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The Best 5Reviewed by Mike Hunter·May 24, 2026

Best 360 Cameras

Top 5 360 cameras reviewed and ranked.

Quick answer

Insta360 X5 is our top pick for 360 cameras — an averaged 4.8/5 across 3 published reviews at about $549.99. Runner-up: GoPro Max 2 (~$499).

Read the Insta360 X5 review →$549.99 · Check Price on Amazon

At a glance

Tap any product for the full review
1Insta360 X5Top Score
(3 sources)
$549.99Best for: Creators and adventurers who want the best all-round 360 camera for action, travel and low-light reframing.
$549.99 · Check Price on Amazon
2GoPro Max 2
(3 sources)
$499Best for: Professionals and action shooters who want the best daylight 8K quality and GoPro's rugged mounting ecosystem.
$499 · Check Price on Amazon
3DJI Osmo 360
(3 sources)
$389Best for: Value-focused creators and DJI owners who want the best low-light 360 footage and class-leading battery life.
$389 · Check Price on Amazon
4Insta360 X4
(3 sources)
$360.99Best for: Budget-minded creators who want flagship-level 8K 360 capture and stabilization without paying for the latest X5.
$360.99 · Check Price on Amazon
5Ricoh Theta X
(3 sources)
$596.95Best for: Real-estate, virtual-tour and photo-first creators who want huge spherical stills and instant, no-stitch output.
$596.95 · Check Price on Amazon
Verdict is reader-supported. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Some links on this page are affiliate links — if you click through and buy, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Our ratings are sourced from independent publications, not sponsors.
Reviews aggregated from
Techradar.comTomsguide.comDigitalcameraworld.comDcrainmaker.comPcmag.comTrustedreviews.com360rumors.comHughhou.medium.com

The full ranking

How we rank →
Insta360 X5
#1 · Top Score
Best for: Creators and adventurers who want the best all-round 360 camera for action, travel and low-light reframing.
Insta360 X5
from 3 sources$549.99as of Jun 7

The Insta360 X5 is the best overall 360 camera you can buy. Larger 1/1.28-inch sensors transform its low-light performance over the X4, it shoots 8K/30p that reframes to 2.7K flat, and it adds tougher waterproofing plus a replaceable-lens system. The trade-offs are the usual 360 ones: visible stitch lines on close subjects and heavy editing demands.

Strengths
  • — Larger 1/1.28-inch dual sensors deliver a dramatic leap in low-light image quality over the X4
  • — 8K/30p 360 capture reframes to a class-leading 2.7K flat output
Watch-outs
  • — Stitch line is still visible if a subject is too close to the camera
  • — Reframing and editing 8K footage demands a powerful phone or computer
$549.99 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →vs. GoPro Max 2 →
GoPro Max 2
#2
Best for: Professionals and action shooters who want the best daylight 8K quality and GoPro's rugged mounting ecosystem.
GoPro Max 2
from 3 sources$499as of Jun 7

The GoPro Max 2 is the 360 camera for pros and daylight action shooters. It boasts the best bright-light image quality in the category, adds true 8K with 10-bit Log for serious post-production, and brings GoPro's rugged build and unmatched mounting ecosystem. It loses ground in low light and is waterproof to only 5m, so it is less suited to night and underwater work.

Strengths
  • — Best bright-daylight image quality of the current small 360 cameras
  • — True 8K capture with 10-bit color and Log for maximum post-production flexibility
Watch-outs
  • — Low-light performance trails the Insta360 X5 and DJI Osmo 360
  • — Waterproof to only 5m, far less than the X5 and Osmo 360 at 15m
$499 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →vs. Insta360 X5 →
DJI Osmo 360
#3
Best for: Value-focused creators and DJI owners who want the best low-light 360 footage and class-leading battery life.
DJI Osmo 360
from 3 sources$389as of Jun 7

The DJI Osmo 360 is a remarkable debut that challenges the category leaders on its first try. Its large square sensor gives it the best low-light 360 image quality here, it shoots 8K/50p with 120MP stills, and its battery life is class-leading, all at a price that undercuts the Insta360 X5. The caveats are weaker audio, slightly softer stabilization, and non-replaceable lenses.

Strengths
  • — Large square 1-inch-class sensor delivers the best low-light 360 image quality of the group
  • — 8K/50p 360 capture plus 120MP stills and a generous 105GB of built-in storage
Watch-outs
  • — Weaker internal audio than the Insta360 X5
  • — Stabilization is slightly less competent than the X5's FlowState
$389 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →vs. Insta360 X5 →
Insta360 X4
#4
Best for: Budget-minded creators who want flagship-level 8K 360 capture and stabilization without paying for the latest X5.
Insta360 X4
from 3 sources$360.99as of Jun 7

The Insta360 X4 was the best 360 camera of its generation and remains a superb value now that the X5 sits above it. It shoots 8K/30p that reframes to 2.7K, adds a genuinely useful single-lens 4K/60p mode, and pairs excellent stabilization with strong battery life. Its main limitation versus the X5 is weaker low-light performance from its smaller sensors.

Strengths
  • — 8K/30p 360 capture that reframes to a sharp 2.7K flat output
  • — Excellent FlowState stabilization with 360 horizon lock for smooth action footage
Watch-outs
  • — Smaller sensors than the X5 mean weaker low-light performance
  • — 8K editing is demanding on phones and laptops
$360.99 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →vs. Insta360 X5 →
Ricoh Theta X
#5
Best for: Real-estate, virtual-tour and photo-first creators who want huge spherical stills and instant, no-stitch output.
Ricoh Theta X
from 3 sources$596.95as of Jun 7

The Ricoh Theta X is the 360 camera for photographers and virtual-tour creators rather than action shooters. It captures enormous 60.5MP spherical stills, stitches photos and 5.7K video in real time so they are ready to use instantly, and adds practical touches like a big touchscreen, swappable battery, and expandable storage. It is less about 8K action video and more about fuss-free immersive imaging.

Strengths
  • — Massive 60.5MP (up to 11K) spherical stills with excellent color and detail
  • — Real-time in-camera stitching means photos and 5.7K video are ready to use with no processing
Watch-outs
  • — 5.7K video tops out below the 8K action cameras here
  • — No RAW capture for stills
$596.95 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →vs. Insta360 X5 →

Spec comparison

5 products
SpecInsta360 X5GoPro Max 2DJI Osmo 360Insta360 X4Ricoh Theta X
Capture8K/30p 360 videoTrue 8K 360 video8K/50p 360 video8K/30p 360 video—
Photo72MP 360 stills—120MP 360 stills72MP 360 stills60.5MP (up to 11K) 360 stills
StabilizationFlowState + 360 horizon lockHyperSmooth + 360 horizon lockRockSteady + 360 horizon lockFlowState + 360 horizon lockIn-camera image stabilization
Waterproof15m without housing5m without housing15m without housing10m without housing—
LensesReplaceable (tool-based)Replaceable (tool-free)—Replaceable lens guards—
Reframed outputUp to 2.7K flat——Up to 2.7K flat—
AudioWind-guard 4-mic array—Built-in mics + DJI Mic 2 support——
Storage——105GB built-in—microSD expandable
Battery——Class-leading, shared Osmo Action cellsLong-life removableInterchangeable

Frequently asked questions

What is the best 360 camera?
Insta360 X5 is our top pick for 360 cameras, with an averaged rating of 4.8/5 from 3 published reviews. The Insta360 X5 is the best overall 360 camera you can buy. Larger 1/1.28-inch sensors transform its low-light performance over the X4, it shoots 8K/30p that reframes to 2.7K flat, and it adds tougher waterproofing plus a replaceable-lens system. The trade-offs are the usual 360 ones: visible stitch lines on close subjects and heavy editing demands.
Is there a cheaper alternative worth considering?
Insta360 X4 (around $360.99) rates 4.5/5 in our analysis. The Insta360 X4 was the best 360 camera of its generation and remains a superb value now that the X5 sits above it. It shoots 8K/30p that reframes to 2.7K, adds a genuinely useful single-lens 4K/60p mode, and pairs excellent stabilization with strong battery life. Its main limitation versus the X5 is weaker low-light performance from its smaller sensors.
How does Verdict rank these products?
Every rating on Verdict is the numerical average of scores published by independent review sites, YouTube reviewers, and Reddit buyer reports. No editor adjusts the order — the ranking is whatever the source data produces. See our methodology page for the full process.
When was this guide last updated?
This guide was last re-checked in May 2026. We re-run our research pipeline for each category on a rolling basis so prices and rankings reflect current market reality.

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