Insta360 GO 3: Specs

• Weight: GO 3: 35.5g; Action Pod: 96.3g
• Dimensions: GO 3: 25.6x54.4x23.2mm; Action Pod: 63.5x47.6x29.5mm
• Maximum video resolution: 2.7K: 2720x1536@24/25/30fps
• Maximum photo resolution: 6.6MP (1:1); 3.7MP (16:9)
• Connectivity: USB-C, Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi
• Storage: 32GB, 64GB, 128GB
• Battery capacity: GO 3: 310mAh; Action Pod: 1270mAh
• Quoted run time: Go 3: 43m; Action Pod: 170m (1080P@30fps)
• Price Range in UAE:  AED 1,399:00 to AED 1,499:00

Insta360 GO 3: Design

When talking about the design of the Insta360 Go 3, there are two main parts: the camera itself and the Action Pod. The camera is a lightweight stick, weighing 35.5g, with a button to start and stop recording, a removable lens protector, a microphone, and a magnetic mount on the back.

The Action Pod is shaped like a GoPro, with a space to dock the Insta360 Go 3 inside. It has a flip-out screen on the back, a USB-C port for charging, power and quick action buttons, and a record button on top.

Both the bottom of the Insta360 Go 3 and the Action Pod are magnetic, so you can easily mount them on any compatible metal surface using a clamp-based system. You get a standard tripod thread mountable clamp in the box, but if you want a GoPro-style mounting plate, you'll need to buy one separately.

The lightweight of the Go 3 allows it to be mounted magnetically anywhere with a metal surface. However, while the Action Pod is also magnetic, it's too heavy to mount sideways.

There's a difference in water resistance between the Go 3 and the Action Pod. The Go 3 is waterproof up to 5m, but the Action Pod is only splash-proof and shouldn't be submerged.

Although the setup looks like a GoPro or DJI Action 3 when docked, the durability of the Action Pod doesn't make it ideal for action shots.

Both the Action Pod and Go 3 are made of plastic, with a fun design and secure connection using magnets.

Insta360 GO 3: Features

The Insta360 Go 3 is a simple gadget. It has just one button for power, shooting, and turning off. It's lightweight and has a magnetic back, so you can easily mount it on any magnetic surface for stable, hands-free recording.

When you pair the Go 3 with its Action Pod, it becomes even more versatile. It has a screen similar to a GoPro, allowing easy selection of shooting modes, settings, and playback. You can control it from up to 5 meters away, whether it's docked or not.

You can also use the Insta360 app to control the Go 3 and edit footage. It's easy to use, with just one button and an LED light to show when it's recording. The addition of a touch screen makes it much easier to use than the Go 2.

The video quality goes up to 2.7K, and the highest resolution photos are 2560 x 2560. While this might not be enough for professional filmmakers, it's perfect for casual users like adventurers, families, and vloggers.

The FreeFrame feature in the app is fun and great for beginners. It lets you capture photos and videos and then easily adjust the framing in the app. The camera also has horizon leveling for stable shots, and you can choose from various action camera modes like hyperlapse, slow motion, and timelapse.

In FreeFrame mode, stabilization is managed after you capture the footage, but in standard video mode, you can choose from three levels of stabilization or turn it off.

Insta360 GO 3: Performance

Before discussing the image quality, let us give credit to Insta360 for creating a wireless controller that works so well. Having the small Action Pod nearby and being able to see what the Go 3 was recording, even when we couldn't see it directly, was very freeing. While wireless control has been possible through the smartphone app for some time, the compact size of the Action Pod made it feel much easier to use than navigating the Insta360 app while filming.

The touch controls on the Action Pod were also easy to use, borrowing the menu system from other Insta360 action cameras and adjusting it for the Go 3's features. With the touch display, we could do things that weren't possible in the smartphone app, like turning off the LED light on the camera and muting the beeping noise.

Little details also enhanced the experience with the Go 3. For example, the unit vibrates when it starts and stops recording, which is a great way to know what's happening without a loud beep.

Now, about the video quality – it's clear that the 2.7K resolution of the Go 3 is a drawback. Compared to similarly priced cameras like the GoPro Hero 11 Black with 5.7K resolution and the DJI Action 3 with 4K video, the Go 3 struggles in well-lit environments. However, exposure, white balance, and saturation are generally good in the 2.7K video, and the dynamic range is decent. Videos have nice contrast and hold onto shadow detail well, even in backlit situations.

We also liked the natural look of outdoor stabilized footage. FreeFrame mode did a good job of maintaining stability in bright environments, regardless of the final framing.

One advantage of the 2.7K resolution is that the Go 3's files are smaller than those of the GoPro Hero 11 Black, making it easier to edit and share content on platforms like YouTube, Instagram, or TikTok.

Low-light performance is not great, as is typical with action cameras, so your phone will likely capture better videos in low-light conditions.

For still photos, the default mode supports RAW photos, and there's also PureShot HDR mode, Night Shot, and StarLapse capture. However, if you have your phone handy, it will likely take better photos than the Go 3, especially in low-light situations. There's also a manual photography mode for adjusting shutter speed, which can help improve stills in low-light conditions, although this feature isn't available for video.

In terms of battery life, the Go 3 charges while docked in the Action Pod. If you tend to take short clips, you won't have any battery issues until the Action Pod runs out, with the Go 3 lasting around 30-40 minutes on a single charge, and the ActionPod adding an impressive couple of hours of capture time.

Final Thoughts

The Insta360 Go 3 is a compact action camera with wireless connectivity to your phone or an ActionPod for live previews. It magnetically attaches to surfaces, making it ideal for family filmmaking. The ActionPod serves as a wireless viewfinder, and the camera is durable with a replaceable lens cover and waterproofing. FreeFrame mode allows for easy footage capture with later cropping. For photos, a smartphone is better due to the Go 3's low resolution.