I’ve always loved Insta360 cameras: I’ve owned every single model. Usually, as soon as a new one comes out, I buy it and sell the old one. This time, though, I made an exception. I decided to keep the Insta360 X4 as well, so I could directly compare the two and really see if it’s worth upgrading every time. (Here’s my X4 review).
So, I mounted the two side by side and took them diving for ten days around Elba Island.
First impressions video: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/fn2ErBR9LsM
Insta360 X5: the body
The Insta360 X5 has a compact, robust body, designed to deliver top-tier performance both in everyday use and in more demanding environments. Built with durable materials and a matte, anti-fingerprint finish, it offers excellent ergonomics thanks to its clean lines and intuitive button layout.
What stands out immediately is how easy it is to swap lenses. The X5 is built with replaceable lenses, meaning you can remove damaged ones and snap in new ones without sending the camera in for repair. For me, using it often without protective housing, that’s a huge plus.
Insta360 X5: dive kit
The X5 comes with an official dive case rated down to 60 meters. I’ve taken it close to that limit several times and it has always worked flawlessly. At 50 meters, water temperatures drop from 27°C at the surface to about 18°C, yet the lens never fogged or showed any signs of moisture. With the GoPro, on the other hand, I’ve had plenty of condensation issues at similar depths with their original case.
But the dive case isn’t just protection—it’s essential for clean 360° footage underwater. It corrects light refraction and dramatically reduces lens stitching issues, which could sometimes be visible with the X4. Thanks to the larger dome, this problem is almost gone. That said, you need to be very careful: even a speck of dust or a tiny fiber inside can cause reflections and flares. And once you switch to Dive Case mode, recording settings are locked—you’ll need to set everything beforehand since the touchscreen obviously won’t work through the housing.
The kit also includes 12 anti-fog inserts, of which 2 go inside the case (the rest are spares).
One limitation: this case isn’t ideal for over-under shots (half above, half below the surface). The dome tends to distort the above-water part. Also, topside footage doesn’t look as natural as when shooting without the case.
Invisible selfie stick with AI
Another brilliant feature of the X5 is its ability to remove the selfie stick with AI—even underwater. It’s a huge advantage, giving you clean, distraction-free, fully immersive footage without needing heavy post-editing. The fact that it works just as well underwater is a game-changer.
Sample video: https://youtube.com/shorts/SOy4hlF9RZM
Neutral buoyancy underwater
In the water, the X5 handles beautifully. Inside its housing, the camera has neutral to slightly negative buoyancy. That means it won’t float away, but it also won’t sink like a rock—making it easy to control and keep shots steady.
Recording modes & settings
The Insta360 X5 shoots in 8K 360° up to 30fps, or 5.7K at 60fps—perfect for smooth movements and dynamic cuts in post. You can also use Steady Cam mode (traditional FOV) at higher resolutions, leveraging the same sensor.
For diving, I recommend using Dive Mode, which automatically corrects underwater distortion and optimizes colors, combined with a manually set white balance (between 5500K and 6500K depending on lighting).
Without the housing, the X5 is waterproof to 15m, but the Dive Case takes you safely much deeper, with better image quality.
Light and color: the eternal underwater challenge
The biggest issue underwater—worth repeating—is always light. The deeper you go, the more colors vanish: at 30m everything is blue. Ideally, you want to shoot within the first 10 meters to keep natural colors, though in the Mediterranean that often means there’s less interesting scenery.
That said, the X5 does a surprisingly good job compensating. Thanks to its processing software, it restores saturation and detail even at depth, producing more vibrant images than you’d see with the naked eye.
Post-Production with Insta360 Studio
As always, the real fun begins back on land. Insta360 Studio gives you endless creative options: reframing, fluid camera moves, timelapses, hyperlapses, and transitions—all without losing quality. This is where 360° truly shines as a creative tool.
Why It’s worth having
The Insta360 X5 is the camera to have—not just for the unique freedom of 360° creativity, but also because it delivers solid quality in a compact, lightweight package. It’s an ideal companion for anyone who loves the sea, diving, and the freedom to create without limits—above and below the surface.
When it comes to topside shooting, the only limit is your imagination.
