Insta 360 has come up with another new wonder, the insta360 go-2, the world’s smallest action camera. But don’t take its small size for granted as it packs impressive still and video capabilities too. This small camera has also taken portability and ease of use to another level. But there is no way to ignore the mighty player of the action camera market, the GoPro. GoPro’s Latest release, the Hero 9, also comes with stunning features to capture the most exciting and thrilling moments of your life. So, which one is the best? And how do these two action cameras compete with each other side by side? In this article, we are going to take a look at this topic.
Sensor and Video
First, let’s take a look at the sensors of both of these action cameras. The Insta360 Go-2 is equipped with a one by 2.3-inch sensor that is capable of shooting 9megapixel stills. On the other hand, GoPro Hero 9 features a 20-megapixel Sony IMX677 1 by 2.3-inch sensor. It is really exciting to see the tiny Insta360 Go-2 has the same size image sensor as the GoPro hero 9. Now let’s see the video quality of Insta360 Go-2. It does an okay job, and the video quality is good enough for sharing on social media. But in the low lights, it couldn’t capture many details of the scenario. In brightly lit situations, the insta360 has a tendency to lose details in highlights.
On the other hand, the colors on GoPro hero 9 look more vivid than the Insta360 go-2. GoPro also has a tendency to apply an orange tint in the scenario, giving it a bit of a cinematic look. Besides, it performs significantly better in both bright and low light situations and gives you more details. The Insta360 Go-2 can shoot 1440p or 1080p at 50 frames per second maximum. But If you are looking for the best resolution camera within the same budget, then this is probably not the best camera to buy. You can find better video specs on GoPro hero nine as it is capable of shooting 5k at 30 frames per second and 4k at 60 frames per second. Another competitive option that can also capture 4k videos at 60 frames per second is the DJI Pocket 2. If you are interested in a hands-on comparison between GoPro hero 9 and DJI Pocket 2, keep an eye on this blog.
Video Modes
Now let’s take a look at the different shooting modes that both of these cameras offer. Starting with Insta360 Go-2, There is a basic video mode that offers minimal video stabilization. Frankly speaking, The basic mode is suitable for tripod shooting. But If you are recording in a shaky situation, such as riding a bike or skateboarding, the videos of basic mode are pretty much shaky and useless. On the other hand, GoPro 9 can shoot 5k videos with the linear view and horizon lock. For more smoothing, there is hyper smooth 3, which works like a charm. If you turn on both hyper smooth and horizon lock, GoPro can give you super-smooth footage even if you rotate the camera 360-degree. Insta360 go-2 can also create crisp images, but it requires shooting at pro modes which lets you record with FlowState stabilization.
About slow-motion videos, insta360 go 2 captures 1080 videos at 120 frames per second. Meanwhile, GoPro Hero 9 can shoot 4k slo-mo at 60 frames per second. There is also a hyperlapse mode in insta360, and the cool thing is that you can change the perspective of your footage in post-production, which you can’t do using a GoPro.
Form Factor
The main difference between the insta360 go-2 and GoPro hero 9 lies in their form factor. The unique proposition of insta360 go-2 is to provide you with a more hands-free experience, while GoPro hero 9 is more rugged and comes with more weight. Now, Let’s see the form factor of these cameras. The inst 360 go-2 is claimed to be the world’s smallest action camera with a height of only 2.1”. It also has a depth and width of less than 1 inch. And if you attach it to the case, its height is 5.2” when open. On the other hand, the GoPro Hero 9 also comes about the same height of 2.1” but with more depth, measuring 1.3 inches and 2.8 inches wide.
Insta360 go-2 weighs just about 27 grams, while the charging case is only about 64 grams. Meanwhile, the GoPro hero 9 is about 158 grams. The most fascinating thing about the insta360 Go-2 camera is its case. You can put the camera in the case to make a hand-held tripod. It looks more like an AirPods case. It is so small and sleek that it will slip into your pocket easily. You can use it as a tripod if you want. Besides, you can also change the angle of the case. However, GoPro doesn’t come with such a case.
Mounting Option
One of the distinguishing features of the insta360 go-2 is the magnetic mounting option. There is a magnet on the back of the camera. For attaching it to your t-shirt, there is a pendant that comes along with it. You can wear the pendant and attach the camera to your t-shirt. The pendant comes along with the camera package, so you don’t have to pay extra bucks for that.
But there is only one issue. The magnetic attachment is not very powerful. So in high-action scenarios, like if you are running with your pet or riding a bike on a bumpy road, you can’t use the pendant. And if you do use it, you run the risk of accidentally dropping it and losing it. As for the GoPro, You can also attach the GoPro Hero 9 to your chest using a GoPro chest mount, but you have to spend a couple of extra bucks for that.
Memory
As both of the cameras have better video capturing ability, they also need better storage. The Insta360 Go-2 comes with 32 gigs of internal storage, which is pretty good when shooting in basic mode. But when you are shooting in a pro mode with stabilization on, 1 minute of video equals 1 gig. So, in that case, the internal memory is pretty much limiting. On the other hand, the GoPro Hero 9 comes with no internal storage. But you can use external memory cards upto 256 gigs. So definitely, you won’t feel memory shortage frustrations with GoPro Hero 9.
Battery Life
Longer battery life is also vital for action cameras. For example, the insta360 go-2 features a 210MAH battery and runs for 30 minutes while shooting 1440p at 30 frames per second. On the other hand, the camera case is equipped with a 1100MAH battery and lasts upto 150 minutes while recording 1080p videos at 30 frames per second. Meanwhile, GoPro Hero 9 comes with a 1729mAh battery which lets you shoot around 90 minutes while recording at 5k.
Waterproof
As action cameras have to endure various weather conditions, waterproof is a must-have feature for every action camera. The Insta360 Go-2 can go underwater upto 13 ft and has a weather sealing rating of IPX8. However, the case is not waterproof. Moreover, there is Aqua vision mode which makes the underwater environment more clear and vibrant for you. On the other hand, the GoPro Hero 9 is also waterproof right out of the box and goes as deep as 10 feet underwater.
Final Thoughts
So that was all about the comparison between the Insta360 go-2 and the GoPro hero 9. Both of the cameras perform significantly well in their own field of expertise. The Insta360 go-2 comes with such portability features that GoPro Hero 9 can’t match. On the other hand, GoPro hero 9 gives you a more rugged feel with the superior video quality. So, now the decision is upto you on which one you want to go with.
