DJI Action 2 vs Insta360 Go 2: Which is the best micro modular action camera?

(Pocket-lint) - Both the Insta360 Go 2 and DJI Action 2 caused rather a disturbance upon their releases. Not contented with being conscionable different GoPro competitor, some Insta360 and DJI gave their ain rotation connected what an action camera should look similar successful modern times. In some cases, the reply was smaller, lighter and much modular.

While these cameras person a batch successful common, there's an water of differences too. So, which 1 should you prime up? Or should you conscionable instrumentality with the tried and existent GoPro? Find retired much below.

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Design

• Insta360 Go 2: 26g, nary screen, waterproof up to 4m, replaceable lens cover
• DJI Action 2: 56g, rear touchscreen, waterproof up to 10m, fixed lens cover

While we've already pointed retired a fig of similarities, aesthetically these 2 cameras couldn't beryllium much different. The Insta360 Go 2 is simply a achromatic integrative pill-shaped instrumentality that's smaller than the mean thumb. The DJI Action 2, connected the different hand, is simply a quadrate aluminium affair. At archetypal glance, it reminded america of the aged GoPro Session but alternatively of being cube-shaped, it's overmuch slimmer successful width.

Both cameras consciousness sturdy and dense successful the hand, contempt their diminutive weight. We're definite some could instrumentality a beating, but we recovered ourselves being overmuch much cautious with the DJI camera owed to the magnitude of solid and the aluminium housing, which is reasonably easy scratched.

The lens connected the Insta360 is easy replaced should it get damaged but the Action 2 is not user-serviceable. That said, some the Action 2's touchscreen and lens are made from Gorilla Glass for accrued durability - but arsenic anyone who's smashed their telephone surface knows, it's not indestructible.

If you're little disquieted astir durability, the DJI Action 2 feels similar a much premium device, the cold-to-the-touch aluminium and minimal aesthetic reminded america much of an Apple merchandise than the accustomed rubbery integrative lodging of a GoPro.

Both devices are waterproof but the Action 2 wins erstwhile it comes to submersible depth. This is apt owed to the non-replaceable lens screen allowing for a much water-tight seal than that of the Go 2. In some cases, lone the camera portion itself is harmless to submerge, though underwater housings are disposable for the Action 2 with its other module attached.

Video and photograph capture

• DJI Action 2: 4K 3840×2160 @ 24/25/30/48/50/60/100/120fps (max video resolution), 4000×3000 (max photograph resolution)
• Insta360 GO 2: 2K 2560x1440@ 24/25/30/50fps (max video resolution), 2560 x 2560 (max photograph resolution)

If you request the champion representation prime imaginable past determination is simply a wide victor here, the Action 2 tin sprout astatine 4K successful a wide assortment of framework rates whereas the Insta360 is constricted to a maximum of 50fps astatine 1440p. Both connection slow-motion signaling but the DJI comes retired connected apical present too, susceptible of a staggering 4K 120fps compared to the Go 2's 1080p 120fps. 

Action cameras typically person a precise wide tract of presumption to guarantee that you seizure each of the action, and that is existent of some of these cameras. The mode successful which they are configured, however, is rather different.

With the Action 2, choosing a FOV is done overmuch successful the aforesaid mode arsenic with a GoPro - you tin take betwixt Standard (dewarped), Wide (fisheye) and Ultra-wide (similar to SuperView). The Ultra-wide mounting is astir apt the widest we person ever seen from an enactment camera and gives an absorbing distorted position with little tube distortion than you mightiness expect.

We emotion the Action 2's Ultra-wide FOV but tin spot it being excessively overmuch for a batch of situations arsenic it tin marque subjects look overmuch further distant than they really are. Still, it's bully to person and you tin ever power to Wide for a much emblematic enactment camera look.

The Insta360 Go 2 handles things precise differently. The camera records a quadrate spherical representation and the FOV and facet ratio are chosen aft signaling connected either the smartphone app oregon desktop software. We truly enjoyed moving this mode arsenic you tin conscionable deed grounds retired successful the tract and take whichever FOV looks champion aft the fact. The signaling tin adjacent beryllium rotated successful the app, allowing you to make immoderate trippy Inception-style camera spins.

Both cameras initially launched with 32GB of built-in storage, but Insta360 has since released a 64GB mentation of the Go 2. In some cases, you can't usage the entirety of the built-in retention for your videos arsenic immoderate abstraction is taken up by the camera's operating system. Insta360 does little onboard processing and this allows for much of the abstraction to beryllium utilized for storage.

If you usage the Action 2 with either the artillery oregon front-screen module, an SD paper tin beryllium added to boost storage, but utilized connected its ain you'll beryllium constricted to a measly 22.4GB of usable space. Once the module is attached you tin easy transportation your clips to the SD card, it takes a small longer than we would like, though.

On the 64GB Insta360 Go 2 that we tested, you get 57GB of usable abstraction connected the camera itself. This is overmuch much manageable, particularly since the camera records astatine a little resolution. However, if you tally retired of abstraction you'll request to transportation clips to either a telephone oregon machine via USB oregon Wi-Fi - there's not presently an enactment to offload to an SD card.

Stabilisation, features and battery

• DJI Action 2: 580mAh (camera module), 1300mAh (front surface module)
• Insta360 Go 2: 210mAh (camera module), 1100mAh (charging case)
• Both 360-degree skyline levelling 

When it comes to representation stabilisation, some of these cameras bash an unthinkable job. In our testing, the Go 2 did a somewhat amended occupation of stabilising the image, peculiarly successful debased light, but some stabilisation modes are fantastic.

On the skyline levelling setting, some cameras tin beryllium rotated 360-degrees portion maintaining a dependable fastener connected the horizon. Compared to the GoPro Hero 10 Black that maxes retired astatine 45-degrees, this is earnestly impressive. It indispensable beryllium noted that DJI lone supports this skyline stabilisation successful resolutions beneath 4K and astatine little than 100fps

The Insta360 handles stabilisation successful the aforesaid mode arsenic FOV, letting you take your stabilisation benignant afterwards successful the app, whereas the DJI volition request to beryllium selected earlier recording.

In real-world usage, some cameras nett you astir 20-30 minutes of artillery beingness arsenic a standalone unit. That's wherefore they some trust connected modules to complaint connected the go.

The Insta360 has an AirPods-style charging lawsuit that doubles arsenic a wireless distant and mini tripod, it's an ingenious plan that's ace convenient erstwhile shooting.

The DJI has clip-on modules to springiness you the other juice, they travel successful 2 flavours - either adding a front-facing interaction surface oregon a elemental artillery module. Both models adhd SD paper enactment and a USB-C connector erstwhile attached.

Price

• DJI Action 2 Power Combo: £349
• DJI Action 2 Dual-Screen Combo: £455
• Insta360 Go 2 32GB: £294.99
• Insta360 Go 2 64GB: £324.99

The Insta360 Go 2 tin beryllium had for importantly little wealth than the DJI Action 2, particularly if you opt for the dual-screen combo. That said, the Go 2 doesn't person a surface astatine all, truthful it's casual to spot wherever the other outgo comes in.

The Insta360 Go 2 tin often beryllium recovered connected merchantability arsenic it has been retired for longer, hopefully, we'll spot the Action 2 commencement to travel down successful terms successful the coming months too.

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Conclusion

There are loads of things to emotion astir some of these cameras, we're excited that brands similar these are daring to spell against the atom with caller and unsocial designs for enactment cameras. Both are compatible with existing GoPro accessories, accepted tripods and besides adhd caller and breathtaking mounts similar the magnetic pendants.

If you request the highest imaginable representation prime past the DJI Action 2 is the evident prime here, offering acold superior representation fidelity than the Go 2 tin achieve. However, erstwhile it comes to durability and convenience, we deliberation the Insta360 Go 2 takes the win.

Whichever exemplary you choose, we're reasonably definite you'll beryllium pleased with the representation stabilisation, tiny signifier origin and video prime that these diddy cameras provide.

• Best enactment cameras: Capture shots connected the determination and successful the elements with these apical choices

Writing by Luke Baker. Originally published connected 7 January 2022.