Insta360 has officially announced its newest flagship camera, the Insta360 X5, with the company highlighting the action cam’s improved image quality and ruggedness, among other things.
The Insta360 X5 is available to purchase now with prices starting from $549.99/£519.99, but what’s so special about this little 360° action camera?
Here are six things you need to know about the Insta360 X5.
The Insta360 X5 is the toughest 360° camera ever
At least, according to Insta360 it is.
The lenses are made from a new, high-strength and scratch-resistant glass that makes them less likely to be damaged and the camera is waterproof up to 49ft – or 15m – without its dive housing.
Pair the camera with the Invisible Dive Case and you can plunge as deep as 197ft (60m) to capture 360° footage underwater.
The camera records 8K video with 11K supersampling
When it comes to video quality, the Insta360 X5 uses 11K supersampling to capture 8K/30fps video in 360° with minimal image quality loss.
When it comes to hardware, the camera is backed by 1/1.28-inch sensors that are 144% larger than those in the already superb Insta360 X4. This means they can capture more light, while the Triple AI Chip reduces noise and offers 140% more computing power for cleaner, brighter and more vivid images, though this is something we’ll definitely need to test ourselves in our review of the camera.
PureVideo handles low-light scenarios
Not only do the larger sensors help with low-light shooting, but the X5 features Insta360’s dedicated PureVideo mode.
This AI-powered night mode cuts down on noise and improves dynamic range in low-light scenarios for clearer, more vibrant results in less-than-optimal lighting. Though, again, this is something we’re excited to put to the test ourselves.
The new InstaFrame Mode flattens and frames 360° video for you
One benefit to shooting in 360° is that you don’t need to worry about missing a moment of action because it was just out of frame. However, you might not always have the time or patience to edit and reframe your footage later that day.
The new InstaFrame Mode automatically produces a flattened version of your video ready to share, either following a constant direction or in the selfie view. This mode also provides you with the original 360° file so you can go through it yourself if you’re not happy with the InstaFrame version or think it missed something important.
Audio is better than before
The Insta360 X5 features a multi-layer steel mesh Wind Guard designed to eliminate wind noise and it certainly sounds impressive in the brand’s product announcement video.
The algorithm has also been improved which Insta360 says will offer sharp and immersive sound, though this is something else we’ll have to test for ourselves in our review of the camera.
You can replace broken lenses
Going back to the durability of the camera, one of the most interesting upgrades this year is the ability to replace damaged lenses when you’re out and about.
This means that if the lenses do crack or get badly scratched when you’re out filming, you can open up the Replacement Lens Kit and fix them yourself without worrying about expensive repair costs.
This is especially good news considering how pricey it is to replace a 360° camera and is something that should hopefully improve the longevity of the Insta360 X5.