Insta360 came out with the GO 3S in June of this year, and unveiled the biggest surprise in the GO series – it shoots in 4K. Unlike the GO 3, which has a max resolution of 2.7K, we now have a tiny camera in 4K.
This is huge for anyone who loves these tiny cameras and as a travel creator, I had to test it and its other features.
The Insta360 GO 3S Travel Experience
While the GO 3S has similar features to the GO 3, the newest addition to the GO series has many noticeable differences compared to the GO 2. Many have tried to compare the Insta360 GO 3S to different action camera brands, but in my opinion, that’s just not a fair assessment as the other action cameras do not have a tiny camera they can pull out from the pod. Now if we were talking about the ACE PRO that would be a different story, but we are talking about something unique to the market of cameras.
So rather than comparing it to other brands, I compared it to my GO 2 and the differences are great.
Portability and Design
The first thing you’ll notice when comparing the GO 2 to the GO 3S is the design. While the GO series has always been very portable, the design is quite impressive and dare I say better than the GO 2.
Compact Size
While the GO 3S has better features and an awesome screen to view my videos and photos, it still maintains its compact size and is actually a bit shorter, wider, and thicker than the GO 2 by a few inches.
The GO 3S by itself is 1.0in x 2.1in x 1.0in with the action pod, it is 2.5in x 1.9in x 1.2in.
The GO 2 by itself is 2.08in x 0.93in x 0.81in. With the charging case, it is 2.68in x 1.91in x 1.04in.
Versatile Mounting Options
Just like the GO 2, you can mount the GO 3S anywhere. Insta360 has many different accessories for the GO 3S and you can either attach it with the action pod or by itself.
While the standard does come with several accessories for you to use, there are other bundles you can get with different accessories. Even with the many accessories in the bundles, you can choose to purchase more from Insta360’s long list of accessories.
When I received my Insta360 GO 3S, I got the ultimate bundle, which includes:
- 1x GO 3S (64GB)
- 1x Lens Guard
- 1x Action Pod
- 1x Magnet Pendant
- 1x Pivot Stand
- 1x Easy Clip
- 1x Quick Release Mount
- 1x Mini 2-in-1 Tripod
- 1x Carry Case
- 1x Magnet Pendant Safety Cord
- 1x Screen Protector
Aside from everything included in the ultimate bundle, I also got the quick reader, mic wind muff, monkey tail mount, 85cm invisible selfie stick, ND Filter Set, and the Triple Suction Cup Car Mount.
As a travel creator, these extra accessories and the ultimate bundle help me get the shots I need for campaigns and videos I’m working on, and the best part? I have a tiny mighty 4k cam to help me get the shots I wouldn’t be able to get with my regular DSLR or phone camera.
Waterproof Capabilities
If you’re wondering if your GO 3S will get damaged if you dunk it in water or if it gets splashed with water, the answer is no. The GO 3S is an IPX8 Waterproof camera. The camera without the pod can go down to 33ft (197ft if you use the dive case). The pod is an IPX4 Splashproof Action Pod.
Technical Features
Many technical features separate the GO 3S from the GO 2 such as the 4k resolution, 12 MP Photo, longer battery life, touch screen, and more.
Stabilization
I haven’t had an issue with stabilization. Both GO 2 and GO 3S have FlowState Stabilization, so I did not see much of a difference. Then again unlike my GO 3S, I didn’t use my GO 2 much on travels.
On the GO 3S, I do love that I can apply the Horizon Lock to my shots to make them even smoother, but this feature is only available in the FreeFrame Video, which is then applied using the app or studio.
High-Quality Video
As mentioned the GO 3S has 4k resolution. The GO 2 only has up to 1440p or 1080p, while you can have the 4k, 2.7k, or 1080p with the GO 3S.
The max video bitrate is also different with the GO 2 at 80 Mbps and the GO 3S at 120 Mbps.
The GO 3S also has pre-recording and loop-recording.
My Favorite Features
The Insta 360 GO 3S has many features, but my favorite features are the Apple Find Mine compatibility, gesture control, and AI editing.
The Apple Find Mine compatibility is the best feature Insta360 has added. Sure, all the other features are great too, but this feature gives me peace of mind, especially if I misplace my camera.
The gesture control has become one of my favorites! While it does have voice control, I prefer waving or putting up the peace sign to get the shot.
While I’m still a bit unsure about the use of AI (it depends on how you use it), I do appreciate that Insta360 included AI editing. It’s not the kind that takes from other creators. Instead, it is taking your videos and editing them on beat to music. It’s a good feature to have, and helpful for any creator with thousands of other things to do.
Creator Friendly Aspects
Though this camera is made for everyone, I believe that the Insta360 GO 3S was created with creators in mind because of how creator-friendly it is! It has so many features that are beneficial for creators and as someone who does a lot of travel POVs, it’s nice to have a camera that focuses on that.
User-Friendly Interface
I find the GO 3S is easier to use than the GO 2. The touch screen makes a difference and makes it user-friendly. While it was nice to have a mini stand/charger all in one for the GO 2, I didn’t particularly appreciate pairing it with my phone to get a view of what I was taking videos of.
The GO 3S on the other hand already has a touchscreen pod, so there is no need to connect it to the phone to get a view of the photo or video you are shooting.
Quick Content Creation and Sharing
I do a lot of traveling, mostly discovering new spots in Florida, but nonetheless, I am on the road a lot. Because I am on the go, it’s important to have something that will keep up with my schedule and last the whole day. While the pod needed to be charged after 2 hours of use (I was using the 4K resolution the entire time), I was able to remove the tiny camera and pair it with my phone for the view. Now, this is my least preferred way to use the camera. However, I was able to continue recording, while my pod was charging.
Due to the camera’s magnetic back and quick-release mount, I was able to use my accessories, avoiding interruption to my recording.
Quick content creation and sharing is a must as a travel content creator, which is why I absolutely love the quick reader. With the quick reader, I am able to transfer my files onto an SD Card. I will say it wasn’t the fastest as it took 17 minutes to transfer 133 files to the SD Card in the reader. However, you can do this while you’re out eating or in the car waiting for your partner to get in the car. The plus side of the reader is that you don’t have to run out of space in your Insta 360 GO 3S, especially when you are on the go and have no way to transfer it to a computer.
Another feature I already mentioned, that makes content creation and sharing easy is the AI editing. The GO 2 has this as well, so it’s a feature I’m familiar with and one I’m happy they’ve kept since it makes my life easier when it comes to editing.
Unique Shooting Modes
The GO 2 and GO 3 have similar photo and video modes, but there are a few new ones I didn’t have on the GO 2 such as the FreeFrame video, Loop Recording and Pre-Recording.
The FreeFrame video allows you to record videos in a large square and then you’re able to reframe them after recording. This is good if you want to record something but have no idea what ratio you want to go with. While it’s good to have this, it’s not my favorite only because I prefer to shoot in the ratio instead of leaving it for after the shot.
There is also loophole recording which is similar to a dash cam, and will overwrite the old video. Then there is the pre-recording video, which allows you to capture footage before recording starts.
The Insta360 3S has many features that I like and compared to my Insta360 2, I say it is a great upgrade.
Disclaimer: I did receive an Insta360 3S for the purpose of this review, however all opinions are my own.
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