Insta360 X5 vs GoPro Max: Which is the best 360 camera?

There are two major players in the 360 camera market, Insta360 and GoPro. Both offer similar products but at much different price points, so which is better?

Insta360 has been the go-to brand for consumer and professional-grade 360 cameras since it launched in 2015. Since then, 360 cameras have become another tool in the action camera lineup, allowing for unique points of view for almost any activity.

However, it couldn’t live without a competitor. GoPro released the GoPro Max in 2019 after the GoPro Fusion in 2017 as a response to the growing 360 camera craze. However, the company has yet to release an updated version of the camera, while Insta360 has released a handful of new variations to its design. So how does the new Insta360 X5 stack up to the nearly six-year-old GoPro Max?

Specs

Sadly, GoPro doesn’t list a lot of nitty-gritty specs on their website; instead, they just list out the features the product has. However, that won’t stop me from sharing that the X5 also has a 1/1.28″ camera sensor with an F2 aperture and a 6mm focal length, all in a camera that weighs 200 g.

The X5 is a beefy little guy, but is it worth the extra $200? On the contrary, the GoPro Max offers more than enough video resolution for social media applications if that is a key point for you.

Overall, reviews of the X5 have shown it has superior video quality both in normal and low lighting conditions. The extra resolution definitely helps there, but also Insta360’s post-processing of the video creates a much better and more vibrant video. Remember, we are now in a world where it’s not all about the camera specs, but also about the processing the brand does to it.

The Insta360 also features a dedicated AI chip, likely for video and audio processing, but also a few other editing and framing features that the X5 has.

However, if you’re looking for the most compact camera, the GoPro Max will be the one for you. While not small compared to its other HERO cameras, it’s still shorter than any of the Insta360 cameras.

Both cameras also feature a touchscreen on the body for camera control. However, both companies will likely want you to download and use each’s dedicated apps and pay for their respective monthly services for cloud video storage and whatever else they can come up with.

One key feature that stands out from the Insta360 X5 is its replaceable lenses. While it can be common to purchase lens protectors, which is probably smart for all users no matter what, Insta360 took this a step further and, for the first time on a consumer 360 camera, has added replacement lenses for purchase. So if you’re someone that is a bit harder on your cameras, this might be a reason to choose the X5 over the Max.

So which should you buy?

Given the older age of the GoPro Max, the Insta360 X5 or even the X4 would be the hands-down best option for your next 360 camera. It’s actually quite sad that GoPro hasn’t released an updated version of the Max in so long, as the company is still considered the king of the action cameras.

Could GoPro release a refreshed 360 camera soon? It’s always possible, but I honestly wouldn’t count on it. What might be coming, however, is a DJI 360 camera. Recent leaks have indicated that DJI is either working on or has worked on a prototype 360 Osmo action camera.

So unless you know you’re going to love the X5 or need a camera right now, it might be worth waiting it out a little longer to see if whatever DJI might be cooking is worth the wait.