Insta360 X3

prosandcons

• 2.29-inch display is an excellent viewfinder
• Rugged and accessible design
• Insta360 software is basically dark magic
• User-friendliness is underrated

• 5.7K resolution translates to just 1080p video
• Software export times can be sluggish
• You'll want a large MicroSD card to store the 360-degree footage

Insta360 has been on an absolute tear lately, churning out cameras as if supply chain issues were non-existent. From the gimbal-like Link webcam to the modulating One RS that my colleague Matthew Miller tested earlier this year, the company clearly doesn't have any shortage issues with components -- or ideas. 

Next in line to carry the torch is theInsta360 X3 , the successor to last year'sOne X2 . Insta360 says it's doing away with the 'One' branding now which, in a market full of complicated names likeGoPro Hero 11 Black and DJI Osmo Action 3 , is a very welcome change.

While the X3's naming scheme has gotten smaller, everything else with this year's model is all about being bigger. Bigger display. Bigger camera sensor. Bigger battery. Bigger price. So whether you're a seasoned content creator, or just starting to venture into the action camera space, Insta360 is making a compelling case for why you should buy the X3 over everything else. 

Specifications

Third time's the charm

This is generation three of Insta360's fun-sized Snickers bar of a camera and, undeniably, its most refined design yet. The frame measures about four inches tall and a little less than two inches wide, making the X3 adorably compact to hold, swing around, and bite on (I'll explain later, and it has nothing to do with the Snickers reference.)

The exterior is gilded with a rugged blend of rubber and texturized ridges which assures you that the X3 can hang in the toughest outings and/or within the slipperiest of fingers. Every compartment that borders the centerpiece is buckled tight and water resistant, yet surprisingly accessible with a simple pluck. (Long fingernails not required.) That means charging and transferring data via the USB-C port is fast, and swapping out the removable battery and MicroSD card is convenient.

That larger, touchscreen display though. 

The biggest changes with the X3 are the new half-inch 48MP sensor and 2.29-inch touchscreen display. The former delivers improved image quality and dynamic range, allowing the action camera to capture sharper and more color-accurate footage -- even on the brightest days. This comes at the expense of a heavier body (180g) and a camera lens that bulges just a little further out. 

As for the new display, the advantages write themselves: You can now see more from the viewfinder when recording, there's greater real estate for gestures and tap controls, and gone are the days of squinting at that small, circular display to review your 360