GoPro Max (2025 refresh): The GoPro Max, first released in 2020, received a mild refresh in 2025. The body, lenses and sensors are unchanged, still capable of 5.6K video at 30fps and 16.6MP photos. The most notable difference on the outside is GoPro’s new mount, which adds to the typical GoPro “folding fingers.” Between them is now a standard 1/4-20 tripod screw mount. The battery has the same capacity but is the more robust Enduro design found in other GoPro cameras. The biggest change is in the Quik app, which adds AI-assisted tracking that works well, plus easy-to-use transitions and camera movements. Broadly speaking, the Insta360 app can do more, but the GoPro app gets you something that looks good quite easily. The new lower price of $350 puts it more or less in direct competition with the Insta360 X3, which can capture higher-resolution still images and is a little cheaper but physically larger. If you’re already in the GoPro ecosystem, especially if you like the typically vibrant GoPro video color and contrast, the Max (2025) is a decent value if you don’t want the better-performing Insta360 X4 Air, X5 or the newer Max 2.

Insta360 One RS: The One RS is an action camera with interchangeable lenses, including a 360 option. Swapping the lenses is a bit fiddly, and the image quality for both 360 and “flat” regular photos and videos isn’t as good as a dedicated camera.

Insta360 One RS 1-inch: The One RS 1-inch pairs the body of the One RS with two huge 1-inch sensors. The image quality is excellent, but in most situations not that much better than the X4, X5 or KanDao QooCam 3 Ultra. It’s quite expensive and not as easy to use as those cameras. It's no longer sold by Insta360, but if you can find a used one cheaply, it can do great in low light. However, it can't do the 8K video of the newer cameras.

Insta360 X2: The X2 is cheaper than the X3, but the X3 is far more capable and worth the additional cost. 

Insta360 X4: The X4 was our previous top pick. It is still an excellent camera and worth considering if you can find it cheap. It has been replaced by the slightly smaller X4 Air, recommended above, as well as the better-performing X5 (ditto).

Kandao QooCam 3: The non-Ultra version of the QooCam 3 roughly matches the performance of the X3, but it’s not as easy to use.

Kandao QooCam Fun: This inexpensive 360 camera connects directly to your phone via USB-C. It’s a fun accessory but lacks the quality of a dedicated camera. Since you’d typically hold the phone to shoot/record, your hand will always be in the image.

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Despite their additional lenses and sensors, 360 cameras mostly function like traditional cameras. To test them, we shot lots of photos and videos on each camera in the same place, so we could compare detail, noise and color accuracy. We tested during the day and in low-light conditions. Since most 360 cameras use relatively small image sensors, they all struggle to some degree in dim and dark lighting. Additionally, for video, we walked and jogged to test the image stabilization. 

One of the main differences in how 360 cameras work is that they need to “stitch” the images recorded by each sensor together into one seamless image. Generally speaking, Insta360, Kandao and Ricoh, are all pretty good at this as long as there isn’t anything within a foot or so of the camera. In some situations, there might be artifacts or blurring at the seams. No camera is perfect, but we looked for egregious issues, especially in “simple” situations like a bright day outside. 

We also test the camera’s apps. These are vital in the overall experience of a 360 camera since you’ll typically need to edit the photos and videos into something “flat” to display on social media. 

If you’ve never used a 360 camera, the variety of prices, shapes and sizes can be intimidating. While not expensive compared with a “real” camera, these are all still hundreds of dollars and not an impulse buy for most people. Before you dive in, here are some factors to consider.

What you want to capture 

When 360 cameras first came out they were a bit of a novelty. Their spherical images could be seen on Facebook, and eventually, their videos could be seen there and on YouTube. While engaging, they were quite niche. As phones got more powerful, the apps got more useful. These days, the vast majority of 360 content is edited in apps to create 16:9 or 9:16 content for social media. If you’ve ever seen a video and wondered “How was this recorded? Drone? Daredevil cameraperson?” it was probably a 360 camera on a selfie stick (with today's cameras, that gets automatically deleted during the editing process).

Which is to say, do you want the 360 camera to replace an action camera, or do you want to elevate what you can capture compared with your phone’s camera? The Insta360 X3, X4 and X5 can easily double as an action camera, though I’d recommend some protective lens covers since the lenses themselves stick out from the body (which is the case with all 360 cameras).

Phone performance

The better 360 cameras record at least 5.7K video, with some models able to record 8K at 30 frames per second. These are huge files and need a fairly modern phone to be able to edit them in any way. If your phone is a few years old, it’s worth checking the company’s website for compatibility info. You’ll at least need a fair amount of storage space available for the files.

Computer performance

For the highest quality videos, you’ll want to do the editing on a reasonably powerful laptop or desktop computer. This certainly isn’t required, but it’s something worth considering if you want the best image quality. 

Accessories cost extra

Mounting accessories make a world of difference when it comes to how and what you can shoot. Camera makers will sometimes bundle a mount or two with the camera, but in general, you'll have to get them separately. The only must-have accessory is a selfie stick. This is because for the best results, you want the camera to be at least some distance away from you. The camera’s software will “delete” the selfie stick, so it will look like the camera is hovering near you. If you’re holding the camera, it will mangle your fingers and look weird. Any object within a foot or so of the edges of the camera will get this treatment, so it’s best to keep things at least a short distance away. 

What is a 360 camera?

A 360 camera is a device that uses two or more lenses and image sensors to record a 360-degree sphere around the camera. 

What can you do with 360 videos and photos?

There are two main options for the content you can capture with 360 cameras. The first, and most common, is to edit the videos and photos into “flat” versions that can be posted to any social media platform. So, for example, you record a 360 video of you hiking, and later you edit that video into a 9:16 format for TikTok or Instagram that shows just the highlights of your hike. The video will be highly stabilized (no shaking), and can feature pans and zooms that are far smoother and more professional-looking than what’s possible with a traditional camera. Because the camera captures everything, you don’t need to worry about where the camera is pointed. 

The other option is to use the 360-degree content as 360-degree content. This is more limited in where you can post and share it. Facebook and YouTube are the biggest platforms that support 360 content. The photo spheres and spherical videos can be viewed on any phone, often by moving the phone around like a viewfinder “inside” the image. Or, they can be viewed using a virtual reality headset where you can “look around” like you’re there. Google’s Street View uses an advanced 360 camera mounted on a vehicle, but anyone can upload 360 photos to add to the coverage.

Are 360 cameras difficult to use?

In some ways 360 cameras are easier to use than traditional cameras. There’s no “aiming.” You don’t “point-and-shoot” so to speak. You hold the camera up and it records everything. That’s not to say there isn’t a learning curve to get the best results, but anyone can start taking 360 photos and videos immediately. Insta360 and Kandao offer tutorials in their apps to help you get the most from their cameras.

Why is the video resolution so high? My TV is only 4K

Because the camera records everything, the additional resolution is vital for the result to look good. Look at it this way: Your TV offers 4K to reproduce a window-sized image. The 360 camera is recording that plus everything above and below the TV, and everything else around it, so it needs a lot more pixels. Typically, this recording is edited in the camera’s app into something that can be displayed on any phone or TV. The 16:9 portion of an 8K 360 video might be 4K, or it might be even less, depending on how you choose to edit the video.

Is a 360 camera required for virtual tours?

No. A 360 camera is an option for Matterport-style virtual tours for real estate. Because they’re able to capture everything around the camera, they’re typically faster than using a motorized mount for your phone.

Is it easy to damage the lenses?

Yes! I have destroyed several 360 cameras with small falls that wouldn’t have bothered a phone or action camera. Because of how they work, the lenses protrude from the body of the camera. So if it falls on a hard surface, there’s a good chance you’ll crack or scratch the lens, and then that will show up in all your photos and videos as a smudge or dark spot or worse, basically ruining everything you capture.

Some models, like the Insta360 X4, offer removable lens protectors. These are well worth it if you want to protect your investment or you’re occasionally clumsy. Most come with soft cases, but it’s worth finding a hard shell case if you want to throw the camera in a backpack. One of the biggest improvements with the X5 is it has user-replaceable lenses.

When is the best time to buy a 360 camera?

Like many products, cameras typically get discounted for Black Friday and Amazon Prime Days (even if you shop at other stores like Walmart and Best Buy). Usually, the cameras get cheaper later in their life too, so six to eight months after release, you’ll start to see deeper discounts. Insta360 also has a history of keeping its older cameras in its lineup at lower prices. For example, the X3 that’s our current budget pick was released in 2023 and is still a great camera at a lower price than when it first came out.

What are the best 360 camera companies?

The 360 camera market is very small. There are effectively three main companies: Insta360, KanDao and Ricoh. Ricoh essentially invented the category but has lagged behind Insta360 and KanDao in recent years. KanDao has made some interesting cameras in the last few years, but it wasn’t until the QooCam 3 Ultra recommended above that all the pieces fell into place. Insta360 is by far the category leader and has been for many years.

Other companies have dabbled in the space, including Nikon, Kodak and action camera heavyweight GoPro with the Hero Max.

What about 360 cameras with more lenses and sensors?

The cameras we recommend are all consumer cameras. There are professional models with additional lenses and sensors that offer higher-resolution photos and videos. These are all significantly more expensive and beyond the scope of this guide. 

In addition to covering cameras and display tech, Geoff does photo tours of cool museums and locations around the world, including nuclear submarines, aircraft carriers, medieval castles, epic 10,000-mile road trips and more.

Also, check out Budget Travel for Dummies, his travel book, and his bestselling sci-fi novel about city-sized submarines. You can follow him on Instagram and YouTube. 

What we've updated

June 2026: Added the DJI Osmo 360 as a new pick.

January 2026: Added the Insta360 X4 Air as a new mid-range pick and the GoPro Max 2 as pick for beginners.

May 2025: Added the Insta360 X5 as our new top pick. Moved the previous pick, the X4, to the Other 360 Cameras We've Tested section. (It's still good, though!)