Insta360 GO 3: our full review

With its GO series, Insta360 offers the smallest and lightest action cameras on the market. The new Insta360 GO 3 is no exception to the rule, and brings a host of improvements, including a new docking station with fold-down touchscreen. So what is it worth? And above all, is it right for you? All the answers in this article.

Insta360 GO 3: design, use and accessories

Dimensions (L x H x W)	GO 3: 25.6 x 54.4 x 23.2 mm Action Pod (folded screen): 63.5 x 47.6 x 29.5 mm Action Pod (screen unfolded): 63.5 x 86.6 x 29.9 mm
Weight	GO 3: 35.5 g Action Pod: 96.3 g
Touch screen	2.2 inches
Internal memory	32 GB, 64 GB, 128 GB (depending on model selected)
Waterproofing	GO 3: waterproof up to 5 meters (IPX8) Action Pod: splashproof (IPX4)
Operating temperature	from -20°C to 40°C

A 2-in-1 design

The Insta360 GO 3 camera features a 2-in-1 design consisting of the following two elements :

• the GO 3 camera: this is the small oval part that contains the lens. It is detachable, and its front panel, which has a status indicator light, is also a click button.
• theAction Pod : this is the GO 3 docking station. This is THE big change compared to the GO 2: no more Airpod-style docking box, we now have a real case with a cavity where the camera can be attached, a fold-down 2.2-inch touchscreen, physical buttons (a record button at the top, a power button and a quick-action Q button on the side) and a USB-C port for charging and file transfer.

Both the GO 3 camera and the Action Pod have a magnetic base and a hook-and-loop fastening system, like the DJI Osmo Action cameras. The GO 3 connects to the Action Pod via this double attachment system, and you have to press the release button on the side of the Action Pod above the USB-C port to remove it. So there’s nothing to worry about: the GO 3 won’t come loose on its own.

One of the main features of the Action Pod is its fold-down touchscreen, which can be raised vertically. The latter can thus be easily viewed from either side of the housing. Vloggers will appreciate it.

For its part, the GO 3 camera alone is slightly larger than the previous model, the GO 2, but its appearance is virtually identical. The module is now equipped with two microphones, as opposed to the previous single microphone.

It’s important to note that both the GO 3 and the Action Pod are equipped with built-in, non-removable batteries. More on this later in the Autonomy section. Another important point: the Action Pod serves as a recharging base for the GO 3. Once attached, it recharges its battery from the Action Pod battery.

In terms of memory, there’s no memory card on the GO 3 or the Action Pod, and photos and videos are recorded on the integrated memory inside the GO 3 camera. That’s why Insta360 offers three different capacities at the time of purchase: 32 GB, 64 GB and 128 GB.

Last but not least, GO 3 is now waterproof to a depth of 5 meters. Please note, however, that this only applies to the small camera module, as the Action Pod housing is only splashproof and cannot be immersed in water.

3 methods of use

With its detachable camera module, the Insta360 GO 3 opens up a host of possibilities. This makes it far more versatile than a classic GoPro-style action camera.

Three main usage methods emerge:

• With the GO 3 connected to the Action Pod, like a conventional action camera: in this case, you can control the camera via the touch screen or voice commands, but also via the application if you want to record remotely.
• With the GO 3 camera disconnected from the Action Pod, you can attach it anywhere, or position it remotely, and use the Action Pod as a remote control to control it and view real-time feedback on the screen. Note that switching on the Action Pod also switches on the GO 3, whether or not the two modules are connected.
• With the GO 3 camera alone : the GO 3 can be used on its own, without the need for an Action Pod, and can remain in your bag or at home. Recording can be triggered by pressing the button on the front panel, and two different types of recording can be set, depending on whether you press once or twice.

The Action Pod interface is the same as on the Insta360 X3 and ONE RS. It’s simple and intuitive, and the touchscreen is very fluid and pleasant to use.

Supplied accessories

The Insta360 GO camera is available in several different kits, depending on your intended use and activity. Each kit comes with its own set of accessories. We’ll come back to this in the section on pricing. A number of useful accessories are included in the basic version, the standard kit, enabling it to be used in a wide range of applications.

In addition to the GO 3 and its docking station, the box includes :

• the magnetic pendant: this consists of a necklace with a flat, round magnetic base. It can be worn under a t-shirt to attach the small GO 3 to the chest for first-person shooting.
• the swivel mount: this is a small, swiveling metal bar, with a magnetic and hook fastening on one side for attaching the GO 3 or Action Pod, and a ¼ inch universal screw thread on the other side for attaching to a tripod or selfie pole, for example. The assembly can also be screwed onto a small, reusable, flat adhesive base.
• the Easy Clip: this is a small holder into which the GO 3 is inserted, and which can be clipped onto the visor or back strap of a cap. Ideal for first-person shooting, all the more so as the support can be rotated to optimize framing according to the situation.

Remember that the GO 3 camera and its housing are magnetized: with or without a bracket, they can be easily attached to any metal surface. This is especially true of the small, lightweight camera module. For the heavier Action Pod, this use will have its limits, particularly on vertical surfaces.

Insta360 GO 3: photo, video and sound

Opening	F2.2
Focal length equivalent to 35 mm	11.24 mm
Photo resolution	2560×1440 (16:9) 2560×2560 (1:1) 1440×2560 (9:16) 2936×1088 (2.7:1)
Video resolution	2.7K up to 30 fps 1440p up to 50 fps 1080p up to 50 fps
Photo format	INSP DNG
Video format	MP4
ISO range	100-3200
Maximum video rate	80 Mbps
Color Profiles	Standard Bright Dish
Audio modes	Wind reduction Stereo Directional enhancement
Photo Modes	Standard Photo HDR Interval Starlapse
Video modes	Standard Timelapse TimeShift FreeFrame Slow Motion Pre-registration Loop recording

Modes and features

The Insta360 GO 3 is equipped with an ultra-wide-angle lens capable of shooting and recording video in three formats to suit all social networks: 16:9 (horizontal format, for Youtube for example), 9:16 (vertical format, for TikTok among others), and 1:1 (square).

As for photo modes, there are the classic functions such as standard photo, HDR, Interval, as well as Starlapse mode, which gives a very cool effect of star trails in the sky.

As far as video modes are concerned, in addition to standard recording, we find functions that have become action camera classics, such as Timelapse mode and TimeShift (Insta360’s equivalent of Hyperlapse). The camera also features a Slow Motion mode for creating slow-motion shots at 120 fps in 1080p. Note that this function is only available in 16:9 format.

One of the most interesting new features on offer is FreeFrame mode. Available at up to 1440p, it can capture videos with the entire sensor, in square format. We import the file into Insta360 Studio software, and then crop the video to 16:9, 9:16 or 1:1, as required. From the same capture, you can create a video for each social network. Very practical.

You can also exploit the cut sections at the top and bottom (if you choose the 16:9 format) or left and right (if you opt for the 9:16 format) by positioning key points on the timeline: this will allow you to change the framing during the video, giving a camera-movement effect and more dynamism to the final rendering.

FreeFrame mode also features 360° horizon lock, a function that keeps the image horizontal even when the camera is rotated around itself.

The following new functions are also available:

• Loop recording: like a dashcam, this mode films continuously, retaining only the last segment at the set time.
• Pre-recording: this mode, which can be very useful, lets you start storing a video before you press the record button. The seconds preceding the recording are therefore added to the video (depending on the time selected), so you’re sure not to miss anything.
• Scheduled recording: as the name suggests, this allows you to program a recording in advance at a desired time.

Stabilization

Like any self-respecting action camera, the insta360 GO 3 incorporates digital image stabilization. You can choose between three different levels of stabilization depending on the intensity of your activity, or deactivate it completely.

Image quality

The insta360 GO 3 can shoot in 2.7K at up to 30 frames per second, and in 1440p and 1080p at up to 50 frames per second. This is a slight improvement on the GO 2 and its maximum resolution of 2.5K (1440p).

This is still well below what GoPro offers with the latest HERO 11, capable of filming up to 5.3K, but it will be more than enough for posting on social networks , and the difference will only start to be felt if you play back your videos on a large screen.

In concrete terms, color rendering is very good in daylight or in well-lit scenes. Colors are vivid and video contrast high, with shadow detail well preserved. The camera does an excellent job of exposure, and even if it sometimes has to catch up when you move from shadow to light, it does so quickly.

Available analyses and feedback indicate that the GO 3 performs well in backlit situations, with subjects — especially faces — remaining well exposed.

A manual mode is available to adjust basic settings such as color mode, ISO, shutter speed and white balance, but available feedback suggests that the automatic mode delivers generally satisfactory results.

The Insta360 GO 3 really reaches its limits in low-light conditions, where image quality and detail are clearly lost, and noise tends to be added. However, this remains a classic problem for action cameras (even the best ones), which are primarily designed to give their full potential in a well-lit environment.

Sound quality

Insta360 has improved sound quality over the previous model. The GO 3 now has two microphones, one on the front and one on the top, compared with just one on the GO 2. You can also choose from the following three modes to customize microphone configuration to suit your environment: Stereo, Wind Reduction and Directional Enhancement.

In a quiet environment, the built-in microphones do a pretty good job: voices are clear, the sound is well balanced, whispers can be heard and there’s virtually no distortion in loud sounds like shouting.

The biggest shortcoming of the Insta360 GO 3 in this respect is certainly the absence of an external microphone port, which would have enabled better results in certain situations, such as motorcycle or even bicycle videos, which generate a lot of wind noise. The GO 3 does feature a wind noise reduction mode, but this has its limits, and voices are difficult to hear in this type of activity. The only solution is to use a separate external microphone and synchronize the audio in post-production.

Insta360 GO 3: autonomy

Capacity	GO 3: 310 mAh Action Pod: 1270 mAh
Autonomy	GO 3: 45 minutes GO 3 + Action Pod: 170 minutes
Charging time	GO 3: 80% in 23 minutes, 100% in 35 minutes Action Pod: 80% in 47 minutes, 100% in 65 minutes
Loading method	GO 3: Action Pod Action Pod: Type-C

Camera autonomy alone has been improved over the previous generation. While the GO 2 has a maximum battery life of 30 minutes, the GO 3 now offers up to 45 minutes.

But the Action Pod housing also has its own battery, and if you combine the GO 3 with its housing, you can get up to 170 minutes of autonomy, which is truly spectacular, since it’s far superior to what most action cameras offer.

The Insta360 GO 3 is no longer limited in recording time, unlike the GO 2, thanks to a new heat dissipation system. So you can film as much as you like, within the limits of battery life of course.

Another advantage of the Action Pod is that it serves as a recharging base for the GO 3 camera: simply replace the camera in its case, and it can be recharged several times for independent use.

One point worth noting, already mentioned in the design section: both devices are equipped with non-removable internal batteries. You’ll need to think about recharging the Action Pod before you set off, and bring along a charger or power bank if necessary, as it won’t be possible to replace it with an additional battery as is the case with a GoPro.

Insta360 GO 3: the price

Standard kit

from €339.99

See on Amazon

The Insta360 GO 3 is available in different kits, with accessories depending on your needs and the main activity you wish to use it for (bike, motorcycle or water sports, for example). Insta360’s online store offers 7 different kits, each with 3 different memory capacities (32, 64 and 128 GB), making a total of 21 possibilities.

The GO 3 starts at €339. 99 for the basic kit (the standard kit) with the smallest memory capacity (32 GB).

Insta360 GO 3: should you buy it?

With the GO 3, Insta360 sets itself apart from the competition by offering a unique concept that only it can provide. The Insta360 GO 3 has no direct competitor and offers a versatility that few action cameras can boast.

Its video resolution is limited compared with other cameras, but if this definition is sufficient for your purposes, you’ll get a tiny, lightweight, ultra-versatile camera that can follow you anywhere, whatever your activity.

The most 👍🏻

• small and lightweight: just 35.5 grams (GO 3 camera alone)
• versatile (2-in-1 design, fold-down screen, magnetic mounting, accessories included, FreeFrame mode)
• record autonomy

Least 👎🏻

• lower resolution than the competition (2.7K vs. 5.3K for the GoPro HERO 11)
• integrated battery and memory
• no external microphone port

Buy it if you want to…

… You want a tiny, versatile action camera. At the size of a thumb and weighing just 35.5 grams, it’s clearly the world’s smallest and lightest action camera. With its 2-in-1 design, magnetic mounting, fold-down screen, FreeFrame mode and accessories, this is a camera that can be used in any situation. If you’re also going to post on social networks and don’t need super-high resolution, this is the camera for you.

Don’t buy it if…

… You need a high-resolution capture. If you want an action camera capable of recording professional-quality video, GoPro remains the champion of action cameras, and its HERO 11 Black offers recording at up to 5.3K at 60 frames per second in 10-bit color. Likewise, if you need to film at 360 degrees, don’t be fooled by the brand name: not all Insta360 cameras film at 360°, so you’ll have to turn to another model, the Insta360 X3.

Are you an Insta360 fan ? Check out our reviews of their other action cameras:
➡️ Our full review of the Insta360 X3 360-degree camera
➡️ Our full review of the Insta360 ONE RS modular camera