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What if you could seizure everything astir you each the time? That's the committedness of the champion 360 cameras, which usage 2 lenses to simultaneously grounds everything successful a scene, stitching it unneurotic successful software. The large vantage of 360 cameras implicit accepted action cameras is that you don't miss anything. Remember that clip you were carving the caller pulverization with a GoPro connected your caput and you missed the grizzly carnivore that lunged astatine you from the side? You would person had the changeable if you'd been utilizing a 360 camera.
Unedited 360 footage tin beryllium utilized successful a VR headset, but for astir of us, 360 footage volition extremity up edited down to a accepted “flat” video. This is the superior script we've considered successful investigating and selecting these cameras. Be definite to cheque retired our different camera buying guides, including the Best Action Cameras, Best Drones, Best Compact Cameras, Best GoPro, Best Mirrorless Cameras, and Best Camera Bags.
Updated March 2026: After months of testing, we've replaced the Insta360 X4 with the Insta360 X4 Air and updated prices and links throughout.
The Best 360 Camera for Most People
Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
GoPro's Max 2 is the champion 360 camera for astir people. The dual 14 mm (35 mm equivalent) lenses of the Max 2 each grounds to a 1/2.3-inch chip, yielding what GoPro calls “True 8K” (10-bit) video. The abbreviated communicative is that GoPro's larger sensors mean much pixels are utilized for the existent representation than competitors. The effect is sharper, clearer footage. Couple this with enactment for 10-bit colour successful Log files and you person footage that the contention conscionable can't match. If you don't privation to post-process your videos to colour Log files, fearfulness not, GoPro's natural-looking colour rendition successful the default illustration is the champion I've tested. (Note that this is subjective, but I find DJI and Insta360's colors to hyper-saturated and unrealistic, peculiarly the entity connected agleam sunny days).
The triple mounting strategy of folding fingers, tripod hole, and magnetic strategy mean you tin equine the Max 2 beauteous overmuch anywhere. Another large bonus: the lens covers are elemental to replace—just twist them disconnected with your fingers and popular caller ones on. You get each the accustomed GoPro video modes here, including HyperSmooth video stabilization, skyline leveling, timewarp, and more. You tin besides activate azygous lens mode and it turns into a 4K Hero-style enactment camera with each the aforesaid features.
As bully arsenic the Max 2 is, determination are a mates of issues. The large 1 successful my sentiment is the audio quality, which is not great. Luckily you tin brace this with immoderate Bluetooth mic and that occupation is solved. The different issues are debased airy performance, which is not good—if debased airy video is connected your database of must-haves, spot the Insta360 X5 beneath —and finally, the video reframing workflow is precise mobile-first. At the infinitesimal each the automated tracking and reframing tools (which are excellent) are constricted to the mobile mentation of the Quik app. Hopefully GoPro volition bring these to the desktop mentation successful a aboriginal update.
Specs Video Resolution 8K: (7680x3840) @ 30/25/24 fpsSingle-Lens: 4K: (16:9) (3840x2160) @ 60/50/30/25/24 fps Still Image Resolution 360: 29MP (7680x3840) Single-Lens: 12MP (4000x3000) (RAW) 12MP from 4K (4:3) Video Battery Life 55-60 minutes astatine 8K, much astatine little resolutions. Weight 6.87 ounces (195 grams) Storage MicroSD people A2 V30 oregon higher WIRED
- Sharper, clearer footage
- Natural-looking colour rendition
- Great accessories
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- Audio is not truthful great
The Best Low Light 360 Camera
Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
Our erstwhile apical pick, the Insta360 X5, is an fantabulous 360 camera. It uses duplicate 1/1.28" sensors to seizure precise adjacent 8K video. The dynamic scope is impressive, and the colour subject present is precise bully though it does thin toward the oversaturated. Skin tones connected the different manus are precise good, making it fantabulous for point-of-view shots. Insta360's PureVideo mode delivers precise usable video successful low-light situations. The representation stabilization is bully capable to usage it connected a drone (custom mounts required). While it's astir apt not the main usage lawsuit for astir people, the inactive representation prime isn't excessively bad. I person printed 5 x 7 outtakes that look good connected the wall.
The X5 has large artillery beingness and the quality to regenerate the lenses should you harm them (this is an enactment camera, to immoderate extent). Insta360 has a replacement lens kit for $35, which volition get you backmost up and moving without needing a caller camera, though the replacement process is much hard than with the Max 2. The motion controls mean you don't request the surface much, but erstwhile you do, it's large and agleam and reasonably responsive arsenic a touchscreen. As with astir of these cameras you tin usage the Insta360 X5 successful single-lens mode, which turns it into a traditional, 4K-capable enactment cam. The video prime isn’t GoPro-level, but it’s decent capable that casual users won’t request 2 cameras.
If each that's not enough, the biggest crushed to get the X5, if you're caller to 360 cameras, is the Insta360 app. Insta360’s fantabulous editing software, which is escaped and disposable for desktop, iOS, and Android devices, makes it speedy and casual to get your earthy 360 footage reframed and converted to formats suitable for posting online, whether you’re vlogging oregon conscionable posting to societal media.
Specs Video Resolution 8K 30 fps 360, 4K 60 fps successful azygous lens mode Still Image Resolution 72 MP (11,904 x 5,952), 18 MP (5,888 x 2,944). RAW (DNG) supported Battery Life 80 minutes astatine 8K, much astatine little resolutions. Weight 7.05 ounces (200 grams) Storage MicroSD up to 1 terabyte WIRED
- 1/1.28" sensor offers overmuch amended video quality
- User-replaceable lenses
- Better low-light footage
- Longer artillery life
- Magnetic mounting system
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- No 8K log video
Best Beginner 360 Camera
Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
Insta360's X4 Air isn't conscionable an older X4 repackaged. In information it's an wholly antithetic camera, with precise astir the aforesaid video prime arsenic the X5 (8K). The assemblage is smaller and lighter, making it amended for mounting connected a helmet oregon anyplace other you're going to announcement the weight. There are immoderate compromises made to support down value and price. The duplicate sensors are 1/1.8-inch vs the X5's 2 1.28-inch sensors. I haven't noticed a immense prime quality betwixt the 2 unless you spell pixel peeping, but determination are times erstwhile it matters. The acold bigger quality is that X4 Air does not connection Insta360's debased airy PureVideo Mode. If you're readying to sprout successful lower-light scenarios—say, your thrust location from enactment successful the evenings—the X5 is worthy the other money. If, connected the different hand, you chiefly sprout successful agleam sunlight (as astir of america do) the X4 is an fantabulous value, giving you 90 percent of what you get successful the X5 astatine precise astir fractional the terms (we've seen the X4 Air connected merchantability for arsenic debased arsenic $300).
The different large commercialized disconnected the X4 Air makes is artillery life. The smaller assemblage can't clasp arsenic large of a artillery and each you're going to get present is simply a small implicit an hr of shooting time. Insta360 does person a Starter Bundle that ships with a 2nd battery, but the terms jumps up rather a bit. I've been getting by by plugging it into a portable artillery pack.
While determination are a mates shortcomings to beryllium alert of, the Insta360 X4 is simply a fantastic small camera, with the accent connected little. The quality to gaffe this successful the pouch of my jeans means I'm much apt to bring it with me. In immoderate respects, that's the astir important prime of immoderate camera: Are you consenting to transportation it everywhere?
Specs Video Resolution 8K 30 fps 360, 4K 60 fps successful azygous lens mode Still Image Resolution 72 MP (11,904 x 5,952), 18 MP (5,888 x 2,944). RAW (DNG) supported Battery Life 80 minutes astatine 8K, much astatine little resolutions. Weight 5.6 ounces (165 grams) Storage MicroSD up to 1 terabyte WIRED
- Smaller and lighter
- Excellent value
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- Does not person debased airy PureVideo Mode
- Shorter artillery life
The Camera With the Best Audio Accessories
DJI jumped into the 360 camera marketplace with the DJI Osmo 360 camera. DJI has plentifulness of camera pedigree, making some drones and action cameras, and the caller Osmo 360 impressed our UK reviewer. It produces fantabulous video, integrates tightly into the DJI ecosystem (pairing straight with the DJI Mic 2 and Mic Mini and offering framework rates and codecs that volition premix good with drone footage), and the editing apps are solid, with some desktop, iPhone, and Android versions available. The rear two-inch touchscreen is crisp and responsive, the three-button power layout is elemental to use, and it tin enactment with accessories that usage some a modular tripod equine and DJI’s magnetic quick-release system. There's 128 GB of built-in retention and a microSD paper slot. The main downside is that DJI doesn't urge shooting nether water. The camera is plentifulness waterproof (it's rated to 10 meters), but the h2o seemingly causes video stitching issues, thing that Insta360 agelong agone solved. (I've changeable some the X4 and X5 underwater with fantabulous results.)
Specs Video Resolution 8K 50 fps / 4K 120 fps successful single-lens mode Still Image Resolution 30 MP (4:3, 6400 × 4800) / Panoramic Photo 120 MP (2:1, 15520 × 7760) Battery Life About 85 minutes astatine 8K, much astatine little resolutions Weight 6.6 ounces (183 grams) Storage Internal 128 GB positive MicroSD up to 1 terabyte WIRED
- Reliable 360 video show successful astir lighting conditions.
- 128-GB Built-in storage.
- Pairs straight with DJI Mic 2 and Mic Mini.
- Water- and dustproof.
- Solid mobile and desktop companion apps.
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- Underwater stitching is glitchy.
- No user-replaceable lenses.
- No authoritative US motorboat successful sight.
Great for Still Photos
Ricoh's Theta camera started the 360 camera craze implicit a decennary ago, and the Theta X remains a groundbreaking camera. Normally 360 cameras instrumentality the presumption from some lenses and wherever they overlap, usage bundle to “stitch” the video oregon photos together. The Theta X does this successful existent clip truthful erstwhile you're done shooting, you export your video oregon representation and you're done. That makes the Theta X the easiest camera to use. At slightest successful theory.
The outstanding usage lawsuit of the Theta X is inactive images. The duplicate 1/2-inch sensors let you to seizure 11K JPG images (roughly 60 MP), which is acold and distant amended than the competition. My favourite diagnostic of the Theta X is combining these huge, inactive representation files with the Time Shift feature. Stick the Theta X connected a tripod and person it instrumentality 2 images. Move yourself a small betwixt shots and the bundle volition usage look designation to edit you close retired of the image, including your shadow. This is ace useful for landscapes oregon interior architectural photos wherever you don't privation yourself successful the image. The Theta X besides shoots good successful debased light, with precise small noise. The 1 letdown is that inactive images are JPG only, not RAW, which is simply a existent shame.
While I've picked it for the awesome stills feature, the Theta X is simply a susceptible video camera too. Resolution tops retired astatine 5.7K video astatine 30 frames per second. The stabilization is bully though not rather arsenic bully arsenic what Insta360 offers. What I don't similar astir the Theta X is the software. The Ricoh mobile app isn't bad, but it's limited, and to get files disconnected the camera you'll request to link to a desktop machine.
Specs Video Resolution 5.7K 30 fps 360, 4K astatine 30 fps successful azygous lens mode Still Image Resolution 60 MP, 11,008 x 5,504 Battery Life Around 25 minutes astatine 5.7K, much astatine little resolutions. Weight 6 ounces (170 grams) Storage Internal 64 GB (46 GB available) positive MicroSD up to 1 terabyte WIRED
- Twin 1/2-inch sensors seizure 11K JPG images (~60 MP)
- Time Shift feature
- 5.7K video astatine 30 frames per second
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- No RAW representation capability
- Editing bundle is subpar
Top 5 360 Cameras Compared
Honorable Mentions
-SOURCE-Scott-Gilbertson.jpg)
Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
Insta360 X4 for $340: I'd urge skipping this 1 unless you tin get it connected merchantability for nether $300. The X4 Air is (usually) cheaper, smaller, and much capable, though the X4 does person a larger surface and the artillery beingness is amended (though again, the video prime is not arsenic bully arsenic the X4 Air). If you tin find a slayer woody nether $300, the X4 is worthy nabbing. Otherwise though, instrumentality with the X4 Air.
Qoocam 3 Ultra for $539: It's not wide available, and we person not had a accidental to effort one, but Kandao's Qoocam 3 Ultra is different 8K 360 camera that looks promising, astatine slightest connected paper. The f/1.6 aperture is particularly interesting, arsenic astir of the remainder of these are successful the f/2 and up range. We'll update this usher erstwhile we've had a accidental to trial a Qoocam.
360 Cameras to Avoid
Insta360 One RS: Insta360's interchangeable-lens action-camera/360-camera hybrid was a caller thought that conscionable didn't look to drawback on. Now it's a spot dated. The video footage isn't arsenic bully arsenic the different cameras successful this guide, but you tin swap the lens and person an enactment camera successful a moment, which is the large selling point. Ultimately I'd accidental skip this, get the X4 Air and if you privation to usage it similar a GoPro, conscionable sprout successful azygous lens mode.
GoPro Max: You'll inactive tally crossed GoPro's archetypal Max sometimes, but again, determination are amended options.
Insta360 One X3: Insta360’s older X3 is not worthy buying astatine this point.
Insta360 One RS 1 360 Edition: Although I inactive similar and usage this camera, it appears to person been discontinued, and there's nary replacement successful sight. The X5 delivers amended video prime successful a lighter, little fragile body, but I volition miss those 1-inch sensors that managed to propulsion a batch of detail, adjacent if the footage did apical retired astatine 6K. These are inactive disposable used, but astatine outrageous prices. You're amended disconnected with the X5.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 2 reasons you'd privation a 360-degree camera. The archetypal is to sprout virtual world content, wherever the last viewing is done connected a 360 screen, e.g., VR headsets and the like. So acold this is mostly the state of professionals who are shooting connected precise costly 360 rigs not covered successful this guide, though determination is simply a increasing assemblage of amateur creators arsenic well. If this is what you privation to do, spell for the highest-resolution camera you tin get. Either of our apical 2 picks volition work.
For astir of america though, the main entreaty of a 360 camera is to sprout everything astir you and past edit oregon reframe to the portion of the country we privation to absorption on, oregon panning and tracking objects wrong the 360 footage, but with the effect being a typical, rectangular video that past gets exported to the web. The video solution and representation prime volition ne'er lucifer what you get from a high-end DSLR, but the DSLR mightiness not beryllium pointed astatine the close place, astatine the close time. The 360 camera doesn't person to beryllium pointed anywhere, it conscionable has to beryllium on.
This is the champion usage lawsuit for the cameras connected this page, which chiefly nutrient HD (1080p) oregon amended video—but not 4K—when reframed. I expect to spot 12K-capable consumer-level 360 cameras successful the adjacent twelvemonth oregon 2 (which is what you request to reframe to 4K), but for now, these are the champion cameras you tin buy.
Whether you're shooting virtual tours oregon your kid's birthday, the basal premise of a 360 camera is the same. The fisheye lens (usually 2 precise wide-angle lenses combined) captures the full country astir you, ideally editing retired the selfie instrumentality if you're utilizing one. Once you've captured your 360-degree view, you tin past edit oregon reframe that contented down to thing acceptable to upload to YouTube, TikTok, and different video-sharing sites.
Why Is High Resolution Important successful 360 Cameras?
Camera makers person been pushing ever-higher video solution for truthful agelong it consciousness similar a gimmick successful galore cases, but not with 360 cameras. Because the camera is capturing a immense tract of view, the canvas if you will, is precise large. To get a accepted video from that footage you person to harvest which zooms successful connected the image, meaning your 8K 360 changeable becomes conscionable nether 2.7K erstwhile you reframe that footage.
How Does “Reframing” Work?
Reframing is the process of taking the huge, 360-degree presumption of the satellite that your camera seizure and zooming successful connected conscionable a portion of it to archer your story. This makes the 360 footage acceptable accepted movie formats (like 16:9), but arsenic noted supra it means cropping your footage, truthful the higher solution you commencement with the amended your reframed video volition look.
If you're shooting for VR headsets oregon different immersive tools, past you don't person to reframe anything.
I've been shooting with 360 cameras since Insta360 released the X2 backmost successful 2020. Early 360 cameras were fun, but the video they produced wasn't precocious capable solution to acceptable with footage from different cameras, limiting their usefulness. Thankfully we've travel a agelong mode successful the past 5 years. The 360 camera marketplace has grown and the footage these cameras nutrient is bully capable to premix seamless with your enactment camera and adjacent your precocious extremity mirrorless camera footage.
To trial 360 cameras I've breached the process down into antithetic shooting scenarios, particularly scenes with antithetic lighting conditions, to spot however each performs. No camera is perfect, truthful which 1 is close for you depends connected what you're shooting. I've paid peculiar attraction to the easiness of usage of each camera (360 cameras tin beryllium confusing for beginners), on with what benignant of adjuvant extras each offers, HDR modes, and enactment for accessories.
The last constituent of the representation is the editing workflow and tools disposable for each camera. Since astir radical are shooting for societal media, the earthy 360 footage has to beryllium edited earlier you station it anywhere. All the cameras supra person bundle for mobile, Windows and macOS.
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