DJI 360 vs Insta360 X5: Will DJI Shake Up the 360 Game?
- gear4greatness
- Jun 16, 2025
- 5 min read
Updated: Nov 12, 2025
DJI 360 vs Insta360 X5: Will DJI Shake Up the 360 Game? 🌍🎥
The Insta360 X5 has been in my hands long enough now that I can feel exactly what makes it special the moment I start recording. There’s something about firing up that 8K60 that almost feels unreal — like we’ve finally crossed into a new era where 360 cameras aren’t just little gadgets we play with; they’re full-on filmmaking tools. Every time I hit record on the X5, I can feel that smoothness in the stitch, the clarity in the lenses, the confidence that the stabilization is going to hold even if I’m biking over cracked pavement or walking through gusts of Winnipeg wind. I’ve shot with the X4 before, and the jump to the X5 still surprises me, especially in low light where the colors stay rich instead of turning into that muddy 360 mush we all got used to in the early days. ✨
But at the same time, I can’t help thinking ahead — and that’s where DJI starts stirring things up. Every time a rumor drops about DJI preparing their first true 360 camera, I feel that little spark again, that same curiosity I had before the Pocket 3 came out and changed how creators shot handheld video overnight. DJI has the tech, the stabilization, the color science, the app ecosystem, the clean workflow — they’re not starting from zero. They’re stepping into a ring they’ve been circling for years. And honestly, as much as I love my Insta360 X5, the idea of DJI stepping in with their drone-level stabilization and Air Unit color profiles makes me think we might be right on the edge of a full shake-up in the 360 world.
When I imagine a DJI 360 in my hands, I picture something a little heavier than the X5, maybe with slightly cooler tones right out of the camera — that signature DJI look that works so well for drones and action cams. I picture 8K30 for sure, maybe 8K60 if they really want to make a splash. I think about how that RockSteady stabilization might feel wrapped around a full 360 sphere, combined with their horizon detection tech that’s already so good on the Action cameras. The idea of DJI blending those systems together makes me wonder how smooth motion could get, especially when mounted on a bike, a helmet, or even under a drone for those wild top-down spherical flyovers. The X5 nails stability, but DJI’s drone brains might push it even further. 🌄
One thing I can’t ignore is audio. With the X5, the built-in mic is usable, but let’s be honest — wind destroys it. I’ve shot enough winter footage to know that. I’ve tried adapters, cages, the Insta360 Mic systems — they help, but they’re clunky. And every time I use my DJI Mic 2, I feel the difference instantly. If DJI releases a 360 cam that pairs natively with the Mic 2, with clean wireless audio baked right into the workflow, that alone could convert a lot of creators. No adapters, no weird cables, no workarounds. Just tap to connect and shoot. It feels like such a DJI move — giving creators something that just works without the gymnastics.
Then there’s workflow, and this is where DJI could really hit hard. As much as I love the X5, those giant 8K files can stack up quickly. I’ve sat there watching transfers crawl across my screen, especially after long hyperlapse bike rides. DJI’s fast USB-C transfer and LightCut export pipeline already feels smoother. I imagine popping in a DJI 360 clip and watching it offload at real speed, not “go make coffee and come back later” speed. DJI loves making things efficient, and if they bring ND filters, snap-on lens guards, or magnetic accessories into the 360 game, they could make the X5 feel like it’s missing pieces — even though it’s a beast of a camera in its own right.
And I keep thinking ahead to fall. September to November is usually when DJI likes to pull big moves — and dropping their first 360 camera heading into the holiday season? That would be a massive statement. I can almost picture creators on YouTube running those two cams side-by-side, comparing color profiles, stabilization tests, biking shots, running shots, sunset clips, action shots on the water… the whole showdown. And I know myself — I’ll be right there watching, analyzing, wondering if the DJI 360 can match that beautiful 8K60 the X5 gives me. Because that’s the thing — DJI has to come in strong. Not close. Not “almost.” If they want to shake up the game, they have to match or beat the king.
I’ve shot with every major 360 camera over the years, and the X5 honestly feels like the most complete package Insta360 has ever delivered. But as a creator, I’m always looking for what’s next — not because I’m unsatisfied, but because I’m curious about what I could do with even better tools. The thought of DJI stepping into this space makes me feel that creative itch again. It’s the excitement of possibility. The feeling you get when you sense the industry about to shift, even if just by a degree or two.
DJI 360 vs Insta360 X5: Will DJI Shake Up the 360 Game?
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🌄 FINAL THOUGHTS
There’s an emotion I can’t shake when I think about DJI stepping into the 360 world — almost like waiting for a storm you know is coming, but you don’t know how strong it’s going to be. The Insta360 X5 has given me some of the best footage I’ve ever captured, and I’ve grown attached to it in that creator way where a tool becomes part of your flow. But the thrill of imagining a DJI alternative — something with that smooth DJI polish, that drone-level stabilization, that seamless Mic 2 integration — hits a different part of my creative brain. I can feel both loyalty and curiosity tugging at me at the same time.
The insight that sticks with me is how competition pushes innovation. Insta360 stepped up their game massively with the X5 — that 8K60 is no joke — but the moment DJI enters this space, everything will accelerate. Better color science, better apps, better stabilization, better low-light performance… creators win when companies push each other, and right now the 360 world is begging for that next leap. I’ve learned from years of using 360 cameras that comfort, workflow, and reliability matter just as much as resolution numbers. DJI understands ecosystem better than almost anyone, and if they build their 360 cam around that principle, the entire landscape could shift overnight.
When I picture this moment symbolically, the X5 feels like a lighthouse — bright, sharp, leading the industry into the future. And DJI feels like a rising wave — steady, gathering energy, not here yet but absolutely coming. The lighthouse still shines, still guides, still leads… but the wave is building, and it’s only a matter of time before it reaches the shore. Both forces shape the creative ocean we’re shooting in, and I’m standing right in the middle, waiting to see how high the water rises.
If I had to put it all into one personal line, it would be this:the Insta360 X5 raised the bar — but if DJI really enters the 360 arena, the whole game could change in a heartbeat.
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