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

DJI Osmo Action 4 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.

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.
The short answer

Insta360 X3 comes out ahead by a clear margin (4.3 vs 4.7). 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.

DJI Osmo Action 4
Ranked #3 in Best Action Cameras Under $300
DJI Osmo Action 4
3 sources1 derived$239as of Aug 1

The DJI Osmo Action 4 is the action camera to beat under $300, thanks to a larger 1/1.3-inch sensor that gives it a clear low-light advantage over GoPro. It pairs that with class-leading stabilization, a brilliant magnetic mount system, and dependable battery life. Minor software quirks and the lack of an audio meter are the only real gripes.

Strengths
  • — Larger 1/1.3-inch sensor delivers the best low-light footage of any action camera in this price range
  • — Excellent RockSteady stabilization that keeps footage silky smooth in nearly all scenarios
  • — Magnetic quick-release mount system makes swapping rigs fast and secure
Watch-outs
  • — Stabilization cannot be disabled in some modes, causing unwanted movement in hyperlapse
  • — No on-screen audio level meter for monitoring sound
  • — Mandatory app activation is required before first use
$239 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →
Insta360 X3
Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Action Cameras Under $300
Insta360 X3
3 sources$299.99as of Aug 1

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
$299.99 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

How they stack up

DJI Osmo Action 4

Its larger 1/1.3-inch sensor outperforms the GoPro Hero 12 Black and GoPro Hero 11 Black Mini in low light, the area where those 1/1.9-inch cameras struggle most. Stabilization is comparable to the Hero 12's HyperSmooth 6.0. Unlike the 360-degree Insta360 X3 it is a traditional flat-video action camera, and it far outclasses the budget AKASO Brave 7 on sensor size, image quality and mounting.

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

SpecDJI Osmo Action 4Insta360 X3
Sensor1/1.3-inch CMOSDual 1/2-inch CMOS
Max Video4K 120fps—
StabilizationRockSteady 3.0+ / HorizonSteadyFlowState + 360 Horizon Lock
Waterproof18m without housing10m without housing
Weight145g180g
DisplayDual touchscreen (front + rear)2.29-inch touchscreen
MountMagnetic quick-release—
Battery1770mAh1800mAh
Max 360 Video—5.7K 30fps
Single-Lens Video—4K 30fps
← See the full ranking of best action cameras under $300