The best 360 cameras let you capture every angle of life’s moments to create an immersive photo or video experience. The technology splices together images taken with two extreme fisheye lenses. While it requires extra editing to create a cohesive image, 360 cameras provide a unique look at life you can keep for yourself or share with an audience. Content creators, real estate agents, and adventurers are among those who’ve taken advantage of this technology.
Quick Summary
After we checked some of the most popular waterproof 360 cameras on the market, we came up with three that met our standards for durability, audio quality, accurate preview, stable connection, and battery life.
- Insta360 ONE is a good choice for users who want smooth video and great stabilization.
- Ricoh Theta V is ideal if you want a reliable camera that can handle high-contrast and low-light situations.
- If you want a device that works down to sixteen feet underwater, the GoPro Fusion should be your choice.
Best 360 Cameras in 2022-2023
- Insta360 One X2
- Insta360 One R
- GoPro Max
- Insta360 One X
- Ricoh Theta V
- Garmin VIRB 360
Insta360 One X2:
This is one of three Insta360 cameras on this list. You’ll find that most Insta360 cameras are waterproof which is why they dominate in this category. The One X2 is the newest and most advanced of the Insta360 cameras and it fully waterproof without requiring any extra case.
Insta360 software features an editing mode that can boost the quality of underwater shots called Aquavision. Using this mode makes underwater video look clearer and more vibrant.
| 35mm Equivalent Focal Length | 7.2mm |
| EV | ±4EV |
| WB | Auto, 2700K, 4000K, 5000K, 6500K, 7500K |
| Photo Resolution | 360: 6080×3040 (2:1); Pano: 4320×1440 (3:1) |
| Photo Format | JPG (can be exported via mobile app or desktop Studio), RAW (dng, must be edited on desktop) |
| Video Format | Steady Cam: MP4; 360: INSV |
| Exposure Modes | Photo Shoot: Auto, Manual (Shutter 1/8000s-120s, ISO 100-3200), Shutter Priority (1/8000s-1s), ISO Priority (100-3200), Isolated Exposure; Video Shoot: Auto, Manual (Shutter 1/8000s-1/30s, ISO 100-3200), Shutter Priority (1/8000s-1/30s), ISO Priority (100-3200), Isolated Exposure. |
Insta 360 X2 Reviews (Pros and Cons)
- Very good image quality
- Large, beautiful touchscreen display
- Creative and fun modes
- Waterproof
- Some features don’t work well in lowlight situations
Insta360 One R
The One R (review here) is the first camera on our list and potentially the best for anyone looking for a waterproof 360 camera. The One R is fully waterproof up to 5 metres without any extra case or protection. The One R is both a 360 camera and an action camera thanks to its modular design which allows you to physically change the lenses.
Insta360 One R Specification
| Screen Size | 1 Inches |
| Optical Zoom | 1 |
| Camcorder type | Action Camera |
| Included Components | Twin Edition includes 1x 4K Wide Angle Mod, 1x Dual-Lens 360 Mod, 1x Core, 1x Battery Base, 1x Lens Cap and 1x Mounting Bracket.Twin Edition includes 1x 4K Wide Angle Mod, 1x Dual-Lens 360 Mod, 1x Core, 1x Battery Base, 1x Lens Cap and 1x Mounting Bracket. See more |
| Video Capture Resolution | 4K |
| Minimum Focal Length | 1000 |
| Lens Type | Wide-Angle |
| Water Resistance Level | Waterproof |
Insta360 One R Review Pros and Cons
Pro
- Good video quality
- Good photos
Cons
- Editing app requires latest smartphones
- Stitching lines sometimes visible
- Expensive
- Lens could be easy to lose
Go Pro
CHOOSING THE RIGHT action camera used to be simple: Go with GoPro. That’s still good advice, in that the GoPro ranks high on our list and is our top pick for most people, but we’ve finally found a few worthy competitors.
To figure out which cameras are the best, we dove with them, climbed with them, biked with them, and handed them to reckless 9-year-olds on bikes. We found a number of great options that will record, and survive, your future adventures.
Go Pro SPECIFICATIONS
Weight: 153g
Waterproof: 10m
5K video: up to 60fps
4K video: up to 120fps
1080P: up to 240fpsStills resolution: 23MP
Battery life: 1-32hrs estimate
Go Pro Review Pros and Cons
Pros (Good)
- Excellent image stabilization
- Powerful GP2 processor
- New 4K/120p mode is fun
- Front and back-facing displays
- Still images from 5.3K video
- Hydrophobic lens coating
- Backward compatibility with Hero9 accessories
- Wi-Fi and USB transfer for phones and tablets
Cons (Bad)
- Heavy
- Same small sensor
- Still not a low-light king
- Slightly more expensive than last year’s flagship
- Charging batteries requires open bay door
- Mediocre battery life
Ricoh Theta X
An easy to use and versatile step-up 360º camera with lots of practical features (though not RAW capture), the Ricoh Theta X’s large sensor means 60.5MP stills and 5.7K 360º video with image stabilization, though the highlight is its ability to easily remove a person from content.
When the Ricoh Theta first hit the shelves in 2013 it was the very first consumer 360° camera. Since then the likes of Insta360 and even GoPro have got involved in the spherical format. Can Ricoh reach the high standards of its rivals with its latest attempt?
Theta X Specifications
| Lenses | two fisheye lenses |
| Aperture | f/2.4 |
| Field of view | fully spherical |
| Sensor Size | two 48mp Sony IMX586 1/2.0 inch sensors |
| Photo resolution | 11008 x 5504 |
| Video resolution | 5760 x 2880, 30fps 3840 x 1920, 60fps |
| Bitrate | 120mbps |
Theta X Review (Pros and Cons)
Pros (Good)
- Realtime stitching for both photos and videos.
- 5.7k video with stabilization.
- Excellent, very accurate colors.
- High resolution photos up to 11K.
- Automatic HDR.
Cons (Bed)
- Overheating. If you record at room temperature, it can overheat. Mine stopped recording at 13:50 when I recorded at room temperature.
- The battery life is quite short. Around 30 minutes of video.
- Susceptible to glare. If the sunlight is directly at the lens, there will be noticeable glare.
- For photos, it has HDR but the HDR has no anti-ghosting algorithm. So if the camera is moving a bit, you’ll see ghosting in your photo.
Insta360 Pro
When Insta360 released the Insta360 Pro (reviewed here) around July 2017, they created a revolution among professional 360 cameras. The Insta360 Pro was unique in its ease of use and workflow. I have been using one since launch, and I was surprised at how easy it was to shoot and stitch. To this day, I still rely on the Insta360 Pro for shooting 3D 360 photos and videos.
High resolution 3D 360. Insta360 Pro 2 can shoot 3D 360 video in high resolution – at 8K 30fps (7680 x 7680). That is around 44% more resolution than the Insta360 Pro which shot 3D 360 at 6400 x 6400 resolution. In 8K 2D mode, each of its 6 cameras shoots at a resolution of 3860 x 2880 (25% higher than Cinema 4K) and a bit rate rate of 120mbps. Check out the sample videos below!
Insta360 Pro Specifications
| Lenses | 200° 6 x F2.4 fisheye lenses |
| Storage | 6 MicroSD Card + 1 SD Card (Purchased Separately) |
| Bit rate per Lens | Up to 120Mbps |
| Working Temperature | 0-40℃ |
| Antennae | GPS signal antenna + WiFi signal antenna |
| Image Stabilization | FlowState stabilization |
| Photo Format | JPEG / DNG |
Garmin VIRB 360
Today Garmin jumped into the 360° fray by introducing their own 360° action camera – the VIRB 360. This camera one-ups everyone in the specs department by mic-dropping 5.7K resolution alongside being completely waterproofed with GPS built-in. Not to mention the usual Garmin VIRB sensor support for data overlays from sports, automotive and boating devices.
Quick view
- Resolution up to 5.7K/30fps unstitched and 4K/30fps with in-camera stitching1
- 4 built-in microphones capture 360-degree audio
- 4K spherical stabilization² ensures a smooth video regardless of camera movement
- Built-in sensors provide G-Metrix™ data overlays in 360-degree augmented reality
Garmin VIRB 360 Technical Specification
| Weight | 133 g without battery; 160 g with battery |
| Unit size (HxWxD) | 39.0 x 59.3 x 69.8 m |
| Water rating | 10 m |
| Temperature range | 0 to 40° C (32 to 104° F), operating; 0 to 45° C (32 to 113° F), charging; -40 to 85° C (-40 to 185° F), storage |
| Memory | UHS-I, Class U3 or higher microSD™ card (card not included), up to 128 GB. Recommended cards |
| Livestream (Apple® devices only); | Facebook® and YouTube® available when VIRB 360 is wirelessly connected to a compatible iPhone® or iPad® |
| Battery life | up to 1 hour 5 minutes |
Garmin VIRB 360 Review (Pros and Cons)
- 4K resolution (5.7k unstitched)
- Easy to use interface and buttons
- 10 meter water resistance
- Data overlays due to included sensors
- Simple editing software and smartphone connectivity
- Removable battery
- Bit pricey, but less than comparable professional rigs
- Live streaming only on iOS
