The best 360 camera for 2024
360 degree cameras are an amazing way of capturing footage of your favorite sports, but also a useful tool for filming group activities or many subjects at once without having to focus. Our guide will help you choose the best 360 camera for your needs and according to your budget.
360 cameras featured in this article
Best overall
Insta360 X4Jump to chapterBest X4 alternative
Kandao Qoocam 3 UltraJump to chapterBest value
Insta360 X3Jump to chapterBudget 360 camera
Insta360 One X2Jump to chapterGoPro's 360 camera
GoPro MaxJump to chapter
Insta360 X4Jump to chapterBest X4 alternativeKandao Qoocam 3 UltraJump to chapterBest valueInsta360 X3Jump to chapterBudget 360 cameraInsta360 One X2Jump to chapterGoPro's 360 cameraGoPro MaxJump to chapterThe best 360 degrees camera right now
Insta360 X4The best spherical camera of the year
The X4 is Insta360's latest 360 degree action camera and delivers incredible
8K spherical video. 360 cameras are the best way to capture group activities or
footage where it is difficult to keep focus on a subject. The Insta360 X4 is our pick for the
best 360 camera of the year.
Specifications
- Weight: 7.16oz / 203g
- Waterproof: 33ft / 10m
- 8K 360 video: 30fps
- 5.7K 360 video: 60fps
- 4K 360 video: 100fps
- 4K video: 60fps
- Pixels: 72MP
- Battery life: 135min 5.7K30fps 360°, 75min 8K30fps 360°
- Pros
- 8K 360 video
- Great battery life
- Improved lens guard system
- Cons
- Not great at low light
Reasons to buy the Insta360 X4
- 360 focused company Insta360 was founded as a 360 camera company and has a history of delivering great 360 degree cameras.
- Freeze-proof The X4 can capture footage at temperatures as low as -4°F / -20°C, which make it the perfect camera for snowboarding, skiing and other wintersports.
- Incredible underwater Insta360 offers a diving case for the Insta360 X4 which allows filming down to 164ft / 50m and the camera adapts the footage to make the case invisible when entering dive case mode. The resulting footage is amazing!
- A hybrid action camera The Insta360 X4 can do both 360 degree video and single lens video, making it a great all-in-one option.
- Great battery life The X4 beats the competition by quite a bit when it comes to run time with over 2 hours of continuous recording at 5.7K30fps.
Reasons to avoid the Insta360 X4
- Not as rugged Although the X4 has new and improved lens guards, the camera itself is less rugged and the two rounded lenses are more exposed than on a classic action camera. You might want to consider a classic action camera like the Insta360 Ace Pro 2 or the GoPro Hero 13 Black if you need the sturdiest of cameras.
Best alternative to the X4
Kandao Qoocam 3 UltraThe only other action camera with 8K 360 video
The Qoocam 3 Ultra is Kandao's latest 360 action camera and the successor to the Kandao Qoocam 3. It features 8K30fps 360 video, 128GB of builtin storage, 10-bit video and great performance overall.
Specifications
- Weight: 11.85oz / 336g
- Waterproof: 33ft / 10m
- 8K 360 video: 30fps
- 5.7K 360 video: 60fps
- 4K 360 video: 120fps
- 4K video: 60fps
- Pixels: 96MP
- Battery life: 100min 4K30fps 360°, 50min 8K30fps 360°
- Pros
- Integrated GPS
- 96MP photos
- 128GB builtin storage
- Cons
- Heavy
- Expensive
Reasons to buy the Kandao Qoocam 3 Ultra
- Great video performance The Qoocam 3 Ultra captures great quality footage thanks to it's advanced sensors, 10-bit video and HDR video.
- Incredible photos The 96M pixel sensor delivers stunning photos with up to 14-bit colors. The Qoocam 3 Ultra also features timelapse, starlapse and timeshift functions.
Reasons to avoid the Kandao Qoocam 3 Ultra
- Expensive The Qoocam 3 Ultra is a lot more expensive than it's main competitor, the Insta360 X4, which also features 8K360 video. If you are looking for an even cheaper option Kandao's previous model, the Kandao Qoocam 3, could be a good pick.
- Dekstop and Applications Once you have captured your 360 footage, you rely on the editing software to export videos. The Qoocam 3 Ultra's desktop and mobile applications are not as user friendly and easy to use as the competition. You might want to consider the Insta360 X4 or another of Insta360's models which offer very intuitive software.
Best value 360 degrees camera
Insta360 X3Insta360's previous model still packs a punch
The X3 was released in 2022 and is a few years old now, but it still delivers exceptionnal performance
and is the best pick if you are looking for the best value for money. The 5.7K30fps 360 video is more than sufficient
for capturing amazing footage unless you need to zoom in aggressively.
Specifications
- Weight: 6.35oz / 180g
- Waterproof: 33ft / 10m
- 8K 360 video: -
- 5.7K 360 video: 30fps
- 4K 360 video: 60fps
- 4K video: 30fps
- Pixels: 72MP
- Battery life: 81min 5.7K30fps 360°
- Pros
- Great performance
- Good value for money
- Diving case for underwater footage
- Cons
- Average battery life
Reasons to buy the Insta360 X3
- A reputable action camera Even if the Insta360 X3 is not from the latest generation of 360 cameras, it has proven it's quality and is a solid choice at a milder pricepoint that then Insta360 X4.
- Weather-proof & Waterproof The X3 is usable in very cold conditions (-4°F / -20°C) and underwater down to 33ft / 10m. It makes it a great pick for snowboarding, skiing, snorkeling or scuba-diving.
Reasons to avoid the Insta360 X3
- Underwater footage requires diving case The Insta360 X3 delivers incredible underwater footage with the diving case, down to 50m, but without the case, you cannot film with lens guards and there will be a visible seam line. You might want to consider a classic action camera, like the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro, which is waterproof down to 66ft / 20m without a case.
Best budget 360 camera
Insta360 One X2A simple 360 camera with great performance
The X2 is now an older 360 camera but it still offers great performance and most needed features at a relatively moderate cost. If you need spherical video on a budget, it is a great pick. It's successor is the Insta360 X3, released in 2022.
Specifications
- Weight: 5.26oz / 149g
- Waterproof: 16ft / 5m
- 8K 360 video: -
- 5.7K 360 video: 30fps
- 4K 360 video: 50fps
- 4K video: 30fps
- Pixels: 18MP
- Battery life: 80min 5.7K30fps 360°
- Pros
- Great image stabilization
- Good battery life
- Freeze-proof
- Cons
- Better options for image quality
- Average battery life
- No official diving case
Reasons to buy the Insta360 One X2
- 360 camera on a budget The Insta360 One X2 a great option for beginners wanting to get a first 360 camera or tight budgets. 360 cameras aren't cheap, but the One X2 is a very affordable option.
- Freeze-proof The X2 can be used in extreme cold (-4°F / -20°C) which makes it a great pick for winter sports.
Reasons to avoid the Insta360 One X2
- Not for underwater filming There is no official diving case for the One X2 which is also only waterproof down to 16ft / 5m, which means it not a good pick for underwater footage. For filming underwater, consider the Insta360 X4 or Insta360 X3 with their invisible diving cases instead, or the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro action camera, which is waterproof down to 66ft / 20m without a case.
GoPro's 360 degree camera
GoPro MaxGoPro's 360 camera
Released in 2019, the GoPro Max is starting to show it's age versus the more recent offerings from
Insta360 and Kandao. However, it still delivers decent footage with good ease of use.
Specifications
- Weight: 5.43oz / 154g
- Waterproof: 16ft / 5m
- 8K 360 video: -
- 5.7K 360 video: 30fps
- 4K 360 video: -
- 4K video: -
- Pixels: 18MP
- Battery life: 85min 5.7K30fps 360°, 105min at 1080p
- Pros
- Good stabilization
- Cons
- Average image quality
- Ageing model
- Still excessively expensive
Reasons to avoid the GoPro Max
- Close to obsolete The GoPro Max is more than 5 years old now and it shows. GoPro has announced the GoPro Max 2 which should be released in 2025. Meanwhile, you should rather consider the Insta360 X4 or the Kandao Qoocam 3 Ultra.