Verdict
Now that it can spud in 4 K , the Insta360 Go 3S is easily the go - to action tv camera that I ’ll recommend to most the great unwashed , whether they be content creators or casual videographers who just require to catch their next holiday . With that said , the downgrade in battery life sentence may make the Insta360 Go 3 a better steal for some , and there ’s a definite slant towards iPhone users with several Apple - single feature article that are sure to make Android users feel hard done by . Still , there ’s plenty to love here and as of yet , nothing come near to the grade of portability the Go serial publication pass .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
Hot off the heels of a third major iteration for its miniature action television camera , Insta360 has released a small , mid - generation update with the Insta360 Go 3S.
away from being one of the best ware I test last year , theInsta360 Go 3has since been my go - to good word for anyone look to make their foray into the universe of content creation .
Being incredibly various and very simple to use , you’re able to do quite a sight of things with the Go 3 that simply are n’t potential on pricey , traditional action cameras .
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Still , that update was several class in the making , so I was a small surprised to see Insta360 strive out so before long after the fact with more news regarding the Go pedigree . I ’ve spent the last few month test out the Insta360 Go 3S to see if this 4K - focussed miniskirt - update is now the good mathematical product of the two . Here ’s my finding of fact .
Design
If you ’re a bit incertain about how to tell the difference between the Go 3 and the Go 3S , you ’re not alone . In fact , I made sure to get the sinister version of the Go 3S so that I would n’t throw it with my egg white Go 3 . Still , there is a William Tell .
If you reckon a little more tight you ’ll notice that the genus Lens guard is slightly bigger than before , and there ’s now a textured grip that runs along the side of the camera , realize it ever so slightly easy to hold on its own .
It ’s also more waterproofed than before , with the power to hold depths up to 33 foot , as opposed to the previous cap of 16 ft on the Go 3 .
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This might sound a little unexciting but it ’s hardly to the Go 3S ’s hurt as it helps to make the camera more racy when used on location , whilst still holding onto the yet unrivalled portability that get to the Go ambit such a bully option for filmmakers .
The bundled accessory have also been given venial tweaks in the same nervure so as to improve overall usability , such as the Easy Clip now having a stronger magnetised pull to ensure that the Go 3S never make out open during more intense moment , such as downhill biking .
Both the miniature design and admit appurtenance work out so well that I ’m still surprised that the likes of DJI and GoPro have n’t attempted something similar to draw this end of the market .
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Screen and Performance
While the design of the Go 3S itself has a few minor tweaks , the Action Pod that houses the camera has hold back the same DNA as the Go 3 . The 2.2 - inch display give you just enough room to see your prevue without involve to squint , and the screen itself is fabulously responsive as you jump between unlike modes and camera options .
On the software side things are a fiddling different , although the bulk of the upgrades here are only uncommitted to iPhone substance abuser ; deplorable Android fans .
For starters , Insta360 has brought in the one feature I never actualise I needed in the form ofFind Mycompatibility . This means that you may add the Go 3S to your list of consociate devices in the Find My app , and not only keep tabs on where it ’s presently located ( or its last known position ) , but also receive notifications to allow you live if you ’ve left it behind somewhere .
give just how small the Go 3S is , this feels like a much required characteristic as it ’s all too easy for the camera to go unnoticed at the bottom of a cup of tea or be hidden out of view by a good deal of papers on your desk . It ’s a ignominy that Android user do n’t get the same functionality via Google ’s receive My gimmick alternative , but it ’s surely good than nothing and I ’d have it off to see more of the competition think about lengthy feature like this .
Whenever you ’ve shot some Modern footage , you ’ll receive a notification on your telephone right away to allow you plunge into the redaction suite and tweak things how you see fit . This is perfect for getting out a quick video to social medium when you ’re strapped for time , but again this is only uncommitted on iOS .
What is usable across both sets of ecosystem is the new Quick File Transfer button that appears in the bottom right recess of the screen when looking back at appropriate footage . So long as you ’re join to your phone via the Insta360 app , you could simply tap that push button and have your choose data file sent over right away . It would be handy if you could do this without needing to start the app , but it definitely speeds up the process a scrap .
Video and Image Quality
One of the key complaints I had with the Insta360 Go 3 was that for all its portability prowess , its 2.7 K capture ceiling was too far behind the challenger to make it rightfully tempting to professionals who wanted an easygoing means of read agile bite of footage .
While I ca n’t say for sure , it does seem as though the folks at Insta360 kept a sharp optic on feedback as the jump to 4 K is now the big selling point of the Go 3S , and it has every reason to be .
Video quality was already quite upright on the Go 3 in spite of the via media , but now everything is far more detailed on the Go 3S , offering up a great deal more flexibility for zooming and cropping footage after the fact .
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Just like its precursor , the Go 3S is undeniably at its estimable during the daytime , collecting rich colours from its surroundings , even during sunless years .
I took the Go 3S to a peculiarly cloudy beach in Ireland but the footage still had great separation in colours between the sand , ocean and sky . This is made even better by the new MegaView FOV .
In terms of scope , MegaView and ultrawide capture about the same amount of a given scene but the former does away with the fisheye torture that the latter is acknowledge for , give you a level of ultrawide photography more akin to what you ’ll find on a smartphone .
I ’ve never been a big fan of the fish - eye lens so get this here feels like a boon as I did n’t have to pass for myiPhone 15 in the direction that I might have done beforehand .
One issue I had with the Go 3 was its scummy light performance and unluckily , it ’s still a vault here . Taking the Go 3S down to the graffiti - laden Leake Street burrow , the Go 3S struggled to exert its focal point as I travel with the camera . However , I did notice that when continue stationary , the Go 3S did achieve some success in replicating the colours of the shadow graffiti , so there is some flexibility here if you ’re using a tripod .
Still , low - light carrying into action as far as I ’m concerned is a minor blemish in the Go 3S ’s repertoire . In plus to 4 kilobyte video , stills also expect great under the correct conditions and the mic did a terrific job of picking up my voice , even against the interfering backdrop of several south London hotspots .
Stabilisation and battery life
At this compass point , you ’re belike thinking that the Insta360 Go 3S is a clearcut upgrade across the panel , but that technically is n’t true . Even though 4 K and discover My compatibility are great additions , there is one stair back and that ’s in the gadget ’s battery life .
For comparison , the Go 3 was able to take to the woods for up to 45 minutes on its own , bump up to 170 minute when the Action Pod was brought into the plica . This prison term around it ’s 38 minute when the Go 3S is taken out of the Action Pod , and 140 minutes when housed within it .
When cast that title to the trial , our results come up a footling brusk than that . I was able-bodied to get the Insta360 Go 3S to hit for 33 minutes unhoused from the Action Pod before it involve to keep out down .
When both components are used at once , the battery on the Action Pod expend to 79 % after 30 minutes of 4 thou 30fps transcription . It should be noted that the twist also gets quite hot to the touch if you leave it to shoot for that long , so I would n’t recommend it .
Luckily Insta360 ’s claim of nabbing back 80 % charge from a quick 23 - bit top off were found to be on the money , so you do n’t have to wait long before the camera is quick to go once more .
I think that for most citizenry ( and count myself here ) , the trade off , while not ideal , is worth it . However , if your footage is go straight to societal media where the lineament will be downgraded anyway , or you plan on get prolonged shoot days then the farsighted assault and battery life of the Go 3 is probably deserving sticking with , particularly when it ’s usable at a rock-bottom price .
fortunately there is no downgrade to speak of where stabilisation is concerned . I still ca n’t wrap my capitulum around how the Go 3S is able-bodied to grow such smooth footage , even when it ’s being hold between your thumb and forefinger , but it just does . At no point during filming did I ever worry that things might face a tad shaky on the front end , and that ’s exactly what you want .
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Should you buy it?
You wo n’t find a 4 kB tv camera more portable than the Insta360 Go 3S , so if you want to keep your vlogging kit light , this is your best wager .
For those looking to dash at all hours of the daylight , you may be better suit with either the Insta360 Ace Pro or the DJI Osmo Action 4 .
Final Thoughts
I adored theInsta360 Go 3 , and in so many way , the Go 3S is on the button the raise I was look for . 4 kB seizure now adds more detail to your footage than ever , while Find My integration is one of those lineament I did n’t realise I needed until I used it . Insta360 could leave the Go 3S alone for a few update cycles and I do n’t consider I ’d find myself longing for something else .
Of course , for the most robust capture timber out there , you ’re better off assure out more traditional action camera like theGoPro Hero 12 , or theDJI Osmo Pocket 3if money is of no object , but it ’s in unmixed portability that the Go 3S ca n’t be bested . The only matter that comes close is its herald , which can now be bought for less and has a slimly better barrage fire life story .
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How we test
We thoroughly quiz every activeness camera we reexamine . We ’ll always tell you what we come up and we never , ever , accept money to review a product .
FAQs
At the time of writing , the Insta360 Go 3 is only compatible with Apple ’s Find My internet .
Full Specs
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