Insta360’s X-series 360-degree cameras have been like, totally owning the market for a while now. They’re known for their awesome video quality, user-friendly interface, and easy-peasy editing software, making them the go-to choice for newbies in the 360 camera game. The newest kid on the block, the Insta360 X5, keeps up the legacy while bringing in bigger sensors for even more stunning video quality.
The X5 is a legit upgrade; videos look crisper, battery life is better, and cool new features like the PureVideo lowlight mode and swappable lenses make it the bomb diggity in the 360 camera world.
The Big News
The major scoop with the X5, and the reason to think about upgrading from the X4, are the new twin 1/1.28-inch sensors. They’re a huge step up from the 1/2-inch sensors in the X4. Even though the video specs haven’t changed much, with 8K 30 fps and 5.7K 60 fps still ruling the roost, having a larger sensor means more deets in your footage. And let me tell you, the footage from the X5 is hands down the prettiest I’ve seen from a 360 camera.
Keep in mind, though, that when they say 8K, they mean the whole 360-degree shebang. The highest resolution you can actually export is 4K. But trust me, that 4K footage is way better than what the X4 churns out.
Video Quality
The footage from the X5 is solid for a 360 camera. But let’s be real, almost any new action camera will have slightly better video quality. The charm of a 360 camera lies in capturing what’s behind you, which regular action cams like the Ace Pro 2 can’t do. So, if you’re into filming stuff where you’re not sure how you wanna frame your shot, like biking, skiing, or skateboarding, a 360 camera is your bestie. In the past, you’d have to trade off some video quality for that shoot-now-frame-later flexibility. But with the X5, you’re not really sacrificing much in terms of video quality.
Highlight Retention
One thing that often trips up action cams is keeping highlights in check. But with the X5, bright days with a few clouds look legit. The X5 keeps the contrast poppin’ and doesn’t wash out the highlights, giving you a more vibrant sky and extra cloud deets. Plus, there’s less shadow noise when you’re shooting in the middle of the day. What’s cool is that it nails this in the default settings, no need to mess with exposure or colors.
Dynamic Range
The X5 has sick dynamic range and doesn’t really fall into that over-HDR’d trap. There’s an HDR mode if that’s your jam, but the output is only 8-bit color depth, not 10-bit, and in the BT 709 color space, not DCI-P3. So while they say it’s HDR, and it does seem to have a wider dynamic range and more poppin’ colors, it’s not in the P3 color space.
PureVideo Lowlight Mode
Another upgrade in video quality is the PureVideo low-light mode, which is as dope as it sounds. It’s limited to 5.7K footage, but it’s a champ at reducing noise in shadows and preserving highlights in low-light situations. But hey, I’ve seen some vids on YouTube where PureVideo kinda drops the ball, especially with blue light and fast strobes. In those cases, you gotta switch to 8K footage and do manual exposure. But for most peeps, this won’t really be a problem, and PureVideo makes the X5 way more capable than the X4.
There’s also a new video mode, InstaFrame, that tracks you automatically through the shot. Not really sure why you’d need this when you can just do the same thing in the Insta360 app and get 4K output. But hey, options are always nice, right?
So, like, do you even need the X5? Well, if you’re all about that 360 life, this is the camera to snag in 2025. Most of the time, I still prefer an action camera for that top-notch image quality. But the X5 is the first 360 camera I’ve tested that could totally replace my action cam in some situations, all while serving up the image quality I need to mix it up with footage from other cams.
If you dig the flexibility of shooting in 360 and reframing later, the X5 is hands down the best video quality you’ll get from a 360 camera. The new sensors are way sharper, with fewer funky bits, and the default color science is spot on. Plus, being able to swap out the lenses seals the deal, making this the 360 camera to cop.
