Pros & Cons
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- Stabilized 4K60 video recording
- Converts between a wearable and a traditional action camera
- Action Pod includes a flip-up touch screen
- Waterproof to 33 feet without a case
- Works with DJI Mic and Apple AirPods
- About two hours of 4K60 recording on a full battery
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- 8-bit video encoding
- Internal, non-replaceable battery
- Pricier than larger action cams
Insta360 Go Ultra Specs
| 35mm Equivalent (Wide) | 14.3 |
| Battery Type | Internal |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth |
| Connectivity | USB-C |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi |
| Dimensions | 1.9 by 2.8 by 1.3 inches |
| HDMI Output | None |
| Maximum ISO | 6400 |
| Maximum Waterproof Depth | 33 |
| Memory Card Format | microSDXC |
| Memory Card Slots | 1 |
| Minimum ISO | 100 |
| Sensor Resolution | 50 |
| Sensor Size | Type 1/1.28 |
| Sensor Type | BSI CMOS |
| Stabilization | Digital |
| Touch Screen | |
| Type | Action Camera |
| Video Resolution | 4K |
| Weight | 5.7 |
Action cameras, by definition, are small enough to mount to a helmet, on a surfboard, and squeeze into a tiny space. Insta360 goes the extra mile with its Go line, a series of featherweight, wearable video cameras for action and vlogging. The Go Ultra ($449.99) is the best version of the camera to date, with a big upgrade in picture quality over the previous Go 3S thanks to a larger image sensor. Like the Go 3S, it works as both a wearable and a traditional action camera. That said, you pay a premium for it—the Go Ultra costs $100 more than the DJI Osmo Action Pro 5 ($349), a highly capable camera that supports higher frame rates and a more malleable 10-bit D-Log video profile. As such, the Osmo is our Editors' Choice for action cams, but if you want something even more flexible, the Go Ultra might be a better fit for you.
Design: Wearable and Waterproof
Like the earlier entries in the series, the Go Ultra is a two-piece camera. Its recording unit and lens are housed in a 1.8-by-1.8-by-0.9-inch (HWD), 1.9-ounce rectangular housing, which mounts magnetically to a 1.3-ounce pendant so you can wear it at chest level. It works with an included clip to attach to the brim of a hat, and Insta360 sells an Easy Clip Headband separately if you prefer to position the camera on your forehead.
(Credit: Jim Fisher)The Action Pod is the second half of the camera. The Go Ultra camera pops right in magnetically and locks in place, and the push-button release means that it won't fall out without warning. When it's in the Pod, the Go Ultra looks and operates just like a GoPro. The pod measures 1.9 by 2.8 by 1.3 inches and weighs 3.8 ounces, for a total weight of 5.7 ounces with the camera installed.
(Credit: Jim Fisher)The Pod eschews a standard tripod socket and instead uses a magnetic mounting system. This makes it handy to pop it on or off a tripod or selfie stick, but since the camera does not ship with a magnetic clip, you'll need to purchase one separately. The DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro also uses a magnetic system, but includes a mounting clip in the box. GoPro makes you buy a magnetic mount for its Hero13 Black separately, but it also has a standard tripod socket, so the magnetic clip isn't a strict requirement.
(Credit: Jim Fisher)The Go Ultra camera module is IPX8 rated for use as deep as 33 feet underwater, so you can safely use it poolside or at the beach. Just remember to rinse it off with fresh water after a dip in the ocean. The Action Pod is IPX4 splash-proof, but is not submersible.
Insta360 sells the Ultra in Arctic White and Midnight Black (pictured) colorways. Unlike the Go 3 and 3S, it does not include built-in storage. Instead, it has a microSDXC slot. I used it with a 512GB card, which is good for around 17 hours of 4K60 recording.
(Credit: Jim Fisher)Both the Ultra camera and Action Pod use internal rechargeable batteries. The Ultra's battery lasts for around 36 minutes of 4K60 recording time, but overheats after about 30 minutes. I was able to record continuously without overheating with the Ultra inside the Action Pod for about 120 minutes before its battery ran out of juice. Compare that with the Osmo Action 5 Pro, which is good for around two hours of 4K60 recording time, and uses interchangeable batteries so you can easily swap to a fresh cell if you run out of power while out capturing content.
Interface and App: Presets Help Sort Through a Multitude of Modes
The Go Ultra camera has a front button that starts and stops recording, along with a tally lamp that flashes red when the camera is rolling and blue when it's powered on but idle. The Action Pod has a 2.5-inch touch screen and the Q button to change modes, plus a Record button on the top.
(Credit: Jim Fisher)The touch interface is intuitive to use, and the camera makes it a little easier to navigate by way of a tutorial system. It provides on-screen instructions and tips when you try out a capture mode for the first time. It's easy enough to skip the tutorials if you already know what you're doing.
The camera has a large library of capture modes, some of which are self-explanatory, like Photo, Video, Time Shift (Hyperlapse), Timelapse, Loop Recording, Slow Motion, and Burst Photo. It also includes Pure Video, which is meant for use in dim light; Free Form video, which uses the entire sensor so you can crop out vertical and horizontal frames, but requires stabilization to be applied using Insta360's editing software; Starlapse for long exposure night sky photography; and Toddler Titan, which works with an optional Micro (close-up) lens and Hat Clip to get close-up video of younger kids.
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(Credit: Jim Fisher)It's a long list, but it's not too hard to swipe through the options using the touch screen. Still, I'd like the option to cull it down, which would make the Q button more useful. As it stands, you can tap the button repeatedly to switch between the sundry modes, but with such a long list, it can take several taps to get to the one you want.
You may find it easier to use a preset to control recording settings rather than a mode. Presets are also available from the Q menu; just tap at the top of the screen to go between the two tabs. The Go Ultra has built-in presets for Vlog, Biking, Running, Kids, Outdoors, Skiing, and Starfield. You're also able to edit, create, or delete presets, so you can curate this list to taste. That's great, but I don't like that the Q menu always defaults to the mode tab, even if you most recently selected a preset. Moreover, the preset selection screen disappears much too quickly for my brain to parse through the options and tap.
I'm reviewing the camera ahead of its launch, so there's a chance that Insta360 will tweak its interface via a firmware update. I've already installed one during testing, and Insta360 cameras often get updates well after launch. The Insta350 X5, which we reviewed earlier this year, got one just last month.
The Go Ultra tightly integrates with the Insta360 smartphone app, a free download for Android and iOS devices. I loaded the app on my iPhone 13 and had no problem connecting the camera. The app finds it via Bluetooth and uses Wi-Fi for a live preview and file transfer. You can change all camera settings via the app and use it to edit footage. It includes an auto-editing option with transitions and music, with a long list of templates to fit different moods. I used "Out and About" for the quick edit of a walk at a local botanical garden, below.
Video Quality: Smooth, Stable 4K60 Recording
The Go Ultra captures the best video of any Go series camera I've tried. It has an upgraded image sensor and processor to thank. The most recent 3S uses a relatively small Type 1/2.3 sensor, while the Ultra moves to a Type 1/1.28 chip and 5nm AI image processor. The result is better video in all kinds of light. The Ultra records clear 4K60 with SDR color, and supports 4K30 with an HDR look.
The video looks good to my eye. It shows accurate colors, smooth motion, and excellent digital stabilization. Low-light recording is also far better than with the Go 3S. The Ultra is on the same level as the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro in low light. For slow-motion footage, the Osmo has the edge as it goes to 120fps at 4K, while the GoPro Hero13 Black remains king of the hill with its support for 2.7K240 and 720p400.
The camera supports multiple angles of view, too. It has an ultra-wide option that shows some fisheye distortion, but is useful for mounting up close and still getting an immersive view of a scene. There's also a linear option with properly straight lines and coverage that's just about perfect for handheld vlogging. A 2x digital zoom is included as an option, too. The digital zoom cuts out some detail, but still looks good on phone screens.
(Credit: Jim Fisher)Non-expert videographers won't find too much fault with the Ultra's recording options. I think savvy editors will be a little let down, though, as the camera is restricted to 8-bit color sampling in both its SDR and HDR recording modes, and does not include a flat (Log) profile, so there's not much leeway to color correct video with software. The Osmo Action 5 Pro and GoPro Hero13 Black both beat the Ultra in that regard; both support 10-bit recording with a flat profile, plus proper Rec.2020 HDR profiles. The Ultra uses an SDR (Rec.709) color space for its HDR footage, which is easier for non-experts to edit, but does not capture the same range of color and brightness as true HDR.
The Go Ultra snaps still pictures as well. Its image sensor includes a Quad Bayer filter, so it can swap between 12.5MP or 50MP capture, with both JPG and Raw DNG capture modes included. Still quality is right in line with video. Pictures show natural color and an appreciably wide angle of view. There's no option to focus close or blur backgrounds like you can with most smartphone cameras, but it's nonetheless useful for times when you want to grab a photo but can't easily grab your phone.
(Credit: Jim Fisher)The built-in mic is as good as you'll get with any action camera. It has an omnidirectional pickup pattern and hears just about everything in the environment. It works well in natural environments, but can pick up wind noise when recording action, and is less than ideal for use on noisy city streets. I also noticed that the built-in mic sounds hollow and distant when chest-mounting the camera. The Ultra adds support for external mics, missing from the Go 3 series, so you can connect select earbuds (the Apple AirPods 4 or Pro 2, Redmi Buds 5 Pro, or vivo TWS 2) or a compatible external microphone (the DJI Mic 2 or Mic Mini) via Bluetooth for clearer audio. Unfortunately, I didn't have any of these on hand to test with the camera.