The Selfie Stick Disappears From the Shot: Insta360 X5 Review

📌 See today’s picks →

TL;DR: The Insta360 X5 is a fully waterproof 8K 360-degree action camera that films in every direction at once, which lets its own selfie stick disappear from the final shot during editing. No separate waterproof case needed, and no manual reframing required while filming, you point it once and choose the angle afterward.

Why this one stood out

A regular action camera forces a choice at the moment of filming: point it at the right thing, or miss the shot. A 360-degree camera removes that choice entirely, since it captures the full sphere around it and lets you pick the framing after the fact, in the app. The Insta360 X5 takes that a step further with its “invisible selfie stick” effect: because the camera sees in every direction including straight down the stick, the software can automatically erase the stick from the final video, leaving what looks like a drone shot or a hovering angle.

It’s also fully waterproof on its own, without needing a separate housing, which matters for anyone who wants to go straight from a hike to a lake without swapping gear.

Who it’s actually for

This is built for people who film while doing something else, biking, swimming, traveling, where stopping to manually reframe a shot isn’t practical. If you mainly film static, planned shots (like a tripod-based vlog setup), a standard single-lens camera with a bigger sensor will usually give a sharper, more editable result for less money.

What owners are saying

Reviewers consistently highlight the invisible-selfie-stick effect and the built-in waterproofing as the two features that actually get used regularly, more than the raw 8K resolution number itself. The most common adjustment period new owners mention is learning to reframe shots in the companion app after filming, since it’s a different workflow than a normal point-and-shoot camera.

Where to buy it

The Insta360 X5 Waterproof 8K 360° Action Camera is sold on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, which helps support this site at no extra cost to you.

Check today’s price on Amazon →
Affiliate link. We may earn from qualifying purchases.

Frequently asked questions

• How does the “invisible selfie stick” effect work? Because the camera films in every direction at once, including straight down its own mounting stick, the app can automatically edit the stick out of the final video during reframing.
• Do I need a separate waterproof case? No, the X5 is waterproof on its own, so it can go straight into water without additional housing.
• Can I choose the angle after filming instead of during? Yes, since it captures a full 360-degree sphere, you reframe and choose the final angle in the companion app after the fact.
• What resolution does it shoot in? Up to 8K across its 360-degree capture, giving enough resolution headroom to crop into a standard flat video after the fact.
• Is there a learning curve compared to a normal action camera? The main adjustment is reframing footage in the app afterward rather than composing the shot live, which most new owners describe as a short learning curve.
• Is it good for underwater use? Yes, its waterproof design without a separate case is specifically called out by reviewers as useful for swimming, snorkeling, and watersports use.