Insta360 ONE X: Full Review

The Insta360 ONE X is an innovative 360-degree action camera that allows you to capture your adventures from every angle. With its unique bullet-shaped design, the ONE X is compact, portable, and easy to use. This versatile camera can shoot 5.7K 360 video and 18MP 360 photos, providing immersive footage perfect for sharing on social media or creating captivating VR content. The built-in FlowState stabilization ensures smooth, shake-free videos even during the most intense activities. Overall, the ONE X combines advanced technology with user-friendly operation, making it a great choice for everyone from outdoor enthusiasts to VR creators. With its 360 capabilities and top-of-the-line features, the ONE X takes action cameras to the next level.

Design

The Insta360 ONE X has a sleek and compact design that makes it highly portable and easy to take anywhere. It weighs just 115g and measures 41.7mm x 48.2mm x 29.8mm, allowing it to fit comfortably in your hand or pocket. The body is made of durable plastic with rubber grips, giving it a sturdy feel that can withstand bumps or drops.

The camera has an IPX8 waterproof rating, meaning it can be submerged in water up to 5 meters deep without needing an additional housing. This is useful for capturing underwater shots or using the ONE X in wet conditions without worry.

Overall, the Insta360 ONE X is intelligently designed for portability and durability. Its lightweight and compact size allow you to shoot stunning 360 footage wherever your adventures take you.

For an upgraded experience, consider checking out the Insta360 Ace Pro. This advanced camera model offers enhanced features like 8K video resolution, improved image stabilization, and a more robust build. The Insta360 Ace Pro is perfect for professional videographers and content creators who demand the highest quality and performance from their equipment.

Image Quality

The Insta360 ONE X captures high-quality images and video. It has a resolution of 5.7K at 30 fps for video and 18MP for photos.

The 5.7K resolution provides extremely sharp and detailed video, even when viewing footage at full size on a large monitor or TV. Lower resolutions like 4K are also available if you want smaller file sizes.

For photos, the 18MP resolution produces clear, print-worthy images packed with detail. You can capture stunning 360-degree panoramic photos that look crisp even when zooming in. The image quality stands out compared to other lower-megapixel action cameras.

The ONE X uses FlowState stabilization to deliver gimbal-smooth video, even during fast-paced activities like cycling, skiing or skateboarding. It makes handheld footage look like it was recorded using a stabilizer gimbal, without the bulk. This produces easy-to-watch videos that aren't shaky.

You can also shoot slow motion video at 100fps in 1080p resolution. This allows creative flexibility to highlight fast action through smooth, dramatic slow-mo.

Overall, the image quality is a standout feature, providing excellent resolution, stabilization and frame rates. The ONE X captures usable, professional-level footage straight out of the camera.

For a more versatile option, consider the Insta360 ONE RS Twin Edition. It offers a unique modular design, allowing you to switch between a 360-degree lens and a wide-angle lens. This flexibility makes it adaptable to various shooting scenarios, providing both immersive 360 content and traditional action camera footage. The One RS Twin Edition also features advanced stabilization, high-resolution video, and various shooting modes, making it a compelling choice for content creators.

Ease of Use

The Insta360 ONE X has a very intuitive and user-friendly interface. The main control button is located on the side of the camera. It's a multi-directional button that you use to power on/off, start/stop recording, switch shooting modes, etc. The button is raised and has a tactile click so it's easy to use even when you can't see the camera, like when it's mounted on your head or chest.

The rear touchscreen makes changing settings and viewing footage simple. The screen is bright and responsive. You can switch between modes and adjust settings like resolution, frame rates, stabilization, etc. with just a few taps.

For connectivity, the ONE X has both WiFi and Bluetooth. Connecting to the smartphone app is a breeze. The Bluetooth enables an automatic connection as soon as you open the app, so pairing is seamless every time. The WiFi connection is very stable when transferring footage or live streaming.

The overall operation of the ONE X is very straightforward for both basic users and professionals. The intuitive physical controls combined with the touchscreen and wireless connectivity make this action cam one of the easiest to use. Changing settings on the fly is simple, which allows you to capture the perfect shot no matter the situation.

Features

The Insta360 ONE X has a robust set of features that make it a versatile action camera. Here are some of the key features:

Shooting Modes

The ONE X has a variety of shooting modes to capture different types of footage:

• 5.7K video at 30 fps
• 4K video at 50/60 fps
• 3K video at 100 fps
• FlowState Stabilization - Advanced stabilization algorithm that smooths out shaky footage
• 360 mode - Capture 360 degree video and photos
• Bullet Time - Spin effect for cool matrix-like shots
• TimeShift - Adjust speed dynamically during video

Editing Software

The ONE X comes with excellent editing software called Insta360 Studio. With Studio you can:

• Stabilize shaky footage
• Reframe 360 degree video into standard video
• Apply speed ramps and freeze frames
• Add music, titles, and filters

The software makes it easy to produce pro-looking videos.

Accessories

The ONE X is compatible with several accessories:

• Invisible Selfie Stick - Makes the stick invisible in 360 shots
• Bullet Time Handle - Enables bullet time rotating shots
• Venture Case - Rugged case for added protection
• Dive Case - Underwater case rated to 30 meters
• Drifter - Handheld stabilizer for smooth video

The accessories enhance the ONE X's capabilities for different shooting situations.

Battery Life

The Insta360 ONE X has a built-in 1630 mAh lithium-ion battery that provides decent battery life. You can expect to record around 30-60 minutes of 5.7K video on a full charge. However, battery life depends on usage - factors like screen brightness, WiFi, and accessory usage will affect it.

Charging the ONE X takes around 80 minutes using the included USB-C cable. The battery is not removable. Overall the battery life is comparable to other action cameras in this price range. It could be better, but is sufficient for most users' needs. Quick charging support helps offset the average battery capacity.

Accessories

The Insta360 ONE X comes with some useful accessories in the box. You get the invisible selfie stick, which allows you to take 360 shots and video while eliminating the stick from the footage. There's also a lens guard and protective pouch for storage and transport.

Additional accessories are available for purchase separately. The bullet time handle lets you get cinematic slow motion shots by swinging the camera in an arc. For underwater adventures, Insta360 sells a dedicated dive case rated for use down to 60 meters. Other optional accessories include various mounts, an extended battery, a wireless microphone adapter, and more. With the range of first-party and third-party accessories, you can kit out the ONE X for diverse shooting situations.

Pros and Cons

The Insta360 ONE X is a solid action camera with some great benefits as well as a few drawbacks to consider.

Pros

• Excellent image stabilization with FlowState stabilization
• Shoots 5.7K video and 18MP photos
• Simple one-button control
• Waterproof and durable
• Good battery life (around 60 mins per charge)
• Useful companion app for editing and sharing
• Comes with useful accessories like invisible selfie stick

Cons

• Expensive compared to some competitors
• Low light and night image quality not the best
• App can be glitchy
• Some issues with overheating during long video recording sessions
• No zoom capabilities

Overall, the ONE X produces great quality footage and photos with impressive stabilization. It's very easy to use but quite pricey. For most action camera needs it will perform well, just watch out for overheating or low light quality issues. The app helps make editing and sharing straightforward too.

Comparable Models

The Insta360 ONE X is one of the leading consumer 360 cameras on the market, but there are some other comparable options worth considering:

• GoPro MAX - This is GoPro's flagship 360 camera, capable of 5.6K30 video and 19MP photos. It has built-in stabilization and offers intuitive editing software. The MAX is rugged, waterproof to 16ft without a case, and has a touch screen display. It's a great alternative for action-focused 360 shooting.

• Ricoh Theta Z1 - The Z1 shoots 4K 360 video and 23MP photos. It has advanced image stabilization and very good low light performance. The Z1 has an impressive build quality with a magnesium alloy body. Downsides are a lack of waterproofing and expensive proprietary storage.

• Insta360 ONE R - A modular 360 camera that allows you to swap out lenses. Can shoot 5.3K video and 48MP photos. Lots of accessories and expandability. Significantly more expensive than the ONE X.

• Samsung Gear 360 - A more budget-friendly consumer 360 camera. Limited to 4K video and 15MP photos but packs a lot for the price. Companion app needs some polish but produces good results for casual users.

The ONE X compares well against competitors with great image quality, stabilization, and intuitive software. For many, it hits the sweet spot of features, performance and price in the consumer 360 camera market. But the options above are worth looking into for specific needs and budgets.

Conclusion

The Insta360 ONE X is an impressive action camera that offers a lot of innovative features in a compact design. It excels at shooting 360 degree video and has excellent built-in stabilization. The image quality is quite good, producing sharp 5.7K spherical videos. The touch screen interface makes it easy to preview shots and change settings on the fly. Key features like bullet time, timelapse, night lapse, and slow motion help expand your creative possibilities.

The battery life could be better but is decent for an action cam. There are lots of useful accessories available like the invisible selfie stick, bullet time grip, and dive case that enhance functionality. Overall, the ONE X is a great choice for users who want cutting edge 360 video and innovative capture modes in a small, convenient form factor. It's comparable to the GoPro Max and produces better quality 5.7K 360 footage.

For creative users who want to capture unique perspectives and immersive footage, the Insta360 ONE X is highly recommended. It packs a ton of features into a compact body. The advanced image stabilization produces gimbal-smooth footage even in action situations. If you're looking for a versatile 360 camera that can also shoot great standard videos, the ONE X is an excellent option that won't disappoint.