Still the best 360 camera on the market, there isn’t much competition right now

I never took 360 cameras seriously. That said, until I started spending more time skiing and snowboarding. My social media feeds were flooded with (mostly sponsored) videos that were all used for this purpose – capturing exciting moments on the snowy hills. Marketing works. I called that membership link and gave myself a new 360 camera last year and never looked back. I’m obsessed with it.

Once the Insta360 reached out and told me about the new X5, I was ready to take a risk. I went back to Tahoe and tried new action cameras in my most familiar habitat, tested its new larger sensors, more durable lenses, and saw how new microphone housing handles wind.

The new X5 captures 4K lenses, up to 120fps, up from 100fps on the X4. Just like the earlier models, it can do 30 frames per second with 8K photography or 60 frames per second at a price of 5.7k to 5.7k.

As always, the biggest increase in image quality comes from new larger sensors and new image processing. Both factors contribute to better image quality. This is impressive. The lens looks obviously sharper and the colors look more active. I was surprised to see the difference between the two cameras.

All of these extra details are very convenient in post-production. I can stretch, stretch and manipulate the lens before the quality is reduced. When using the X4, I often find that the sky will have this dark spot on it. The X5 almost disappeared.

The microphone appearance on the X5 has a new look. There is now a built-in windshield, not a microphone hole. The goal is to get clearer from the video while eliminating the wind. It worked well in my tests while sliding down the hill. People who use these cameras on motorcycles will be happy to hear more engine sounds than wind noises.

As I said before, I mainly use these cameras for action movements, or only a 360 camera can get a specific lens. But every now and then, I try to use it for something else and then walk away and feel disappointed. For example, I brought the X4 to CES this year and used it for the showroom. The lens has a lot of noise, and the stability cannot keep up, causing my editing to jitter.

Insta360 is trying to solve the problem with a new model called PureVideo. This is the same mode introduced in its Ace Pro camera.

It improves post processing. Low-light lenses look cleaner, less noise, higher colors and contrast. I’ve tried it in many different situations and each time it performs better than normal video mode. This is an improvement to the X4 and opens up more possibilities for this camera.

Finally, the X5 can be shot in the log. Those who want more control over the tinting shots in postal editors will be very excited about this matter. However, for some reason it only works in active HDR. For those shooting in HDR mode, the good news is that it can now shoot at 5.7k to 60fps instead of 30fps, which is the limit for the X3 and X4.

There is another new shooting mode. It’s called Instaframe, which allows you to record both your and 360 videos’ automatic frame “flat” videos. You can quickly share a flat video and keep 360-degree video for later editing.

That’s all. At least when it comes to image quality performance, but there are more new things to try here.

The first one has to do with repairability. Insta360 allows you to swap damaged lenses more easily by doing your own. For just $29.99, you get a lens replacement kit that includes a single lens, removal tools, brushes and some accessories such as lens cloth, wipes, and gloves. The exchange itself is very simple. I read the instructions once and five minutes later, I switched the damaged lens to a new shiny lens.

I’m excited about this change. If you’ve ever tried protecting your camera with a lens protection camera, you’ll know those how to lower the lens. This type of feature can even put you in more risk.

In some modes, battery life improves. You can charge for about 8 minutes on a single charge (83 minutes in total) while shooting at 8k30fps, and you get the same 135 minutes of run time when shooting at 5.7k30fps. However, the battery charges are indeed faster this year. It takes 20 minutes to 80% on the X4, not 38 minutes, but that comes with a price. The battery has been slightly redesigned so you won’t be able to use the old battery in this model. Although I’m happy with year-over-year improvements, the Insta360 battery is already very good and doesn’t necessarily need an update. New batteries each year only add to the environmental costs, which means I have to spend more on new batteries.

And, if you do, Insta360 also says the glass on these lenses is stronger than ever. Ideally, you don’t need to replace the kit at all. My review unit is small, but it is so small that it doesn’t appear in any of my clips.

Finally, the Insta360 mobile application has been modified to simplify the editing process. I’m still trying to get used to it, and there are a lot of bugs that still need to be squeezed. Some icons are not marked and sometimes unavailable when they should. For some reason, I can also export the video in 30fps. I have to spend more time on it.

The Insta360 X5 is the excellent 360 camera on the market, without much competition. DJI has had some new 360 camera rumors lately. Meanwhile, GoPro is still expected to release its version this year. In two areas, these companies can be distinguished.

The first is its weight and overall footprint. Both the X4 and X5 are slightly bigger and heavier than their predecessors, and sometimes I feel the weight after long use, especially on ski helmets. The smaller 360 camera will stand out.

The second area is the price. The X5 costs $550, which is $50 more than the X4, which makes it $100 more than the X3. If you are considering an upgrade, I recommend that you consider the highest features you need for a 360 camera. If the image quality is at the top of your list and then upgrade to X5, you won’t regret it. And if that price tag prevents you from flinching, wait a moment, and I’m sure there will be an affiliate link for you to use as soon as possible.