Image: Insta360
Insta360 has launched two new action cameras that combine the rugged design of GoPro’s Hero series with the convenience of a flip-up touchscreen for vlogging. The Insta360 Ace and Ace Pro are priced at $529.99 and $615.99, respectively, and offer impressive features and performance for capturing your adventures.
The Ace Pro is the flagship model, featuring a Leica Summarit lens and a large 1/1.3-inch image sensor that delivers excellent low-light performance and up to 8K at 24 frames per second recording. Meanwhile, the Ace has a smaller 1/2-inch image sensor, but it can still record up to 6K at 30 frames per second, and both models can shoot 4K at a high-speed 120 frames per second and take 48-megapixel pictures.
Both cameras also have new five-nanometer AI chips inside that enable features like PureVideo, which can enhance low-light performance by denoising footage in real-time. The Pro model also has Active HDR for capturing more dynamic range in daytime recordings and additional nighttime detail.
The flip-up touchscreen on the back of the cameras is a unique feature that sets them apart from other action cameras. It allows you to frame yourself and see what you are recording easily, and it is more visible than the small front screens on GoPros. You can also use hand gestures to start and stop recording from a distance.
Image: Insta360
Insta360 has also added some features that can save you storage space and editing time, such as the ability to pause a video recording without breaking the clip and to cancel an active recording by holding the shutter button, eliminating the need to deal with unwanted video files. The cameras can also switch up clip aspect ratios after recording so you can choose between landscape, portrait, or square formats for different social media platforms.
The AI highlights assistant feature can help you find and trim the best moments from your videos, so you don’t have to transfer the whole file to your smartphone. You can then edit your footage with fun effects or let the camera create memories for you. The AI Warp feature can also transform your clips by entering custom and preset prompts to generate different effects. Insta360 plans to release more of these features "heading into 2024."
The Insta360 Ace and Ace Pro also get Apple Watches and Garmin device support, allowing you to add GPS and other data to your recordings. You can overlay things like elevation and speed in your videos. You can also frame your shot and control the cameras from your wrist.
The Insta360 Ace Pro and Ace feature a waterproof body that you can submerge up to 33 feet underwater or up to 196 feet if you use a Dive Case accessory. Insta360 claims it tested batteries to last 100 minutes while recording in 4K30 with Active HDR. The Ace and Ace Pro have different charging speeds. The Pro can reach a full charge in 46 minutes with a 30-watt charger, while the Ace takes around 70 minutes.