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Insta360 One X2: 11 Strengths and 5 Weaknesses

I’ve been using the Insta360 One X2 for over a year now and it’s become my favourite 360 camera. It’s easy to use, can shoot great quality video and the editing app is unmatched. Overall I think it’s the best 360 camera of the year. Read my Insta360 One X2 review here.

If you are reading this post you’re probably trying to decide whether you want to buy it or not. While I do love using the camera I will admit it’s not perfect. I really want to be honest with my reviews so in this post I’m going to go into all the strengths and weaknesses of the One X2 so you can make an informed decision. 

Insta360 One X2 Strengths and Weaknesses

I like to be positive so first we will start with the strengths of the camera. You may also want to watch my video review of the One X2 which features plenty of footage shot with the video which demonstrates some of the points I’m going to make in this post. 

Strengths

1. Editing app

My number one reason for using the Insta360 One X2 over other 360 cameras, like the GoPro Max, is the editing app. This app has so many unique features, effects and ways to edit that it blows the competition out of the water. 

The App has most of the features you might find on a paid desktop program. It also features an AI editor that can automatically create your videos for you, and it does a pretty good job of finding the most interesting parts of your shots. 

Insta360 One X2 strengths and weaknesses

You can add music, colour correct, trim, crop, add filters, combine clips and so much more. There are also dozens of tutorial for creating unique shots that can only be done with a 360 camera. The app does require a powerful phone to use all of the features (older phones might crash), and there are some minor differences between the Android and iOS versions. 

2. Amazing Stabilization

Hands down the One X2 has the best stabilization of any camera I’ve ever used. It’s insane the kinds of shots you can get with this camera where the footage is still super smooth. Non-360 camera would just not be able to handle the kind of rapid movements in videos like this:

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Insta360 (@insta360)

These types of shots are nothing special for the One X2. It’s able to use the 360 field of view it shoots to keep any footage completely stable no matter what you put it through. This makes the camera perfect for any kind of action shots. 

3. 5.7K Video

5.7K video is pretty high resolution for a 360 camera and results in decent quality footage if shot in the right lighting conditions. The video won’t look at good as a 4K video shot with a GoPro, because the 5.7K is spread around 360 degrees. 

4.HDR Video

The One X2 is one of the only 360 cameras that can shoot HDR video. This combines several exposures into one which improves the overall appearance of the video. It will only work if you keep the camera still, but it still useful for still shots to improve the quality quickly. 

5. Time Shift

Shooting Timeshift videos is one of my favourite things to do with the One X2. Timeshift’s are like extreme hyper lapses which combines speed, movement and blur. These videos are very easy to shoot and the app can create them automatically. 

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Daniel Pharaoh (@the.360guy)

 

6. Slow Motion

The One X2 can shoot up to 100 fps video at 3K resolution in 360 mode. The resulting video is lower quality due to the lower resolution but it still acceptable for viewing on Instagram and TikTok. You can also use the slow motion mode to shoot the “bullet time” videos which are a favourite among Insta360 users.  

Insta360 One X2
Insta360 One X2
A durable, high-end 360 camera with excellent video and photo capabilities.

7. Pureshot Photo Mode

If you are also looking for a 360 camera that can quickly take good quality photos then the Pureshot mode in the One X2 will allow you o do just that. Pureshot is an auto HDR mode that combines several exposures to quickly boost the quality of your images. Using Pureshot takes a little longer but results in much better quality photos. 

one x2 purshot

8. DNG RAW Photos

For the absolute best quality images you’ll want to shoot in the DNG RAW format which is possible with the One X2. If you are willing to edit your images on a program like Adobe Lightroom then you’ll be able to get very good quality photos .

9. Full Touch Screen

Having a full touch screen allows you to fully control all aspects of the camera. You can change video modes, frame rates, exposure, ISO among many others. You can also review and play back photos & video. Some 360 cameras don’t have a screen and require you to connect to an app to make any changes. 

one x2 vs one r vs one x

10. Compact Size

The One X2 is one of the smallest and thinnest 360 cameras out right now. This makes it easy to carry & to mount with various accessories. 

11. Unique Accessories

Speaking of accessories, Insta360 has over a dozen specifically designed for the One X2. The most popular is the “Invisible Selfie Stick” which when used make it looks like your camera is floating. The camera comes with a standard mount which makes it compatible with many more third party accessories. 

 

Weaknesses

1. Water Resistance

Insta360 says the One X2 is waterproof up to 5m without any case. I’ve used it underwater sparingly and the camera came up fine. It’s hard to ignore the number of people in Facebook groups complaining that their One X2 has broken after being used underwater. It seems to require quite a lot of checking to make sure all of the doors on the camera are fully closed, if they are not your camera will probably break. 

I’d recommend getting the official dive case if you want to use this camera underwater. 

2. SD Card Issues

I have found that using anything but the fastest MicroSD card results in the camera not properly recording at the highest resolution settings. With the fastest card everything works great, but this is another expense that people should consider. 

3. Freezing

I have found that the One X2 tends to freeze up more often than I like. It’s not constant, but if I were using the camera for 5+ hours then the camera would likely freeze at least once. To remedy this all you need to do is remove the battery and put it back in which is fairly painless. 

4. Battery Life

While the battery life of the One X2 certainly isn’t awful (particularly compared to other 360 cameras), there’s certainly room for improvement. You can expect the battery to last around 45 – 60 minutes of continuous recording.

5. Vulnerable

This is an issue with all 360 cameras but it also applies here. Despite the camera being made of a strengthened plastic and rubber the cameras lenses are still vulnerable. If you drop the camera from any kind of height then the lenses will likely be damaged. The lenses are not easily replaceable and the camera doesn’t come with lens protectors that you can also shoot with.  

Should you get it? 

Overall I think the strengths of this camera outweigh the downsides. If you are willing to learn the proper editing techniques (you can use the many tutorial in the app), you can get some really creative shots with this camera.

Don’t let anyone tell you this is a perfect device because the issues are enough to be noticeable, but at the end of the day this is still the camera i pick up when I want to get the best shots in 360. 

Insta360 One X2
Insta360 One X2
A durable, high-end 360 camera with excellent video and photo capabilities.

The 360 Guy

The 360 Guy

Owner of threesixtycameras.com. Writer, photographer and videographer. You can see my YouTube channel for guides of how to shoot 360 video. I've written for The Times, Digital Photography School and Sunday Express. 

1 Comment
  1. Hi, is there a remote to start recording when the camera is on your helmet? (Mountainbike)

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