The action camera market is full of endless options for extreme sports enthusiasts with specific and highly customized needs. But the Insta360 One X2 is different.
In the 2020s, shooting at 5K became the new standard, with tech manufacturers stepping up their game and making their cameras smaller and incredibly powerful.
The evolution got to a point where action cameras can capture footage at a higher resolution than the platforms can process.
YouTube, for instance, is under pressure to display an increased number of 5K+ uploaded videos.
Founded in 2015 in Shenzhen, China, Insta360 has been breaking through this competitive market with a particular feature.
The company launched the world's first 360 action camera under the motto "shoot first, point later."
In 2018, Insta360 became the first 360-degree camera brand available in the Apple Store.
It teamed up with Leica two years later to launch a high-end, GoPro-inspired model for the watersports segment.
Now, the company raises the bar with a device that - combined with the powerful app - promises to revolutionize extreme sports.
Dual Lenses for 360-Degree Shots
Insta360 One X brought 360-degree capture to the mainstream in a simple, powerful package, allowing users to change how they shot their world.
The second installment - Insta360 One X2 - added new features and computing power.
Full 360-degree is a spectacular feature, but it requires smart tech and uses from the manufacturer and the filmmaker, respectively.
However, thanks to Insta360's lenses, you can get a super-wide field of view, perfect for point-of-view (POV) shots of your surroundings.
One of the beauties of the One X2 is that you can use it as a webcam split-screen view on conferencing platforms or go live 360 degrees on social media.
The dual-lenses system and the app also allow you to reframe a shot afterward - and this is a particularly interesting feature if, for instance, you need to make a correction or angle adjustment.
Ideal for Skateboarders
Skateboarders will love the freeze-frame option - it's the perfect option for reframing a maneuver in spectacular ultra-slow motion.
But, for sidewalk surfers, the most important feature is clearly One X2's advanced tracking algorithm, which can track humans and other moving objects.
Whether in a skatepark, bowl, ramp, or street, the pocket-sized camera's artificial intelligence will detect the skater and automatically track it.
The impressive feature can even follow the subject if it goes out of the line of sight, making skateboard videos increasingly more exciting.
The Insta360 app includes the Shot Lab, a collection of surprising editing options that will enhance your videos.
One of the most interesting is the fly lapse, a feature that simulates a first-person view (FPV) drone.
The clone trail will multiply yourself doing an ollie in just a few taps. It's perfect for showcasing skateboarding tricks and maneuvers.
The Invisible Selfie Stick
And remember - the Insta360 One X2 will always hide the selfie stick, making it invisible whenever you shoot yourself in a third-person perspective and get aerial angles of yourself.
Stabilization has also become a minimum requirement, and the One X2 is ready to handle all bumpy surfaces.
You'll get smooth shots and a leveling system to ensure the horizon will always stay level when you rotate the camera.
Insta360 One X2 also innovated when it comes to design.
The action camera fits in the palm of your hand, and its thin elongated structure allows users to grab it like a smartphone.
You can also easily carry it with a selfie stick or floating hand grip.
Insta360 One X2 vs. GoPro
If you're a skateboarder, kiteboarder, windsurfer, snowboarder, and BMX rider, the One X2 will be extremely useful and allow you to create innovative shots.
If you're a surfer, you can install it on a surfboard using a universal mount.
Still, the camera's rectangular shape may slow you down a bit while taking off and riding a wave due to drag.
Nevertheless, and considering the number of additional (nearly exclusive) features, the Insta360 One X2 offers a competitive advantage over the hyper-hyper GoPro.
Once again, it's important to stress that this is a 360-degree camera and not exactly a standard action sports camera.
Nonetheless, you can turn on the steady cam mode and shoot ultra-stable, wide-angle footage with one lens only.
The One X2 is waterproof up to 33 feet (10 meters) without any case and auto-balances out colors, resulting in crystal-clear content, even when submerged underwater.
The image is vivid, dramatic, and crisp and will generate striking cinematic moments of action and daily life.
If you buy the dive case, the camera can get down to 147 feet depth (45 meters).
The multi-cam rig also captures eye-catching panoramas, and the shooting can be activated with a voice command or a tap.
Thanks to its high-performance 1630mAh battery, users can shoot 5.7K, 360 videos for 80 minutes and even preview the shot on a high-definition touchscreen.
For capturing 360 audio, the Insta360 One X2 has four wind-reduction microphones smartly embedded in the sleek design.