Engadget review: DJI Osmo 360 II adds 8K 60 fps and replaceable lenses

The price puts it below the Insta360 X6, which has a €699 sticker. Engadget called the U.S. absence the biggest problem with the camera, adding that the video-quality improvements are very noticeable in bright sunlight or a city nightscape.

Like the original, the Osmo 360 II uses an ultrawide lens and a 1/1.1-inch 8K square sensor on both sides. Each camera captures a 180-degree view, and the camera stitches the two feeds into 360-degree video. During editing, users can choose any angle; during export, footage is de-warped or flattened into a square video at up to 4K resolution, or exported as 360-degree video. It also captures 120-megapixel panoramic still photos.

The body keeps the same squarish shape as the predecessor and is thicker, wider and shorter than the Insta360 X6. It has a 2-inch, 314 x 556 touch display at the back, with camera-view and record buttons below. A power button and USB-C connector sit in a waterproof compartment on one side, while the other side holds the battery and a microSD card slot.

The camera has 105GB of internal storage, more than double the 47GB on the Insta360 X6. USB-C transfer speeds are 600 MB/s, compared with 450 MB/s for the X6. In one test, Engadget transferred 20GB of files, or 8.2 minutes of video, in about 32 seconds using good cables and a fast external drive.

A new 2,150mAh battery replaces the previous 1,950mAh unit and is compatible with DJI's other action cameras. The battery is rated for 100 minutes of 8K 30p shooting, and the review got about 105 minutes. Charging from 0 to 100 percent takes 39 minutes, compared with 91 minutes for the original. The Insta360 X6 still leads on battery life and charging, with 140 minutes between charges at 8K 30 fps and a full charge in 35 minutes.

NFC tap-to-connect is a key new feature. Engadget said DJI's Mimo app sometimes fails to find the company's action cameras over Wi-Fi, but tapping a phone to the Osmo 360 II triggers the handshake automatically. The feature worked seamlessly in testing.

Replacing lenses is another change. With the original Osmo 360, a damaged lens meant sending the camera back to DJI, and do-it-yourself replacement was difficult. DJI now sells replaceable lenses for €39 ($45) a pair in a kit that includes a removal and installation tool, instructions, a blower for cleaning the sealing area, a suction cup to pull off the old lens and new gaskets. Engadget changed one in under five minutes, saying the camera's repairability is now much better and on par with the Insta360 X6.

The 1/1.1-inch square sensor is designed for panoramic shooting and lets DJI use 25 percent more of the sensor than some rival models, though the Insta360 X6 now uses the same-sized sensor. DJI updated the processor to increase video speeds, improve low-light capability and boost dynamic range. The Osmo 360 II records 8K 360 video at up to 60 fps instead of 50 fps, and 4K at 120 fps instead of 100 fps. It supports 10-bit D-LogM and HDR capture in HLG mode, but not Dolby Vision like the Insta360 X6. DJI says dynamic range increased from 13.5 to 14.5 stops.

A new AI noise-reduction algorithm, SuperNight 2.0, is intended to allow higher ISO settings and therefore higher shutter speeds at night to reduce motion blur. The camera also has a dedicated setting called "Anti-motion Blur" under the "Stabilization Scenarios" menu. Engadget tested the camera on a sunny-day bike ride to check shadow and bright-light detail, and on Paris streets at night with the camera mounted directly to the bike's handlebars to test RockSteady 3.

Editor's Summary

DJI's Osmo 360 II improves on the original with 8K 60 fps 360 video, better low-light processing, NFC pairing and user-replaceable lenses, according to Engadget's review. At €589 ($680), it undercuts the Insta360 X6, but it is not sold in the United States. The replaceable lenses and faster charging address key practical complaints, while the X6 still offers longer battery life and faster charging.