Insta360 isn’t wasting any time leveling up its flagship 360-degree action cam. Less than three months after the X5 launched, the company has dropped a major firmware update alongside new accessories, giving creators more power, flexibility, and creative control.
Also Read | Grok Is Coming to Tesla Vehicles
Headlining the update is AdaptiveTone, a new feature that tackles one of the biggest headaches with dual-lens 360 cameras: exposure balancing. AdaptiveTone records more lighting information for each lens, then adjusts the final image in post-processing to deliver more natural-looking results, even if one lens is pointed into bright sunlight while the other catches shadows.
Low-light shooters get a boost too. Insta360’s PureVideo mode, which uses AI and dynamic range optimization to reduce noise, is now available when shooting with just one lens. And for those who want that cinematic motion blur in bright daylight, Insta360 is rolling out three neutral density filters, ND16, ND32, and ND64, each priced at $59.99. They easily snap onto the X5’s replaceable lens system.
Battery life is getting some love as well. The new Endurance Mode extends 8K/30 fps recording to nearly two hours, and lowering resolution to 5.7K/24 fps can push runtime to nearly 3.5 hours. Still not enough? Insta360 now offers a bigger 2,800mAh Ultra Battery for $49.99, about 17% larger than the standard pack.
Motorcyclists, in particular, have some exciting upgrades to look forward to. Insta360’s new Immersive Shake Stabilization smooths out bumpy rides while keeping just enough natural shake for a sense of speed. The camera can now automatically blur license plates, and a new $159.99 GPS remote doubles as a handlebar-mounted or wrist-worn controller, with a live preview screen, real-time speed and direction data, plus a windscreen-equipped mic for clearer audio on the road.
Insta360’s rapid-fire updates show how action cam brands are fighting to stay ahead, not just with better hardware, but smarter software too.
