Insta360 Go 3S Review

With the Go 3S, Insta360 is looking to build upon what made the original 3 so great, with a versatile form factor that can switch between being the tiniest of mountable cams and the more traditional action cam shape complete with a flippable screen. A host of new feature upgrades help to make the 3S even greater, though there are some caveats that potential buyers will want to consider.

An ‘S’ upgrade

The new “S” variant pushes the resolution up to 4K (from 2.7K) at 30 FPS. Additionally, a new “MegaView” FOV provides a more realistic look for wider shots with less distortion. Then there’s the improved low light performance, Dolby Vision support, and enhanced slow motion with up to 200 FPS at 1080p or 100 FPS at 2.7K.

I found the Go 3S’ 4K image to be a clear step up from the Go 3’s 2.7K image. It’s especially useful for those who want to zoom in on a shot without losing detail. This is great for reframing a point of view, something that I am forever doing with action cams during the editing process.

Easy auto

Speaking of editing, for those who want a simple montage of clips from a day of activities, the new Interval Video and Auto Editing functions will come in handy.

If you’re anything like me and want to spend your time doing sports rather than editing videos, Insta360’s range of auto features can be a great assist. Having the Go 3S passively capture footage throughout the day and then edit that footage with just a couple of button pushes within the app is impressive.

Even more features

Insta360 has also added: Apple Find My compatibility to the Go 3S, making it easy for iPhone users to track location; Easy Switch, to make it simple to move between horizontal and portrait aspect ratio; AI Gesture Controls, for controlling capture with hand movements; Cancel Recording, for quickly deleting takes; Kids Mode, which locks the camera down; and even more. There’s a lot to explore here, even though the camera is still in the “3” lineup.

For the swimmers out there, the Go 3S features enhanced waterproofing, supporting depths down to 33ft (10m). The Go 3 only supported depths down to 16ft (5m).

Insta360 has also given many of the Go 3S and Go 3 accessories an overhaul, making them more effective and/or robust.

Capture versatility

I’ve used the Insta360 Go 3S for capturing running content. For recording fast 5 KM races, I mount the camera to my cap. Its weight is negligible and I instantly forget that it’s there on my head. The ability to add my heart rate, pace, distance, and other metrics to the footage using the Insta360 app is a great touch and makes my content more interesting.

For slower runs, like my 100 KM effort that took me over 13 hours, I mount the Go 3S to a stick, which is easy to shorten and lengthen as required.

Outside of the Action Pod, you have to be more conscious of battery life. Though impressively small and lightweight, this also means a limited recording duration. With the Action Pod, however, battery life becomes less of a concern and I was very happy with how much battery remained at the end of my 100 KM ultra marathon.

The downsides

When it comes to downsides, the obvious one is tied to the new 4K resolution. While it’s great that the Go 3S achieves this, the limit to 30 FPS may be disappointing to see.

What’s more, I’d love to see Insta360 include the ability to attach an external microphone, as audio quality has its limits, especially in windy scenarios.

Disclosure: Review sample provided by Insta360. At the time of writing, the Go 3S is discounted during the Insta360 Black Friday sale.