CNET says the Insta360 X6 is the best consumer 360 camera. The verdict lands with 8K50 video and 120-megapixel photos, but it also says the camera is only an incremental improvement over the X5 for most buyers.
Insta360 X6 at $700
The X6 starts at $700, which puts a premium on gains that are real but not dramatic. Buyers get a smaller body, larger image sensors, and faster processing, so the case for upgrading depends on whether those changes matter more than the price.
The X6 records at 8K50 and shoots 120-megapixel images at 15,520×7,760. Most phones cannot edit 8K video and struggle with 120-megapixel images, so the camera’s top modes are only useful if the rest of the workflow can keep up.
Insta360 sensors and controls
Insta360 says the X6’s custom 1.1-inch square Sony sensors absorb 300% more light per pixel than the X5’s 1.28-inch sensors. That should help in lower light, where 360 cameras usually give up detail first, but the company’s number is still a claim about sensor behavior rather than a lab test result.
Insta360 also removed the two physical buttons below the screen and replaced them with pressure-sensitive on-screen buttons, then added haptic feedback. The change cuts hardware clutter, but it also shifts more control to the screen, which is a tradeoff for users who prefer tactile buttons with gloves or wet hands.
X5, X4 Air, and buyers
The X6 is slightly wider but noticeably shorter than previous models, and it is about 40% taller than the GoPro Hero13 Black when that camera is placed on its side. CNET compared it with the X5, X4 Air, GoPro Hero13 Black, GoPro Max 2, and DJI Osmo 360, which is enough to show where the X6 sits, not enough to make the upgrade decision for every buyer.
The real divide is simple. If a buyer wants the highest-spec consumer 360 camera, the X6 is the pick. If the goal is to save money and the X5 or X4 Air already covers the job, CNET’s own review suggests the newer model may be more camera than most people need.
That leaves one practical question for shoppers: whether the X6’s larger battery, better microphones with built-in wind guards, waterproofing down to 65 feet, or 20 meters, and 10-bit Dolby Vision HDR are enough to justify moving up from the X5. The review does not settle that for every use case, so the decision still comes down to how often the camera will be pushed beyond basic shooting.
