I’ve been following Insta360’s evolution since the original One X hit the scene. 

Back in 2019, using this new shiny 360-degree camera felt like magic – a slim camera that could shoot everything around you, letting you decide later where to point the frame. 

I remember taking it on a ski trip in the Alps, freezing fingers fumbling with settings, grinning at the footage that made me look way cooler than I was. 

Over the years, I’ve tucked every version of these cameras into ski gloves, bike pockets, and sandy backpacks. They’ve been strapped to helmets, ski poles, and once even mounted on a selfie stick and handed to a very confused dog. 

So when I say the Insta360 X5 is better than its predecessor – the X4 – and that Insta360 is still leading the 360 game – it comes from real-world, mud-splattered, occasionally ridiculous experiences. 

But what makes this camera such a standout in a sea of action cams? Let’s find out. 

From Wild Innovation to Practical Everyday Tool

The first Insta360 One X was a thrill. It felt like holding the future. Shooting in 360, reframing in post-production, no gimbal needed – it was magic. 

Then came the One X2, more refined, waterproof, and solid.

The X3 took things further and made 360 filming something your cousin with a travel blog could actually figure out. And probably even be good at it.

It wasn’t just an internal upgrade – it was a usability revolution. 

The display got a serious glow-up, jumping to a big, bright 2.29-inch touchscreen that made framing shots and navigating menus way easier. 

You didn’t need to guess what you were filming or fumble through clunky app controls anymore, the camera became truly standalone. 

With upgraded image sensors and better stabilization, the footage looked cleaner, smoother, and just more fun to watch.

That’s when these cameras turned a corner and became the unmissable companion to unforgettable adventures. 

The X3 was not just for geeks and GoPro converts. It was for hikers, dancers, skateboarders, and vacationing parents. 

You didn’t need a cinematic brain to get cool results. It just worked (as all good things do). And even now, with the X4 and X5 on the scene, the X3 still stands tall as one of the top three 360-degree cameras for everyday users. That’s how solid it is.

Insta360 X4: The Powerhouse That Pushed the Limits

Then came the X4, and it didn’t just raise the bar – it launched it into orbit.

The jump in photo and video quality was instantly noticeable. 8K 360 video recording became the headline feature, and it delivered footage so sharp you could practically zoom into the clouds. 

Photos saw a significant boost too, with richer colors and more detail across the board. 

The X4 also introduced several under-the-hood upgrades. AI-powered editing made reframing easier and faster than ever. 

Insta360’s cloud integration appeared here too, letting you backup and access your footage from anywhere without messing with SD cards. 

But all that came wrapped in a bulkier, heavier body. It looked and felt indestructible, with tougher lens housing and rugged build – great for harsh terrain. 

Still, as someone who skis with the camera on a helmet, the added weight was noticeable. It crossed the line from everyday tool to pro-level gear, and not everyone loved that tradeoff. 

Enter The X5: With Great Power Comes… Less Bulk?

Thankfully, Insta360 didn’t keep going down the bigger-is-better path. 

The X5 actually feels lighter and more compact. On paper, the difference is tiny – just 3g lighter than the X4 – but in hand, it somehow feels more balanced. Like a return to form. A proper balance of portability and power. 

It’s the kind of camera you toss in your jacket pocket and forget about until you stumble onto something cool, like a mountain sunset, a skating dog, or your buddy tumbling into a creek. 

Thanks to the X5’s Pre‑Recording feature, it’s already buffering a few seconds of footage before you hit record. 

So when a moment strikes, the camera doesn’t miss a beat – it delivers exactly what you saw. That’s the real magic behind ‘forget about it until you need it.’ 

The X5 brings back that effortless feeling. It feels like a camera made for creators and adventurers, not just camera nerds. 

Swappable Lenses: Finally, Someone Listened

Here’s the brutal truth about 360 cameras: the lenses are always the weakest point. 

Every skier and snowboarder I’ve met (including myself) who’s used an Insta360 for more than a few weeks eventually complains about the same thing – black dots in the footage. 

They come from micro-scratches on the lens, the kind you get when your helmet brushes a tree branch or you faceplant in crusty snow. 

These lenses bulge out like little fish eyes and beg to get damaged. And once they’re scratched? That’s it. Your footage is permanently flawed. 

I’ve even heard whispers on chairlifts that some riders have taken their cameras to watch repair shops to have the lenses polished. Maybe it works. Maybe it’s just a mountain myth. 

Others sent their scratched cameras back to Insta360, which could cost anywhere from $100 to $150 depending on the damage. 

Some (like Jake Does Stuff, the YouTuber) tried the DIY route – drilling, heating, gluing, and swapping third-party parts from Amazon or China. 

It was risky business. One wrong move and you’d strip the coating, crack the lens, or end up with a blurry, flare-filled mess. 

But what’s certain is that the footage loses its trademark shine once those marks appear.

That’s why the X5’s swappable lenses are a complete game-changer.

For the first time, Insta360 has made one of the most fragile parts of a 360 camera fully user-serviceable. No more babying your gear or holding your breath after every crash. 

You can get a single replacement lens kit for just $29.99, or both lenses together for $50 – and swap them out yourself at home. No repair shop, no waiting, no shipping your camera off. It’s a small fix with a huge impact. 

Shooting Experience – More Fun, Less Fuss

Using the X5 is just… smoother. 

Faster boot times. Snappier touch screen. The app feels more refined too. 

There’s less delay, less glitchy weirdness. You’re not standing around in the wind waiting for a preview to load because everything feels polished. 

Video quality? Sharp, crisp, dynamic. Still that signature Insta360 look, but now with a little more punch. 

Even in low light, it holds up surprisingly well. Colors pop without looking cartoonish. 

Audio is noticeably clearer too. Which comes in handy when the most memorable moment isn’t the perfect powder turn, but your buddy letting out a panicked yell right before crashing head first into a snowbank. 

Insta360 vs. Everyone Else

Honestly, I don’t know who can touch Insta360 in this space right now. 

The X5 costs $549.99 for the standard bundle (camera only) – not cheap, but competitive for what it offers. 

Ricoh’s Theta X costs even more at around $600, and it’s clearly targeting a more business-oriented, professional crowd with limited appeal to everyday creators.

GoPro gave it a shot with the Max, but they haven’t followed up with a new model in years. 

The Max still shoots decent video, but it lacks many of the features and refinements Insta360 has steadily added – better stabilization, modular design, AI tools, and a more polished mobile experience. 

It feels like GoPro launched the Max and then quietly walked away from the 360 race.

Kandao and Labpano are doing interesting, experimental work in the 360 space too, but they’re very much in the niche/prosumer corner. 

Insta360, on the other hand, owns the sweet spot: consumer-friendly, pro-grade quality that keeps evolving with every release. 

The company’s not afraid to listen to users, either. The swappable lens wasn’t some genius innovation pulled out of thin air. It was a direct response to what people have been asking for. 

Same with improved editing tools, better stabilization, and easier controls. They’re building cameras for actual humans, not just tech reviewers. 

Should You Upgrade?

If you have an X4 and you’re happy with it, I’d say don’t upgrade. X4 is still a fantastic camera. 

But if you found the X4 just a bit too chunky or awkward to handle – especially on a helmet or in a jacket pocket – the X5 offers a more refined, comfortable feel without sacrificing performance. 

It’s not dramatically smaller, but the improvements in balance and handling make a noticeable difference over time. 

And of course, the addition of replaceable lenses means you can finally stop worrying about every branch, crash, or scratch ruining your footage. That alone might be worth the switch. 

If you’re still on the X3 or older, this is absolutely the moment to jump. The swappable lenses alone are worth it. Add in the better performance, cleaner UI, and improved image quality, and it’s just a no-brainer. 

The X5 feels like Insta360 took all the feedback, polished it with care, and said: ‘Here. This one’s for you. Now you can go nuts on the 360 action.’

The Best Just Got Better

The X5 doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel. It doesn’t need to. It just improves on everything that already worked and fixes what didn’t. It’s lighter, smarter, and more user-friendly. 

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Insta360 makes the best 360 cameras out there. 

The X5 proves they still know exactly what they’re doing, and who they’re doing it for. 

And now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got an alpine trail to film – with a lens I’m finally not afraid to scratch.