Insta360 X3 vs AKASO 360
In short: The AKASO 360 costs $80 less; the Insta360 X3 is waterproof to 10 m bare and the AKASO 360 is not waterproof on its own at all; the Insta360 X3 puts features behind a ~$35.88/yr plan, which makes its first year ~$315; the Insta360 X3 claims 1 h 21 min at 5.7K30 360 video, lab conditions.
| Spec | Insta360 X3 | AKASO 360 |
|---|---|---|
| Approx. price | ~$279 | ~$199 |
| Year-one cost | ~$315 with the plan | ~$199 |
| Type | 360 | 360 |
| Sensor size | 2 × 1/2-inch | 2 × 1/2-inch |
| Sensor area | 31 mm² per lens | 31 mm² per lens |
| Max resolution | 5.7K 360 @ 30fps | 5.7K 360 @ 30fps |
| Reframed resolution | ≈1.3K (estimated) | ≈1.3K (estimated) |
| Max fps at 4K | 30 | 60 |
| Max fps at 1080p | 60 | — |
| Max bitrate | Not published | Not published |
| Colour depth | Not published | Not published |
| Log profile | None | None |
| Stabilisation | FlowState | 360-SuperSmooth |
| Horizon lock | 360° (full) | 360° (full) |
| Aperture | f/1.9 | f/2.25 |
| Waterproof | 10 m bare, 50 m cased | — |
| Claimed runtime | 1 h 21 min at 5.7K30 360 video, lab conditions | 1 h at 5.7K30 360 recording |
| Tested runtime | No third-party test collected | No third-party test collected |
| Battery | 2290 mAh | 1350 mAh |
| Cold rating | -4°F | — |
| Weight | 180 g | 180 g |
| Screens | 2.29-inch rear touch | 2.29-inch rear touch |
| Mount | 1/4-20 | 1/4-20 |
| Replaceable lenses | No | No |
| GPS | No | No |
| Voice control | Yes | No |
| Storage | microSD | microSD |
| Subscription | Insta360+, ~$35.88/yr | None |
| Released | 2022 | 2025 |
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
Insta360 X3
- +Under $300, the cheapest current 360 camera from a major brand
- +Same FlowState stabilisation and reframing workflow as the flagships
- +2290 mAh battery is bigger than several newer cameras'
- +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
- −Insta360 publishes no bitrate or bit-depth figure for it
- −No magnetic mount and no internal storage, both of which the newer bodies have
AKASO 360
- +Cheapest 360 camera in the catalogue by a hundred dollars
- +Full 360° horizon lock and the invisible-selfie-stick trick both work
- +72 MP spherical stills at a price nothing else reaches
- +180 g, lighter than an Insta360 X5
- −Weather-resistant only, with no waterproof depth rating and no dive case
- −60 minutes of recording per charge
- −Exposed lenses that are not replaceable, on the camera type most likely to scratch them
- −5.7K reframes to roughly 1.3K of usable 16:9