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Best Overall
Insta360 X4 360 Camera
Upgrade Pick
Insta360 One RS 1-inch 360 Edition
Best Value
Insta360 X3 Camera
Great for Still Photos
Ricoh Theta X
What if you could capture everything around you all the time? That’s the promise of the 360 camera, which (typically) uses two lenses to simultaneously record everything in a scene, stitching it together in software. The big advantage of 360 cameras over traditional action cameras is that you don’t miss anything. Remember that time you were carving the fresh powder with a GoPro on your head and you missed the grizzly bear that lunged at you from the side? You would have had the shot if you’d been using a 360 camera.
Unedited 360 footage can be used with virtual reality goggles, but for most of us, 360 footage will end up edited down to a traditional “flat” video. This is the primary scenario we’ve considered in testing and selecting these cameras.
Be sure to check out our other camera buying guides, including the Best Action Cameras, Best Compact Cameras, Best GoPro, Best Mirrorless Cameras, and Best Camera Bags.
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Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
Best Overall
Insta360 X4 360 Camera
Insta360’s X4 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is the best 360 camera for most people, especially those new to the category. The 1/2-inch sensor captures 8K video, which is as high-resolution as you can get in a 360-degree camera. The 8K resolution means you can reframe your footage to fit rectangular video formats and still have high-quality clips sharp enough to mix with other sources. It doesn’t reframe to 4K, (you’ll have to wait for 12K footage before that’s possible), but it’s good enough for anything you’d put on social media. The dynamic range is impressive, and skin tones are some of the best in a 360 camera, making it excellent for point-of-view shots. The image stabilization is excellent too. The still image quality is not the best (see our upgrade pick below), but it’s good enough for casual use; I have printed 5 x 7 outtakes that look fine on the wall.
The X4 has great battery life and a ton of built-in functionality, like automatically removing your selfie stick. The X4 also ships with plastic lens covers, which don’t affect the quality of your shot, but do keep the lenses protected. You can be comfortable doing more action-camera things with your X4, like mounting it on a bike. The gesture controls mean you don’t need the screen much, but when you do, it’s big and bright, and reasonably responsive as a touchscreen. As a bonus, you can use the Insta360 X4 in single-lens mode, which turns it into a traditional, 4K-capable action cam. The video quality isn’t GoPro-level, but it’s decent enough that casual users won’t need two cameras.
If all that’s not enough, the biggest reason to get the X4 if you’re new to 360 cameras is Insta360’s excellent editing software, which is free and available for desktop, iOS, and Android devices.
Video Resolution 8K 30 fps 360, 4K 60 fps in single lens mode Still Image Resolution 72 MP (11,904 x 5,952), 18 MP (5,888 x 2,944). RAW (DNG) supported Battery Life 68 minutes at 8K, more at lower resolutions. Weight 7.16 ounces (203 grams) Storage MicroSD up to 1 terabyte -
Photograph: Insta360
Upgrade Pick
Insta360 One RS 1-inch 360 Edition
The Insta360 One RS 1-inch 360 Edition (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is the camera that made me like 360 cameras. It produces the best still and video image quality of any of the cameras on this page. (The Theta X below is technically higher resolution, but I think the One RS 1-inch images are better detailed.) How does a camera that shoots only 6K footage match and sometimes surpass the 8K footage of the X4? Two major upgrades over the X4: dual Leica lenses and a 1-inch sensor, which can record more detail than the X4’s smaller sensor. That said, it’s just barely better than the X4, and the One RS is much bigger, more fragile, and more expensive. That’s why I think the X4 is the best pick for most people, but if your primary concern is video and image quality, this is the camera to get.
Between the two lenses, you get 6K video and 21-megapixel still images. In combination with the 1-inch sensor, these lenses are much more capable than the much smaller lenses on other cameras. The footage is sharper and has less noise. This was especially obvious when shooting in low light and in fast-moving pans, where the One RS is one of the few 360 cameras that doesn’t show many noise artifacts at all.
The downside to the huge lenses is that they’re vulnerable, especially in more action-oriented footage. I haven’t scratched the lens (thankfully), but that hasn’t stopped me from worrying that I will. Still, despite that downside, the footage from the One RS is unbeatable in most situations. Just know that it has been out of stock lately, which might mean a new model is on the horizon.
Video Resolution 5.7K 30 fps, 6K 24 fps Still Image Resolution 6,528 x 3,264 (2:1) RAW (DNG) supported Battery Life Around 45 minutes at 6K, more at lower resolutions. Weight 8.43 ounces (239 grams) Storage MicroSD up to 1 terabyte
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Photograph: Insta360
Best Value
Insta360 X3 Camera
The Insta360 X3 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) has been replaced by the X4, but Insta360 is still selling the X3, and it remains a compelling 360 camera at $400 ($100 less than the X4). You’ll have to settle for 5.7K footage, and that’s on a 1/2-inch sensor, which is only 1080p when you crop to a rectangular video format. Still, you get nearly the same form factor (it’s a few ounces lighter and smaller), good battery life, and that very nice, large, bright rear touchscreen. Like the X4, the X3 can also be used as a 4K, single-lens action cam. One thing to keep in mind, the X3 is a different size, so there’s no compatibility between the X3 and X4 when it comes to accessories like mounts, lens covers, or cases.
Video Resolution 5.7K 30 fps 360, 4K at 30 fps in single lens mode Still Image Resolution 72 MP (11,904 x 5,952), 18 MP (5,888 x 2,944). RAW (DNG) supported Battery Life Around 75 minutes at 5.7K, more at lower resolutions. Weight 6.34 ounces (180 grams) Storage MicroSD up to 1 terabyte -
Great for Still Photos
Ricoh Theta X
Ricoh’s Theta camera started the 360 camera craze over a decade ago, and the Theta X remains a groundbreaking camera. Normally 360 cameras take the view from both lenses and where they overlap, use software to “stitch” the video or photos together. The Theta X does this in real time so when you’re done shooting, you export your video or image and you’re done. That makes the Theta X the easiest camera to use. At least in theory.
The outstanding use case of the Theta X is still images. The twin 1/2-inch sensors allow you to capture 11K JPG images (roughly 60 MP), which is far and away better than the competition. My favorite feature of the Theta X is combining these huge, still image files with the Time Shift feature. Stick the Theta X on a tripod and have it take two images. Move yourself a little between shots and the software will use face recognition to edit you right out of the image, including your shadow. This is super handy for landscapes or interior architectural photos where you don’t want yourself in the image. The Theta X also shoots well in low light, with very little noise. The one letdown is that still images are JPG only, not RAW, which is a real shame.
While I’ve picked it for the awesome stills feature, the Theta X is a capable video camera too. Resolution tops out at 5.7K video at 30 frames per second. The stabilization is good, though not quite as good as what Insta360 offers. What I don’t like about the Theta X is the software. The Ricoh mobile app isn’t bad, but it’s limited, and to get files off the camera you’ll need to connect to a desktop machine.
Video Resolution 5.7K 30 fps 360, 4K at 30 fps in single lens mode Still Image Resolution 60 MP, 11,008 x 5,504 Battery Life Around 25 minutes at 5.7K, more at lower resolutions. Weight 6 ounces (170 grams) Storage Internal 64 GB (46 GB available) plus MicroSD up to 1 terabyte
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Photograph: GoPro
Other Options
Honorable Mentions
Insta360 One RS for $365: The company’s interchangeable-lens action-camera/360-camera hybrid is another option. The video footage isn’t as good as the other cameras in this guide, but you can swap the lens and have an action camera in a moment, which is the major selling point. That said, now that the X3 and X4 can also be used as 4K action cameras, the One RS is less tempting than it used to be. Still, if you like the action-camera form factor but want to be able to shoot 360 footage as well, this One RS is a great camera. The real combo would be the the 360 lens paired with the Leica lens, but the price for that combo is considerably higher.
GoPro Max for $428: GoPro’s entry into the 360 camera world, the Max is a capable action camera, featuring 6K video in a waterproof form factor with industry-leading stabilization. It’s got all the shooting modes you know from your GoPro, like HyperSmooth, TimeWarp, PowerPano, and more. Like the X4, there’s a single-lens mode (called Hero mode), and, my favorite part, the Max is compatible with most GoPro mounts and accessories. The main reason the Max is not one of our top picks is that the Max 2 is likely coming very soon. If you want a Max, at this point you’re better off waiting.
Qoocam 3 Ultra for $599: It’s not widely available yet, and we have not had a chance to try one, but Kandao’s Qoocam 3 Ultra is another 8K 360 camera that looks promising, at least on paper. The f/1.6 aperture is especially interesting as most of the rest of these are in the f/2 and up range. We’ll update this guide when we’ve had a chance to test a Qoocam.
Cameras to Avoid:
Insta360 One X2: Insta360’s older X2 is different from the X3 that replaced it. The form factor is less convenient (the screen is tiny, you pretty much have to use it with a phone). It still shoots 5.7K video, but it’s not as well stabilized nor is it anywhere near as sharp as the X3 or X4. Unless you can get it for well under $200, the X2 is not worth buying at this point.
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Why Buy a 360 Camera
Do You Need A 360 Camera?
There are two reasons you’d want a 360-degree camera. The first is to shoot virtual reality content, where the final viewing is done on a 360 screen, e.g., VR headsets and the like. So far this is mostly the province of professionals who are shooting on very expensive 360 rigs not covered in this guide, though there is a growing body of amateur creators as well. If this is what you want to do, go for the highest-resolution camera you can get; either of our top two picks will work.
For most of us though, the main appeal of a 360 camera is to shoot everything around you and then edit or reframe to the part of the scene we want to focus on, or panning and tracking objects within the 360 footage, but with the result being a typical, rectangular video that then gets exported to the web. The video resolution and image quality will never match what you get from a high-end DSLR, but the DSLR might not be pointed at the right place, at the right time. The 360 camera doesn’t have to be pointed anywhere, it just has to be on.
This is the best use case for the cameras on this page, which primarily produce HD (1080p) or better video—but not 4K—when reframed. I expect to see 12K-capable consumer-level 360 cameras in the next year or two (which is what you need to reframe to 4K), but for now, these are the best cameras you can buy.
Whether you’re shooting virtual tours or your kid’s birthday, the basic premise of a 360 camera is the same. The fisheye lens (usually two very wide-angle lenses combined) captures the entire scene around you, ideally editing out the selfie stick if you’re using one. Once you’ve captured your 360-degree view, you can then edit or reframe that content down to something ready to upload to YouTube, TikTok, and other video-sharing sites.
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Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
How We Tested
To figure out which 360 cameras are best for various uses, I’ve tested them on various scenes in different lighting conditions, to see how each performs. No camera is perfect, so which one is right for you depends on what you’re shooting. I’ve paid special attention to the ease of use of each camera (360 cameras can be confusing at first), along with what kind of helpful extras each offers, HDR modes, support for accessories, and the editing workflow on mobile, Windows and macOS, since 360 footage has to be edited before you post it anywhere.