Is the Insta360 GO 3 worth it if it kind of sucks?

Insta360 GO 3 — the 64GB camera plus Action Pod kit I used in my video.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Not sponsored by Insta360.

This is the test I filmed on Keli’i Discovers: Insta360 GO 3.

The five gripes

1. Case vs camera waterproofing

Number one. The case itself is not waterproof. If I want this underwater — diving, snorkeling — I have to take this piece out. This stays out of the water. This goes in the water. To have the full battery it needs to be together.

Vlog / jitter (bonus on the same tiny body)

I’m trying to vlog with something like this and I can still walk pretty freely and not worry about jitter. That’s a pretty big bonus.

Audio A-B (filmed)

This is the audio from the actual Insta360. Here’s separate audio on a Bluetooth mic.

2. No true HDR / 2K cap

Another reason it kind of sucks: you don’t get true HDR. Resolution is pretty much capped at 2K. Competitors are shooting like 5K plus.

3. Not the rugged Action / GoPro pick

It’s not as rugged as a GoPro or the Osmo Action 4. Those handle rougher climates and terrains. If you’re worried about dropping this and it cracking, there’s a higher chance compared to the Action 4 or even the Hero 12. Let’s be honest. You’re probably not buying this for rugged. You’re buying the creative unique concept. Cool shots.

4. No live stream (currently)

You cannot live stream currently with this camera. If that’s why you want a GO 3, it’s not an option.

5. Battery reality

Last gripe. Battery life could be better. You don’t get to pull the battery and swap a fresh one like the competitors. One full charge. That’s it. Once you’re out, you’re out. From my experience it has actually been shorter in a lot of cases.

Why I still think it’s worth a look

Best use: quick creative shots in certain environments.

Next snowboarding trip? Probably not. You’d have to leave the case and only use the little camera. If you’re just traveling with this you only have so much battery before it dies and you plug it back into the case, which you’re not taking snowboarding. I wouldn’t recommend it for that.

Be careful around water. The little camera is waterproof. The case is not.

Beyond those five gripes it’s actually a pretty decent camera. Fun. Cool unique angles. I do like Free Frame. 16×9 and 9×16. Convenient for content right now.

Who the GO 3 is actually for (from my video): You want the creative unique concept — quick creative shots, cool / unique angles, Free Frame 16×9 / 9×16 for content — and you accept the case/cam split, the non-swappable battery, no live stream, and that this is not the rugged Action/GoPro climate cam.

Who should skip it (from my video): You need underwater with the case. You’re planning snowboarding / leaving the case behind for the little cam only. You need live stream. You need a swappable battery. You’re buying it for rugged drop / crack durability vs Action 4 / Hero 12.

That’s the decision. Get the GO 3 or don’t.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Tiny cam you can vlog with and still walk pretty freely — jitter not a big worry; pretty big bonus.
• Little camera is waterproof (case stays out for diving / snorkeling).
• Creative unique concept — cool / unique angles; pretty decent camera beyond the gripes.
• Free Frame: 16×9 and 9×16 — convenient for content right now.
• Built-in audio vs Bluetooth mic A-B actually filmed so you can hear the difference.

Cons

• Case itself is not waterproof — full battery needs case + cam together; underwater means cam only.
• No true HDR; resolution pretty much capped at 2K vs competitors shooting like 5K plus.
• Not as rugged as GoPro / Osmo Action 4 — higher crack risk vs Action 4 or Hero 12.
• Cannot live stream currently.
• Battery not swappable — one full charge; once you’re out, you’re out; from my experience shorter in a lot of cases; plug back into the case you won’t take snowboarding.

Action cam sister: DJI Action 5 Pro. Full 360 sister: Insta360 X5.

Affiliate disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

My name’s Kelii with Ohana Reviews. As always, folks, Mahalo for checking out the video. Aloha.

FAQ

Is the Insta360 GO 3 worth it if it kind of sucks?
Yes if you want quick creative shots, unique angles, and Free Frame 16×9 / 9×16 for content — and you accept the five gripes. No if you need underwater *with* the case, rugged Action/GoPro climates, live stream, a swappable battery, or a snowboarding trip where you’d leave the case behind. Beyond the gripes it’s a pretty decent camera. Fun. Cool unique angles. That’s the get-or-don’t call from my video.

What’s the waterproof catch?
The case itself is not waterproof. The little camera is. Diving or snorkeling: take the cam out — this stays out of the water, this goes in the water. Full battery needs them together. Be careful around water. I wouldn’t take the whole case+cam setup as a water toy.

Resolution / HDR?
You don’t get true HDR. Resolution is pretty much capped at 2K. Competitors are shooting like 5K plus. That’s one of the five gripes in my video.

Battery?
Could be better. You can’t pull the battery and swap a fresh one like the competitors. One full charge. Once you’re out, you’re out. From my experience it’s been shorter in a lot of cases. Traveling: when it dies you plug it back into the case. Snowboarding with case left behind? I wouldn’t recommend it. No spoken hour number in my video — check the live listing for rated runtime.

Live stream?
No. You cannot live stream currently with this camera. If that’s why you want a GO 3, it’s not an option.