00:00I'm starting to lose track of how many cameras Insta360 can release each year.
00:05I have been testing the latest one, the X5, and on paper it didn't sound like a massive upgrade.
00:13But after spending a few weeks with it, I'm starting to find little things that are actually sort of big
00:18and that are making me consider upgrading.
00:20And my favorite place to review a 360 camera is what a mountain.
00:25So let's do it!
00:30So, first things first, I bought myself an X4 last year mainly for my skiing and snowboarding videos.
00:42360 cameras are by far the best way to capture skiing memories and all that stuff.
00:48They're super immersive, they look really cool, and they're just fun to use and edit.
00:52The new X5, just like the X4 that I bought, can film in 8K up to 30 frames per second
00:58or in 5.7K up to 60 frames per second.
01:02So those specs aren't changed.
01:04But the X5 now has a larger sensor and new image processing.
01:09Both of these factors contribute to noticeably better image quality.
01:14So here I have both of these cameras on the same selfie stick.
01:17Both of these clips are filmed in same modes, and you can tell that the footage is looking a lot more detailed.
01:24Edges of objects and things like trees in the background are just much sharper.
01:29And it's not really all about the details and sharpness.
01:32Color and just overall processing this year looks redefined and it looks much nicer.
01:39When using the X4, I often found that the sky would have this dark blob over it
01:43that seems to be mostly gone this year.
01:53So the microphone housing for this camera has been completely redesigned.
01:56It should perform better in more windy environments.
02:00Things like having it on a motorcycle or when you're out going skiing.
02:03You should get just better audio with more clarity and less wind noise.
02:08So I'm just going to bomb down the hill and see if that works.
02:13Okay, so looking back at this footage, yeah, that sounds much cleaner.
02:34I think folks who are attaching these cameras onto vehicles and cars and motorcycles
02:39will enjoy this little hardware change.
02:41You should be able to get better engine noise than just wind.
02:49So as I've said earlier, I've mostly used these cameras for action sports
02:54or for getting just very specific shots only possible on a 360 camera.
02:59But every now and then I have tried using it for something else
03:02and usually I'd walk away feeling pretty disappointed.
03:06This year, I brought the X4 to CES, barely used it until I got to the LG Spoof.
03:12And as you can see, that footage is not great.
03:15It's noisy.
03:16The dynamic range is not good.
03:17The stitching, the stabilization is all suffering in low light.
03:21Insta360 is trying to fix some of that with the new mode called Pure Video.
03:26What it does, it basically cranks up the post-processing
03:29and that low light footage looks a lot cleaner with less noise, punch your color and contrast.
03:36I tried it in many different scenarios and each time it performed a lot better than normal video mode.
03:42Definitely an improvement over the X4 and that opens up more possibilities for you while using this camera.
03:48And lastly, this is the thing that I've kind of just noticed.
03:50The X5 can also film in log.
03:53Lots of people, including myself, will be very excited about that.
03:56However, the log option only works in HDR for some reason.
04:02I did talk to Insta360 about it and they say they will be looking to add log into other video modes later on too.
04:10So that's good news.
04:11For those people who film in HDR, you can now film 5.7K up to 60 frames per second, not 30,
04:17which has been the limitation for a couple of years now, since the X3.
04:28And that's almost it, at least when it comes to just image performance and overall quality.
04:35But there are some new things here worth going through as well.
04:38The first one has to do with repairability.
04:40So Insta360 has presumably made it easier to swap out the lenses just by letting you do that whole process yourself.
04:49And I said presumably because my kit actually didn't arrive on time.
04:53So I won't be able to show you the process.
04:56Hey, sorry, I have to jump in here for a minute.
04:58At that time when I recorded this video, I didn't actually get the replacement kit, but it is, um, it's here now.
05:04So I can show you the process and tell you a little bit about it.
05:07The replacement kits cost $30 and you get one single lens.
05:11The process is super simple.
05:12You use this tool to unscrew the old lens and you can pop it up, place in the new one, screw it back in, and you're good to go.
05:21Insta also says that the glass in these lenses is stronger than ever.
05:24So ideally you will not need a replacement kit at all.
05:27But I did get mine scratched up.
05:30It is a tiny, tiny little scratch.
05:31So it didn't show up in any of the clips.
05:34Battery life is also better, and the camera can also charge faster, but it does come at a cost.
05:44The battery has been slightly redesigned, which means you won't be able to use your old batteries in the new X5.
05:52I hate it when companies do that.
05:55And my reasoning this year is twofold.
05:58While I'm glad to see there are improvements year over year, it wasn't a pain point.
06:02Insta360 batteries were already good last year, and they didn't necessarily need an update.
06:09Plus, new batteries each year just add to the whole environmental cost, too.
06:14So, something to think about.
06:17The mobile app has been revamped to simplify some of the editing process.
06:21Overall, I think the app is really good, and it has been for a while.
06:25This new update, I'm still trying to get used to it.
06:28Some icons aren't labeled, and some features are sometimes grayed out when I feel like they shouldn't be.
06:34There's a new de-warp mode, which kind of helps you with lens distortion.
06:38Sometimes it turns on, sometimes it's off.
06:41It's a little confusing, but we'll get there.
06:43And that is all that is new with the Insta360 X5.
06:52It is a great 360 camera in a market that honestly doesn't have a whole lot of competition right now.
06:59There are some rumors lately floating around of DJI getting into this space with their own 360 camera.
07:05Meanwhile, GoPro is still expected to release its version of a new GoPro Max this year.
07:10Right now, Insta360 is basically running away with it.
07:14But I do have two little complaints about this camera, which I do think are important to mention.
07:20The first one is just the overall weight and the footprint of the camera.
07:24Both X5 and X4 are slightly larger and heavier than its predecessors,
07:28and you definitely feel it if you're putting a 360 camera on your helmet.
07:32Once I unboxed the X5, I immediately had a feeling that it was even heavier than last year,
07:38and I was kind of shocked to find out that the X4 and the X5 are exactly the same weight.
07:45The second complaint is the price.
07:47It is $550, which is $50 more this year.
07:52And I get it.
07:53Price increases are never fun and make upgrading decisions a lot more difficult.
07:59If you are thinking about upgrading,
08:01I'd recommend just thinking about what you need the most out of a 360 camera.
08:06If image quality is on top of your list like mine,
08:10that alone could be a reason enough for you to upgrade this year.
08:14Alright, thank you so much for watching this video.
08:17If you want to see me ski down a mountain more often,
08:20go subscribe to The Verge so I can expense my holidays.
08:24That's terrible.
08:25That's a joke.
08:26That's not how this works, by the way.
08:28We'll see you later.
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