Best 360 Camera for Cars (2023)

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Interested in the best 360 camera for a car? Then look no further than the Insta360 One R since it has the full array of features you need for amazing 360 dashcam videos. Robust stabilization, superior visuals, vibrant colors, high resolution, and a host of other features make the Insta360 One R the best camera for cars.

The Insta360 One R is right up there with class-leading models like the GoPro Max and the Hero 8 Black. Although the Insta360 One R does not have the same extraordinary video quality as the Max and Hero 8, the compact modular design makes it a clear winner. Using this nifty 360 camera as a dashcam is a joy, thanks to the tiny footprint and thoughtful design.

Table of Contents

The Best 360 Camera for Cars

Insta360 ONE R Twin Edition – Action Camera & 360 Camera with Interchangeable Lenses, Stabilization, IPX8 Waterproof, Touch Screen, AI Editing

5.7K 360 + 4K Wide Angle: ONE R Twin Edition transforms on the fly from a 360-degree camera to a wide-angle 4K 60fps action camera. Just swap out the lenses.
FlowState Stabilization: FlowState achieves gimbal-like image stabilization without the gimbal. Thanks to a new scene-detection algorithm, your footage stays clear and steady even in low light.
Super 5.7K: The Dual-Lens 360 Mod raises the bar with Super 5.7K resolution, leveraging H.265 encoding, advanced image processing and an AI-powered finishing algorithm to preserve detail and make your footage pop.
IPX8 Waterproof: Whether youre poolside or on a rainy-day ride, this waterproof action camera can handle it. Insta360 ONE R is IPX8 waterproof to 5 meters (16.4ft) when built in the included Mounting Bracket. Or use the Dive Case to keep your camera protected in rough water conditions (e.g. surfing).
In the Box: 1x 4K Wide Angle Mod, 1x Dual-Lens 360 Mod, 1x Core, 1x Battery Base, 1x Lens Cap and 1x Mounting Bracket.
AI Editing: Just shoot and the AI edits your shot in minutes. Head to the apps Shot Lab and explore a range of ready-made editing templates like Clone Trail, Stop Motion, Dolly Zoom, Starlapse and more!
In the Box: Twin Edition includes 1x 4K Wide Angle Mod, 1x Dual-Lens 360 Mod, 1x Core, 1x Battery Base, 1x Lens Cap and 1x Mounting Bracket.
Select your subject with a tap or a voice command when shooting in 360. ONE R’s Al-powered tracking algorithm keeps it locked in center-frame. Even when obstacles break your line of sight, Deep Track picks up the shot as soon as your subject reappears. Shot Lab makes creative edits easy. A continuously updated range of smart templates walk you through the latest 360-degree camera techniques and automatically master your edit. Starlapse mode automatically adjusts exposure settings to capture brilliant, sweeping timelapses of the night sky. Color Plus automatically color grades your footage. Vibrant, bright and stunning visuals with a single tap. ONE R supports HDR capture for photo and video. Highlights, shadows and everything gin between come across just as you see them.

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The Insta360 One R is a prime example of how leading brands can pack a whole range of comprehensive features in one neat package. Moreover, the 360 cam is proof that a versatile 360 cam does not have to be cumbersome.

The modular design is what defines the Insta360 One R. A third of the device is battery, another block has the screen and control while the third segment has the sensor and lens system.

Thanks to this modular system, you can deploy the Insta360 One R as a 4K action cam or a standard 360 camera.

One question that would be on everyone’s mind is this. Will it fall apart owing to its modular design? Experience proves that such fears are unfounded. The Insta360 One R is just a tad bit bigger than the Hero 8 while being exceptionally sturdy.

When you connect the camera lens block and the control block together, the whole gadget feels quite rigid and resilient. The modular design sounds good in theory, but it also works well in practice.

Do you wish to switch lenses? Then just take out the battery, pry off the lens and fix it in the other module. You are done in a few seconds without fuss.

Pros

Three cameras in one package
Superb 360 visuals at 4K
Highly compact modular design

Cons

Small screen

Waterproof

Another welcome feature is the waterproof build. Although the design is modular, thankfully, it did not come at the expense of waterproofing. Hence, the Insta360 One R is a decent action camera even in wet areas with plenty of surf, spray, and splashing. Moreover, the camera is water-resistant to 5 meters. So if you drop your camera in water, you need not worry.

However, if you want deep dive snorkeling videos, you will have to buy a special waterproof casing to take built-in water resistance beyond 5 meters.

Display

The key weakness of the camera has to be the minuscule 1.3-inch display. It’s not awfully low res, but it does feel small. Moreover, you cant expect very vivid visuals on a 1.3-inch screen. So instead of relying on the built-in screen, you are better off using the app on your smartphone for seeing the live feed.

The preview screen gets even smaller when you record a 16:9 format video. The GoPro and the Hero 8 both shine with their ample screen size that allows for a solid user experience.

Also, the interface can feel erratic at times. For example, you might feel that the menu scroll is more than what you intended, and menu flicking can occasionally be buggy.

Image Quality

At its standard 4K resolution setting, the Insta360 One R captures plenty of detail. Video quality is above par under good lighting. Even in darker areas, the shadows appear just right with a nice level of detail.

However, there are certain conditions when the Insta360 One R is prone to shimmering textures and blurring. This can happen when there is significant motion in less lighting, for instance. In addition, on rare occasions, there can be considerable erratic motion in parts of the frame as if there is no stabilization.

One noticeable advantage that the Insta360 One R has is that there is very little purple fringing. And if any purple distortion transpires, you can remove it using the app.

As for still visuals, the Insta60 boasts high-quality photos.

So the Insta360 One R, even though it does not have the same depth of resolution as the Hero 8 and the Max, is still a decent camera for casual users.

360-degree clips have a resolution of 5.6K, which is right up there with class-leading models. The 360-degree module can shoot at 5760 x 2880 pixels at 30 frames per second. The frame rate at this high resolution is satisfactory.

Both stitching and stabilization are exceptional.

Towards the frame periphery, vision is a bit blurred. But then this defect is inherent to fisheye lenses, and even Hero 8 and Max are not immune to this.

In dim lighting, there is a drop in video quality, though with the 360-module. Although stabilization is quite good, there is some blurring in frames when lighting is low.

Even though the Insta360 One R may not have as much video quality as the Hero 8 and the GoPro Max, it does come at a lower cost plus, the design is modular. At its price point, the image quality is very good.

App

You will have to export videos from the One R using the mobile app available on both iOS and Android. Besides the mobile app, there is also the Insta360 Studio app for computers.

The app is overall quite intuitive and easy to use. You can choose your viewing mode, select a key point in the video, and pan and zoom with ease. There are even smart tracking features that keep the subject in the middle of the frame. There are also extra modes and templates for you to make fascinating videos.

So you can get a professional-looking polished video using the editing features on the app.

Our Final Thoughts

The video quality of the Insta360 One R is overall quite decent, although it does not match the video quality of the Hero 8 and GoPro Max. However, the price point is lower, and the design is modular, making it a great choice for casual users who want the best 360 camera for cars.