Insta360 One X2 vs One RS: Which should you get?

Insta360 recently released their latest camera, the Insta360 One RS. The One RS is an upgrade of their modular camera and brings a new 4K lens for shooting non-360 action shots as well as a 5.7K 360 mod. There’s a new, faster processor which allows for new features like Active HDR, digital zoom and fast transfer speeds.

A new camera in the line-up is bound to bring the question; should you get the One X2 or the One RS? In this post I take you through the differences between the two cameras, what you can do with them & which you should get.

Insta360 One RS vs One X2

Specs

SpecsInsta360 One RSInsta360 One X2
Image
Video
Resolution 360 Mod
  • 5760×2880@30fps
  • 5760×2880@24fps
  • 5760×2880@25fps
  • 3840×1920@50fps
  • 3840×1920@30fps
  • 3008×1504@100fps
4K Mod
  • 6016x2560@25/24fps (under 6K Widescreen Mode)
  • 4000×3000@30fps,
  • 3840×2160@60fps,
  • 3840×2160@30fps,
  • 2720×1530@100fps,
  • 2720×1530@60fps,
  • 2720×1530@30fps,
  • 1920×1080@200fps,
  • 1920×1080@120fps,
  • 1920×1080@60fps,
  • 1920×1080@30fps
1-Inch Mod
  • 5312×2988@30fps,
  • 3840×2160@60fps,
  • 3840×2160@30fps,
  • 2720×1530@60fps,
  • 2720×1530@30fps,
  • 1920×1080@120fps,
  • 1920×1080@60fps,
  • 1920×1080@30fps
360 Mode
  • 5.7K @30fps, 24fps, 25fps
  • 4K @50fps, 30fps
  • 3K @ 100fps
Single Lens Mode
  • 2560x1440@50fps, 30fps
  • 1920x1080@50fps, 30fps
  • Bit Rate 120MBPS 120MBPS
    Format
    • insv (can be exported via App or Studio),
    • mp4 (enable in-camera FlowState Stabilization),
    • supports LOG and HDR videos
    • insv (can be exported via App or Studio),
    • mp4 (enable in-camera FlowState Stabilization),
    • supports LOG and HDR videos
    Modes
    • Standard, 
    • HDR, 
    • Timelapse, 
    • TimeShift,
    • Bullet Time
    • 4K Mod
    • 1 Inch Mod
    • 6K Widescreen
    • Standard, 
    • HDR, 
    • Timelapse, 
    • TimeShift,
    • Bullet Time
    • Single Lens
    Coding H.264, H.265 H.264, H.265
    Audio x 3 Microphone x 2 Microphone
    Livestream Yes - 4K Yes - 4K
    Photo
    Resolution 4K Lens - 42MP 360 Lens - 18.4MP 18.4MP
    Modes
    • Standard
    • HDR
    • Burst
    • Interval
    • Night Shot
    • Pureshot
    • Standard
    • HDR
    • Burst
    • Interval
    • Night Shot
    • Pureshot
    Format
    • insp
    • RAW
    • insp
    • RAW
    Exposure Modes Auto, Manual (Shutter 1/8000s-120s, ISO 100-3200), Shutter Priority (1/8000s-2s), ISO Priority (100-3200) Auto, Manual (Shutter 1/8000s-120s, ISO 100-3200), Shutter Priority (1/8000s-2s), ISO Priority (100-3200)
    White Balance
    • Auto
    • 2700K
    • 4000K
    • 5000K
    • 6500K
    • Auto
    • 2700K
    • 4000K
    • 5000K
    • 6500K
    Design
    Waterproof Yes - 10 metres Yes - 10 metres
    Battery 70 Minutes of Video 60 Minutes of Video
    Special Features Modular Design, Digital Zoom, Active HDR, Fast Processor, 1/2 Inch 4K lens, Invisible Selfie Stick, Re-framing App, Invisible Selfie Stick, Re-framing App,
    Where to Buy Insta360 Website Insta360 Website

    Design

    While these two cameras are designed by the same company they are actually very different. The One X2 (read full review here) is Insta360’s all-in-one 360 camera. It features two lenses, a circular touch screen and can shoot 360 video at 5.7K resolution.

    insta360 one x2 review

    The One RS (read full review here) is a modular camera that you can take apart, swap out then les and change the functionality of the camera. It comes in 4 parts; a core, battery, 360 mod and 4K mod. The One RS is designed to be both a 360 camera and a standard action camera.

    The Insta360 One X2 is a candy bar shaped camera which is light, small and can easily fit in your pocket. There is a standard mount on the base of the camera where you can attach accessories like the invisible selfie stick.

    Due to the modular nature of the One RS it also requires a bracket in order to attach accessories, this makes the camera more bulky and slightly more difficult to use. When you want to replace the lenses you need to remove the camera from the bracket. A new design makes this pretty easy but it’s still an extra step.

    insta360 one x2 vs one rs

    The One X2 is designed to be small and easy to use, which it accomplishes. The One RS is more complicated, but it return you get more functionality.

    Video

    The Insta360 One RS comes with a 360 lens, which shoots 360 video at 5.7K, and a 4K Boost lens, which shoots standard video at 4K 60fps. The One X2 can shoot 360 video at 5.7K; it can also use one lens to shoot non-360 video at 1080p.

    When it comes to shooting 360 video there is little difference between the One RS and the One X2. The One RS 360 lens features the same sensor as the One X2 and they both shoot video and photos at the same resolution.

    If you compare video shot with these cameras side by side then you wouldn’t notice much of a difference. The One X2 has the slight advantage when shooting 360 video thanks to its compact size, making it easier to use the various accessories.

    Insta360 One X2
    Insta360 One X2
    The best all-in-one 360 camera with amazing stabilization and awesome video effects

    Both cameras feature Insta360’s Flowstate stabilization which is able to steady even the most aggressive movements and vibrations. You can use either of these camera for action shots and you’ll be amazed at what you can get. Both also feature Horizon Lock, which enables you to keep the camera level even when doing backflips.

    The real difference between these cameras comes when shooting standard non-360 video. The One X2 is only able to shoot relatively low quality 1080p flat video using one of its lenses. The One RS features a specialised lens for flat video, the 4K Boost Mod.

    This mod can shoot 4K video at 60fps and features a 1/2 Inch sensor, twice the size of those in the One X2. The One RS with the 4K Boost Mod is a competitor to the GoPro Hero range and completely outmatches the One X2 when shooting non-360 video.

    You do have to pay a premium for the One RS and its modular setup, but you get a decent 360 camera and a great action camera too. The One X2 is a slightly better 360 camera overall but it’s hardly worth using the non-360 option.

    Photography

    Once again due to the modular nature of the One RS the comparison isn’t simple. The One RS with the 360 mod can shoot 360 photos at the same resolution as the One X2, 18.4 megapixels Both cameras have  auto HDR modes call “pureshot” which combines several exposures together to boost the overall quality.

    360 photos shot with both the One X2 and the One RS 360 mod are once again the same quality and you won’t notice a difference between them. The One RS 4K mod on the other hand is a very decent photography camera with a large 42MP resolution.

    Insta360 One RS
    Insta360 One RS
    The latest Insta360 camera featuring a modular design. Both a 360 camera and 4K action camera in one device.

    Software

    Both the Insta360 One X2 and One RS use the Insta360 App which is available for both iPhone and Android. This app is probably the best thing about the Insta360 eco-system. While the cameras are decent, they tend to have a few too many bugs and some nagging build quality issues.

    The App on the other hand is second to none – as long as you have a decently powered phone.

    The Insta360 App features AI editing, automatic effects, a full manual video editor and a vlog creator. You can create the unique effects that only 360 cameras can provide using a very easy to use editor. You can “reframe” your 360 videos and create full length vlogs that could usually only be possible on a desktop.

    insta360 go 2 app

    You can also combine your 360 and non-360 video, color correct, add music, text and other effects. I could write a whole post about the Insta360 app and it would be very long. While there is a bit of a learning curve, once you get used to it the Insta360 App allows you to create truly unique video.

    Insta360 also has a desktop app called the Insta360 Studio. It is important to have this because it’s required to apple the best type of stabilization to your videos. The desktop app doesn’t have as many features as the phone app but you can do most of the editing you’d ever need to do.

    Other Features

    Water Resistance: Both cameras are said to be waterproof to 10 metres without a case. Due to the modular nature of the One RS Insta360 do point out that all mods should be securely attached or the camera could break underwater.

    Audio: The One RS features three microphones and the One X2 has two. The audio for both isn’t exactly amazing, however the software allows you to boost audio quality in the editing process.

    Battery life: The One X2 can last around an hour of continuous shooting and the One RS is roughly the same.

    Insta360 One RS vs One X2: Summary

    When deciding between these two cameras you should ask yourself if you only want a 360 camera, or do you want a 360 camera and normal action camera too. If you only want a 360 camera then the One X2 is the choice for you as it’s cheaper and has all the same capabilities as the One RS 360 mod.

    The One RS is slightly more advanced due to some more powerful hardware and some new software upgrades, but when it comes to 360 shooting nothing has changed compared to the One X2. The One RS unique selling point is the 4K boost lens which is a very decent action camera just by itself. With the One RS you are truly getting two cameras in one, but you are paying more for the privilege.

    Insta360 One RS
    Insta360 One RS
    The latest Insta360 camera featuring a modular design. Both a 360 camera and 4K action camera in one device.
    Insta360 One X2
    Insta360 One X2
    The best all-in-one 360 camera with amazing stabilization and awesome video effects

    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. 

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