ION360 U Review
ION360 U
An expensive but basic 360-degree camera attachment
Verdict
Pros
- Easy to use
- Battery case adds reasonable longevity
Cons
- Lacklustre image quality
- Bulky case
- Only basic features
- Only compatible with certain phones
Key Specifications
- Review Price: £299.99
- 4K/30fps, 7.2-megapixel stills
- Charging case with 1260mAh battery
- Live streaming 360-degree video
What is the ION360 U?
The ION360 U is an easy way to capture 360-degree, VR-friendly footage using your phone and an add-on camera.
The package consists of a charging case and a camera attachment, and is compatible only with certain phones. At present, this officially includes the iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, Samsung Galaxy S8 and Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus.
While it certainly simplifies the process of capturing 360-degree footage, the ION360 U only has limited modes compared to rivals and, all things considered, it’s pretty expensive.
Related: Kodak Pixpro 4KVR360 review
ION360 U – Design
I was sent the model for the iPhone 7, but the experience will be similar across all of the different models.
The first thing to be aware of is that, regardless of the model you’re using, the charging case is going to add some size and weight to your existing phone. If you already have an already quite hefty phone then with the INO360 U it’s going to be even more noticeable. The iPhone 7 model reviewed here adds an additional 108.8g of weight with the camera attached.
The need for a charging case is a different approach to a 360-degree add-on camera such as the Insta360 Nano, which simply plugs into an iPhone’s Lightning port. Of course, what you get with the ION360 U’s approach is an extra 1260mAh battery to help keep your phone ticking along. The case also powers the camera itself, so it isn’t draining your phone’s battery.
You can get about another half a day’s worth of battery with the case, and therefore isn’t adding a huge amount of stamina. I’m not entirely sold on the case, even if it feels like it adds a reasonable amount of protection. It makes my iPhone feel too bulky.
There’s an LED strip along the back with a button that can display the charge level. A micro-USB port on the bottom charges the case and your iPhone, so you’ll need to transition from using a Lightning cable to micro-USB to charge your device while in the case.
The camera attachment is like a hood that connects to the top of the case and attaches over USB-C. It clips on pretty firmly, but I did almost manage to lose it when I tried to put the whole assembly in my jeans pocket. Somehow it became detached, ending up on my seat before I noticed. As such, you’ll probably want to avoid having it attached permanently. A small pouch is included for transporting it.
ION360 U – App and image quality
Once you attach the camera, and turn it on via the small side button, you’re automatically prompted to open the companion app (or install it, if you haven’t already downloaded it).
The app itself is fairly basic, which means getting to image capture is straightforward. There are actually only three options at your disposal: video, still image and live streaming via Facebook or YouTube.
There aren’t any adjustable viewing or capture modes. One of the more fun elements of 360-degree capture is playing around with ‘Tiny Planet’ style modes that distort and wrap the image, so you look like a giant stood on a tiny sphere. There’s nothing like that here, or any filters – or anything particularly fun.
All you can do is take a video of your surroundings in a single, rather dull way.
The camera can capture video at 4K (3840 x 2160) resolution and 30fps, and still images at a somewhat paltry-for-VR 7.2 megapixels.
As for image quality, all consumer VR cameras – especially those at this price point – have a tendency to be underwhelming. But the ION360 U is at the worse end of the spectrum compared to cameras such as the Samsung Gear 360 and Insta360 Nano.
Image fidelity is underwhelming and colours lack vibrancy, even under good lighting conditions. There simply isn’t much to get excited about here.
Image stitching is one area where the ION360 U performs well; it doesn’t have the noticeable stitching of the two sensors to which some VR cameras are prone. That’s helped by the fact that each lens has 220-degree FOV, so plenty of overlap to help with creating seamless results.
Why buy the ION360 U?
The ION360 U is expensive for what you’re getting, and that’s with a charging case thrown in. The latter is a bit of a double-edged sword – yes, it extends your device’s battery, but it adds much bulk. I prefer an implementation such as that of the Insta360 Nano.
Better yet, opt for a Samsung Gear 360, which will be compatible with any new phone you buy.
In the end, the lacklustre image quality, basic functionality, bulky case and high price point make the ION360 U one to avoid for most people.
Verdict
An expensive and limited 360-degree camera.
Trusted Score
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Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
