Insta360 Ace Series Action Cameras Released – Leica Lens, Flip Screen, AI Features, and More

Camera News

by Jose PradaNovember 21^st, 2023

One week ago, we wrote about the teaser Insta360 launched introducing their new camera. The teaser showed a DJI Osmo Action and a GoPro colliding, and a new camera rising from their ashes in a provocative advertising move. Well, they have released not one but two new cameras, the Insta360 Ace and the Insta360 Ace Pro. Let’s see what we get with this new series.

Insta360 entered the market in 2015 with interesting 360 cameras and gimbals, among other products. Now, they are returning with two new wide-angle action cameras co-engineered with Leica: the Insta360 Ace and the Insta360 Ace Pro. The Ace Pro is the flagship version of this new line, and the main difference between the two is the sensor size.

Well-balanced features in all areas

The first thing that calls our attention to the Insta360 Ace Pro is its lens (Leica Summarit) and sensor size: a 1/1.3” sensor capable of shooting 8K 24fps and 4K 120fps video, and taking 48MP photos (1/2” 48MP sensor in the Insta360 Ace). Action cameras have been used in all kinds of situations, but you could usually tell which camera was used by the image quality. This combo establishes a direct competition with modern action cameras and delivers an image quality that should narrow the gap between A-cams and action cams.

The second element that stands out is the camera’s physical design, with a 2.4” flip touchscreen perfect for vlogging, selfies, challenging action shots, etc., featuring live preview and camera control.

The body, as expected, is waterproof – up to 10 meters and 60 meters with the Dive Case – and uses a magnetic mounting system for faster workflow. Winter sports shooters will be pleased with these cameras since they can operate in extreme temperatures as low as -20ºC. Another selling point of the Insta360 Ace series is the FlowState Stabilisation technology. Features like the 360° Horizon Lock have been designed to ensure every shot is steady and leveled even in the most demanding action shots. 

When looking for an action camera, one of the characteristics to look for is its charging speed and the Ace Pro’s battery charges to 80% in 22 minutes and to 100% in 46 minutes. 

Two cameras packed with modern technology

Another remarkable feature is the technology the brand has put into the cameras to make the filming experience smoother. Aside from its physical design, which fits almost every situation, the Insta360 Ace Pro includes intuitive shooting modes and functions, a streamlined editing experience, and new AI functions. 

The series offers the typical shooting modes, including timelapses and hyperlapses; the AI Warp template allows users to use keywords to customize our creations and add effects to our videos, making the camera the first to generate AICG content from the mobile app; the AI Selfie Stick Eraser… well, I’m sure you already know what that does. 

The camera also features a Stats Dashboard, and it integrates with Garmin devices and Apple Watch, allowing remote monitoring. This characteristic lets us overlay GPS, speed, and more information in our videos.

When editing, we can go completely manual if we want to, but the camera comes packed with editing AI tools. For example, the AI Highlights Assistant helps with the edit by selecting the best moments in a video and merging them into a recap, speeding up the selection process and letting us delete the bad takes to save storage. The assistant can even edit the best moments for you into one video.

Practical solutions for action shooters

Insta360 has emphasized internal features to overcome the typical problems action shooters face. The Clarity Zoom function can zoom x2 without any quality loss. We can use hand signals to start and stop recording and to take photos with the Gesture Control. We can also cancel recording to save space and pause/resume recording inside the same clip for better file management. Finally, the Photo Grab function allows us to take a photo while recording video, in a higher resolution than we’d have with a video screen grab. 

When the first action cameras came out, it was more about getting the shot than anything else. However, image quality is now a common concern for action filmmakers, and the Insta360 team is well aware of this. The company has worked on offering an accurate color rendition, even underwater, and both cameras feature a low-light shooting mode called Pure Video. Their 5nm AI chip denoises the footage with a custom-trained AI neural network. The Insta360 Ace Pro’s bigger sensor offers a better dynamic range and brightness. The flagship model also features an Active HDR mode, which is helpful in high-contrast situations where we need detail in shadows and highlights. 

Insta360 Ace Pro’s main features

• 1/1.3’’ Sensor
• Co-engineered with Leica
• 8K 24fps + 4K 120fps Video (8K available at launch)
• PureVideo for Premium Low Light Performance
• Clarity Zoom
• 2.4” Flip Screen
• AI Highlights Assistant
• Gesture Control & Voice Control 2.0
• Waterproof to 10m (33ft)
• FlowState Stabilization & Horizon Lock
• AI Warp (New Shotlab template)

Price and availability 

The new Insta360 Ace series is available now worldwide. The Insta360 Ace retails for $379.99, and the Insta360 Ace Pro for $449.99. For more information please visit Insta360.com.

What do you think about the Insta360 Ace series? Will they break the market with these new cameras? Let us know in your comments!