From action-ready 360° and tiny vlogging cameras to premium image quality day and night. Insta360 Ace Pro, GO 3, and X3 are all giants of the action camera world that help creators bring their imaginations to life (well, GO 3 isn't so giant in size). But their differences may leave you asking, "Which action camera is right for me?".
Are you an adventure-seeker hoping to capture every angle of action? Are you looking for unbeatable low light image quality and AI-enhanced features? Or are you a vlogger looking for unique angles to make everyday shots shine? Whatever you're filming, there's an Insta360 camera for you. Let's help you find the best match!
First up, specs:
| Feature | Insta360 Ace Pro Premium Image Quality | Insta360 X3 360° Action Camera | Insta360 GO 3 Tiny Vlogging Camera |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sensor | 1/1.3" Sensor | Dual 1/2" Sensors | 1/2.3" Sensor |
| 360° Video | - | 5.7K | - |
| Wide Angle Video Resolution | 8K 4K Active HDR | 4K | 2.7K |
| Photo Resolution | 48MP | 72MP(11968x5984) 18MP(5952x2976) | 7MP |
| Weight (Camera + Battery) | 180g (6.4oz) | 180g (6.4oz) | GO 3: 35.5g (1.25oz) Action Pod: 96.3g (3.40oz) |
| Max. Video Bitrate | 170Mbps | 120Mbps | 80Mbps |
| Touchscreen | ✅ (2.4" Flip Touchscreen) | ✅ (2.29") | ✅ (2.2" Flip Touchscreen) |
| Rugged + Waterproof | 33ft (10m) | 33ft (10m) | GO 3: 16ft (5m) Action Pod: IPX4 Splashproof |
| Invisible Selfie Stick | ✅ (Processed in Insta360 app) | ✅ | - |
| Active HDR | ✅ | ✅ | - |
| PureVideo | ✅ | - | - |
| FreeFrame Video | 4K:4032x3024@60/50/48/30/25/24fps | Aspect Ratio can be adjusted in the Insta360 app or Studio. | 1440p:2560x1440@24/25/30/50fps 1080p:1920x1080@24/25/30/50fps |
| Battery | Removable PD Fast Charging Rechargeable 1650mAh | Removable Rechargeable 1800mAh | Non-Removable Rechargeable GO 3: 310mAh Action Pod: 1270mAh |
| Run Time | 100 mins (4K30fps Active HDR) | 81 mins (5.7K30fps Video Mode) | GO 3: 45 mins GO 3 + Action Pod: 170 mins (1080p30fps Video Mode) |
| Price | Starts at US$449.99 | Starts at US$449.99 | Starts at US$379.99 |
How to choose:
If you're looking at the specs thinking, "Great, but what does any of that mean?" then don't worry. Here's a quick breakdown of who, when and why you would use each of these incredible Insta360 action cameras.
Insta360 X3
In its signature candy-bar form, X3 is rugged, waterproof, and ready to mount up and dive into action. The stand-out difference to other action cams is that it shoots amazing 5.7K 360° video with Active HDR, powered by dual 1/2" 48MP sensors. Active HDR stabilizes action footage, minimizes ghosting, and reveals details that other action cams miss in over and underexposed areas.
X3's dual lens design also enables the fan favorite Invisible Selfie Stick effect for epic third-person views, dynamic 8K 360° timelapses, and detailed 72MP photos. It has a huge 2.29" touchscreen that's easy to control even with gloves on (handy), and it's ready for all kinds of action-packed scenarios, with FlowState Stabilization and 360° Horizon Lock keeping your shots buttery smooth. X3 also has Single-Lens Mode for sharp, ultra-wide 4K flat images for a more traditional action cam look.
For creators that like having control over the edit, X3 is an absolute playground, with intuitive reframing tools that make magic out of the action. By shooting first in 360° and then reframing later in the Insta360 app, one video can be edited in endless different ways. Simply mount up, hit record, and jump into action.
Who: Thrill-seekers, creative videographers, travelers.
When: Motorcycling, winter sports, water sports, biking, high-intensity action sports, creative videos.
Why: 5.7K 360° video, easy reframing in post, third-person views, AI editing, intuitive touchscreen, long-life battery, rugged, waterproof (33ft/10m).
Where: Pick Insta360 X3 up here.
Insta360 Ace Pro
With an all-in-one design and removable battery, Insta360 Ace Pro is more of a traditional wide-angle action camera. But taking a leaf out of GO 3's book, the back touchscreen flips up, making shots easier to frame and settings easier to see at a distance. It's as action-ready as they come: rugged, waterproof to 33ft (10m), and has a magnetic mounting system that makes it super easy to switch out mounts on the go.
While it doesn't shoot in 360°, low light is where Insta360 Ace Pro really shines. In bright conditions, Insta360 Ace Pro produces footage that's about as good as one can hope for. In low light? Even better. With its Leica Summarit lens, 1/1.3" sensor, and a cutting-edge 5nm AI Chip, Insta360 Ace Pro's PureVideo Mode reduces noise, enhances brightness, and improves dynamic range, delivering unparalleled quality and more stabilized images in low light compared to others on the market.
Speaking of stable, built-in FlowState Stabilization means silky smooth videos, and old friend Active HDR means stabilized footage even in high-contrast environments (like a gloomy forest mountain bike trail). With rapid charging taking Insta360 Ace Pro from 0 to 80% in just 22 minutes, if you plan things out well, you can pretty much go all day long on a pair of batteries. You can even connect your Garmin or Apple Watch for data-rich overlays in your footage.
There are some awesome new features for creators, particularly vloggers, to take full advantage of:
- Pause and resume recording in the same file.
- Instantly cancel a recording if things don't go to plan.
- AI Highlights Assistant finds the best moments from a video in-camera and presents you with an auto-edited highlight reel as soon as you connect to the app.
- Clarity Zoom lets you zoom in without losing any quality.
- If your camera is mounted just out of reach, try Gesture or Voice Control.
- Download files to the Insta360 app in the background, so you can carry on scrolling other apps until they're ready.
- Transform videos with new generative AI Shot Lab effect AI Warp.
Insta360 Ace Pro makes capturing action easier from shooting to editing, with clean, sharp footage any time of day.
Who: Action lovers, travelers, videographers/photographers, vloggers.
When: Low light and night shots, action sports, cycling, AI-enhanced videos.
Why: Excellent low light capture, AI-powered features, flip touchscreen, magnetic mounting, waterproof (33ft/10m), smart shooting features, and AI editing.
Where: Grab your Insta360 Ace Pro here.
Insta360 GO 3
At just 35g and the size of a thumb, Insta360 GO 3 is the tiniest but mightiest breakthrough in the action camera game. As the world's smallest action camera, GO 3's magnetic body opens up more mounting possibilities for exciting hands-free POVs, creative angles, and new perspectives. Clip it to your clothes, and you're good to go, perfect for creators who want to snap moments on the fly. The camera on its own looks nothing like you've seen before, but pop it into the trusty Action Pod, and you've transformed GO 3 into a classic, rugged, wide-angle action camera.
The original star of the flip touchscreen, the Action Pod, lets users control the camera remotely and preview their shots in real time when the cam is mounted in hard-to-reach locations. GO 3 taped inside a pizza box? No problem. On your pet's collar? You got it. It also takes the battery life to a whopping 170 minutes, enough time to let your imagination run wild.
While GO 3 doesn't have 360° capture or a huge Leica lens, it does mean fresh, unique perspectives. From capturing daily life to creative videography, its small size opens up new mounting possibilities that are impossible with larger action cameras.
The lightweight camera has two microphones for crisp, clear audio, and Insta360's signature FlowState Stabilization delivers ultra-smooth footage during walk-and-talk vlogs and action sequences. The ability to capture any perspective in vibrant 2.7K resolution makes it ideal for social media sharing. Paired with useful in-the-box accessories, Insta360 GO 3 is the perfect camera for vloggers, pets, and even toddlers to capture immersive POV shots.
Who: Vloggers, travelers, content creators, families, pets.
When: Daily life, family/pet vlogs, hands-free POVs, creative videos, running and cycling.
Why: Lightweight, portable, magnetic mounting, unique angles, flip touchscreen and Action Pod for remote control and live preview.
Where: Get the tiny Insta360 GO 3 here.
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