My Pros and Cons of the Insta360 X3 After Two+ Years of (Not Really) Using It

I was genuinely excited when I first bought my Insta360 X3. I was really looking forward to diving into 360-degree video and photography, doing cool edits, and basically leveling up my content game.

But here I am, a couple of years later, with a solid-looking camera that has mostly been sitting in a drawer. It is not that the X3 is a bad camera. In fact, there are things I absolutely love about it.

But it also has some frustrating quirks that kept me from using it as much as I thought I would.

Scott holding his Insta360 X3 360 camera — Notice how ashamed I look as I find the courage tell you that I spent nearly $400 on a camera that I only used like 5 times. The twitching upper lip is a dead giveaway!

Pros and Cons of the Insta360 X3

PRO: Solid, Premium Feel

Right out of the box, the X3 feels like a premium device (just the same as my Insta360 Go 3 did). It has some weight to it, and it is definitely not as plasticky or toy-like as my GoPro Hero 11 Black. The body feels rugged and solid – like it’s built to last.

CON: That Same Weight Is Also a Burden

That weight? It’s gets annoying after a while. If I put this thing on the end of a long stick for more than a few minutes, my wrist will feel it. It is not exactly backpack-friendly either, especially when I’m trying to pack light.

PRO: Durable Body

Build quality is excellent. Doors and buttons still work like new even after two years of occasional use. That is more than I can say for a couple of my old GoPros.

CON: Very Delicate Lens

This is a major downside. The X3’s dual lenses bulge out on either side, which makes them extremely vulnerable. If you set it down without a protective case, even for a second, you risk scratching them.

These lenses are not replaceable. Scratch one badly enough, and your X3 is basically ruined.

Insta360 X3 lying face up with screen off

Insta360 X3 lying face up with screen off showing power button

CON: Confusing Buttons and UI

Even after years of owning it, I still fumble with it every time I pick it up. I can never remember which button is which, especially the shutter button, and the power button is not placed in a particularly intuitive spot.

The menu system also is not very user-friendly. Every time I use it after a break, I have to re-teach myself how to do basic things like change shooting modes or take a photo. It’s annoying!

CON: No Native 4K in 360 Mode

I knew going in that it did not shoot 4K 360 video, but I figured I could live with that. Turns out, I could not. The novelty of 360 video wore off pretty quickly when I saw how soft everything looked compared to 4K footage from my other cameras. I wanted to love the 360 experience, but without 4K, I couldn’t.

PRO: Surprisingly Good Image Quality (in Good Light)

The X3 can deliver solid results in bright light. Its video and photo quality is generally on par with what GoPro was offering at the same time the X3 launched. Indoors or in low light, though, the quality isn’t all that great.

PRO: Editing Software Is Excellent

The Insta360 Studio and mobile apps are among the best I have used for 360 content. You can reframe, crop, spin, pan, and do just about anything you need. From the software side of things, Insta360 really did a great job.

CON: Editing Takes Forever

Here is the catch. Editing 360 content is not fast. Even with great software, it is a time-consuming process, especially if you are trying to combine 360 clips with footage from other cameras. The added complexity of stitching, reframing, and rendering means you really have to commit to this workflow. I could not.

CON: Steep Learning Curve

For a casual user or even a semi-pro like me, there is a learning curve that never really goes away. I always had to spend extra time figuring out how to make the most of the camera’s features. That time adds up, and after a while, it just became easier to reach for a more straightforward camera.