as opposed to 149g in the X2, but also comes with a slightly bigger battery capacity of 1850mAh compared to 1630mAh. There's also now 8K time-lapse mode to make use of the full 72MP photo capture, and even the ports on the X3 is slightly improved from the X2, coming with this door hinge mechanism as compared to the flimsy port covers that just dangles around when you have it open.

Among other improvements are in Wifi transfer speeds now equipped with Bluetooth 5.0. And if you pick this up from the Insta360 store, which is a Quick Reader for your phone. It's compatible for both iPhones and Androids, so you can easily pop the memory card in directly and download your footage in that way, instead of using the WiFi transfer method which inevitably takes much longer anyways.

But biggest improvements over the X2 was found to be heat management in 5.7K. It surely goes without saying that 5.7K resolution could be quite taxing for any camera out there, but surprisingly the X3 didn't have any faults in continuous recording under very hot weather I might add.

Battery life on the other hand, despite it coming with a slightly bigger battery capacity, didn't seem like it made any leap forwards where I managed to get about 2-3 hours of use, whereas the X2 was capable about the same runtime. Each use will vary anyways, but I'm glad they still accounted that for an improvement which perhaps previous X2 users might have complained about.

The Insta360 X3 is priced at S$699 or USD$516.

My experience with the X3 was quite a reflection on how my growth is as a creative in the tech industry. While the smallest differences may not matter much right now, there's no denying that progress is still progress. But if i'd be truly honest if it's worth the upgrade? Maybe not so much. In many ways, the X2 is still a fantastic 360 camera which is still capable of resolutions that is also available in the X3.

But if more accessibility is your top priority, with Quick Menu features, 2 new buttons on the body for fast capture and lens modes, then its an obvious choice to make the upgrade. Either way, I'm a fan of Insta360 and maybe if you ever picked one of their cameras up, you might just feel the same.

Written by Fitri Aiyub