Insta360 X5 — Next-Gen 8K 360° Action Camera

The Insta360 X5 is the fifth-generation flagship in Insta360’s 360° lineup, now shooting up to 8K 360° video with a dual 1/1.28-inch sensor and a triple-AI processing chip designed to improve stabilization, low-light clarity, and dynamic range. The famous “shoot first, frame later” workflow is still the core advantage — you capture everything around you, then create your final angles afterward in the editor.

It also brings classic Insta360 features like the invisible selfie stick effect, FlowState stabilization, Active HDR, waterproofing up to 49 ft, and a new wind-reduction mic system. The X5 aims to make POV, travel, sport, and action footage easier to capture and more cinematic straight out of the box.

Unboxing the Essentials Bundle

The Essentials bundle includes everything you need to start filming. Inside the box is the X5 camera, a standard selfie stick, a robust battery with a waterproof sealing gasket, a protective lens cover, paperwork, cleaning stickers for removing dust from the mic grill, and style stickers for those who want Insta360 branding on their gear.

You also get a sturdy hard-shell carry case with geometric detailing, plus a smaller soft case for minimal carry setups. The included battery compartment has slots for microSD cards, helping you quickly swap storage when shooting in high resolution. The display dominates the back of the camera and turns on instantly with gimbal-like stabilization the moment you tap record.

Design, Build Quality, and Protection

The X5 continues Insta360’s focus on durability. The standard lens guards provide an additional protective bubble above the glass, and the separate Replaceable Lens Kit allows you to remove a damaged lens dome using a small suction tool and clip system. This gives creators peace of mind — if you scratch a lens during a fall, crash, or impact, you don’t need a new camera. You simply replace the lens module yourself.

The body includes USB-C charging, a tripod thread for mounts, and a rugged exterior suitable for outdoor use. Everything is compact, lightweight, and ready for rough conditions.

Accessories and Shooting Flexibility

Insta360’s accessory ecosystem is one of the strongest in the action camera market. The X5 supports:

• Foldable 2-in-1 selfie stick (compact, pocketsized, deploys fast)
• Bullet Time Selfie Stick 2.0 for 360° spinning matrix-style shots
• Extended Edition Selfie Stick—so long it can mimic drone footage
• Mini tripod and remote kit
• Replacement lens kit and protective domes
• Charging base and modular mounts

The extended selfie stick deserves special mention. Because it’s carbon fiber and extremely lightweight, it allows drone-like shots without needing a pilot license or flight clearance. From high overhead reveals to sweeping follow-cam moments, the stick gives footage that looks surprisingly aerial.

X5 Video Quality and Shooting Modes

The X5 captures 8K 360° video with impressive clarity, which becomes especially valuable when cropping into flat (non-360) footage. Higher resolution means you can punch in multiple times and still retain usable detail for YouTube, TikTok, or Reels.

Low-light performance is improved thanks to the new triple-AI chip and larger sensor. In night footage tests, lamps dimmed mid-shot and the camera still maintained exposure without devolving into noisy blotching. Pure Video Night Mode boosts available light while keeping the image stable and clean.

Active HDR helps balance bright sunlight behind a subject and shadows in the foreground, producing more natural color transitions without harsh clipping.

FlowState stabilization remains one of Insta360’s most impressive features. Even while moving, running, jumping, or spinning, the footage stays extremely smooth — similar to using a physical gimbal.

Tracking, Gestures, and Smart Shooting

The X5 includes powerful subject tracking that locks onto faces and keeps them centered during movement. If you’re filming alone, this is a major advantage. You can trigger the camera using:

• Hand gestures
• Voice commands
• Twist-to-shoot (a twist on the selfie stick starts recording)

This makes it easy to control the camera even when it’s mounted far away or at odd angles where touching the screen isn’t possible.

Creative Tools and AI Editing

Insta360’s app remains one of the best in the industry. You can reframe 360° footage into traditional shots — wide, close, cinematic, overhead — all inside a simple timeline. That’s the real value of shooting 360: you decide the final shot after recording.

You can create:

• Drone-style reveals
• Smooth follow shots
• Time-lapses
• Action-packed fast cuts
• POV sequences
• Tracking shots
• Cinematic pans

You simply record once and cut multiple camera angles later using the AI editor or manual tools.

Real-World Testing and Sample Footage

In drone-shot mode, the X5 produced extremely convincing aerial results using only the long selfie stick and stabilization. POV tests using the chest mount, head mount, and hat clamp produced clean, natural-looking perspective angles.

In the climbing gym and night park, low-light footage remained surprisingly usable. In contrast-heavy scenes (sun behind a subject), HDR maintained detail on both sides. Object tracking kept the subject steady even during motion.

The X5 handled transitions between bright and dark areas better than previous models, and motion smoothness remained consistent throughout.

Who Should Buy the Insta360 X5

The Insta360 X5 is ideal for:

• Travelers
• Action sports creators
• Urban vloggers
• Fitness and POV filmmakers
• Social media creators needing multiple angles from one clip
• One-man show creators
• Anyone needing stable footage without a gimbal

The large accessory ecosystem makes it adaptable for almost any filming environment — biking, skiing, hiking, driving, indoor tours, studio shots, drone-like sequences, and more.

Final Thoughts

The Insta360 X5 is a significant iteration in the 360° action camera category — better low light, smarter AI tools, replaceable lenses, improved audio, and more filming options. Combined with a massive lineup of accessories, it becomes one of the most flexible POV and action cameras available today.

Creators looking for maximum versatility, high resolution, stable footage, and a powerful editing app will find the X5 to be a standout device in 2025.