Verdict
All guidesResearchMethodologyAboutContact
Head-to-head · Best Action Cameras Under $300

AKASO Brave 7 vs Insta360 X3

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

The short answer

Insta360 X3 comes out ahead by a clear margin (4.1 vs 4.5). The gap is mostly about Creators and adventurers who want reframable 360 footage, impossible-looking selfie-stick shots, and a flexible camera that also shoots flat 4K. — read the strengths below before deciding.

AKASO Brave 7
Ranked #5 in Best Action Cameras Under $300
AKASO Brave 7
$169.99as of Jun 7

The AKASO Brave 7 is the value champion of this group, delivering 4K video, dual screens, and 10m waterproofing for around $140, a fraction of the premium cameras' price. It covers the basics well and packs more features than you would expect at the price, including a generous accessory bundle. The compromises are softer image quality, weaker stabilization, and audio that struggles in wind.

Strengths
  • — Dual color screens, including a front display for vlogging, are rare at this price
  • — IPX8 waterproof to 10m without a housing, or to 40m with the included case
  • — Records 4K 30fps and 20MP photos with EIS 2.0 stabilization
Watch-outs
  • — Smaller sensor and weaker stabilization than the premium cameras here
  • — Built-in microphone picks up wind and handling noise
  • — Still-photo color balance and detail trail the competition
$169.99 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →
Insta360 X3
Higher ratedRanked #3 in Best Action Cameras Under $300
Insta360 X3
$399.99as of Jun 7

The Insta360 X3 is the most creative camera in this group, capturing everything around it in 360 degrees so you can reframe shots into any angle in editing. Its FlowState stabilization is outstanding, the invisible-selfie-stick effect is genuinely magical, and it can fall back to a flat 4K action camera. The trade-offs are reframed output capped at 1080p and a steeper editing workflow.

Strengths
  • — Captures full 360-degree footage you can reframe into any angle after the fact
  • — Superb FlowState stabilization and auto-leveling for impossibly smooth shots
  • — Invisible selfie stick effect makes the camera appear to float in mid-air
Watch-outs
  • — 5.7K spherical capture reframes down to only 1080p flat video
  • — Stitching is not always perfect and can show a slight join line
  • — Image quality softens and smears in challenging or low light
$399.99 · Buy at store.insta360.comFull review →

How they stack up

AKASO Brave 7

It is the budget option of this group, costing far less than the DJI Osmo Action 4, GoPro Hero 12 Black, Insta360 X3 or GoPro Hero 11 Black Mini, but it trails all of them on sensor size, stabilization and image quality. Its dual screens echo the DJI Osmo Action 4's front-and-rear displays, but the underlying camera is a clear step below the premium models in this list.

Insta360 X3

It is the only 360-degree camera in this group, offering reframable spherical capture that the flat-shooting DJI Osmo Action 4, GoPro Hero 12 Black and GoPro Hero 11 Black Mini cannot match, though it reframes to a lower 1080p than their native flat resolutions. Its stabilization rivals the GoPro's HyperSmooth and DJI's RockSteady, and it far outclasses the budget AKASO Brave 7 in capability and software.

Specs side-by-side

SpecAKASO Brave 7Insta360 X3
Sensor1/2.5-inch CMOSDual 1/2-inch CMOS
Max Video4K 30fps—
Photos20MP—
StabilizationEIS 2.0 (6-axis)FlowState + 360 Horizon Lock
Waterproof10m (IPX8) / 40m with case10m without housing
DisplayDual screen (2-inch rear touch + 1.5-inch front)2.29-inch touchscreen
Battery2x 1350mAh1800mAh
ExtrasRemote, mounts, waterproof case included—
Max 360 Video—5.7K 30fps
Single-Lens Video—4K 30fps
Weight—180g
← See the full ranking of best action cameras under $300