Insta360 has long dominated the 360-degree camera market, first with the highly capable X5 and then with the budget-friendly X4. Now the company has unveiled the X6, which brings a substantial improvement in image quality thanks to custom Sony 1/1.1-inch square sensors that produce full 1-inch, 360-degree imaging. This represents a 33% increase in sensor area compared to the professional-grade X5, along with four times the light-gathering capability.
After spending several weeks with the X6, I can confidently say the improvement in sharpness and color contrast—particularly in dim lighting—is a major upgrade over the X4 I had been using.
Significantly More Processing Power
At the heart of the new camera is a Triple AL chip featuring an 8-core 3.3GHz 4nm processor paired with dual imaging chips. According to Insta360, this delivers a 500% boost in computing power over the X5. The more capable chip is also 35% more power-efficient, which translates to longer battery life.
You’ll be able to see some of what the X6 can do in our forthcoming Bike of the Year videos on our YouTube channel, where we relied on the X6 to capture extensive footage of both road and gravel bikes.
Insta360 also claims the X6 is their first camera with built-in Dolby Vision, which examines dynamic metadata to adjust contrast and brightness for each shot. Combined with 10-bit color and over 1.07 billion recordable colors, Insta360 says the X6 produces a professional-grade color profile directly from the camera.
AI Director Feature
When it comes to straight-out-of-camera results, the X6’s new AI Director function has really stood out to me.
In the past, you could rely on the excellent Insta360 app to create an AI-generated edit of a 360 clip. However, this needed the camera to be connected to your phone—and it could be quite demanding on both devices’ batteries.
The new AI Director, on the other hand, takes your recently captured footage and produces an AI-driven director’s cut while the camera is powered down and charging.
More Compact Design
Beyond image quality, the X6’s loading and processing times when transferring to the app are noticeably quicker than before.
It’s also a more compact device. Earlier X models were relatively tall and narrow at 46mm x 124.5mm x 38.2mm. The X6 measures 50mm x 100mm x 40mm.
That difference matters when you want to mount the camera on your handlebars or helmet.
Three Cameras in One
In addition to 360-degree dual-lens recording, the X6 can function as a single-lens action camera (similar to a GoPro) with various accessories, including an action-cam style chest mount.
It can also serve as a subject-tracking gimbal camera, all accessible directly from the camera’s menu screen.
With InstaFrame 2.0, you can lock onto a subject and enable auto-tracking. This is perfect for following a cyclist or, in my case, filming my dog as he runs ahead.
You can also take advantage of the gimbal functionality with the new selfie stick remote kit. The compact standalone remote can be attached to your handlebar or inserted into the selfie stick. It features a built-in mini joystick so you can operate the camera like a gimbal, keeping footage stable and smooth while eliminating hand shake or bumps. Dedicated action camera gimbals typically cost around £200, so the fact that the X6 can achieve this virtually is a significant advantage.
Insta360 X6 First Impressions and Pricing
I’m extremely impressed with the X6’s performance compared to the X4 I was previously using.
The image clarity is remarkable, especially in low-light situations. The new larger battery (2600mAh) allows me to record for nearly two and a half hours at the highest quality—8K at 30fps in full 360-degree video.
The camera also charges rapidly, and the speed at which it transfers and exports from camera to phone is a major improvement over older models.
The $699 / £619 / €699 price for the standard bundle includes the camera, battery, USB-C cable, and protective pouch. The Road Cycling bundle is priced at £743 / $743 and replaces the standard battery with an Xtreme battery while adding a bike computer mount, bike kit, invisible selfie stick, and lens caps.
The 2-in-1 foldable selfie stick with remote, which transforms the camera into a gimbal camera, is sold separately at £54.99 / $54.99.
