DJI has finally entered the 360-degree camera market with the Osmo 360. They claim it captures stunning 1-inch-sensor images, performs well in low light, and could potentially take on Insta360 at the top. 

I’ve spent the past week comparing it directly to the Insta360 X5. That’s the current gold standard for action-ready 360-degree shooting. 

And, just to make it interesting, I tested them the way people actually use these cameras – strapped to helmets, swung around on selfie sticks, and pulled out of backpacks with sweaty hands on hot alpine trails.

Spoiler: A spec sheet can promise the world, but reality often includes its own fine print. So I tested both to answer the only question–which is the best 360-degree camera right now?

The Fight We Were Waiting For

Insta360 didn’t get here overnight. It took five generations or 10 years of trial and error and scratched lenses to shape the X5 into what it is today. 

The biggest leap wasn’t just sharper video or a faster app – it was finally solving the Achilles’ heel of every 360 camera: those fragile, bulging lenses. 

With the X5, you can swap them yourself in your home. For skiers, bikers, or anyone who’s ever clipped a branch mid-ride, that’s nothing short of a revolution.

On the other hand, DJI had the luxury of arriving late to the party. They watched Insta360 stumble, learn, and polish the formula first. All DJI really had to do was copy the homework. 

However, DJI also chose to do things its own way. The Osmo 360 arrives in a different form factor, with built-in storage and a larger battery. 

So the question isn’t just whether DJI can match Insta360’s image quality. Whether these design choices make the Osmo 360 a smarter everyday tool than a camera that’s already been refined over half a decade. 

First Impressions – Pocket vs. Pebble

On paper, the Osmo 360 is a little lighter at 183 grams, compared to the Insta360 X5’s 200 grams. That sounds like a win for DJI, and to be fair, shaving grams off a camera that’s meant to ride on your helmet or stick is always welcome.

But that advantage quickly disappears once you start pairing them with real-world gear. 

I ran the X5 with the new carbon Sirui selfie stick, while the Osmo 360 was stuck with DJI’s standard pole. In hand, they felt almost identical in weight.

Where DJI does score a real point is in shape. 

When mounted, the Osmo 360 has a more compact, rounded body that sits closer to the helmet. The X5, with its taller, brick-like design, sticks out further and feels more like balancing a mini action tower on your head. 

If helmet mounting is your thing, the Osmo definitely feels more comfortable and less top-heavy. 

Shooting in the Real World

Rather than comparing spec sheets, I focused on how each camera actually performs outside. I tested them where people really use these tools: alpine lakes at sunset, village streets at blue hour, and bright mountain trails.

I shot in daylight, twilight, and whole night to see how they held up across conditions. Then I pulled stills from video, because that’s where a 360 camera shows its true strengths (or flaws).

Shooting in Bright Daylight

In daylight, the Insta360 X5 stands out for sharper detail. 

Fine textures like rock, grass, and ripples stay intact, while the Osmo 360 smooths them slightly as if noise reduction worked overtime. 

Colors also lean Insta’s way: skies are a true blue, greens stay balanced, and overall contrast pops without looking artificial. 

The Osmo’s gentler palette can be pleasing but sometimes drifts toward yellow in foliage and flattens blues. Dynamic range seals it – Insta360 keeps both cloud texture and shadow detail without heavy edits, while DJI clips highlights earlier.

Winner: Insta360 X5 for sharper detail, richer colors, and stronger dynamic range.

Low Light & Night Shooting

DJI promotes its sensor as a low-light strength, and while the Osmo 360 holds up better than expected, noise creeps in fast. Shadows speckle, colors turn muted, and details soften. 

The Insta360 X5 keeps edges clearer, even in twilight, and gracefully rolls off highlights. 

Both cameras hit limits at night, but Insta’s finer, more uniform noise makes editing far easier. 

DJI promised those big 1-inch images, but I didn’t see the magic in my testing – the Osmo still showed chunky noise in the sky and shadows.

The Osmo’s grain is chunkier, and recovery in post quickly falls apart. Expectations matter here, but Insta’s files are easier to work with in direct comparison.

Winner: Insta360 X5 for cleaner detail and noise control when the sun goes down.

Overall Video Quality

When it comes to the big picture, the Insta360 X5 consistently produces sharper, more detailed video.

Fine textures like grass, water, and skin hold together better, while the Osmo 360 tends to smooth things out, leaving footage softer. Colors also lean Insta’s way, with richer contrast and a more natural palette. 

The Osmo’s gentler look can work for casual use, but in side-by-side clips, Insta’s video has more punch and feels ready to share straight out of the camera.

Winner: Insta360 X5 for sharper, more dynamic video overall.

Usability – The Hidden Decider

Specs only tell half the story. How a camera behaves when you’re trying to get footage off it often decides whether you’ll love or hate using it.

DJI’s Mimo app feels like Insta’s app a few years ago. Basic tools are there, but it’s rougher around the edges. 

The real problem is stability: sometimes it lags, sometimes it refuses to connect, and I’ve had to restart the camera more than once just to view clips. That kind of friction makes you think twice about pulling it out for quick shots.

Insta’s app, by contrast, is fast, polished, and full of features. You can cut, reframe, and export clips with barely any delay. The built-in library of templates makes editing quick if you don’t want to spend time in Premiere or CapCut.

Features like InstaFrame, which records 360 and standard video simultaneously, show how mature the platform has become. 

That said, Insta’s constant updates can feel like a double-edged sword. Power users love the new tricks, but the app can feel crowded if you’re not a professional creator. 

Every new redesign means another slight learning curve, which can be just as frustrating in the moment as DJI’s connection issues. 

Overall, Insta’s app wins by a wide margin – but as a user, I’d really like them to solve the update fatigue problem. 

Price & Package 

Both the Insta360 X5 and DJI Osmo 360 land at the same $549 starting price. 

Out of the box, the deal is pretty much identical: you get the camera, but no SD card, no selfie stick, and no mounts. 

In practice, you’ll need to budget for add-ons or reuse accessories you already own if you want to shoot right away. 

Where Insta360 pulls ahead is with its replaceable lenses. For $30–45, you can swap one yourself if it gets scratched, instead of facing a costly repair or replacement. If you actually use your 360 cam in risky conditions, the X5 will be the cheaper long-term camera. 

And one more catch – the Osmo 360 isn’t available for purchase in the US, so depending on where you live, availability could be a deciding factor before price ever comes into play.

The Verdict – Side by Side

My Take After Testing

DJI’s first 360 camera is a promising debut. The rounded form factor does sit better on a helmet, the bigger battery gives you peace of mind, and built-in storage is more useful than it sounds. 

But once you start shooting for real, Insta360’s X5 still has the edge. 

The video looks sharper, the colors hold up better, and the app is miles ahead when you just want to get clips out fast. Swappable lenses seal it – if you ride hard, that’s huge. 

DJI is close, but to me, the X5 still feels like the safer everyday bet. At least for now.