Is the Insta360 X5 the Action Camera We’ve All Been Waiting For?

I’ve been using action cameras for years — skydiving with one strapped to my helmet, racing down mountains beneath a speed wing, and chasing thermals with a paraglider. But no matter how thrilling the experience was in the moment, I kept running into the same limitation: the shots lacked versatility.

Like many adventure travelers, I started out with GoPros. They are reliable — but they come with a catch: you have to be actively pointing the camera at whatever you want to shoot. That’s not always possible when you’re freefalling at 120 miles per hour, or climbing in a thermal meters from other pilots where a lack of attention could end in distaster.

Curious about being able to share more of the epic scenery I’m so lucky to see, I dipped into the world of 360 cameras with the Insta360 X4. The flexibility it gave me — being able to reframe shots after the fact, see every angle, every moment — was a game-changer. Naturally, I couldn’t wait to see what the new flagship Insta360 X5 had to offer.

If you think these compact cameras look neat but you’re on the fence about investing in the X5 (prices start around $550), here are some of the key upgrades that, in my opinion, make it worth the investment.

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Photo: James Gavin

• Larger sensors: It features dual sensors that are almost 150 percent larger than the X4’s, allowing for better light capture and improved image quality, especially in low-light conditions.
• More processing power: The new model has 140 percent more processing power than the X4.
• PureVideo mode: AI-powered low-light enhancement reduces noise for clearer videos, even in challenging lighting conditions.
• Active HDR: Features double the frame rate compared to the X4, providing smoother and more detailed HDR footage.
• Replaceable lenses: The X5’s lenses are replaceable.
• Improved waterproofing: Enhanced waterproof rating up to 15 meters without a dive case.
• Built-in wind guard: A multi-layered steel mesh wind guard is integrated into the microphone design, reducing wind noise and improving audio clarity without the need for external accessories.
• Extended battery life: Offers up to 185 minutes, which is an almost 40 percent increase over the previous model.
• Faster charging: Supports fast charging, reaching 80 percent charge in just 20 minutes.

So, these are the main takeaways: larger sensors, more processing power, waterproofing up to 15 meters, longer battery life, and more. But what really stands out to me are the replaceable lenses and the audio enhancements.

The X4 uses lens covers to protect the optics, but even the premium ones can negatively affect image quality under certain lighting conditions. For example, if dust particles get trapped between the cover and the lens, they show up in the footage when shooting in strong sunlight. I’ll admit I’m being picky here, but it was enough for me to start using the camera without any protection — which, in turn, made me increasingly paranoid about damaging the lens. That would have been a costly mistake, likely requiring the camera to be sent in for repair or replacement.

Insta360 has tackled this with the X5 by introducing user-replaceable lenses. You can grab a lens replacement kit for a pretty reasonable price ($29.99), and it totally takes the stress out of using the camera. I really can’t overstate how big a deal this is — it’s a major upgrade.

The X5 also has built-in wind noise reduction, and honestly, it works really well. The X4 tried to solve this with little mic muffs that velcroe to each side of the camera. They helped a bit, but wind was still an issue for me — and those things fall off super easily.

Now, with the X5, there’s a newly designed mic that uses a layered mesh, plus you’ve got settings options to dial in wind reduction modes. Altogether, it’s made a huge difference in audio quality. Even when flying at over 40 miles per hour, the camera manages to pick up narration via the mic remarkably well.

Another big upgrade Insta360 is pushing with the X5 is its low-light performance. I don’t shoot at night too often, but the X4 definitely struggled when the light started to fade, usually giving me grainy footage. The X5, however, handles dim conditions way better. It produces crisp, clear video even when the lighting isn’t ideal — and cloudy-day footage looks noticeably better compared to the X4.

As an example of the image and audio quality, the clip below is recorded using the X5’s built in mic, shot at 5.7k 30fps and edited using the Insta360 app on iPhone.

In my opinion, the X5 is an incredible piece of gear and well worth the slight price bump over the X4.

If, like me, you already have an X4, whether or not you should upgrade really depends on how you use it. If you’re not worried about potential lens damage and rarely shoot in windy or low-light environments, then sticking with the X4 might make sense.

That said, it’s been totally worth it for me — the replaceable lenses and wind noise reduction alone have been worth the upgrade. On top of that, the X5 delivers sharper visuals, clearer audio, improved low-light performance, and it’s now my go-to action camera.