![[images/Insta360 X3 Long Term Review Pros and Cons After 18 Months.webp]] # Insta360 X3 Long Term Review: Pro's and Cons After 18 Months! [Watch on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSHFl2AiwZ0) · MountMedia · 2024-03-15 · 11:07. Written from the uploader's English captions (manual track), plus the chapters, frames and the description. Section headings follow the video's chapters. ## Outline - **0:00 – Insta360 X3 Review after 18 months.** The **X3** is now **18 months** old—a long stretch for a consumer camera. Werner has taken hundreds of shots with it, including skiing over the weekend. He will cover the **10 things** he still loves and the **5 biggest weaknesses**, then ask whether the X3 is still worth buying. - **0:22 – What is new?** Continuous **firmware updates** fixed bugs and added features: **pre-recording** (saves the 15 or 30 seconds before you press the shutter), **webcam** mode, and more frame rates (e.g. **100 fps in 3K** in 360 mode). Two updates matter most to him: you can now **reframe in the phone app**, then continue reframing and export from the **desktop app** (only desktop can export **ProRes** at the highest quality), and a new **Dive Case** finally enables **underwater 360** with the **invisible selfie stick** effect—something he says no other 360 can do. Useful innovations, but not what decides whether to buy. ![[images/Insta360 X3 Long Term Review Pros and Cons After 18 Months-t0100.webp]] - **1:25 – Strength 1: Reframing.** The core 360 advantage: shoot once, pick the angle in post. Few people play back true 360; most value pressing record without worry and fixing framing later in the app. - **1:55 – Strength 2: Extremely wide viewing angle.** The X3's standard FOV is **much wider** than a classic action cam (**GoPro**, **Ace Pro**) and clearly wider than the **GoPro Max**, giving an immersive look that makes it easy to keep everything important in frame—especially for action. He links his earlier **X3 vs GoPro Max** comparison. Single-lens mode is also very wide. - **2:59 – Weakness 1: Single-lens image quality.** Single-lens mode can shoot classic non-360 clips up to **4K30** without reframing, which is handy, but IQ **cannot match** a modern action camera's 4K because of the X3's **smaller sensors**. He only recommends single-lens in exceptional cases. - **3:17 – Strength 3: Stabilization.** The X3 **outperforms every action camera** on stabilization—helped by the ultra-wide FOV—and produces incredibly smooth action footage. He calls fantastic stabilization one of its great strengths. ![[images/Insta360 X3 Long Term Review Pros and Cons After 18 Months-t0317.webp]] - **3:45 – Strength 4: Invisible selfie stick.** In 360 mode the stick is removed automatically with barely visible attachment; any normal stick works if the camera is mounted straight. Action-cam app "remove stick" tools (e.g. on **Ace Pro**) are post-edit Photoshop-like effects, often low-res / short clips with artefacts—not comparable to true 360 invisible stick. - **4:49 – Weakness 2: Reframed resolution (~1080).** Even at **5.7K** capture, reframing crops the 360 sphere so exports land at about **full HD / 1080**. Fine for phones and social; soft on a large monitor. He calls this the **biggest weakness** of the X3 and of 360 cameras generally. - **5:28 – Strength 5: Creative freedom.** Reframing + invisible stick unlock shots impossible on a classic camera—a new dimension of filmmaking, including **keyframed** dynamic framing. If you already own an older action cam, a 360 adds more value than buying a slightly sharper new action cam. Creative aspect is his **greatest** strength call. ![[images/Insta360 X3 Long Term Review Pros and Cons After 18 Months-t0528.webp]] - **6:12 – Strength 6: Mounts and accessories.** Insta360's many high-quality mounts make the X3 extremely flexible (e.g. **Skipole Mount** that disappears from the shot). Mounts for every imaginable sport; he links his best mounts & accessories video. - **6:47 – Weakness 3: Every shot needs reframing.** He almost never uses single-lens, so every clip needs edit/reframe. He finds it quick with practice (including on the phone), but understands others may find it cumbersome. - **7:09 – Strength 7: App workflow.** Easy, stable Insta360 app: tap a subject for **auto-tracking**, adjust FOV/distortion, and now **hand off framing from phone to desktop** for final export. Speeds up reframing when you do not want manual keyframes. - **7:48 – Strength 8: Creative app effects.** Sky replacement, AI-generated effects, automatic **drone-shot simulation**, and more—Insta360 keeps adding effects. Some are gimmicks; creatively minded users can make cool clips. ![[images/Insta360 X3 Long Term Review Pros and Cons After 18 Months-t0748.webp]] - **8:15 – Weakness 4: Low light.** Two small sensors mean the X3 is best in **daylight / strong light**. He made a low-light tutorial for decent results, but as an all-purpose vacation cam this is a real consideration; as an outdoor action cam it bothers him less. - **8:56 – Strength 9: Build quality.** Comfortable, compact, not too heavy; good buttons; large responsive display. Nothing to criticize on build. - **9:14 – Strength 10: Reliability.** In 18 months: **no overheating** problems (even if mountains are cooler), **no crashes**, **replaceable battery** with adequate life. Reliability is a great strength and not a given in the action-cam market. - **9:43 – Weakness 5: Slow motion.** At **5.7K** the max is **30 fps**; for **100 fps** you drop to **3K**, with a big quality hit. He would not recommend that setting and misses a high-quality slow-mo mode for action use. - **10:08 – Price and Special Offer.** X3 currently about **$450**, with periodic discounts; his description link includes a free gift. ![[images/Insta360 X3 Long Term Review Pros and Cons After 18 Months-t1008.webp]] - **10:23 – Is the Insta360 X3 still worth it?** Still an **absolutely capable** camera. He loves the reframing possibilities, invisible stick, and easy app most. He misses higher resolution and better single-lens mode (he watches on a large desktop monitor more than a phone)—for that, wait for a possible **X4**. Links his comparisons vs **GoPro Max**, **GO 3**, and **Ace Pro**, plus the tutorials mentioned today. ## Things mentioned ### Cameras - **Insta360 X3**: Subject of this 18-month long-term review (~$450; 5.7K 360; dual small sensors). - **GoPro / GoPro Max**: Classic action FOV and 360 comparison benchmarks; Max has a narrower FOV than the X3. - **Insta360 Ace Pro**: FOV / stick-removal / buying-comparison benchmark. - **Insta360 GO 3**: Mentioned among channel comparison videos. - Possible future **X4**: Hoped-for higher resolution and better single-lens mode. ### Accessories - Invisible selfie stick effect (any straight stick if mounted level) - New **Dive Case** (underwater 360 with invisible stick) - **Skipole Mount** and other Insta360 sport/activity mounts - Replaceable battery ### Settings and features - Firmware since launch: pre-recording (15/30 s), webcam mode, more frame rates (e.g. 3K100 360) - Phone-app reframing → desktop app continue + **ProRes** export - Ultra-wide FOV (360 and single-lens); single-lens up to **4K30** - Excellent 360 stabilization; keyframe and auto-track reframing - App FOV/distortion controls; sky replace, AI effects, simulated drone shot - Capture up to **5.7K30**; reframed exports ~**1080** - Slow motion: 100 fps only down to **3K** (not recommended) - Build: compact body, responsive display; no overheating/crashes in 18 months of his use - Best results in daylight; low light is a known limit ### Related videos - Insta360 X3 vs GoPro Max: https://youtu.be/IdQMI1PsDXk - Insta360 X3 vs Ace Pro vs GO 3 Which should you buy?: https://youtu.be/8GCECnOnKHs - Insta360 X3 LOW LIGHT Tutorial: https://youtu.be/y9UFflzUhyY - Insta360 X3 The Best Mounts & Accessories: https://youtu.be/SnscHZp7-0k - The BEST 360 Camera: Insta360 X3 vs ONE RS vs 1-Inch 360: https://youtu.be/Gr8KEIc8T8w ### Purchase options - Insta360 X3 (11% OFF + Free Selfie Stick): https://www.insta360.com/sal/x3?utm_term=INRNHMF - Insta360 X3 Accessories: https://store.insta360.com/accessory?utm_term=INRNHMF - Music (Audiio), promo code **SAVE70** for 70% off: https://audiio.com/pricing?oid=1&affid=606 - Price quoted in the video: about **$450**; description links are affiliate ## Bios - **Werner Plank** runs MountMedia, a YouTube channel of camera tests, comparisons and tutorials focused on 360 and action cameras from Insta360, DJI and GoPro, often filmed in the mountains (Instagram: @werner.plank; contact [email protected]). In this long-term review he draws on 18 months and hundreds of X3 shots—including recent skiing—to balance ten strengths against five weaknesses and judge whether the camera is still worth buying.