Insta360 One R vs One X Comparison

If you are looking for a detailed comparison between the Insta360 One R vs One X then you might want to continue reading.

Insta360 is a company that makes good action cameras that boast of amazing video quality with impressive designs.

The Insta360 One X was launched in October 2018 while the One R was launched in January 2020.

Despite having a nearly 2-year gap, the One X still offers solid 360-degrees video footage with a lot of flexibility in editing.

I have done in-depth reviews for both cameras and if you haven’t checked them out, you can do so by clicking the links; Insta360 One R & Insta360 One X.

As you may know by now, the Insta360 One R is the world’s first action camera to rock a completely modular design.

It has three lens mods with a battery base, one of them is a dual-lens 360° mod. The One X on the other hand is a single-bodied camera with dual-lens that support 360° filming.

When it comes to video quality, there is no doubt that both cameras deliver amazing results.

Insta360 is a serious competitor to GoPro in the action camera market. GoPro released the Hero8 Black alongside the GoPro MAX which is a 360° Action camera.

I did my comparison on the GoPro MAX vs. Insta360 One R and it was a tough run for both cameras.

In this comparison post, I am going to cover all the important details that will give you more insights about both cameras and help you decide which one to go for.

If you already own any of these cameras or both, you are also catered for because I will be giving out important information alongside the comparison.

I will start by tabulating the technical specifications for both cameras side by side.

Insta360 One R vs One X Specifications

As you already know by now, the Insta360 One R is a modular design camera with three interchangeable lenses and a battery base. The lenses are:

• 4K Wide Angle Lens Mod
• 1-inch Wide Angle Lens Mod
• 360° Dual Lens Mod

In this comparison post, I will focus on the Insta360 One R 360° Dual-Lens Mod since the One X is not a modular design camera.

Design & Components

Weight and Dimensions

The Insta360 One R weighs 130.5 grams while the One X weighs 115 grams including the batteries.

Having both cameras side by side, they both look extremely different and it is very evident that the One X is the smaller brother in terms of weight.

In terms of dimensions, the One R measures 72mm (L) x 48mm (W) x 43mm (H) while the One X has a body measurement of 115mm (L) x 48mm (W) x 28mm (H).

Looking at the dimensions, we can see that both cameras share the same width, the One R is slightly taller but the One X has more length.

Touchscreen vs Status Screen

This is where we see a huge difference between these cameras. The One R has a touch screen display at the back of the camera while the One X has a small status screen.

The One R‘s touch screen is a small 1.3-inch display but it is better to have a small-sized screen than to have none at all.

You can use the touch display to control and navigate through the camera’s settings and modes.

The only disadvantage of having a small-sized touch screen is if you have large fingers, it will be hard to effectively do the touch selections.

The status screen of the One X is used to display important information such as the video resolution and frame rates that are being used in filming at that particular moment.

Lacking a touch screen display is sometimes of an advantage because your battery life will not be drained as such.

Lens

Being 360-degrees cameras, both of them rock a dual-lens setup that is used to effect an all-round shooting.

Each lens will shoot at 180+ degrees then the camera will stitch both files to create a 360 degrees video.

Both cameras have fully spherical and linear fields of view.

Both camera lenses have an aperture of f/2.0 which is a nice opening.

The One R lenses are replaceable and can be covered with lens caps whereas the One X lenses are non-replaceable.

Ports and Sockets

Both cameras have a memory card slot that supports microSD cards of up to 256GB storage.

That space is huge enough to store your entire week’s activities.

The One R has a USB Type C port while the One X has the traditional micro USB port.

On this one, the One R looks more futuristic. You can charge up both cameras via the USB port.

Both cameras do not have a dedicated 3.5mm mic input port.

However, for the One R, you can purchase a USB Type C to 3.5mm adapter that will enable you to connect an external microphone.

If you are into much of vlogging, then the One R is a better choice because of the external microphone support.

The One X does not support an external microphone connection.

None of the cameras has a micro HDMI port, you can however use the USB port for your data transfer and software updates.

Microphones & Audio

Both cameras have a stereo microphone setup which is so crucial in recording all-round Audio when shooting 360 videos.

This is not comparable to the GoPro MAX which has a total of six microphones located around the camera.

The audio performance for both cameras is good in quiet environments where there is little to no background noise.

For the One R, I will recommend you get an external microphone that will revamp the audio experience.

Another cool feature in the One R is the ability to connect your camera to the Apple Airpods via Bluetooth, then use the Airpod’s internal microphone to record audio.

As you can see, there are plenty of audio options for the One R. If you need more flexibility in the audio department, I would recommend you go for the One R.

Waterproof

The Insta360 One R is waterproof without the need for a waterproof case. You can go underwater up to a maximum depth of 5 meters / 16 feet.

If you need to undertake more intense underwater adventures, then you can purchase a waterproof case that will push the depth limit to 60 meters / 296 feet.

This revamped rating is more than enough for scuba diving.

The Insta360 One X is not waterproof without a waterproof case.

If you want to use the camera in damp environments or underwater, you will have to purchase a dive case.

With the extra housing, you can go underwater for up to 30 meters / 96 feet.

Always test your waterproof case before using it underwater. You need to ascertain that there are no holes that can permit water to flow in.

After the underwater adventure, make sure you rinse and dry the camera + case to prevent any damp effect.

Controls and Buttons

Both cameras have buttons that can be used to control the camera.

As I mentioned earlier, the One R has a tiny screen and it might be a huge hindrance if you entirely depend on the touchscreen to control the camera.

The Insta360 One R has a power button that is used to power the camera on and off. It also has a record button to start and stop recording.

The One X also has two buttons on the front, one large and the other small.

The large button is the shutter which also doubles up as the enter button. The small one is the power/switch button.

Voice Control

Another upgrade that came to the One R is the ability to control the camera using a set of predetermined voice commands.

This feature is very helpful when your hands are fully engaged e.g. when cycling and you still want to control the camera.

The One R has the following set of predetermined voices:

• Start Recording
• Stop Recording
• Take a photo
• Shut Down Camera

Although the camera features a few commands, it is still nice to have this ability on your camera.

The Insta360 One X does not have voice control abilities.

For me, this feature is not a make it or break it since I rarely use my voice to control the camera.

Remote Control

Both cameras can be controlled remotely by a GPS smart remote or the Smartphone App.

You will not find the GPS remote included in the retail packaging.

To use this feature, you will have to purchase the smart remote separately.

Using the GPS Smart Remote

Before using the Smart Remote to control your camera, make sure the camera runs on the latest firmware. If not, please update it.

The GPS remote is usable for up to a maximum length of 10 meters / 32 feet. You can use the remote control to take a photo, shoot a video, turn on/off, and reset.

Using the Smartphone App

This is the best way to control any of these cameras. To control any of these cameras via the Smartphone App, make sure your phone operating system is: iOS A11 or Above, Android Kirin 980 or above, Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, and Exynos 9810 or above.

You will have to download the Insta360 One App from Google Play or App Store depending on your phone’s operating system.

You will then activate Wi-Fi on both the camera and phone then link them up.

A major advantage of the Insta360 app is the amount of flexibility it offers.

You can do a ton of things right from within the App including adjusting video and photo parameters, editing footage, and much more.

Video

For many people, a 360-degree camera comes in handy only when recording video.

This is the sole reason why a majority of people will choose to buy a particular camera over another.

As I mentioned earlier, I will only focus on the Insta360 One R Dual-Lens, for us to give One X fair gameplay.

Otherwise, keep in mind that the One R is a modular design camera and if you purchase the Twin Edition, you will also get a 4K wide-angle lens mod.

In the following part of this comparison post, I will walk you through what to expect from each camera in the video department.

Video Resolutions

Both cameras have a maximum of 5.7K video resolution which measures 5760 x 2880.

The other resolutions available for both cameras are 4K and 3K.

The pixel widths and heights for each resolution is as follows:

• 5.7K: 5760 x 2880
• 4K: 3840 x 2160
• 3K: 3840 x 1920

From the pixels measurements, we can see that the resolutions are true and native.

The spherical videos are captured separately by each lens at a view of 180+ degrees then stitched together in the set resolution.

Another advantage that appears in both cameras is the ability to reframe a Full HD video from 5.7K footage. You will need software to effect these changes.

Frame Rates

Both cameras have a maximum frame rate of 100fps which is compatible with 3K resolution.

The video resolutions and frame rates combination for the One R is as follows: 5.7K@30fps, 5.7K@24fps, 5.7K@25fps, 4K@50fps, 4K@30fps, and 3K @ 100fps

The video resolution and frame rates combination for the One X is as follows: 5K@30fps, 5K@25fps, 5K@24fps, 3K@50fps, 3K@30fps, 3K (3008*1504)@100fps.

How Does Video Quality Compare?

Being the newer model, the One R has improved on the video quality on where the One X failed to impress.

The sharpness is refined and the contrast is well balanced. Otherwise, both cameras perform well in video recording.

The One R also has an improved nighttime performance since it has a dedicated night video shooting mode.

Here is a sample video by Kyle Pugliese that will give you a deep insight of the video quality and features on the One X:

Another video shot by Engearment showing the 360-degree video quality of the One R:

Can these Cameras Shoot Slow-motion Videos?

Both One R and One X can shoot videos in slow-motion thanks to the high frame rates available for both. Insta360 calls it cinematic slow-motion.

As you would expect, the One X will deliver nice slow-motion videos thanks to the 120fps total maximum frame rates.

Bitrates

The One R has a maximum video bitrate of 100Mbps while the One X has 120Mbps.

Bitrate refers to the amount of data that the camera can write per second, it is quantified by megabits per second(Mbps).

A higher bitrate denotes high writing speeds that will in turn improve the video quality.

Video Codecs

This refers to the encoding technology that is used by the camera to save video files.

The One R has the newer H.265 (HEVC), while the One X rocks the older H.264 video codec.

H.265 codec is so efficient in producing high-quality videos that can be edited with a powerful PC/Mac.

The resulting video files are normally larger because of the advanced compression involved.

Videos encoded using this technology offer a lot more flexibility during editing.

H.264 is good when you are using an old PC/Mac to edit your footage.

Video Formats

Both cameras have similar video format options; insv, mp4 (files saved in this format can be exported via Insta360 One App), LOG (Files saved in this format will need software on PC/Mac to stitch.)

Video Modes

Both cameras have the following modes to choose from in video shooting: Standard 360 video, Time Lapse mode, Bullet Time, HDR video, and Log 360 video.

The only difference you will get is the slightly improved video quality, otherwise, you can see that the cameras share the same modes.

You can check my review on both cameras to learn how to shoot videos in each of the available modes.

Read my Insta360 One R review here.

Read my Insta360 One X review here.

Electronic Image Stabilization

Each of these cameras supports image stabilization using EIS technology.

Insta360 calls it ‘FlowState’ which is just a branding name similar to HyperSmooth on GoPro.

EIS works by cropping video footage in a way that will reduce the wobbles and shakes while still maintaining video quality and resolution.

How does FlowState Stabilization Perform?

It is important to note that stabilization in 360-degrees videos is more effective and nice because of the extensive field of view that the camera lenses can film.

This gives a bigger room for cropping the video hence creating a smoother version free from shakes.

Both cameras have really impressive stable videos, however, the One R performs a notch higher.

Even comparing the One R to the GoPro Max I found out that One R has a better stabilization than GoPro MAX.

Read my GoPro MAX vs. Insta360 One R comparison.

This does not mean in any way that the stabilization in the One X is poor, it is only that the One R has improved a little more.

I think Insta360 does a very good job with the FlowState stabilization.

Photo

Alongside the video properties and quality, the photo performance of an action camera is what makes the second determinant factor of whether most people will consider buying an Action camera over the other.

Photo Resolution

Both cameras have Sony CMOS sensors that can capture photos up to a maximum resolution of 16MP. The pixel measurements are 6080 x 3040.

Photo Formats

The One R will store photos in the memory card using either of the following formats: insp (Photos in this format can be exported via phone App or desktop Studio), and RAW (Photos saved in the RAW format will require desktop software to edit).

The One X on the other hand has the following formats: insp, jpeg (Photos saved in this format can be exported from camera to your smartphone via the App), RAW (dng).

It is so refreshing to see both cameras having the RAW format option, this means that you will get more editing flexibility in post-production.

How is the Photo Quality?

Both cameras produce vibrant photos with clear details. However, One R has improved quality.

It is always nice to see an upgrade to a camera having nice photographic performances than its predecessor.

If not, then I do not see a reason why companies should be making camera upgrades,

The point I want to drive home is that One X still has good photo performance despite being a 2-year old camera at the time of doing this comparison.

If you need a 360-degree camera that performs well and you are on a tight budget, I recommend purchasing the One X.

Here are some photos that were taken with the Insta360 One X, some of them are 360 and others regular:

Here are some photos shot with the Insta360 One R, a 360-degree photo and a normal photo:

Photo Modes

The One R has the following modes to choose from in capturing your images; Standard, HDR, Burst, Interval, and Night Shot.

The One X on the other hand has the following photo modes; Standard 360 photos, timed 360 photos, HDR 360 photos, interval 360 photos, and RAW 360 photos.

As you can see, both cameras can capture HDR images which are high-quality photos produced from several photos that have been combined.

Dedicated Night Mode

The Insta360 One X has a dedicated night mode which can be used in low light conditions to ensure you get a good quality night photo. This mode is not available in the One X.

If you are intending to use your camera in low light conditions, then the One R is a better choice.

Exposure Control

Both cameras have both auto and manual exposure controls.

Battery

Battery life is important to consider especially if you are going to a jungle where you are quite sure there is no electricity. In that case, I recommend you carry a power bank.

The One R has a battery base with a capacity of 1090mAh. There are two other battery bases for the One R.

A Boosted Battery Base with a capacity of 2380mAh and a vertical battery base with a capacity of 1200 mAh. The additional battery bases do not come with the retail packaging.

The One X on the other hand has a battery with a capacity of 1200mAh.

As mentioned earlier, the One X has an advantage because it uses a small status screen which is not power-hungry like the touchscreen display on the One R.

With both cameras, you cannot get 90 minutes of continuous filming on a single charge. The best I got was 53 minutes using the One X with 5.7K@30fps.

However, keep in mind that other things affect battery life such as the number of accessories connected.

The recommended working temperature for One R is -4 to 104°F / -20 to 40°C, while for the One X is 32° F to 104° F / 0° C to 40° C.

The One R uses a USB Type C cable to charge up the battery right from within the camera while the One X uses a micro USB cable.

Why choose Insta360 One R?

• Waterproof camera body.
• The modular design camera looks futuristic.
• You can connect the camera to an external microphone.
• Availability of the touch-sensitive display.
• Supports voice control.
• Improved App performance with AI features.

Why choose the One X?

• The small-sized camera which is super portable.
• Very simple and easy to use. Suitable for beginners.
• A very affordable 360-degree camera that gives you value for money

Conclusion

Insta360 is truly a leading company when it comes to making good action cameras with amazing photography experience.

I like the design language that was incorporated in the One R. It is very soothing to have a modular design Action Camera with interchangeable lens mods.

Both of the compared cameras have nice video and photo qualities although the One R has a little bit of improvement. Both cameras also have RAW photo capabilities.

The audio experience of One R is better than that of One X, because of the ability to attach an external microphone to the camera. An external microphone is very important when you want to do Vlogging.

Going with my Insta360 One R vs. One X, I will recommend the following.

If you already own the One X, upgrading to the One R is not a waste of money as we normally see with other camera releases.

You will get a more improved camera design with the impressive build quality and above all, if you get the Twin Edition you will also have an additional 4K wide-angle lens mod.

If you are on a tight budget and you need a 360-degree action camera, then the One X is the most appropriate choice you can settle one.

I hope you found this Insta360 One R vs One X comparison helpful.

If you have any comments or questions about any of the cameras mentioned, please leave a comment below and I will get back to you!