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In order to create the next generation of panoramic action cameras, Insta360 did not start from scratch, but chose a more down-to-earth approach: listening to users. The brand reviewed user feedback on the Insta360 X4 – which features were popular and which complaints frequently appeared. Based on this, Insta360 launched the new X5.

In this upgrade, the X5 not only has a more powerful image sensor and a larger battery, but also has many new practical editing tools on the application side. In terms of the body, the X5 uses a more durable and replaceable lens cover, which further improves its ability to resist drops and collisions, and protects users in various extreme scenarios.

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So, have these most requested improvements from X4 users been truly implemented in the X5? We took this new machine and conducted a comprehensive test in multiple environments to see how it performs.

Insta360 X5 review: Key facts

Insta360 X5 is an action camera that focuses on panoramic shooting. It supports panoramic video recording with a maximum resolution of 8K (30/25/24 frames) and can also shoot still photos with a resolution of up to 72 million pixels (11,904 x 5,952). The image quality is quite impressive. The whole machine reaches IP68 protection level and can withstand underwater use up to a depth of about 15 meters without an additional protective case. In addition, it can work stably in an environment between -20℃ and 40℃, and its adaptability is also very strong.

The body size is 46 x 124.5 x 38.2 mm and weighs about 200 grams. It feels moderate in the hand and does not feel bloated nor light and insecure.

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If you haven’t used Insta360’s X series before, the core idea is this: “Instead of worrying about not getting the shot, it’s better to capture all the angles at once.”

The X5 continues this idea, equipped with front and rear dual lenses, which can simultaneously record a full 360° picture, and users do not need to align the angle in real time. After recording, you can freely drag, crop, and select the angle of view and aspect ratio you want in the Insta360 mobile or desktop application. This “shoot first and then compose” method greatly reduces the difficulty of shooting, and also leaves enough space for post-production creation.

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To put it bluntly, the Insta360 X5 is like tying two GoPros together to work together, except that it doesn’t require you to think about the angle while shooting, but instead gives you more control when editing.

Insta360 X5 review: Design

At first glance, the Insta360 X5 looks pretty much the same as its predecessor. The body is still the same slender “candy bar” shape, with dual front and rear cameras, and the camera can record in all directions no matter how you turn it. The screen is still the intuitive touch design, and the button layout continues the previous layout. At first glance, it’s easy to think that this is just a regular iteration.

But in terms of details, the X5 has actually made a number of key upgrades, especially targeted improvements to issues that were the focus of user feedback in the previous generation.

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One of the most important changes is the upgrade of lens protection. The X5 uses a new high-strength glass, which is twice as impact-resistant as the X4. More importantly, this time it finally supports replaceable lens caps. In the past, once the lens was scratched or cracked, it could only be repaired or even scrapped. Now, you only need to spend a few dozen dollars to replace the protective cap, and the camera can be restored to its original state, greatly reducing maintenance costs.

Another significant upgrade is the optimization of the audio part. The wind noise problem of X4 caused headaches for many users, especially when riding or doing outdoor sports. X5 has made improvements in this regard – the newly added built-in microphone windshield allows it to still receive stable sound when moving at high speeds. When I was riding in the park for testing, even if the wind was strong, the recording was still clear, and there was no need to work hard on post-noise reduction.

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The hardware has also been significantly enhanced. The body volume has increased by 144% compared to the X4, and three AI chips have been added to improve image processing capabilities. The battery life has also been upgraded, supporting up to 185 minutes of shooting, and the charging speed is also powerful. With the official charging base, it can be charged to 80% in about half an hour, which is very suitable for high-frequency use scenarios.

Insta360 X5 review: Highlights

Insta360 X5 inherits many excellent features of its predecessor X4, while also bringing several practical new ways to play. The overall experience can be said to be even better.

The first is the core shooting capability. The X5 still supports 8K 30fps video recording and is equipped with Insta360’s signature FlowState anti-shake technology, which can effectively reduce the shaking of the picture during sports shooting; coupled with the 360° Horizon Lock function, no matter how the camera is flipped, the picture can still maintain a stable horizontal perspective, which is especially suitable for fast-action scenes such as cycling and skateboarding.

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Like the X4, the X5 still supports convenient recording methods, with one-touch operation to quickly start shooting, making it easy for even novice users to get started. At the same time, it retains many “invisible” functions, such as 4K single-lens mode, which is suitable for more traditional first-person sports shooting; and the impressive “invisible selfie stick” function, which can automatically eliminate the presence of the selfie stick in the picture to achieve a cleaner visual effect.

In terms of new features, the most noteworthy one is the InstaFrame mode. This feature allows users to record a full 360° video and an automatically framed flat video at the same time. You can quickly output the flat material for publishing, and then return to the original 360 material for personalized secondary editing, freely setting the angle, focus and composition. Users can also choose “fixed perspective” or “auto-tracking perspective”, and the system will automatically identify and lock the main person in the picture, and follow the whole process without manual adjustment.

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Another new feature worth noting is the “Clean Video Mode”. This is a mode specially optimized by Insta360 for night shooting or low-light environments. Through AI intelligent noise reduction and image quality enhancement, night shots are clearer and more detailed. This feature was launched to address the feedback from users in the past that the X4 performed poorly in low-light environments.

In addition to the shooting function itself, Insta360 has also put a lot of effort into the software level. The mobile app and desktop software that come with the X5 have been fully upgraded, introducing a smart thumbnail preview function that can automatically identify the subject of the person in the video and highlight it. More importantly, for users who are not good at editing, the system has built-in multiple one-click filming tools – you can choose a fixed angle, your own perspective, or directly let AI automatically edit the complete content, greatly reducing the threshold for creation.

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After all, Insta360 X5 is not just about “shooting”, but also has made a lot of optimizations around “how to edit” and “how to use”, making the entire process from shooting to filming easier and more efficient.

Insta360 X5 review: Performance performance test

Looking back at the first time I used the Insta360 X4, I was really amazed by its functions at that time, but gradually became reserved in actual use. Although it has a very strong combination of functions – it can be used as a traditional sports camera, can also record a perspective close to that of a drone through an extended selfie stick, and can even handle multi-camera scenes, such as podcast recording or daily vlog creation – its shortcomings in strength and durability make me prefer to use a more solid camera, such as the GoPro series or Insta360’s own Ace Pro 2.

Although the X4 was once equipped with a lens hood, once it was installed, not only was the image quality affected, but the vignetting at the edge of the lens was also unsatisfactory, which made it easy for me to “put it aside” in outdoor or slightly more intense scenes.

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But the X5 is different. With a more solid lens structure, especially the replaceable lens cap, I finally removed the “protection mode” this time. In various scenarios such as cycling, off-roading, and landscape recording, I did not hesitate to fix it on my chest, outside the car window, and even accidentally rubbed it against a rock, and it was still intact and stable.

In actual experience, the mountain bike footage recorded by the X5 is the most stable and clearest I have ever used similar equipment. Thanks to the built-in windproof microphone, the sound recording effect is still excellent even when the wind speed is very strong. When we slow down and walk in the natural environment, it can also stably record the sound and details of the waves beating between the rocks, and the picture restoration is very high.

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I was also impressed by the “Clean Video Mode” of the X5, which can effectively reduce noise and clearly preserve dark details, especially in low-light environments. This mode combines a larger 1/1.28-inch sensor, which significantly improves the brightness performance and image tolerance compared to the X4, and can record clean and delicate videos even in low-light scenes close to night.

Of course, the X5 is not without its shortcomings. It still has the so-called “stitching line” problem, that is, the connection area when the front and back lenses are combined may have a slight visual fault. Although the official recommendation is to point one lens directly in the direction of the main action to reduce this problem, it is difficult to completely avoid it in scenes with intense movement or frequent switching of perspectives. Once the recording angle is not selected properly, this stitching line will easily become conspicuous. Although it will not affect the usability of the entire material, it will indeed make people mind it.

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In terms of software, the X5’s mobile app performs quite well, with a clear interface and intuitive operation, which is very suitable for quickly editing and publishing short videos. In contrast, the desktop experience is a bit clunky and the interface is not so friendly. For people who are not familiar with video editing, the threshold to get started is relatively high. In actual use, I choose to edit short clips on my phone more often, and rarely process long videos on my computer, simply because the latter process is a bit cumbersome.

Insta360 X5 review: What makes it stand out?

There are many excellent action cameras on the market, and many flagship products have reached a very high level in terms of performance, image quality and control. But even so, Insta360 X5 still shows enough strength to “open up a new track” – not only as an action camera, it is also an all-round player for 360 panoramic shooting, drone perspective simulation, and even self-media creation.

The X5 can record stable, smooth, and detailed dynamic images, and its audio performance is also amazing. At the same time, its multi-mode design and strong adaptability are sufficient for a variety of usage scenarios, from daily vlogs to extreme sports. This “one device solves multiple scenarios” capability is currently difficult for many similar products to do at the same time.

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Of course, it is not suitable for everyone. Although the X5 application integrates a large number of intelligent editing tools, if you want to truly unleash its full potential, you still need to spend some time to familiarize yourself with the editing logic and operation process. If you prefer the simple experience of “start recording and one-click filming”, then the traditional direct-output camera will be more suitable and have a lower threshold for use.

But if you are willing to spend a little more time on imaging and hope that one device can meet your multiple needs from first-person perspective to panoramic view, from dynamic tracking to social editing, then the X5 is undoubtedly a powerful and rich creative tool.

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Not only does it have “more” possibilities than previous action cameras, it’s more like a crossover hybrid that packs imaging, creation, and flexibility into a compact body.

Insta360 X5 review: Are there any alternatives?

Talking about the competitors of Insta360 X5, it is actually a little special. In the current panoramic sports camera field, Insta360 is almost the only one in the market. The products that can really be compared with X5 are not from other brands, but its own products, and the most direct one is of course the previous generation – Insta360 X4.

From a functional point of view, the X4 already has quite strong performance, with 8K video recording, excellent stability and imaging capabilities. On this basis, the X5 has made two very practical upgrades: a replaceable lens cover and a built-in windproof microphone cover. These two details solve the pain points of the previous generation in terms of intensive use and radio experience, making the X5 more durable and more stable in outdoor combat.

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As for earlier models, such as X3 and X2, although they also have certain panoramic shooting capabilities, they are difficult to compare with X5 or X4 in terms of image quality, functions and post-production flexibility.

If we only look at the picture effects, the recording quality of X4 and X5 may be only half a step different; but in actual use experience, especially when facing complex shooting environments, the “one-step upgrade” of X5 – more reliable protection and detail processing, often makes people feel more at ease.

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Therefore, if you only use it occasionally and do not require extreme image quality, X4 is still a good choice. But if you want to use it as your main device for a long time and in multiple scenarios, the durable design and more mature function combination of X5 will be more worthy of priority consideration.

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