Insta360 GO 3S Review: Tiny Cam, Huge Upgrade

Insta360 GO 3S Review: Tiny Cam, Huge Upgrade

I’ve always had a soft spot for tiny cameras — the kind you forget you’re even wearing until you get home and realize they captured a whole story you didn’t expect. The original GO 3 already had that magic. It was small enough to clip anywhere, light enough to forget about, and playful enough to make simple moments feel cinematic. But the Insta360 GO 3S… this one feels different. The first time I held it, I remember thinking, How is something this small shooting 4K now? It felt like stepping into a new category of creativity — a tool that doesn’t slow you down, doesn’t demand attention, and somehow still gives you footage that feels far bigger than the camera itself. I clipped it to my shirt and walked outside, and instantly I could feel how the upgraded sensor sees the world differently. Colors looked richer, details a little sharper, movement a little smoother. It had that “okay, this is legit now” feeling — the kind that makes you smile before you even hit record. ✨🎥

What really surprised me when I started filming with the GO 3S was how natural it felt throughout the day. Morning shots of brewing coffee felt more textured in 4K. Walking clips had this clean, handheld honesty. Even quick POV movements looked more intentional because the stabilization and upgraded sensor were finally strong enough to handle more than just casual clips. The AI tools also hit me harder than I expected — the Highlights Assistant isn’t just “better,” it’s noticeably smarter. It picks up emotional beats, satisfying clip timing, and cleaner transitions in a way that makes the whole editing process feel less like work and more like reviewing memories. It’s strange, but it almost feels like the camera understands the rhythm of your day and cuts it together for you before you even sit down to edit. 💡✨

Mounting is still the secret superpower of this series, and the GO 3S takes it further with stronger magnets. I clipped it onto places I wouldn’t trust most cameras — under my shirt collar, on a bike frame, the side of a backpack, even on the cat when he wandered past me out of curiosity. The camera never fought back, never got in the way. It just stuck, stayed, and recorded. And being able to shoot upside down and fix the angle later in the app feels liberating — like rules don’t matter anymore. The footage almost feels like it’s capturing your life’s point of view rather than a framed shot you “set up.” That’s the beauty of something this tiny: it becomes invisible, and invisible cameras capture the most honest moments. 🧲🐾🚲

Waterproofing is where the GO 3S really feels like it leveled up. The first time I dipped it under water, I expected that familiar moment of hesitation — but it just kept going. No case, no fuss, no worrying about whether I sealed anything properly. Being able to take it into a pool, a lake, or even just film in the rain without thinking twice made it feel like a genuinely all-weather, go-anywhere device. I filmed at the beach with waves crashing over it, and the footage didn’t look like “tiny camera footage” — it looked like something from a much bigger sensor. That combination of portability and confidence is rare, and it’s one of the reasons this camera feels like such a huge leap over the GO 3. 🌊💦🌅

As the day went on, I found myself reaching for the GO 3S instead of my bigger cameras. Not because it’s better overall — but because it’s easier, lighter, faster, and freer. Vlogging felt hands-free. Cycling shots felt aerodynamic. Pet POV clips looked adorable. Travel B-roll had that effortless vibe that only small cams can capture. The new sensor and 4K output finally back up the creativity this tiny body has always encouraged. It’s like the GO 3 finally grew up — still fun, still tiny, but far more capable than it looks. 🎒✨

Insta360 GO 3S Review: Tiny Cam, Huge Upgrade

📦 Buy on Amazon USA

Insta360 GO 3S (64GB or 128GB Kit)

🌄 FINAL THOUGHTS

Testing the GO 3S left me with this unexpected mix of nostalgia and excitement. Nostalgia for those early days of tiny action cams when everything felt simple and playful — and excitement because this one finally bridges that simplicity with real quality. There’s something emotionally satisfying about a camera that doesn’t weigh you down or pull you out of the moment. The GO 3S lets you live your day fully and still come home with footage that feels meaningful. 🌤️💛

What I realized while using it is that the GO 3S isn’t just an upgrade — it’s a reminder that constraints can expand your creativity. One tiny camera forces you to focus on angles, on story flow, on finding beauty in the small moments you’d normally overlook. The AI, the waterproofing, the 4K sensor — they all work quietly in the background while you stay fully present. That’s why the footage has this natural, effortless feel to it. It’s filmmaking without friction. 🎥💭

There’s also a deeper symbolism baked into the GO 3S: the idea that small things can still carry big potential. Something you clip to your shirt or sunglasses — something that barely weighs anything — ends up capturing the truth of a moment more honestly than a big rig ever could. It becomes a little reminder that stories don’t need size, they need presence. They need movement. They need emotion. The GO 3S helps you find that in everyday life. 🌄✨

Whenever I finish a day of filming with it, I catch myself smiling at how much life this tiny device managed to hold. And that’s really what makes it a huge upgrade — not the specs, but the way it makes you feel while creating.

Buy on Amazon Canada

Insta360 GO 3S (128GB Kit)