Top 10 Best Features: Insta360 Go 3S vs Go 3 side by side

Insta360 Go 3S is the world’s smallest stabilized 4K action cam.  Meanwhile, the Insta360 Go 3 got an $80 price drop to just $319!  Which one should you buy?  To help you make an informed decision, here are side by side comparisons.  In addition, Go 3S has many new features but I’ve identified the 10 best features that make the biggest difference in actual use, in my opinion.  You can also download samples so you can inspect the quality for yourself.

Here’s my review:

How long can Insta360 Go 3S record?

I tested it at 4K 30fps (video mode, high bitrate), shooting indoors with no air conditioning at around 70F, and it recorded for 2 hours and 6 minutes.

Download Insta360 Go 3S Samples

The best way to evaluate the Go 3S video quality is to download samples yourself.  Here are samples you can download for free for personal viewing only (do not upload them anywhere).  The samples include one video mode sample and one Freeframe sample.  The video mode can be used straight out of the camera.  The Freeframe sample, with the file name starting with “PRO_VID…” has to be opened in Insta360 Studio or the Insta360 mobile app, where you can choose the aspect ratio, projection and other characteristics before exporting them to Prores or MP4.

SUMMARY

The Insta360 Go 3S’ headline feature is its 4K resolution.  But that might not be its most important feature.  The 3S is indeed more detailed than the Go 3 but that difference in detail is not so obvious when viewing the video on a laptop size screen or smaller.

Instead, there are other things that stand out to me, such as more vibrant color and fewer compression artifacts, which makes the Go 3S seem as though it uses a larger sensor (even though the sensor size is very likely the same).  The 3S also has better low light image quality, with a brighter exposure and more vibrant colors, yet the same amount of noise. Go 3S also has a much better slow motion mode that can shoot 2.7k at 100fps or 1080p at 200fps, in either horizontal or vertical position.

On the other hand, the price drop on the Go 3 is quite significant and its image quality is still quite good.  I hope that my side by side comparisons and highlighted features help you decide whether the 3S is worth the additional cost.

WHERE TO BUY:

???? Insta360 direct: (Free screen protector for a limited time)
???? Insta360 Go 3S at Amazon
????️ Insta360 Go 3 at Amazon ($319 while supplies last)

Disclosure: Insta360 sent me a review unit but they didn’t pay me for this review.  They didn’t see this video before I posted it.
This is my own opinion. Thanks for using my affiliate links at no additional cost to you so I can do more reviews.