Despite being DJI’s first entry to the 360 camera market, the Osmo 360 feels like the kind of debut you’d only get from a company that has spent a long time perfecting its craft elsewhere. DJI’s drones and action cameras have been impressing me for years, and its claims about the Osmo 360’s capabilities were bold, so I had high expectations.
After two weeks of using the Osmo 360 in all sorts of conditions—sun, wind, low light, and on the edge of a downpour—it’s clear this is a serious challenger to Insta360’s dominance, even if it can’t fully knock the X5 off its perch.
Rugged and Reliable
Photograph: Sam Kieldsen
The Osmo 360's design immediately feels like a mix of the GoPro Max and the Insta360 X5. The Osmo 360’s stubby body, the twin fisheye lenses bulging on either side, and the utilitarian matte grey finish all scream “rugged,” but the camera’s IP68 rating comes with a caveat: DJI advises against underwater shooting. This isn’t due to a lack of waterproofing (it’s good to a depth of 10 meters) but due to potential video stitching issues. The water foxes the optics, apparently, which is an issue Insta360 has long solved on the X5.
I didn’t take the Osmo 360 for an ocean dip for that reason, but I did get it soaked in heavy rain, which it happily shrugged off. The lack of cheap replaceable lenses is more of a concern. I’m a pretty careful user, but with 360 lenses sticking out the way they do, a scratch is always a possibility. DJI offers replacements via its optional after-sales care program, but the Insta360 X5’s user-swappable design feels like a smarter long-term choice.
I immediately warmed to how easy the Osmo 360 is to use. The two-inch touchscreen is sharp and responsive, the three-button control layout is simple, and I like having both a standard tripod mount and DJI’s magnetic quick-release. Even better, the 128 GB of built-in storage meant I didn’t have to dig out a microSD card for my first day of shooting.