New Insta360 Ace Pro: the first 8K action camera

The Chinese company Insta360 has just presented a new series of action cameras, the Insta360 Ace. It is a model that leaves aside typical features of the brand, such as modularity or 360 recording, and arrives ready to compete with the best of GoPro or DJI thanks to its touch screen, 8K recording or the powerful 1/1.3 inch sensor and 48 megapixels that includes the Pro version, developed together with Leica, and with which it equals the largest sensor on the market for an action camera.

New Insta360 Ace and Ace Pro cameras

As already mentioned, with the Insta360 Ace the brand is leaving interchangeable parts to one side and presenting a 'conventional' compact action camera with a flip-down touchscreen. Its aesthetics are a statement of intent and it sets its sights on the GoPro Hero and DJI Osmo Action.

On the outside, the camera has a front screen that displays information about the recording and a 2.4" flip-down touch screen on the back. With this solution, the rear screen can be used for self-recording and viewing. As for the lens, both models include a 16mm wide-angle lens, but the PRO version has a Leica lens and is brighter.

Inside, the standard Insta360 Ace version features a 1/2-inch, 48 MP sensor, the same as the ONE RS. But the Ace Pro version offers the large 1/1.3-inch, 48-megapixel sensor that matches that of the DJI Osmo Action 4, the largest on the market for an action camera.

In terms of recording quality, the Insta360 Ace Pro achieves the highest resolution to date for an action camera with 8K at 24 fps. The standard version has a maximum resolution of 6K at 24 fps and both models record at 4K at 24, 25, 30, 50, 60 and 120 fps.

In addition to Insta360's FlowState stabilisation system for recording, the new Insta360 Ace integrates artificial intelligence (AI)-driven image enhancements, such as automatic noise removal, and features such as automatic selection of clips that the system finds most interesting.

As for the other features and specifications expected of a camera of this type, we find that it is submersible up to 10m without a casing and 60 metres with it, has an autonomy of up to 100 minutes of recording and a fast charge that promises 80% charge in 20 minutes.

The Insta360 Ace is priced at €410 and the Insta360 Ace Pro at €480.