Insta360 GO 3 128GB: Full Review

The Insta360 GO 3 is an innovative pocket-sized action camera designed for capturing life's adventures. Despite its small form factor, the GO 3 packs impressive video stabilization, crisp image quality, and a unique vertical shooting experience.

With a weight of just 27g, the Insta360 GO 3 can be taken anywhere. It features a new pill-shaped design that is IPX8 waterproof up to 4m, making it ideal for watersports and wet conditions. The built-in clip and magnetic pendant allow for easy attachment to clothing, gear, and more.

Overall, the Insta360 GO 3 aims to deliver pro-level performance in a mini action cam that's accessible and easy to use. Its size sets it apart from traditional action cams, while the integration of the company's FlowState stabilization provides gimbal-like smoothness without the bulk. This camera strives to capture life's moments as they happen from a true first-person perspective.

Design

The Insta360 GO 3 has a compact and lightweight design that makes it easy to take anywhere. It measures just 44.3 x 29.8 x 22.1 mm and weighs only 27 grams, making it one of the smallest action cameras on the market.

Despite its tiny size, the GO 3 feels well-built and durable. The body is made of high-quality polycarbonate plastic that can withstand bumps and drops. It has an IPX8 waterproof rating, meaning it can be submerged in up to 4 meters of water without needing a case.

The miniscule form factor means the GO 3 can be worn or mounted in ways that larger action cams can't. It comes with a pendant for wearing around the neck and a clip for attaching to clothing. The built-in magnets also allow the camera to stick to metal surfaces. Overall, the innovative and ultra-portable design is a major highlight of the GO 3.

For those looking for higher-end features, the Insta360 ONE RS 1-Inch 360 Edition is a powerful option. It boasts dual 1-inch sensors, co-engineered with Leica, delivering stunning 6K 360-degree video and 21 MP photos. Its robust build ensures durability and is equipped with advanced image stabilization, making it perfect for professional-quality shoots. The modular design also allows users to switch lenses and optimize for different shooting scenarios.

Image Quality

The Insta360 GO 3 has excellent image quality for an action camera of its size. It features a 1/2.3" sensor, which is a decent size for a compact camera. The 12MP resolution allows for detailed images, with enough resolution for large prints or cropping flexibility.

One of the most impressive features of the GO 3 is its FlowState image stabilization. This uses a 3-axis gimbal to stabilize footage and reduce shakes and vibrations. For a tiny camera you can mount virtually anywhere, the stabilization is extremely effective and results in smooth, shake-free images and video. This makes the GO 3 ideal for capturing fast-moving activities where shake would normally ruin your shots.

The image quality holds up well in various lighting conditions. The f/2.0 aperture lets in plenty of light, while the HDR mode can help balance shadows and highlights in high-contrast scenes. Overall, the image quality is very good for such a tiny action camera.

Additionally, the Insta360 GO 3 64GB offers ample storage capacity for all your adventures. With 64GB of internal storage, you can capture hours of footage without worrying about running out of space. This makes it a great choice for extended trips and events. The compact size and lightweight design make it easy to carry and ideal for vlogging, travel, and action sports.

Video Quality

The Insta360 GO 3 can shoot video at up to 3840 x 2160 at 30 fps, which is 4K resolution. This allows you to capture extremely sharp and detailed footage. The small size of the camera also means you can mount it in more places to get unique perspectives and angles in your videos.

In addition to 4K, the GO 3 can also shoot 1080p video at up to 100fps. This high frame rate allows you to shoot smooth slow motion footage and then slow it down in editing. Slow motion can be a creative and engaging effect for action shots, sports videos, or highlighting dramatic moments.

Overall, the video capabilities of the GO 3 are impressive for such a tiny camera. The combination of high resolution 4K and high frame rate 1080p gives you flexibility in post-production. You can punch in for stabilization at 4K resolution without much loss in quality or slow down your 1080p clips. This makes the GO 3 a versatile option for vlogging, action videos, and more creative videography.

Battery Life

The Insta360 GO 3 has a built-in battery that provides up to 150 minutes of continuous recording per charge. This is a decent battery life for an action camera of this size.

Charging the battery fully takes about 70 minutes via the included charging case. The case uses USB-C for charging, so you can plug it into a wall adapter, power bank, or computer to charge up.

The battery life is suitable for capturing short videos throughout the day. You'll likely need to recharge it at the end of the day or in between uses. The charging case provides the convenience of quickly topping up the battery as needed.

Overall, the battery life is respectable given the tiny form factor of the Insta360 GO 3. Just be prepared to charge it up fairly often, especially if recording long videos. The fast charging helps offset the limited run time.

Storage

The Insta360 GO 3 comes with 128GB of internal storage, allowing you to store plenty of photos and videos before needing to offload to another device. The 128GB is likely more than enough for most users' needs. For example, you can record up to 200 minutes of 5.7K video at 30fps with 128GB.

The internal storage uses flash memory rather than a microSD card. This is great for keeping the size and weight down. However, it does mean you can't expand the storage or swap out cards.

Overall, the 128GB of built-in storage provides ample capacity for a compact action cam like this. Unless you plan on recording hours of high-resolution footage every day, you likely won't run out of space.

Controls

The Insta360 GO 3 has a simple, intuitive control scheme that makes it easy to operate the tiny camera. Despite its diminutive size, it retains key physical buttons while adding a flip-out touchscreen for more advanced operation.

The main button on top of the camera powers it on and off and starts/stops recording. There are also two additional buttons on the bottom edge - one for switching shooting modes between photo, video, and timelapse, and the other to toggle the touchscreen open and closed.

Having physical buttons ensures you can always quickly start and stop recordings or power on without having to use the touchscreen. The touchscreen provides a whole new level of control and preview. You can switch modes, start recording, review shots, check settings, and more right on the bright, responsive display.

The touchscreen flips out from the front of the camera, extending on a hinge to angle up or down. This allows you to see a preview of your shot when mounting the camera on your body or any other surface. The unique design keeps the overall footprint slim for portability while giving you a screen when you need it.

Overall, the control scheme balances compact size with intuitive physical and touchscreen controls. The Insta360 GO 3 gives you the basics like power and record at the touch of a button as well as more advanced features through the flip-out touchscreen. This hybrid interface approach retains ease of use in a small action camera.

Connectivity

The Insta360 GO 3 has built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity which allows you to wirelessly control the camera and transfer files through the Insta360 app. The camera connects directly to your smartphone via Wi-Fi, allowing for remote control and live streaming capabilities. Bluetooth enables quick pairing and connections.

In terms of physical ports, the Insta360 GO 3 has a USB-C port for charging and wired file transfers. The magnetic charging case provides an additional way to charge the camera without removing the battery. There is also a standard tripod mount on the bottom for attaching accessories.

The wireless connectivity makes it easy to connect the GO 3 to your smartphone without any cables. This is convenient for on-the-go shooting and sharing. The USB-C and charging case provide flexibility in keeping the tiny camera powered up.

Software

The Insta360 GO 3 comes with the Insta360 app for viewing and editing footage. The app is available for iOS and Android mobile devices, as well as desktop.

The mobile app makes it easy to view, edit and share videos straight from your phone. You can trim clips, add filters and music, adjust speed and more. The app uses AI to stabilize footage and reduce noise.

For more advanced editing, the desktop app provides additional tools like multi-clip editing, keyframing and exporting in different formats. The desktop app can combine footage from multiple cameras and sync automatically based on timecode.

Overall, the Insta360 app provides a full-featured editing suite for processing your footage from the GO 3. Between the mobile and desktop versions, you have options for quick sharing as well as more complex post-production work. The computer app can handle the high-resolution source files from the camera and export finished videos ready for YouTube, social media or other uses.

Price

The Insta360 GO 3 has a retail price of $299.99, which positions it as a premium action camera aimed at vloggers, adventurers, and social media creators looking for high-quality video in a tiny form factor.

At this price point, the GO 3 offers features not found on cheaper action cams, like its unique miniature design, invisible selfie stick mode, HorizonSteady stabilization, and touch screen controls. However, it is more expensive than some 4K action cameras like the GoPro HERO11 Black, which retails for around $399.

The higher price of the GO 3 reflects its innovative capabilities packed into an ultra-portable 57 grams body. For vloggers who want stabilized 4K video without bulky gear, the GO 3 delivers professional-level quality in a discreet and convenient form factor.

While not the most affordable action cam, the GO 3's combination of performance, portability, and smart features justifies its premium pricing for social media creators and adventurers wanting pro-level video in a tiny, mount anywhere design.