Insta360 X5 rumors | release date, specs & wishes
5:37 AM
- When will the Insta360 X5 be revealed?
- What groundbreaking specifications will the Insta360 X5 boast?
- What wishful improvements are we hoping to see in the Insta360 X5?
- Will it finally have improved low-light performance and a larger sensor?
Insta360 X5 release date
If you look at the release dates of the previous models Insta360 ONE X2, Insta360 X3 and Insta360 X4 we can see that there is always about 2 years between the releases.- Release of the Insta360 X: October 2018
- Release of the Insta360 ONE X2: October 2020
- Release of the Insta360 X3: September 2022
- Release of the Insta360 X4: April 2024
- Release of the Insta360 X5: Summer 2025?
You can find an overview of all Insta360 milestones here: Insta360 Milestones
...BUT the following must be considered! The release period between the Insta360 X3 and Insta360 X4 has already decreased to approximately 1.5 years instead of the previous 2 years.
Additionally, we must currently consider the situation where other manufacturers like GoPro or DJI are pushing into the 360-camera market. The GoPro MAX 2 has been rumored for a long time, but it can be assumed that it will finally be released in 2025. Furthermore, it is highly probable that DJI will also launch a 360-degree camera in 2025.
Therefore, it is highly likely that the Insta360 X5 will be released also in 2025. The exact timing is uncertain. However, it is reasonable to assume that the Insta360 X5 will arrive in the summer or autumn. Earlier is of course also possible!
Insta360 X5 Specs
The change from the Insta360 X3 to the Insta360 X4 involved a significant technical update. The Insta360 X4 introduced 8K 360-video and was a game-changer for the Insta360 X series. What improvements the Insta360 X5 will bring can only be speculated. It is assumed that the Insta360 X5 will certainly feature a larger sensor and improved low-light performance. Whether the Insta360 X5 will also bring leaps in video resolution is difficult to say. However, it is assumed that the X5 will also be capable of recording 8K videos. 10K is rather unlikely.Main Insta360 X5 specs:
|
|
Insta360 X3 |
Insta360 X4 |
Insta360 X5 |
|
video resolution |
5.7K / 30fps |
8K / 30fps |
8K/ 30fps |
|
photo resolution |
72MP |
72MP |
100MP |
|
sensor size |
½“ |
½“ |
2/3“ |
|
aperture |
f/1.9 |
f/1.9 |
f/1.8 |
|
price |
~ $350 |
~ $500 |
~ $600 |
Of course, there are many other technical specifications, but these are the most important ones from my point of view.
Insta360 X5 Design
What will certainly remain similar is the flat elongated design. This design offers advantages in operation. For example, the Insta360 X4 introduced a large 2.5" touchscreen, which I think will remain similar with the Insta360 X5.The weight will also be similar to the Insta360 X4 at about 200 grams. It is possible that the Insta360 X5 will try to make the design a bit more compact. This would have advantages in stitching (because the two lenses are closer together) and a lighter weight would make it more comfortable to carry on the selfie stick. A realistic assumption would be that the weight is reduced from 200g to 180g. The GoPro Max in comparison to the Insta360 X4 is a bit more compact. Let's be surprised by the design of the Insta360 X5.
Wait or buy?
The question most likely asked by many who are now searching for the Insta360 X5: "Should I wait for the new Insta360 X5 or should I buy the Insta360 X4 now?"
Here I can only say one thing:
- Do not wait, because ultimately no one knows exactly when the Insta360 X5 will be introduced. The Insta360 X4 is and will remain a top 360 camera even after the introduction of the Insta360 X5 and will give you a lot of pleasure.
- Don't let time pass, start creating and learning right away. It's always better to get active now, than to wait again. Everything you learn in this time, you will otherwise lose by waiting. You can also assume that the Insta360 X5 will certainly be more expensive. So don't think too long and get your Insta360 X4 now!
Here is a showcase video where you can see the creative uses of an Insta360 camera. No matter if it's the Insta360 ONE X2, the Insta360 X3, the Insta360 X4 or the new Insta360 X5.
Here's a selection of previous models, all of which are excellent 360-degree cameras:
Insta360 X3
Perfect for first-time users and those coming how start into the world of 360-videos.
Explore Deal
What other rumors are there about the Insta360 X5:
General improvements
The Insta360 X5 could significantly outperform the Insta360 X4 if the following 3 parameters were improved. Even if only slight improvements come, these would make a significant difference:
- Bigger Sensor
- Higher resolution
- Higher bitrate
Bigger Sensor
A larger sensor with the same resolution has the following main advantages:
- Better image quality and sharpness of detail
- Better low-light performance
A larger sensor would greatly enhance low-light performance, addressing one of the most common criticisms of the Insta360 X4. While the X4 excels at capturing stunning 360 video in bright conditions, its footage becomes noticeably noisy in low light or indoor environments. Many users are eager to see improvements in this area with the Insta360 X5. It's safe to assume that Insta360 will take this feedback to heart and address these shortcomings.
Higher resolution
A real higher resolution for the Insta360 X5 would be great. Thus, the quality of the reframed video could be significantly improved. Here is a short explanation of what that means:
- While the Insta360 ONE X4 records the entire 360° environment with 8K resolution and only a small section is used, the resolution is reduced. This is also called reframing. For example, if only a third is shown, the 8K resolution is reduced by one-third and is then only ~2.7K.
- At 10K, this would increase the resolution from 2.7K to about 3.3K, which comes close to 4K. The difference from 2.7K to 4K would be an increase in pixels of over +50%, which would mean significantly better video quality.
However, this only makes sense if the 10K resolution also records more information and is not just up-scaled. Frankly, I'm skeptical that the Insta360 X5 will push the resolution to 10K. It seems more probable that the emphasis will be placed on a larger sensor. However, we'll have to wait and see what the official announcement reveals.
Higher Bitrate
I have already explained above why a larger sensor and resolution would be good. A higher video bitrate would also improve the video quality.
In the case of 360-videos, the bitrate is the number of bits recorded per second. Since the term byte (in particular megabyte) is more familiar, we use it here. The converting factor is eight. 1 byte is equal to 8 bit. If a 360-camera can record videos at 100Mbps (=Megabits per second) for example, this means that 12.5 MB/s (=Megabytes per second) of video data is written to the memory card.
The higher the bitrate per second, the better the quality of the video. It is possible, if you record a 360-video in 8K with a low bitrate, that a video recorded with "only" 5.7K will have a better quality. So the bitrate criterion should not be neglected.
Especially when buying the memory card for the 360° camera, the biterate must be considered. Therefore, the paramter bitrate should also always be taken into consideration. If the bitrate is increased on the Insta360 X5, this would result in higher quality 360 videos. The Insta360 X4's current maximum bitrate for 360 video is 200 Mbps with the H.265 codec. A bump to 250 Mbps would offer a noticeable improvement in image quality.
If these 3 parameters (higher resolution, higher bitrate, larger sensor) are improved on the Insta360 X5, I'll be very happy, because we'll have a 360-camera beast. We'll see what really comes of it.
Desirable Insta360 X5 improvements
Besides the already above defined specifications of the Insta360 X5, which are very likely from my point of view, there are some other improvements which would be really desirable:
- Stiching
While the Insta360 X4 already boasts impressive stitching, further refinements would be a welcome improvement on the X5
- Frame rate/ slow motion
It would also be great if Insta360 would increase the frame rate and resolution of 360 videos. With the X3 and the ONE X2, a maximum of 360-video with 3K and 100fps is possible. The Insta360 X4 has made significant strides in slow-motion capabilities, enabling users to capture 4K footage at 100fps and achieve Bullet Time effects at a maximum of 240fps.
An increase to 8K @ 60fps or 5.7K @ 120fps would be terrific. This would allow users to create stunning 360-SloMo videos.
Here is a 360 SloMo sample video created with the Insta360 X4:
- Exchangable lenses
360- camera are designed to record 2x 180° fisheye videos. The disadvantage are the protruding lenses, which can easily scratch. It would be desirable if the lenses of the Insta360 X5 were replaceable. A damaged, scratched lens makes a 360 camera unusable. Replaceable lenses would be a step towards ease of maintenance and user-friendliness. Let's hope that Insta360 brings improvements here with the Insta360 X5!
- 10bit 360-video
The addition of 10-bit recording would offer a substantial advantage in post-production, granting users greater latitude for color grading and dynamic range adjustments. Nevertheless, as the Insta360 X series is targeted at consumers, the inclusion of 10-bit 360 video in the X5 remains uncertain. This feature is typically associated with professional workflows. Still, it's worth hoping for.
Possible Insta360 X5 features
- Dual SD card
As video resolution and bitrate increase, the data rate also increases massively. Micro SD cards are improving all the time, but the high amount of data generated by 360 videos could bring the micro SD cards currently available on the market to their limit. A micro dual SD card slot would be a remedy.
Here, the individual videos can be stored on different SD cards. In terms of user-friendliness, however, there are a few arguments against this. The user would always have to read two memory cards in a dual SD slot. Therefore, I estimated the probabilities to be very low here as well.
Which of the rumors & wishes come true, we will see when the Insta360 X5 is released!
0 comments