Insta360 X3 and RS 1-Inch 360 are both 360 cameras, but they also have some key differences, so you might be wondering which one is right for you. Insta360 RS 1-Inch 360 specializes in capturing super detailed 360 content and is part of the most comprehensive and versatile camera system on the market with backward compatibility, while Insta360 X3 specializes in 360 capture for action sports. Of course, let’s first compare the specs!

X3 vs RS 1-Inch 360 Comparison Table

	Insta360 X3 360 Action Camera	Insta360 RS 1-Inch 360 Edition Premium 6K 360 Camera
Image Sensor	Dual 1/2″ Sensors	Dual 1-Inch Sensors
360 Video Resolution	5.7K: 5760×[email protected]/25/30fps 4K: 3840×[email protected]/60fps	6K: 5888×[email protected] 6K: 6144×[email protected]/24fps 4K: 3840×[email protected]/25/24fps 3K: 3040×[email protected]
Wide Angle Video Resolution	Single Lens Mode： 4K: 3840×[email protected]/25/30fps 3.6K: 3584×[email protected]/25/30/50/60fps 2.7K: 2720×[email protected]/25/30/50/60fps 1080p: 1920×[email protected]/25/30/50/60fps	–
Max. Video Bitrate	120 Mbps	120 Mbps
Weight (Camera + Battery)	180g (6.4oz)	239g (8.4oz)
Rugged + Waterproof	33ft (10m)	IPX3 water-resistant (Protected against light rain or snow. Should not be submerged in water.)
Invisible Selfie Stick	✅	✅
Active HDR Video	✅	–

Insta360 X3 vs RS 1-Inch 360: How to choose

Both X3 and RS 1-Inch 360 are 360 cameras, so you can shoot in every direction, you’ll never miss a shot and don’t even need a cameraman or drone to get epic third-person views. Simply mount X3 or the RS 1-Inch 360 Edition on the Invisible Selfie Stick and it will disappear automatically in your video.

When choosing between Insta360 X3 vs RS 1-Inch 360, ultimately your decision will depend on what you’re looking for and how you plan to use your camera.

Insta360 X3 is a better choice for action creators. Here’s the a look at some of the content you could shoot with this 360 action camera:

While Insta360 RS 1-Inch 360 is more suited for creators who focus more on the premium image quality rather than the action. Here’s a look at the low-light performance of the RS 1-Inch 360:

Action sports or professional-level content?

Insta360 X3 is designed to perfectly fit in your palm or your pocket with its vertical form. Just turn it on and start shooting right away for ultimate convenience. You can even take it underwater up to 33ft without a case. And it has a built-in 1/4” mounting point so you can screw in your selfie stick or other accessories directly.

With its lightweight and compact design, you can attach X3 onto your bike, surfboard, skateboard, or whatever you want, and get amazing action footage. It is also compatible with a lot of accessories so you can customize your mounting setup to fit your needs.

With dual 1-inch sensors, the RS 1-Inch 360 has amazing low light performance and higher image quality. Insta360 RS involves a little more setup if you need to switch between lens mods, compared to X3. But RS 1-Inch 360 Edition is still much more compact than the bulky shooting rigs usually needed to get such professional-level content.

Whether it’s used for professional filmmaking, VR content production, outdoor exploration, or enterprise applications, the camera’s compact form factor allows you to shoot in ways that simply weren’t possible before. Since it is part of the RS family, it is backward compatible with other previous RS modules.

The RS 1-Inch 360 can be taken apart into 4 main parts, the 1-Inch 360 Lens, the RS Core, the Vertical Battery, and the RS 1-Inch 360 Mounting Bracket. 

A key point is, the RS 1-Inch 360 is not designed to be used as an action camera like X3 and previous generations of RS. This doesn’t mean that you can’t use the RS 1-Inch 360 on the go, it just means that you cannot use it with the same intensity you would with X3 and other RS modules. Where the RS 1-Inch 360 stands out is its image quality, low light performance, and higher resolution.

Sensors and image quality 

The main difference between X3 and the RS 1-Inch 360 is the size of the sensors in the lenses. RS 1-Inch 360 features dual 1-inch sensors while the X3 has dual 1/2″ sensors which are almost half the size. The larger sensors on the RS 1-Inch 360 are able to capture more light than the X3’s sensors, generally leading to better image quality. 

That’s not to say X3 isn’t a fine choice, especially if you’re just taking casual selfies outdoors and travel photos. The Quad Bayer sensor on X3 divides each pixel into 4 which allows it to capture 72MP photos in good lighting conditions. 

RS 1-Inch 360 uses a superior 1-inch sensor with Leica optical design to capture 23MP photos. While X3 can capture more megapixels, RS 1-Inch 360 can shoot more detailed photos, especially in low light, and capture more realistic colors compared to the X3. 

For indoor photography or virtual tours, most cameras can’t accurately capture windows due to overexposure. RS 1-Inch 360 is more likely to capture both indoors and outdoors without being overexposed because of its ability to shoot HDR RAW images using its much larger sensors.

This makes the RS 1-Inch 360 a better option for more advanced users or if you want to use the images in a professional setting.

It’s important to remember that resolution is only one of many factors that impact image quality. Other factors such as color, dynamic range, image noise, white balance, etc are also important to the overall image quality.

Editing workflow

When it comes to the editing workflow, both X3 and RS use the same AI-powered Insta360 mobile app and Insta360 Studio desktop software. The Insta360 app is the most frequently updated with AI-powered features that are perfect for quick social media edits.

There’s nothing that proves that more than Shot Lab, a continuously-updated collection of one-tap templates using the latest and greatest 360 editing techniques. Moreover, both X3 and RS creators can use all the same Shot Lab templates.

Shot Lab templates available for both X3 and RS creators include: 

• Sky Swap: Swap out the sky! From famous locations to your own backyard, any sky can be dramatically changed thanks to AI algorithms in the Insta360 app.
• Shadow Clone: This template clones your body, retaining your movements and eliminating the need for masking or laborious editing.
• Fly Lapse: This template adds barrel rolls and speed ramping to your footage to mimic the flight of an FPV drone.

For the highest possible image quality or combining shots from multiple cameras, Studio or Premiere Pro with the Insta360 Plugin are the tools for you. Studio offers far greater control over video and image quality, video controls such as reframing, editing multiple videos from different cameras, etc.

Both the app and Studio can use Deep Track 2.0 to keep your target center frame. Deep Track’s algorithm can track humans, animals, and other moving objects, never losing sight of your target, even through obstacles. The advantage of using Deep Track in Studio is for finer control over the objects you are tracking.

Insta360 X3 vs RS 1-Inch 360: The price point 

Of course the decision for some between Insta360 X3 vs RS 1-Inch 360 might come down to budget. Insta360 X3 retails for $449.99, while Insta360 RS 1-Inch 360 retails for $799.99.

X3 is the 360 action camera powerhouse. With just one device, you can capture every angle at once. Unlock cinematic perspectives that used to require a cameraman or drone. The AI-powered features in the Insta360 app and desktop software can help you find and edit your best shots in just a few taps.

With its interchangeable lens design, the 1-Inch 360 Lens is compatible with both the R and RS Cores. This gives creators the ability to transform their action camera into a premium 360 camera, or vice versa. An upgrade bundle for R and RS users is available for US$649.99, which includes the 1-Inch 360 Lens, Battery, and Mounting Bracket. The modular design of Insta360 RS offers a huge potential for hardware upgrades in the future. You can view RS as a system—a collection of lenses, processors, and batteries—which can be switched out or replaced at any time.