Latest news with #Insta360X5
Forbes
2 days ago
- Forbes
Insta360 X5 Gets A Bold New Limited Edition Look And A Trip To Space
The Insta360 X5 was already one of the most capable 360-degree action cameras on the market. Now, it's got a limited edition Satin White look to match. The new variant brings a fresh finish to the flagship 8K camera with subtle glitter accents, vibrant orange details, and matching accessories. And to prove that style doesn't come at the cost of ruggedness, Insta360 launched it 23.6 miles into the stratosphere. It was made possible by Sent Into Space. Insta360 says its new X5 captured 'stunning footage, proving its mettle in the harshest environment imaginable.' Along the way, it's claimed to have faced temperatures as low as -68°F and exposure to sunlight 30% stronger than Earth-level conditions. The Satin White Insta360 X5 Limited Edition is more than just a color refresh. The white body features subtle glitter, striking orange accents, and an aesthetic that extends to the bundled accessories: a matching lens cap, protective pouch, and even the 114cm Invisible Selfie Stick. Internally, the latest X5 remains unchanged. So, you get dual 1/1.28-inch sensors, 8K 30fps video, PureVideo AI noise reduction for low-light conditions, and AdaptiveTone for dynamic exposure and color control. It's designed for cinematic-grade results, whether you're filming a city skyline at night or a sun-drenched summit. Insta360 has also introduced optional ND filters for the X5, available in ND16, ND32, and ND64 strengths. These are tailored for handling extreme brightness, enhancing motion blur, and delivering more color-accurate footage. The camera auto-detects each ND filter to optimize settings for varying lighting conditions. The Satin White edition is just as rugged as its original sibling. That means you get IP68-rated dust and water resistance. Plus, it is waterproof up to 49ft (and up to 197ft with the Dive Case), and scratch-resistant, replaceable lenses. It features the same Wind Guard as the regular X5 to ensure clear audio even in tough environments. Insta360 claims up to 208 minutes of continuous 5.7K shooting with fast charging to 80% in just 20 minutes. The Insta360 X5 Satin White Limited Edition also includes a free 1TB cloud storage subscription (worth $107.90) for auto-backups, cloud editing, and one-click sharing. Insta360 X5 Satin White Limited Edition: Price and Availability The new Insta360 X5 Satin White Limited Edition is now available globally. It went on sale earlier this week on August 5 for $549.99. Once purchased, you can claim a free 1-year Insta360+ subscription with 1TB of cloud storage, valued at $107.90.
Mint
02-08-2025
- Mint
Is the Insta360 X5 the ultimate upgrade for 360-degree video capture?
'Do we really need a better 360-degree camera?" I asked myself, when I first started using the new Insta360 X5. You see, in the world of 'capture-everything, decide what to frame later' 360-degree cameras, Insta360 has the segment well and truly beat, with X4 from last year already superior to every other 360 camera out there. It offered great video quality, an easy-to-use interface, and simple editing software that made short work of editing and sharing 360-degree footage. Putting the X5 to use over several vacations and work trips, some in the wild outdoors while others decidedly tamer, I've tried to answer the ₹54,990 question—is the X5 worth the pretty penny, and is it a worthy upgrade from the already-excellent X4? For those unfamiliar with the lineup, Insta360's X series are candy-bar-shaped devices with bulbous ultra-wide lenses on both sides for 360-degree footage, a bit like two GoPros bound and working together. Hit record without worrying about whether or not you got the shot, and once you're done recording, you can pick the exact angle, aspect ratio and perspective you need to stitch together your video in the companion app. As with previous models, the dual-lens setup dictates the design of the X5, remaining largely unchanged save for it being a millimeter taller and narrower, and weighing a couple of grams less than the X4. The textured, geometric pattern gives the X5 an armored Batsuit look, but the real upside is improved grip in the hand, particularly for folks who need to use it with gloves on (motorcyclists, for instance). Those same motorcyclists and outdoorsy sorts will also appreciate the built-in wind guard for its microphones, and I was impressed with how much wind noise it cut down. With the addition of a new magnetic quick-release for vastly increased mount compatibility and a repositioned battery door, existing cases and accessories from previous generation X-series cameras will not work, so there's that. The headlining design change has to be one you wish you'd never have to use—replaceable lens. With the X3 or X4, if you took a hard fall that managed to scratch the lens, or worse still, crack them, you were out of luck. You could have used the company's optional protective lens covers, but you'd then have to contend with a degradation in video quality. This time around, the X5 allows you to spend just ₹3,599 to completely replace the lens via an optional lens replacement kit…and you don't even need to take it in for servicing. It may seem like a small bonus, but it allows you to really go all out with the camera—take the training wheels off, in a sense—and use it with the sort of wild abandon that would have resulted in a permanent write-off with past models. Now, given the previous iteration offered 8K 30fps or 5.7K 60fps resolution shooting and there's no perceptible change in shooting modes—star lapse, timelapse, interval road mode, loop recording, bullet time and time shift—you'd be right in asking if there was a need for an X5 after all. There is—the X5 comes with the most worthwhile of camera upgrades: larger 1/1.28-inch image sensors (compared to the X4's 1/2" sensors). Upping the sensor size with the same resolution should theoretically mean more detail in the footage, whether you're shooting in good light or more challenging light conditions, and boy, this camera has levelled up! The final 4K footage—the 8K 360-degree shot exports to 4K on a flattened frame—is noticeably better than what the X4 delivered, which by itself was a high bar for 360 cameras. The footage straight out of the X5 is great for a 360 camera, so much so that it can easily now be interspersed with 4K action camera or phone footage and not look out of place. No longer do you have to accept the tradeoff of less-than-excellent video quality to take advantage of the flexibility of using a 360-degree camera. Taking the X5 out to shoot in the clean California skies, the X5 shot punch, contrast-rich video outdoors without washing out the highlights or adding noise into spots in the shade, in the default modes without changing exposure or color settings. There is an HDR mode for trickier lighting, and the X5 has excellent dynamic range for natural looking videos that avoid the over processed look that HDR video typically suffers from. Back home, I used the two new modes—the new PureVideo low-light mode which bumps the footage down to 5.7K but boosts indoor shooting dramatically, and the InstaFrame mode that uses its onboard AI smarts to whip out one flat video (centered on you as a subject) for instant use and a second 360-degree video to capture everything, allowing you the luxury of choosing additional angles should you need them later. The latter is fun and gives you Insta ready video rather quickly, but since it dials down the resolution, I'd recommend you only use it when you're pushed for time and can't sit and export the full 4K output via the app. Performance otherwise is super snappy, from powering on and starting to record to navigating the on-screen menus and using the intuitive companion app. As with previous X-series cameras, the camera does get warm when recording at full tilt at 8K resolution with HDR, but I've never had the camera overheat enough for it to halt recording. Battery life on the upgraded 2400mAh batteries is around 80-85 minutes of 8K video, and you can extend it via a new three-hour-long 'Endurance Mode,' which at launch would only work with 5.7K 24fps video, but a recent 'Summer' update in mid-July bumped it up back to the full 8K capture. Take a 20-minute break and the battery fast charges to 80%, so you should be able to manage with just the single battery. Verdict For a couple of generations now, the Insta360 X series have been the 'capture everything' cameras to get, and the X5, with its low-light video quality improvements and bumped up details levels, makes a strong case for those holdouts who still preferred traditional action cameras for their higher video quality. This is a camera that can now beat action cameras at their own game, while still offering the added versatility of 360-degree video. It's a big deal, to not have to worry about framing the shot beforehand without feeling like you're making a quality compromise for that flexibility. One keeps hearing about a much-rumored GoPro Max 2 which might challenge Insta360, but until it lands, there is an undisputed champ in this space.
Man of Many
31-07-2025
- Man of Many
DJI Osmo 360 Review: First Impressions and Video Test
By Ben McKimm - News Published: 31 Jul 2025 Share Copy Link 0 Readtime: 9 min Every product is carefully selected by our editors and experts. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more. For more information on how we test products, click here. If you're reading this DJI Osmo 360 review, then you likely sit in one of two camps. You love 360 cameras like the Insta360 X5, GoPro Max and the Kandao Qoocam 3 Ultra, or you've never used one before. The good news is that DJI usually does a great job of catering to both parties, but the introduction of a 360 camera could be the biggest challenge they've faced yet. The brand's devices are traditionally simple to use, but 360 cameras are not. While they film the whole world at once (hence the name), the post-production process for key-framing the clips can be complex. This is a problem that they believe they've fixed with a new DJI Studio desktop application. Now fashionably late to the party, DJI reckons they've learned from their competitors and created the best 360 camera on the market. Have they done it? Let's find out. High point Low point Native 8K/50fps 360 video and 120 MP stills from a 1-inch sensor with HDR, RockSteady 3.0 delivers smooth, natural stabilised footage, 100 min battery life at 8K/30fps. New DJI Studio app simplifies 360 edits with auto tracking. 360 video workflow still needs key-framing, image quality advantage over Insta360 X5 is marginal in most modes, and no removable microSD slot means files must be offloaded when the internal drive fills. Scroll horizontally to view full table DJI Osmo 360 Specifications Feature DJI Osmo 360 Specification Sensor 1-inch square HDR CMOS, 2.4 µm pixels, 13.5-stop dynamic range, f/1.9 aperture Max 360-video Native 8 K / 50 fps; records 8 K / 30 fps for 100 min High-speed video 4 K / 100 fps (4× slow-mo) Still-photo resolution 120 MP 360° images Single-lens mode 5 K / 60 fps, 155° FOV; Boost Video 4 K / 120 fps, 170° FOV Internal storage 105 GB built-in memory (no card required) Battery life 100 min at 8 K / 30 fps; 180 min with Battery Extension Rod Fast-charge rate 50 % in 12 minutes Operating temperature Functional down to –20 °C Weight 183 g Mount system Magnetic quick-release plus standard ¼-inch thread Audio OsmoAudio Direct connects two DJI Mic transmitters without a receiver Scroll horizontally to view full table DJI Osmo 360 | Image: Ben McKimm / Man of Many How Much is the DJI Osmo 360? The DJI Osmo 360 is priced from AUD$759 (Standard Combo), making it significantly cheaper than its closest competitor, the Insta360 X5 (AUD$929). Here's what you get for your money: Osmo 360 Standard Combo – AUD$759 Osmo 360 Osmo Action Extreme Battery Plus Osmo 360 Protective Pouch Osmo Lens Osmo Lens Cleaning Cloth USB-C to USB-C PD Cable (USB 3.1) Osmo 360 Rubber Lens Protector Osmo 360 Adventure Combo – AUD$989 Osmo 360 Osmo Action Extreme Battery Plus Osmo 360 Protective Pouch Osmo Lens Cleaning Cloth USB-C to USB-C PD Cable Osmo 360 Rubber Lens Protector Osmo Adjustable Quick Release Adapter Mount Osmo 1.2m Invisible Selfie Stick Osmo Action Multifunctional Battery Case 2 You'll also be able to purchase a range of DJI accessories from launch, including: Osmo 360 Battery Extension Rod Osmo Motorcycle Heavy-Duty Mount Osmo Adjustable Quick-Release Adapter Mount Osmo 360 Transparent Lens Protectors Osmo Hanging Neck Mount Max Osmo Third-Person Helmet Mount Kit Osmo 70cm Invisible Selfie Stick Osmo 1m High-Strength Carbon Fibre Invisible Selfie Stick Osmo 1.2m Invisible Selfie Stick Kit Osmo 1.6m Tripod Selfie Stick Osmo 2.5m Extended Carbon Fibre Selfie Stick Osmo Dual Heavy-Duty Clamp Osmo Vortex Rotating Handle Osmo 360 Carrying Bag Osmo Bike Rear Mount Kit Like all handheld tech products (and even cars) we recommend the DJI Care Refresh program, which is available for Osmo 360. If an accident occurs, damage is covered by the replacement service, including natural wear, collisions, and water damage. You can also pay a small fee to have a damaged product replaced, and the one-year plan includes up to two replacements and four replacements in two years. DJI Osmo 360 | Image: Ben McKimm / Man of Many DJI Osmo 360 | Image: Ben McKimm / Man of Many DJI Osmo 360 | Image: Ben McKimm / Man of Many DJI Osmo 360 | Image: Ben McKimm / Man of Many How Does the DJI Osmo 360 Feel? The DJI Osmo 360 feels very solid in hand. They've chosen to steer away from the thin, rectangular form factor of the Insta360 X5, but I don't think it's a problem, as it's still fairly lightweight at 183 grams. Importantly, I had no problem holding it up on the end of a 2.5-metre-long pole. Looking around the camera, you'll find a covered USB-C (3.1) port in the bottom corner of the camera for charging and file transfers, an on/off/mode button on the left side of the camera, a standard screw-in fitting on the base, a DJI clip-in base that works with the same connections as the DJI Action 5 Pro, and a battery tray with a cover that houses a 1,950mAh battery. Battery life is marked at 100 minutes in 8K/30fps, but we need to do further testing on this in different modes and with different settings. Below the screen are two buttons, one for start/stop recording and another for switching the modes from video to photo, etc. Of course, when the camera is mounted more than 2.5 metres in the air, you'll want to start recording using the included gesture controls. Hold the palm of your hand in front of the camera, and it will start recording with a three-second countdown. Alternatively, use the voice commands. What is the Video Quality Like on the DJI Osmo 360? Starting with the hardware, the DJI Osmo 360 uses a 1-inch 360° square, HDR imaging sensor, with a maximum video resolution of 8K/50fps. To put this to the test, I chose to shoot the test video above in low-light because 360 cameras usually struggle the most in these conditions. I was happy to see that it did very well in the Sydney afternoon dusk, with natural levels of sharpness, colour, and only a small amount of noise. You'll also notice how smooth the image is with DJI's RockSteady 3.0, reducing shakes while retaining the dynamic impact of motion while walking around. If you shoot a lot of low-light video, the Osmo 360 is still going to be limited by its hardware in darker conditions than those I tested above, but I can finally say that both the dual 1/1.28-inch sensors in the Insta360 X5 and the 1-inch 360° square in the DJI Osmo 360 do a fine job with only small amounts of noise. You can take 120MP photos with the Osmo 360 | Image: Ben McKimm / Man of Many I'm a bit of a framerate nerd, so I loved the ability to shoot in 4K at 100fps 360° video. When I wanted to slow things down even further, the 4x slow motion mode takes care of things. I still have further testing to do with the DJI Osmo 360, but the differences between it and the Insta360 X5 are minimal at first assessment. Both cameras have 13.5 stops of dynamic range, the DJI Osmo 360 has an aperture of f/1.9, and the Insta360 X5 makes do with f/2.0. However, one main advantage of the DJI is its native video resolution capabilities, where the 8K/50fps 360° video outdoes the 8K/30fps 360° video in the X5. Still, most people will only shoot at 30fps, so the benefits are negligible. When you're willing to sacrifice a little on the framerate end and turn it down from 50fps to 30fps, the native 8K/30fps 360° panoramic video has large 2.4μm pixels, which matches the Insta360 X5. However, my early assessments show that the DJI has a more natural feel to the image, whereas the X5 is overly sharpened. I still have more testing to do, but I was really impressed by the 120 MP 360° photo quality. You can see from my test image above just how much you can fit in the shot when using a 360 camera, and it would be perfect for group photos and events. DJI Studio | Image: Ben McKimm / Man of Many What Software Does the DJI Osmo 360 Use? While you can connect to the DJI Mimo app like other DJI products, the DJI Osmo 360 takes advantage of the new DJI Studio desktop application (Windows and Mac), which is similar to CapCut but built for DJI devices, especially the 360 camera. Here, you can take your 360 video and edit it down using 'key framing' to focus on the object of your choice. If that sounds too hard, automatic object tracking is available, where you draw a box around the object and the software tracks it for you. I used it to make the test video above. Once you have your frame set, you can choose the perspective (Asteroid, Ultra Wide, Wide, and Dewarp) as well as the FOV, Correction Angle, Pan Angle, Tilt Angle, and Roll Angle, respectively. These aren't related to the app, but these are the other software features built into the camera: Invisible Selfie Stick : No editing needed for third-person views typically captured by a cameraman : No editing needed for third-person views typically captured by a cameraman Gesture and Voice Control : Start or stop recording with a palm gesture, or use voice control : Start or stop recording with a palm gesture, or use voice control GyroFrame and Intelligent Tracking : DJI Mimo's GyroFrame allows users to adjust the 360° : DJI Mimo's GyroFrame allows users to adjust the 360° Multi-Platform Editing Support: Edit videos with DJI Mimo or DJI Studio Ultimately, the learning curve for using the app was very small, and I think DJI has kept their promise in making a very easy-to-use 360 camera. DJI Osmo 360 | Image: Ben McKimm / Man of Many Should You Buy the DJI Osmo 360? DJI delivers on its promise with the Osmo 360, creating an easy-to-use 360 camera that brings arguably the best image quality of any consumer 360 camera on the market. The learning curve is small, the image quality is great, and the possibilities for what you can shoot are seemingly endless. I've only scratched the surface with my Osmo 360 test regime, but it's been a great device so far. If anything changes in the meantime, you'll be the first to know, and if you have any further questions, jump into the comments below, and we'll answer them! Should you buy the DJI Osmo 360? Well, if you've been sitting on the fence, wanting to jump into the deep end and purchase a 360 camera, and you're already in the DJI ecosystem, then the Osmo 360 is a no-brainer. On the other hand, if you're in the market for a 360 camera and you're not loyal to any particular brand, the Osmo 360 has arrived at a very desirable price point, and it's worth taking a closer look at. NOTE: The author of this article, Ben McKimm, was provided a DJI Osmo 360 for the purposes of this review. However, we need to stress that this is NOT a sponsored review.
Stuff.tv
31-07-2025
- Stuff.tv
I reviewed the DJI Osmo 360 action cam – and it's am ultra-wide panoramic shot across Insta360's bows
Stuff Verdict A smart, slick, and surprisingly polished 360 cam that rivals the best out there – and undercuts it on price too. Pros Cheaper than an Insta360 X5 Slick and easy to use Good all-round image quality Cons Not suitable for underwater use Non-replaceable lenses X5 just edges it on night-time video Introduction DJI might be best known for making camera drones, but it's no stranger to action cameras either, and it's finally turned its aerial-honed gaze to the world of 360 video. Enter the DJI Osmo 360, the company's first attempt at immersive capture. With 8K capture and AI-assisted auto editing, it's a direct rival to Insta360's formidable X5, the undisputed reigning champ in this corner of the camera world. But don't call it a copycat. The Osmo 360 isn't just another little grey camera with fish-eye peepers sticking out on either side. It comes with a fresh sensor design, a seriously sharp spec sheet and a welcome price tag that manages to undercut its rival by an eye-opening margin. As yet, the camera isn't available in the US. In Europe, the Standard Combo bundle costs £410/€480, while the accessory-crammed Adventure Combo costs £540/€630. A DJI spokesperson told us, 'We currently do not have an estimated timeline for when it will be available [in the US], but we will keep you posted when we do.' DJI's clearly hoping its first 360 shooter will tempt both existing fans of the brand and newcomers itching to add a little spatial sparkle to their content. So, how does it fare? Design & build: squat, sturdy – but not invincible If DJI raided a drawer marked 'Insta360 and GoPro Max parts' and superglued the best bits together, the result would probably look a lot like the Osmo 360. It's squat and square, with a matte grey shell and two convex lenses staring out from opposite sides. I think it feels premium without being flashy – a confident nod rather than a chest-thumping shout. There's a 2in touchscreen on the front, supported by three physical buttons: one for power, one for shooting and another for flipping between the front and rear camera feeds. Underneath, you'll find both a standard tripod thread and DJI's magnetic quick-release mount, providing welcome mounting options, while on either side there are covered ports for the battery (and microSD card slot) and USB-C connectivity. The Osmo 360 is IP68-rated, which means it'll happily shoot in the snow or a rainstorm and will even survive a dip in the sea – although, confusingly, DJI doesn't recommend underwater use due to stitching issues. That's a little odd, especially given that Insta360 practically dares you to dive in with its X5. And unlike the X5, there are no user-replaceable lenses here either. You'll need to slap on the optional lens protector or spring for DJI Care Refresh accident cover (which offers full replacements rather than repairs) if you're prone to clumsy moments. It's not cut out for the most extreme of activities, then. But for most real-world uses, like walking, biking, paddle boarding and the odd close encounter with a tree branch, the Osmo 360 is tough enough to keep shooting. Features: editing by AI The Osmo 360 isn't short on features, and DJI's cleverly hooked it into its existing ecosystem. The camera works with the DJI Mimo mobile app, which gives you live previews, firmware updates and intuitive remote controls, plus AI-assisted reframing and clip creation, which detects highlights and edits them together with transitions and background music. I found this robo editor basic and limited compared to Insta360's app in some areas, as it only supports daytime-shot cycling, motorcycling and skiing clips, but it's easy to use and does the job if you just want to throw together a shareable video as quickly as possible. There's also a new (and free) desktop app, DJI Studio, for when you want a bit more control. It lets you keyframe, track, trim, colour grade and add background music or filters to your footage with ease, before exporting a polished file. Compared to Insta360's long-established editing suite, it's a solid first go. Simple, but not simplistic. Then there's the audio. The four built-in mics are decent enough for casual use, but the real magic happens when you pair the camera with a DJI Mic 2 or Mic Mini. Suddenly, you've got pristine 24-bit sound, on-screen gain control and wind-baffling voice capture that makes post-production a breeze (no pun intended). It's a standout feature for creators already living in DJI's ecosystem. Performance: perky and polished From the moment you power it on, the Osmo 360 feels snappy and reliable. Boot times are nigh-on instantaneous, touchscreen menu navigation is smooth and connecting to the Mimo app is rapid. It feels much more solid than most first-generation products, which is testament to DJI's hardware experience. The company's software polish shines too. Whether you're using the mobile app to throw together a quick social post or diving into Studio on desktop, the workflow is streamlined and beginner-friendly. The image stabilisation is excellent. Whether mounted on a bike or bouncing around on foot, your horizon stays flatter than an East Anglian landscape. The invisible selfie stick trick works near-flawlessly, and even tricky dynamic motion doesn't seem to trip up the stitching. I also like that the camera comes with built-in storage, because it means you don't have to dig out a microSD card to get recording right away. There's 128GB of internal space, and a card can add up to 1TB of additional room. The biggest caveat? The battery life from the 1950mAh cells. While the 90-ish minutes of 8K 30p recording a full charge provides is perfectly fine for casual use, it does fall short of the 185-odd minutes provided by Insta360's chunkier 2400mAh X5 battery. Still, you can always pack a couple of extras, as they're affordable enough not to sting. Image quality: hip to be square Play Here's where things get pixel-peepingly interesting. The Osmo 360 packs dual 1/1.1-inch square CMOS sensors with large 2.4μm pixels – a setup DJI claims maximises usable surface area compared to the cropped rectangular sensors used by rivals. In practice? The footage looks fantastic. 8K video at up to 50fps is sharp, detailed, and vibrant, although colours sometimes veer into the over-saturated zone. Skies in particular can look a little too Instagram-friendly unless you tone things down manually or shoot in D-Log M for post-shoot grading. But the Osmo 360 gets the key things right: it stitches the two cameras' videos together with hardly a seam showing, ruthlessly removes selfie sticks from the footage and deals pretty well with flare. SuperNight mode is surprisingly good for low-light footage; it's not a night-vision miracle by any means, but certainly usable and noticeably cleaner than many other 360 cams in similar conditions. Boost mode, meanwhile, lets you turn off one lens and use the camera more like a traditional action cam, complete with ultra-wide framing, high dynamic range and up to 120fps slo-mo. Play In head-to-head comparisons with the Insta360 X5, the Osmo 360 holds its own. It doesn't beat the X5 outright, but it doesn't trail behind either. If you squint at side-by-side footage, DJI's colour processing is arguably a little more aggressive, and the X5 just edges things in very low light. But for 90% of creators, those differences won't matter much – especially when you factor in price. The Osmo 360 can capture still photos too, of course. These can be 120MP, or 30MP with HDR. To be honest, I have never found still photos on 360 cameras particularly exciting, but when you drag them into the mobile or desktop apps to effectively turn them into video clips, they can be quite fun. DJI Osmo 360 verdict So, is the DJI Osmo 360 a 360-degree slam dunk? Not quite. But it is a superb first effort that puts DJI right up there with the very best in the game. It's small, easy to use and performs very slickly – all while costing less than its closest rival. The image quality is excellent, the apps are intuitive and the integration with DJI's OsmoAudio system is a huge plus for vloggers and creators. There are some minor drawbacks when compared to the Insta360 X5 – slightly shorter battery life, no underwater confidence and those non-replaceable lenses – but they don't overshadow the package as a whole. If you're already in the DJI ecosystem or just dipping your toes into the immersive video waters, this is an easy recommendation. The Osmo 360 isn't a revolution, but it's a reminder that DJI doesn't do half-measures, even when playing catch-up. Stuff Says… Score: 5/5 A smart, slick, and surprisingly polished 360 cam that rivals the best out there – and undercuts it on price too. Pros Cheaper than an Insta360 X5 Slick and easy to use Good all-round image quality Cons Not suitable for underwater use Non-replaceable lenses X5 just edges it on night-time video DJI Osmo 360 technical specifications Sensor 2 x 1/1.1in CMOS ISO range 100 to 51200 Video recording Up to 8K 50 fps / 4K 120fps Screen 2in 314 x 556 Storage 128GB + microSD card slot Connectivity Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, USB-C Dimensions 61 x 36.3 x 81mm Weight 183g
Tom's Guide
31-07-2025
- Business
- Tom's Guide
DJI strikes back! China's camera giant just launched its own 360 camera — and Insta360 should be seriously worried
DJI has just launched the Osmo 360, which is a 360-degree action camera to compete with the vaunted Insta360 X5 — the best 360 camera you can buy. Released globally today (31st July 2025), although with a U.S. release date pending due to tariffs, the DJI Osmo 360 will cost £409 / €479 / AU$759. With no specified launch date in the U.S., the manufacturer has not announced USD pricing yet either. "The Osmo 360 will launch globally on Thursday, July 31, at 8AM ET, but it will not be available for sale immediately in the U.S. market through official DJI channels," a DJI spokesperson confirmed to me today. "We currently do not have an estimated timeline for when it will be available, but we will keep you posted when we do." The DJI Osmo 360 boasts an 8K/50p maximum resolution from its two 1/1.1-inch square HDR sensors, recording in full 360-degree. That means up to 4K/50p output when reframed in 16:9. The Insta360 X5 shoots at a maximum 8K/30p, for a maximum 16:9 resolution of 4K/30p, and has two smaller 1/1.28-inch sensors — that means the Osmo 360 with its larger sensors could be a better performer in low light. "[The] Osmo 360's industry-first square HDR image sensor maintains the same 360° image field as a traditional 1-inch rectangular sensor, while eliminating the unused area of traditional rectangular sensors," says DJI. "This results in 25% more sensor utilization, as well as outstanding image quality and lower power consumption, all in an ultra-compact, lightweight camera body." The Osmo 360 features 13.5 stops of dynamic range and a wide f/1.9 maximum aperture, which will further benefit low-light performance. Naturally, the DJI Osmo 360 also shoots in single-lens mode at up to 4K/120p or 5K/60p, and it feature's DJI's usual RockSteady stabilization, which works extremely well in the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro, although with the new sensors, it remains to be seen whether this system will be as effective — I'm currently testing the Osmo 360, so stay locked to Tom's Guide for my upcoming full review, where I will cover this. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Unlike the Insta360 X5, the DJI Osmo 360 has 105GB of internal storage — similar to the Osmo Action 5 Pro, which also has internal storage. This is super handy if you've run out of space on your MicroSD card — a very real possibility when shooting at 8K/50p. DJI claims the Osmo 360 will shoot for 100 minutes at 8K/30p, and I can confirm the battery claim to be true — and even a little conservative — from my testing so far, where I achieved around 110 minutes at 8K/30p. By contrast, the Insta360 X5 managed 52 minutes at 8K/30p in my tests. Interestingly, the Osmo 360 uses the same 1,950mAh battery as the Osmo Action 5 Pro, which means users of that camera can share batteries across devices. As with OsmoAudio, it's another handy ecosystem feature that makes it easy to flick between DJI devices. The DJI Osmo 360 features wireless hookup to DJI microphones, including the DJI Mic 2 and DJI Mic Mini, via OsmoAudio, as we've seen on other DJI products like the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro and DJI Osmo Pocket 3. This is very important. I've been testing the Osmo 360 for around a week now ahead of my upcoming review, and I can already confirm that the internal mics on the Osmo 360 are nowhere near as good as the fantastic mics on the X5, so you'll want to be hooking up an external mic if you can. However, it's another calculated move from DJI to expand its product ecosystem. DJI is consistently releasing products that work with its existing devices — in wireless hookup, but also with physical hardware, such as batteries (more on that below). Its products are pitched at enthusiasts and professionals, where this matters hugely. Being able to take the same packs of batteries for two or three devices, and use a single set of wireless mics for everything streamlines workflow, and is a big reason to buy DJI products of Insta360, where each product uses its own battery/mount etc. The Osmo 360 is another blow struck in the ongoing tussle between DJI and its rival, Insta360. The two rival Chinese imaging firms have been vying for supremacy in the action cameras arena for some time now. Insta360, though, has long been the dominant name in 360-degree cameras and technology, while DJI has been the market leader in drones. Earlier this week, Insta360 announced it was launching a drone brand, Antigravity, which would use the Insta360's 360 cameras to take aerial content creation into a new realm of immersion and ease of use. Antigravity presented a danger to DJI's grip on the drones market... until now. The Osmo 360 is a wolf in wolf's clothing. What do I mean by that? Well, while it's dressed like a pretty mean wolf, underneath it's an even meaner one. On the surface, the Osmo 360 is a potential threat to Insta360's grip on the 360-degree camera market. However, underneath, this camera seriously threatens Insta360's wider dominance on 360-tech in general. Importantly, this is a huge counter to Insta360's launch of a 360 drone brand. Mark my words, before long, DJI will be putting its 360 cameras in drones, and then Insta360/Antigravity are going to have a major fight on their hands. How long away that is, I can't say. The Osmo 360 is only the first iteration of DJI's 360 tech, and it needs refining (especially the software side) to compete with Insta360. That said, for a first 360 camera, the Osmo 360 is very, very impressive. And I'm not sure Antigravity has the time it needs to make being first-on-the-scene with 360 drones properly count in the long run. The Osmo 360 may look like a run on the 360 camera market, but believe me: for DJI, this is all about drones. And if it can take some sales away from Insta360's other cameras too, that's a just a secondary benefit. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
