I’ve been using the Insta360 X6 for a few weeks on both local and longer-distance rides. With all Insta360’s 360-degree cameras, I love that I can hit record and forget about framing; it’s all done later in editing, and I never miss a shot. The recently launched X6 is a definite upgrade over the excellent X5, and a quantum leap over the X4 and earlier models. The X6’s price is the only real pause: $700 MSRP for the Standard Bundle, $800 for the Essentials Bundle, and $795 for the Motorcycle Multiview Bundle.
If you already have an X5 and mostly shoot in good light, it’s a nice upgrade rather than a must. However, if you want high frame rates for super slow motion, professional color choices, and dramatically improved battery life, then the X6 is the way to go. Also, if you want one camera that does 360, smart tracking on flat video, action clips, and really good engine audio, you’ll easily justify the X6’s cost.
Design and Handling
The X6 is very obviously shorter and wider than its predecessors, so it fits easily in a pocket. I love the much wider touchscreen, which makes it easier to view video, navigate the menus, and select from the multitude of camera options.
The OLED screen is bright and glove-friendly. At 2.32 inches diagonally, the X6’s screen is slightly shorter than the X5 screen, though it is considerably wider and feels much bigger overall. As it’s also now OLED, the blacks are darker and the color more vibrant than on the X5’s LCD. It simply looks better and is easier to use, even with gloves on and in bright glare.
Image Quality and Low Light
The two square Sony sensors are much larger than the X5’s, so they gather more light. Daylight shooting in 8K/50 fps is amazing, with night and mixed light much improved over the X5.
Color Modes: Dolby Vision and I-Log
The X6 adds color management options, but be careful. In Pro mode, you can change parameters such as shutter speed, ISO, white balance, and sharpness. In Standard mode, AdaptiveTone 2.0 is awesome. For more advanced shooting, you get Dolby Vision and I-Log.
Dolby Vision on the X6 is a true HDR format with dynamic metadata. It is incredible on supported devices that can use that extra data to show the intended contrast, highlights, and color. Supported devices include newer and more powerful iPhones and MacBook Pros, along with Dolby-certified Android devices. Unfortunately, the picture will look washed out on screens that don’t support Dolby Vision, so only select it if you’re sure you can use it.
The I-Log option makes it possible to color match with other video in editing. This is a nice pro-feature addition, though one an enthusiast is unlikely to use.
Flat Mode and InstaFrame 2.0
The X6 also has a really cool single-lens option called Flat. Normal operation is 360 degrees at 8K/50. If you choose Flat, the camera goes to 5K/60 or 4K/120 and uses just one lens for video that looks like it was shot by a typical action camera.
Flat mode also offers InstaFrame 2.0, which has two useful options: Changeable Field of View and Smart Tracking.
With Field of View, you can go from super wide-angle (MaxView) to flat (Linear), and a slider on the screen lets you choose your preferred view.
Smart Tracking is amazing. It’s enabled by double-tapping an object on the screen. The X6 then follows that object through a full 360 degrees, if necessary. So, you can mount the X6 on a tripod, and it will follow (record) the object you chose.
When riding, if you’re tracking a rider in front of you, Smart Tracking will keep your partner in frame the whole time. Also, Flat mode saves to a standard MP4 video file for instant uploading and sharing without needing to edit and export from the Insta360 app.
There’s also an amazing backup option. If you’re in InstaFrame 2.0 Flat mode and aren’t sure whether you’ll need spherical footage later, you can enable 360 Video Backup so the camera records both at the same time.
Resolution and Frame Rates
There are three levels of resolution: 4K, 6K, and 8K. Bear in mind these quoted resolutions refer to the full 360-degree sphere of video. When you frame a shot, such as straight ahead, you use only that portion of the full resolution. The resolution/frame rate is easily accessed on the camera’s screen by touching the caption icon or video camera icon near the foot of the screen.
The visual difference between 8K and 4K is minimal; I can’t tell the difference at normal speed and POV. However, if you zoom in when editing, the 4K picture degrades as you crop, while the 8K picture stays crisp and clear, even at maximum crop. If you know you’ll be cropping in on other riders or scenery later, you’ll definitely prefer recording in 8K.
The other video option is variable frame rate, which is used for smooth slow-motion video. Each of the three resolutions gives you the choice of higher frame rates. For example, 6K goes up to 60 fps, with 8K capped at 50 fps. Both give you half-speed slow motion. 4K hits 100 fps, delivering super slo-mo. The end result is beautifully smooth video.
Audio: The Hidden Engine Mic
For those of us who ride motorcycles, the Hidden Engine Mic is outstanding. It’s an internal microphone that starts by reducing wind noise. It also gets some of its signal from engine vibration through the camera mount. You have to enable it, and it’s not perfect. Still, it’s a clear improvement that sounds better at speed than any previous camera I’ve used. Also, the X6’s Bluetooth capability lets you add two extra microphones via Direct Connect. It’s encouraging to see how seriously Insta360 is taking the audio side of action camera recording.
Speaking of Bluetooth connectivity, comms systems hookups are seamless. Bluetooth pairing with Sena and Cardo units was quick and easy. This is perfect if you want to narrate on the fly.
Mounting and the Motorcycle Multiview Bundle
The Motorcycle Multiview Bundle makes mounting easy and secure. It includes a heavy-duty clamp, Invisible Selfie Stick, and Xtreme battery, along with a lens cap, USB-C cable, and protective pouch. The shorter body is clearly better aerodynamically, which helps more than the spec sheet might suggest.
Battery, Charging, and Storage
The X6’s 140 minutes of battery life is more than 50% longer than the X5’s. Insta360 claims 140 minutes at 8K/30 with the X6, which is incredible. Although I got close to that usage time, I never ran out of battery. Unless you’re running Lexar’s 1TB microSD card, you’re more likely to run out of data storage than drain the battery dry. Thanks to fast charging to 80% in about 24 minutes, a quick coffee stop will get you back in George Miller mode with minimal wasted time.
The Essentials Bundle I tested comes with an extra battery in the X6 Fast Charge Case. The case is as well-designed as it can possibly get. The open translucent flip top reveals two battery slots, and the LED indicators are visible when the top is closed. The case tops up two spares and the battery in the camera all at once.
The Fast Charge Case also has slots to safely store two memory cards. A flat rubberized charging cable wraps snugly around the outside of the case. If you don’t have a USB-C cable handy to plug into the separate port, you can unwrap the built-in charging cable instead. Brilliant.
The Insta360 X6 has 47GB of built-in storage, so you can use every function and resolution without an SD card. The X5 has zero built-in storage, so this is an upgrade. I really liked that I could unbox the X6 and start using it immediately.
The maximum resolution/frame rate of 8K/50 allows for 34 minutes of recording with the built-in storage, though these higher frame rates are only worth doing if you want slo-mo later. For super slo-mo, the 4K/100 allows 43 minutes of recording. However, if you’re just looking for normal speed, smooth, crisp footage, then 4K/30 is ideal, and you’ll get 90 minutes of video before needing an SD card.
If you like to hit record and forget about it until you get home, a memory card is the answer. Upgrading means you’ll need a higher-capacity microSD card rated UHS-I V30 or better. A SanDisk Extreme card at that spec will quadruple storage for about $75.
Keep in mind that these high-resolution, high-frame-rate settings create massive files. To transfer them to your phone and edit them, you will need an excellent Wi-Fi connection and a lot of computing power.
Durability and Stabilization
The Replaceable Lens 2.0 is your on-the-go insurance. In unpredictable on-location shoots, you will drop the camera occasionally. If you haven’t properly secured the camera on your bike and it goes bouncing down the road or trail, you’ll be bummed out for sure. The X5 offers replaceable lenses, and the X6 features the 2.0 version. The kit is a steal at $33. The latest lenses are claimed to be five times more scratch-resistant, but they aren’t indestructible. I still used the lens cap, but I worried a whole lot less when using the camera.
I did try the X6 Protective Utility Frame. It’s a high-strength steel cage that goes around the outside of the X6. With internal silicone pads, it helps shrug off daily bumps and accidental drops. Because it has to stay out of the camera’s 360-degree line of sight, it’s not deep enough to protect the lenses if the camera falls on its front or back.
Insta360’s FlowState Stabilization for the X6 is simply amazing. The X6 uses data from the camera’s 6-axis gyroscope, along with the triple AI chip, to reduce shake and produce smoother video. I tested it with a third-party gas-tank mount, and the X6 shook quite violently as I rode. To my astonishment, the footage was perfect.
Jitter Blur Reduction is there for low-light shooting. It is a separate setting on the X6, and is called Low Light Stabilization on other models. It reduces motion blur and improves stability in low-light conditions. It is enabled via the Auto/Basic settings menu.
AI Editing, Overlays, and Accessories
AI editing is fun when it works. PanoMind is trained on riding footage, among other things. The on-device AI Director puts out a clip quickly, if you’re in a hurry. The results are okay. However, you can see occasional stitch lines in high-contrast scenes.
For the most part, the mobile app feels a bit fiddly to me. I prefer using the excellent desktop Insta360 Studio to editing on my phone, so I don’t often use the smartphone app.
Motorcycle extras such as Holographic Speed Overlay, auto-loop dashcam mode, and automatic plate blur are interesting. Dashcam mode and automatic plate blurring are self-explanatory, and hooligans will be power users of the latter.
Holographic Speed Overlay is an Insta360 app effect, not something the X6 burns into the video as it records. It takes your ride data (speed, route, acceleration, lean) and composites it onto your 360 recording as a futuristic 3D head-up display floating in the scene. You have to enable it in your smartphone’s Insta360 app. Disappointingly, the Insta360 Studio desktop editing suite won’t take GPS activity stats from the Insta360 phone app.
Waterproofing is as good as always, so don’t worry about bad weather while riding. The X6 will survive 66 feet down without a case, so rain and spray are laughably easy to deal with, even if you drop it in a pond.
A huge variety of interesting accessories is available. I can’t review everything, so check out the Insta360 website to see what’s there to fit your needs, including mounts for just about every situation.
Who Should Buy the Insta360 X6
The X6 is a truly dramatic leap forward from X4 and earlier models, so it’s well worth upgrading. The X6 Standard Bundle is $700, approximately $150 more than the X5 at launch. The X6 Essentials Bundle I tested ups the price to $800 for the extra battery, charging case, Invisible Selfie Stick, and lens cap. The Motorcycle Multiview Bundle is $795, and supplies a heavy-duty handlebar clamp, Invisible Selfie Stick, Xtreme battery, lens cap, USB-C cable, and a protective pouch.
Despite the slightly eye-watering price, I can safely say that anyone who buys the Insta360 X6 will not be disappointed. Everything comes in impressive high-quality packaging, and the X6 itself is a sophisticated camera with so many options and functions that, for point-and-shoot purposes, it’s the only action camera you will ever need.
Insta360 X6 Specifications
IMAGING
Sensors: Dual 1/1.1-inch square sensors
Aperture: f/2.0
Focal length: 7.78mm (35mm equivalent)
360 video: 8K up to 50 fps; 6K up to 60 fps; 4K up to 100 fps
Single-lens video: 5K up to 60 fps; 4K up to 120 fps; 170-degree wide-angle at 5K at 30 fps
Our bike review this episode is the Yamaha MT-03. Do not underestimate this bike; you get a lot of motorcycle for your money! Associate Editor Kelly Callan rode the smallest MT for several weeks, and that included commuting on it. One of the things that impressed her, was how the MT-03 acted like a larger motorcycle. Kelly also spent some time chasing Editor Don Williams through the canyons when he was on the Yamaha MT-07—obviously a much larger machine. She tells us about how it all went.
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We’re closing in fast on the 34th annual Biketoberfest, October 15–18, when all roads will lead to Teddy Morse’s Destination Daytona—the more than 100-acre motorcycle playground in Ormond Beach Florida. This week we get to hear all about it from Teddy Morse himself. With his trademark high energy and enthusiasm, he tells us all about his recently established Triketoberfest that happens the week before, and how the Destination Daytona complex turns into a full-throttle hub of demo rides, vendors, custom builds, live music, food trucks, shops, and nonstop pavilion energy. So, whether you’re on two wheels or three, whether you’re hunting parts or lining up a test ride; grab a cold one and soak up the energy and gorgeous Florida fall weather. This is one of the many Daytona Beach places where Biketoberfest feels like home. So don’t forget: make sure you download the Biketoberfest mobile App from Apple or Google Play or visit www.biketoberfest.org and we’ll see you there!
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Our guest this episode is Greg Arnold, Mecum’s motorcycle auction director. He bought his first bike at eleven, joined the company in 2011, and has spent more than a decade helping turn this incredible event into the place collectors, consignors, and dreamers all show up. Next February 3rd through 6th, Mecum will—for the 36th time, bring the world’s largest vintage motorcycle auction back to South Point, Las Vegas. That’s over two thousand bikes over four days. Board-track racers, barn finds, customs, race iron, and especially, those incredible machines that make the room go quiet. Greg gives us insight into what it takes to make this event work so incredibly well, and if you’re interested in selling your pride and joy, what steps you have to take to make it happen.
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Here’s quick reminder to check out our monthly digital magazine. It’s filled with everything you want to read on motorcycling, including some things you’ve probably not seen elsewhere. It’s absolutely free and you will find it on the Apple App Store and of course on Google Play as well.
Don’t forget to leave us your comments on our social media—we’re on all the usual platforms at Ultimate Motorcycling. We love hearing your feedback… so good or bad, please let us know what you think. If there’s something you’d like us to cover, we’d love to hear those ideas too!
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