Insta360 One R Twin Edition – The better GoPro?

With the modular One R, Insta360 has launched a truly revolutionary camera. Will Insta360 succeed in knocking the iconic GoPro off the action cam throne? Read more about it in this review.

Workmanship

The Insta360 One R is made of plastic, but it feels very valuable. The replaceable battery of the camera forms a foundation on which the assembled module of lens and screen is clicked into place. Then the One R is ready for use. This assembly can now be clamped into a suitable holder like a rod, helmet or similar. At the side of the display module there is a cover under which you can find a USB-C port and a slot for the Micro-SD card. I find the decision to use a USB-C port for charging very practical, because you can use the same charging cable with which you charge your Android smartphone for example. In addition, the Insta360 One R is waterproof to a depth of 5 meters, which also allows filming at the sea and in the pool. So with the One R you are optimally prepared for any weather or activity.

Features

The general image quality of the Insta360 One R is a highlight in itself. The camera allows shots at 60 fps or a resolution of 5.7K with the 360° module, so every detail of the 360° shot still looks sharp. In addition, the app offers various routines to turn your recorded clips into interesting works of art. For example, there is the possibility to generate a stop-motion animation from a clip, an effect known from older episodes of “Sandman”. Or for example a so called “Jump-Planet” clip, where you jump from one “Tiny-Planet” recording to the next one. . The best feature of the One R is of course the modularity and, in the Twin Edition, the two lenses included. According to the Lego principle, the lenses are freely interchangeable, depending on whether you want to record a 360° video or perhaps a Vlog with the 4K wide-angle camera. According to this principle, the orientation of the 4K wide angle camera to the display module can also be freely selected. Depending on whether you want to record yourself or, something else.

Hardware

Thanks to its modularity, there are a lot of accessories for the Insta360 One R. For example, a 1-inch lens is available in addition to the 360° lens and the 4K wide-angle lens. There are also many other smaller add-ons available, such as a larger battery, an external microphone, or even a dive bag. Features like a larger battery, an external microphone, or a dive cover can be added to the One R to meet any requirement. Included in my package was the so-called “Invisible Selfiestick”. If you attach the One R perpendicular to this selfiestick, it will be completely hidden when you shoot with the 360° lens. This creates an effect similar to that of a free floating drone.

My only shortcoming in the hardware is the battery, which is included as standard in the One R Twin Edition. It is kept relatively small to keep the camera compact. Therefore it only lasted about 20 to 30 minutes of video recording before the camera said goodbye. You should keep this in mind if you want to use the camera a lot and have no power source available for a longer time. In this case you should buy several of the batteries for changing or invest in the “Boosted Battery Base”.

Software

In addition to its modularity, the software is the greatest strength of the Insta360 One R. The App, which is used to connect to the camera, contains a fully featured video editor. With this you can edit the raw data directly on the camera. In addition, One R has powerful tracking software that can intelligently track an object of your choice during a 360° shot. This makes the 360° lens super handy for those hectic moments when you don’t want to accidentally miss something stunning. This way you can turn a clip into an exciting video, for example by letting a part of the clip follow a person, followed by a sequence in the “Tiny-Planet” view. There are no limits to your creativity and you can spend a lot of time tinkering with your clips to create a unique video. Besides the possibility to edit your recordings directly in the app, it also includes a fully comprehensive social media platform where you can share your edited works with the world. The PC software of the Insta360 One R on the other hand leaves something to be desired in my opinion. Here one notices very strongly that the smartphone app was clearly in the foreground during the development of the product and the software for the PC was rather an ulterior motive. Thus, one did not consider the possibilities that one has with a powerful computer or laptop. In this respect, the software sometimes feels as if you are dealing with a port of the smartphone app.

Price-performance ratio

With a price of 509,99 € at the time of the constitution (current: Price not available *) the One R is no bargain. Nevertheless, compared to other actioncams in the similar price segment, the Insta360 One R offers a lot. As comparison you can use the GoPro Max. This one is available at the time of writing for a price of 464,00 € and also offers 360° functionality. However, it lacks the modularity that the Insta360 One has through interchangeable camera elements. Despite this, 500 € is a lot of money, as even reasonable action cams with only minor reductions are available for half the price or less. However, one should not forget that the main aspect of the Insta360 One R is its modularity, which gives it a unique selling point so far.

Conclusion

The Insta360 One R is the status quo of the Actioncams for me at the moment. Due to its modularity it is extremely versatile and clearly superior to the GoPro. Be it an actioncam or a normal everyday camera for vlogs or similar. Thanks to the excellent app, working with the One R is a piece of cake, especially on the road, and everyone can create great looking pictures and videos. All in all, I can recommend the Insta360 One R Twin Edition to anyone who is looking for a camera that meets a variety of demands, is extremely robust and has easy operation and editing options.