GoPro MAX vs Insta360 X3
In short: The Insta360 X3 costs $90 less; the Insta360 X3 collects light over 31 mm² per lens against 28, which is 1.1× the area; the Insta360 X3 reframes to about 1.3K against 1.2K; the Insta360 X3 goes 10 m deep with no housing against 5 m; the Insta360 X3 claims 1 h 21 min at 5.7K30 360 video, lab conditions.
| Spec | GoPro MAX | Insta360 X3 |
|---|---|---|
| Approx. price | ~$369 | ~$279 |
| Year-one cost | ~$429 with the plan | ~$315 with the plan |
| Type | 360 | 360 |
| Sensor size | 2 × 1/2.3-inch | 2 × 1/2-inch |
| Sensor area | 28 mm² per lens | 31 mm² per lens |
| Max resolution | 5.6K 360 @ 30fps | 5.7K 360 @ 30fps |
| Reframed resolution | ≈1.2K (estimated) | ≈1.3K (estimated) |
| Max fps at 4K | 30 | 60 |
| Max fps at 1080p | 60 | 60 |
| Max bitrate | 78 Mbps | 120 Mbps |
| Colour depth | 8-bit | Not published |
| Log profile | None | LOG |
| Stabilisation | Max HyperSmooth | FlowState |
| Horizon lock | 360° (full) | 360° (full) |
| Aperture | Not published | f/1.9 |
| Waterproof | 5 m bare | 10 m bare, 50 m cased |
| Claimed runtime | 1 h 18 min at 1440p30 single-lens, Enduro battery | 1 h 21 min at 5.7K30 360 video, lab conditions |
| Tested runtime | No third-party test collected | No third-party test collected |
| Battery | 1600 mAh | 1800 mAh |
| Cold rating | 14°F | -4°F |
| Weight | 159 g | 180 g |
| Screens | 1.7-inch rear touch | 2.29-inch rear touch |
| Mount | GoPro folding fingers + 1/4-20 | 1/4-20 |
| Replaceable lenses | No | No |
| GPS | Yes | No |
| Voice control | Yes | Yes |
| Storage | microSD | microSD |
| Subscription | GoPro Premium, ~$59.99/yr | Insta360+, ~$35.88/yr |
| Released | 2019 | 2022 |
A highlighted cell is the outright better figure in that row, and only where one direction is unambiguously better. Weight, field of view and battery capacity are left neutral because the better direction depends entirely on what you are shooting.
Strengths and drawbacks
GoPro MAX
- +Max HyperSmooth in single-lens mode is still among the steadiest footage any GoPro produces
- +One body covers both 360 and conventional shooting, which nothing else here does as well
- +PowerPano produces level 270° panoramas without a tripod
- +Built-in GPS, which most 360 cameras still lack
- −Lenses are not replaceable, and they are the first thing to scratch on any 360 camera
- −5.6K spherical reframes to well under 2K of usable 16:9
- −8-bit only, with no log profile
- −A 2019 sensor and processor, refreshed only in battery and mount
- −A 2019 processor makes in-camera stitching and the app noticeably slow next to current cameras
Insta360 X3
- +Under $300, the cheapest current 360 camera from a major brand
- +Same FlowState stabilisation and reframing workflow as the flagships
- +A huge stock of cheap used accessories and selfie sticks exists for it
- +The battery is user-replaceable and spares are cheap and plentiful after four years on sale
- −5.7K reframes to roughly 1.3K of usable 16:9 — visibly soft on a large screen
- −1/2-inch sensors and a 2022 processor, so low light is poor
- −Lenses are not replaceable
- −A 120 Mbps ceiling, the lowest in the current X-series
- −No quick-release mounting point, which the X4 and later bodies have