Giving Bigger Camera Energy: We Review the Insta360 X6

Many photographers have felt the need to produce content in order to become more visible online and, consequently, to more potential clients. If you haven’t tried using a 360 camera, it can be the easiest solution for capturing behind-the-scenes footage.

360 cameras used to be for casual social media content that didn’t pay much attention to the quality of the footage and instead put importance on the perspective it gives. But with years and years of product development, Insta360’s latest camera seems to be at the top of its game while also being smaller than it used to be.

The Insta360 X6

The first and most noticeable change with the Insta360 X6 would be the physical form. While it still follows the same design, the X6 is considerably shorter at 100 mm compared to the X5, which came in at 124.5 mm; that’s almost one whole inch chopped off. However, the new version did get a bit thicker at 40 mm compared to 38.2 mm, but it also comes in a tiny bit lighter at 196 grams, which is 4 grams lighter than the old version.

Physical Features

This change became possible because of the removal of the two buttons that used to be there on every other Insta360 X model in the past. To make up for this change, Insta360 added pressure sensitivity beneath the screen, allowing users to press anywhere on the display to start or stop recording when the feature is enabled. This made the camera shorter while still pretty much functioning the way it did before. However, if you’re someone who prefers to use buttons, you can still find the record button on the right side, right below the power button, and the mode button easily reachable on the other side.

The Insta360 X6 also comes with a slightly bigger battery with a capacity of 2,600 mAh compared to the previous 2,400 mAh. This results in a runtime of up to 140 minutes when filming in 8K30 in Endurance Mode. More than that, the X6 now also comes with 64 GB of internal storage, of which 47 GB is available to the user, to complement the capacity that an inserted microSD card would offer. At the same time, this means that you can still survive using the camera even if you left your memory card in the card reader at home.

Just like the Insta360 X5, the X6 comes with user-replaceable lenses that make it less of a problem when the lenses get scratched. Aside from that, the bigger changes can be found inside.

Camera, Resolution, and Color

Coming from the X5, which had dual 1/1.28-inch sensors, the Insta360 X6 now comes with a pair of bigger 1/1.1-inch sensors that should contribute to an improvement in image quality and low-light performance. Output-wise, the biggest implication would be that it can now produce 120-megapixel 360-degree stills, which is a huge jump from the X5’s 72-megapixel capability.

When it comes to video, both the old and the new versions can do 8K resolution; however, the improvement that comes with the X6 is that it can now film at 50 frames per second, while the X5 could only do 8K30. The user can switch between 8K, 6K, and 4K with varying frame rates, while the fastest frame rate available in standard 360 video mode would be 100 fps at 4K resolution if slowing down footage is necessary.

One key change that the X6 inherits from slightly earlier Insta360 cameras such as the Insta360 GO Ultra, the X5, and the Luna Ultra would be the capability to shoot in log color. However, one big jump that comes with this new model would be the capability to record 10-bit color in I-Log, which greatly expands the capabilities of color-graded footage. This might not be a feature that a lot of 360 camera users would use, but this broadens the reach of the camera itself to users who are more intentional with color treatment.

Less Time Editing

On a personal note, and I’m sure that a lot of users can relate, what I would dread about shooting with a 360 camera would be the hours of editing and reframing footage, especially if the recorded footage weren’t very intentional to begin with. This pretty much led to fewer videos actually ending up edited and less content being dished out. Insta360 offers to remove this hindrance with the use of what it calls “AI Director.”

This AI-driven feature basically reads through the footage, looking for visually dynamic parts, and automatically identifies highlights, applies camera movements, and creates an edited video. The feature can be started with one tap through the Insta360 mobile app, reducing the amount of manual reframing and editing needed from the user.

Once that is done, the result is a share-ready video showing the more dynamic parts of the selected footage. Of course, after the initial edit, the user can manually adjust the footage and even the framing to better match the result with what they intended to produce.

Application

360 cameras are some of the most underrated utility cameras on the market. Initially, a lot of potential users thought that the goal was to produce 360 VR videos where you could look around while watching a recorded scene. This later evolved into a more foolproof method to passively film unique perspectives without the user having to monitor their framing, especially from a less-than-favorable angle. With this evolution of Insta360’s X series, users can rely more on the camera without worrying about the quality of the footage, not just in terms of detail and resolution, but also framing and stabilization.

Moreover, the capabilities of what it can record are getting closer and closer to what bigger camera formats offer, which makes it more possible for such a camera to work side by side with other kinds of gear. With the increase in sensor size, resolution, and functionality, and with the addition of an AI editing tool, the Insta360 X6 becomes more of a companion for users who like to travel, engage in extreme activities, or would benefit from footage with a behind-the-scenes perspective.

What I Liked

• Bigger 1/1.1-inch sensors with 120-megapixel stills
• 10-bit color capabilities
• Smaller form
• AI-aided editing

What Can Be Improved

• Perhaps also a detachable screen/remote like the Luna Ultra