Insta360 has today announced the latest in its line of 360° action cameras. The new X5 camera will retail for £519.99 in the UK (€589.99, $549.99), and it shoots in resolutions up to 8K. Insta360 claims it’s “the smartest, toughest 360° camera ever made”. So what’s new?

























The X5 follows the form factor of its predecessors, with a chunky body sporting a lens at the top on each side to capture a full 360° image. A lot has changed though. From a practical point of view perhaps the most welcome update is that the two lens domes are now replaceable. Because they stand proud of the body – and need to in order to get a full 360° image – the lenses are susceptible to damage. For example, from a heavy-handed cyclist throwing them into a frame bag that also contains a sharp-edged multitool. Not that we’d have any first-hand experience, of course.

Anyway, Insta360 has used a new, more durable, glass for the lens but the fact that it can now be replaced is a big plus. Lens guards are also available for an extra level of protection.

Inside the camera Insta360 is using new 1/1.28” sensors nearly half as big again as the ones used in the X4. That has allowed a new maximum resolution of 8K, up from 5.7K, at up to 30 frames per second. The camera is actually sampling down from a full resolution of 11K, so 8K isn’t pushing the limits of the sensors, and you can also use the X5 in single-lens mode and shoot standard footage in resolutions up to 4K. Active HDR shooting is available up to 5.7K/60fps for more detail in sunny conditions.

The bigger sensors can capture more light, and Insta360 is making big play of the low-light performance of the X5, an area where action cameras generally struggle but Insta360 is already leading the field with the Ace Pro 2. That camera has a dual-AI chip system to remove noise and improve image quality in low light but the X5 goes one better, with a triple-AI setup which Insta360claims offers “a dramatic leap in image quality across all resolutions”.

One of the downsides of shooting in 360 is that there’s a fair bit of work to do in post to get your final video. For the X5 Insta360 has added a new mode called InstaFrame, where the camera produces two files. One is the full 360° file that you can edit to your heart’s content in the Insta360 app, or your editor of choice on desktop. The other is a flat file, ready to share; you can choose either a constant direction or a selfie view that keeps you in frame.
There are plenty of other updates too. A magnetic mounting system has been added so it’s easier to swap the X5 between mounts. The microphone has an added windguard, which should be good news for cycling, and there’s also going to be a wireless companion mic for the first time. The 2400mAh battery can be fast-charged from flat to 80% in 20 minutes, or “the time it takes to finish a cup of coffee”, according to Insta360, which is some pretty pedestrian coffee drinking around these parts. The X5 is IP68 waterproof out of the box to 15m, and there’s a dive case if that’s not deep enough; hopefully it will be for cycling unless you get it really wrong

The Insta360 X5 is available to order from today, and it costs £519.99 in the UK, or £609.99 for the Essentials pack which includes an extra battery, a utility fast charge case, a 114cm invisible selfie stick, a set of standard lens guards, a lens cap and a carry case. There is a big ecosystem of accessories too, including a seatpost mount for the selfie stick which allows you to get a drone-like follow shot, and a number of out-front mounts for riding too. We’ve got an X5 in the office for review, so stay tuned for our thoughts as soon as we’ve put it through its paces.
Insta360 X5 full specs
| Sensor Size | 1/1.28″ |
| Lens Aperture | F2.0 |
| Focal Length | 6mm |
| 360º Video Resolution | Video Mode: 8K: 7680×3840@30/25/24fps 5.7K+: 5760×2880@30/25/24fps 5.7K: 5760×2880@60/50/48/30/25/24fps 4K: 3840×1920@120/100/60/50/48/30/25/24fps InstaFrame Mode: PureVideo: |
| Single-Lens Video Resolution | Video Mode: 4K: 3840×2160@60/50/30/25/24fps 2.7K: 2720×1536@60/50/30/25/24fps 1080p: 1920×1080@120/100/60/50/30/25/24fps FreeFrame Video: Me Mode: |
| Photo Resolution | Approx. 72MP (11904×5952) Approx. 18MP (5888×2944) |
| Video Format | 360°: INSV Single-Lens: MP4 |
| Photo Format | INSP (can export via mobile app or Studio desktop software) DNG |
| Video Modes | 360°: Video (built-in Active HDR), PureVideo, InstaFrame, Timelapse, TimeShift, Bullet Time, Loop Recording, Road Mode
Single-Lens: Video, Freeframe Video, Me Mode, Loop Recording |
| Photo Modes | Photo (optional HDR), Interval, Starlapse, Burst |
| Color Profiles | Vivid, Standard, Flat, I-Log |
| Video Coding | H.264, H.265 |
| Max. Video Bitrate | 180Mbps |
| Exposure Value | ±4EV |
| ISO Range | 100–6400 |
| Shutter Speed | Photo: 1/8000 – 120s Video: 1/8000 – to the limit of frames per second |
| White Balance | 2000K-10000K |
| Audio Modes | · Auto Wind Noise Reduction (two strengths) · Voice Enhancement · Stereo · 360° Audio |
| Audio Format | 48 kHz, 16bit, AAC |
| Weight | 200g |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | 46×124.5×38.2mm |
| MicroSD Card | UHS-I V30 speed class or higher |
| Microphones | 4 |
| Battery Capacity | 2400mAh |
| Charging Time | 80% in 20 mins (9V 2A) 100% in 35 mins (9V 2A) |
| Run Time | 8K30fps: 88 mins 5.7K30fps: 135 mins 5.7K24fps Endurance Mode: 185 mins *Tested in a lab environment. |
| Operating Temperature | -4°F to 104°F (-20℃ to 40℃) |
| Waterproof | 15 m |
| Bluetooth | BLE 5.2 |
| Wi-Fi | 802.11a/n/ac |
| USB | USB-C 3.0 |
| Gyroscope | 6-axis gyroscope |
| Mounting Point | 1/4″ Quick Release |
| Color | Black |

7 thoughts on ““The smartest, toughest 360° camera ever made”: Insta360 unveils new flagship X5 action camera that records your rides in 8k clarity”
One thing that (IMO) matters
One thing that (IMO) matters more than resolution, battery life, lenses etc etc is – Image Stability. Not a mention of it. I couldnt care less if its offering 8k image quality if its as shakier than a shitting dog. Image stability on a camera attached to a bike on a rough surface is prime.
I had an Insta360 X1 for a
I had an Insta360 X1 for a while. I gave up on it for a few reasons but lack of image stability was not one of them. Action cams with their small sensors tend to have excellent stabilisation as I expect this X5 will have too.
Its why its not mentioned in
Its why its not mentioned in the review is my point. I have seen lots of very good cameras which offer 4Kor higher etc etc but image stabilization is poor. If its good then mention it is. On a bike web page it has to be something that needs focusing on.
Smoggysteve wrote:
Well, I haven’t used it yet, but the stabilisation on the X3 that I’ve had for a couple of years is excellent, so I’d expect this one to be better
Im notdoubting it is, I
Im notdoubting it is, I would expect it too. Im just questioning why it wouldnt be mentioned in the review.
Smoggysteve wrote:
This is not a review. It’s a news item. The review is coming later.
Here’s a link to a YouTuber
Here’s a link to a YouTuber showing how good the camera is……https://youtu.be/SYPQ0oDZXeg?si=W802v8_bf7c0yEA8