Which 360 Camera to Buy: Insta360, DJI, GoPro and Ricoh Compared by Weight, Battery and Storage
Ten 360 cameras compared on the numbers that matter for travel: weight, battery, built-in storage, sensor size and top resolution. Then a short answer for each kind of shooter: low light, lightest, longest recording, GoPro users, and anyone on a tighter budget.
For most people choosing a 360 camera in late 2026, the decision is between three current flagships with 8K video: the Insta360 X6, the DJI Osmo 360 and the GoPro MAX2, plus the cheaper Insta360 X5 and the lighter X4 Air. Pick the X6 or the Osmo 360 if low light and built-in storage matter, the MAX2 if you already live in the GoPro app and accessories, and the X4 Air if weight comes first. The table below has the numbers; the section after it matches cameras to needs.
Ten 360 cameras in one table
| Camera | Weight | Battery | Built-in storage | Sensor | Top 360 video |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insta360 X6 | 196 g | 2600 mAh | 64 GB (47 GB usable) | 1/1.1-inch | 8K50 |
| Insta360 X5 | 200 g | 2400 mAh | none | 1/1.28-inch | 8K30 |
| Insta360 X4 | 203 g | 2290 mAh | none | 1/2-inch | 8K30 |
| Insta360 X4 Air | 165 g | 2010 mAh | none | 1/1.8-inch | 8K30 |
| Insta360 X3 | 180 g | 1800 mAh | none | 1/2-inch | not published here |
| Insta360 ONE RS 1-Inch 360 | 239 g | 1350 mAh | none | not published here | not published here |
| DJI Osmo 360 | 183 g | 1950 mAh, 7.5 Wh | 128 GB (about 105 GB usable) | 1/1.1-inch | 8K50 |
| GoPro MAX2 | 195 g | 1960 mAh | none | not published here | 8K30 |
| GoPro MAX | 154 g | 1600 mAh | none | not published here | not published here |
| Ricoh THETA X | 170 g | 1350 mAh (DB-110, 4.9 Wh) | yes | not published here | not published here |
Specs from the makers' published data, checked October 2026. Where a cell says "not published here", we did not find the figure on a source we trust; it is not zero. Insta360 sensor sizes are from Insta360's X-series spec sheet; Osmo 360, MAX2 and the top video modes are from launch coverage and the makers' announcements.
Weights and battery capacities differ less than the marketing suggests: every current model is between 165 and 203 g. Built-in storage and sensor size are where the real differences are.
Insta360's line-up on its own spec sheet
Insta360 publishes one spec sheet covering every X-series camera, measured the same way, so its four recent models compare cleanly:
| Camera | Rated time at 8K30 | Charging to 80% | Waterproof without a case | Screen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| X6 | about 140 min | about 24 min | 20 m | 2.32-inch OLED |
| X5 | about 93 min | about 20 min | 15 m | 2.5-inch LCD |
| X4 Air | about 88 min | about 36 min | 15 m | 2.09-inch LCD |
| X4 | about 75 min | about 38 min | 10 m | 2.5-inch LCD |
Specs from the makers' published data, checked October 2026.
Insta360 measures these in a lab at 25 degrees C, so real days are shorter, especially in the cold. The ratios hold, though: the X6 records roughly half as long again as the X5 on a charge, and the X5 charges fastest.
Which to choose for what
Low light: Insta360 X6 or DJI Osmo 360
Both use 1/1.1-inch sensors, the largest in this table, and both record 8K at 50 fps. Each lens of a 360 camera covers a huge angle, so sensor size shows most in dim interiors, evenings and night streets. The X6 has the longer rated battery life on its maker's figures (about 140 minutes at 8K30); the Osmo 360 has more built-in storage. The Insta360 X6 vs X5 comparison goes into the X6 in detail.
Lightest: Insta360 X4 Air
At 165 g it is the lightest current 360 camera in our table, with a 1/1.8-inch sensor that is larger than the X4's. The older GoPro MAX is lighter at 154 g but is an older design. If the 360 camera rides on a helmet or a long pole all day, those 30 to 40 g are noticeable.
Longest days without a laptop: built-in storage
The Osmo 360 (128 GB, about 105 GB usable) and the X6 (64 GB, 47 GB usable) have storage built in, plus a microSD slot. On a multi-day trip without a laptop that is the difference between a full card ending the day and carrying on. It also means footage can sit in two places, so check both when you copy.
Already shooting GoPro: GoPro MAX2
GoPro announced the MAX2 at $499.99, with what it calls true 8K 360 video, twist-on replaceable lenses and six microphones. If you already use GoPro mounts, batteries and the Quik app, staying in one system saves money on accessories and keeps one app on your phone.
Tighter budget: Insta360 X5
The X5 launched at $549.99. With 1/1.28-inch sensors and 8K30 it covers daylight 360 travel footage, and it shares the X6's 1/4-inch and quick release mounting, f/2.0 lenses and IPX8 rating.
Still images and virtual tours: Ricoh THETA X
Ricoh's THETA X uses the same removable DB-110 battery as Ricoh's GR III compacts, at 4.9 Wh, and has built-in storage as well as microSD. It is the odd one out in this table: a still-image-first camera rather than an action-style 360 camera.
Things that matter after you buy
Batteries on planes
All of these batteries are small, and spare batteries go in your cabin bag under both IATA's guidance and the FAA's rules. Insta360 and GoPro do not print the watt-hour rating on their spec pages, so check the battery label. See camera batteries on planes.
File formats
360 cameras record files that need the maker's software to stitch and reframe. Insta360 uses .insv for video and .insp for photos; our guide to Insta360 .insv and .insp files explains what to keep. If you shoot more than one brand, each one names and lays out its files differently, which is why a folder structure for multiple cameras pays off quickly.
File sizes
8K 360 video fills cards quickly, and higher frame rates fill them faster. Plan backups for every night of a trip, and copy with verification rather than drag and drop: verified copy vs drag and drop.
What we left out
This table covers the cameras in our database as of October 2026. Professional multi-lens 360 rigs are a different category and are not included. If a model you are considering is missing, its specs are not yet in our data; we add models when we can source them from the maker.