Building on the success of the GO 3S, Insta360 has announced the GO Ultra, a new 53g model with a larger sensor, better low-light performance, and a longer lasting battery. Available in black or white in a Standard or Creator Bundle, this hands-free action camera is built for sports, daily life, and POV capture in up to 4K60, a notable step up from the GO 3S’s 4K30 capability. The magnetic mounting system returns alongside a new 5nm AI chip, fast charging, and much-requested microSD card based storage.
The GO Ultra is the big news here, and Insta360 has packed in a lot of upgrades and improvements. The 1/2.3” sensor on the GO 3S has been replaced with a 1/1.28” sensor that captures 200% more light. That means better detail and better low-light performance, aided by a new ambient light sensor and a PureVideo mode, which cleans up dark and noisy footage. The camera also has updated FlowState stabilization, horizon lock, flicker prevention, and color calibration.
An Active HDR mode caps out at 4K30 but can get you more natural shadows and highlight falloff, and the ultrawide 156° field of view in MegaView mode lets users worry less about getting the exact right angle. Other modes like TimeShift, Timelapse, and Slow Motion have been carried over from the 3S. The GO Ultra camera also has 2x lossless zoom and a Photo Mode that can capture 50MP stills. Videos and photos can be saved to a removable SD card, a nice upgrade from the GO 3S’s strictly built-in storage.
The new camera is actually slightly larger and heavier than the GO 3S to allow for the larger sensor and battery, trading the pill shape for a square and coming in at 53g versus 39g. The touchscreen on the Action Pod has also grown, now measuring 2.5” instead of 2.2”. The Action Pod can still control and display video from the camera even when they’re not physically connected, and the GO Ultra includes Insta360’s latest voice and gesture control capabilities.
Insta360 promises fast charging that can take the camera from zero to 80% in just twelve minutes, and a stacked polymer battery for 70 minute runtimes when the camera is by itself, or 180 minutes when it’s in the Action Pod (versus 38 and 140 minutes with the GO 3S). Insta360 also promises improved audio capture with four unique modes and built-in wind noise reduction, as well as compatibility with the brand’s Mic Air.
The GO Ultra camera is waterproof up to 33’ and the Action Pod is IPX4 splashproof. You can track the camera with Apple’s Find My network and have it sync GPS, speed, and heart rate overlays from Strava, Apple Watch, and other third-party fitness devices. The Standard Bundle includes a magnetic clip, quick-release safety cord, and a magnet pendant in the box, while the Creator Bundle throws in a selfie stick, pivot stand, and quick-release mount.