Insta360 GO Ultra In-Depth Review: 19 Things You Need to Know!

The brand-new Insta360 Go Ultra builds on the Go series (with the Go 3S as its predecessor) and incorporates premium features from the Ace Pro. I’ve spent the past month testing it in a variety of scenarios—underwater, on land, and even in the air—to evaluate its strengths and weaknesses. Like all my reviews, this is not sponsored. This is a loaner unit from Insta360, and once I’m done, it goes back to them. They have no input into what I say here, and they haven’t seen this review. I don’t care which brand you buy—DJI, GoPro, Insta360, or something else. My only goal is to share my experience.

The Concept of Small Action Cameras

The idea behind this design is simple: you get a traditional action camera shell with a detachable camera module. Press a button on the side, remove the camera piece, and mount it somewhere a smaller form factor is useful. Once finished, snap it back into the case, and it resumes charging.

Pricing and Market Position

The Insta360 Go Ultra starts at $449 for the standard bundle. That’s a noticeable price increase compared to earlier Go models, placing it squarely in the mainstream action camera category alongside GoPro, DJI, and others. Previously, the Go series undercut competitors on price; now, it competes directly with them.

Size and Design Changes

Compared to the Go 3S, which had a tall, oblong form, the Go Ultra is more square-shaped and heavier—53 g versus 39 g. It retains the magnetic back for mounting on metal surfaces or with the included pendant, which now features a 15° adjustable plate. The package also includes a quick-release tether—something I wish I’d used sooner, considering I lost a GoPro Hero 13 Black in the ocean recently.

Sensor and Video Upgrades

One of the most significant changes is the upgraded sensor, a 1/1.28-inch sensor—a 221% increase over the Go 3S. It also supports 4K 60fps compared to the previous 4K 30fps. Larger sensors typically improve low-light performance, and Insta360 claims a 200% increase.

In practice, however, comparisons show the Ace Pro 2 delivers noticeably sharper and more detailed images than the Go Ultra, especially in challenging lighting.

Low-Light Performance

Night tests confirm the improvement over older Go models but still leave the Ultra trailing behind competitors like the Ace Pro 2 and DJI Action 5. In side-by-side footage, the Ultra produces brighter but less detailed and sometimes jittery images. Personally, I’d take the Ace Pro 2’s darker but steadier output over the Ultra.

Ambient Light Sensor and HDR

The Go Ultra adds an ambient light sensor, but it doesn’t automatically trigger low-light or PureVideo modes. Unlike smartphones, you still need to manually switch modes. An Active HDR mode is also included, though limited to 4K 30fps.

Storage: The Big Upgrade

A much-requested feature: the Ultra finally includes a microSD card slot. This is a major improvement over the Go 3S, which relied solely on internal storage. Now you can swap cards, buy affordable high-capacity ones (e.g., 512 GB for $30), and—crucially—save footage even if the camera fails.

Waterproofing Issues

The camera module is waterproof by default, unlike the Go 3S which required the Aqua Lens. However, the case/pod is not waterproof, which is frustrating given the exposed USB-C port.

Another drawback: the default round lens doesn’t work well underwater—it produces blurry, fuzzy footage. You’ll need the $15 Aqua Lens for clear underwater shots. While affordable, constantly swapping lenses is inconvenient.

Battery Life and Charging

Battery performance has seen huge improvements:

• Pod runtime: 38 min → 70 min
• Charging time: 12 minutes to 80% for the pod, 18 minutes for the case (down from 47 min).

These are significant gains that make real-world use much more convenient.

Field of View and Zoom

The field of view has expanded from 150° to 156°, great for immersive cycling or chest-mounted shots. A new 2x zoom option leverages the larger sensor for effective lossless zoom. The camera also introduces a 50 MP photo mode, though I still prefer pulling frames from 4K video footage.

Display and Remote

The display is slightly larger at 2.5″ versus 2.2″. A new accessory, the Ring Remote, allows control from your finger. While not essential for everyone, it’s an innovative option.

Mounting System Frustrations

Unfortunately, Insta360 introduced yet another mount system for the Go Ultra, incompatible with mounts from the Ace Pro, Ace Pro 2, or X5. This forces users to rely on adapters, adding bulk and hassle. Mount compatibility has historically been a major reason people stick with ecosystems, and Insta360 risks alienating users here.

Overall Verdict

The Insta360 Go Ultra delivers meaningful upgrades—larger sensor, 4K 60fps, improved low-light, longer battery life, microSD support, and waterproofing of the pod itself. These improvements make it a clear step up from the Go 3S.

However, at its $449 price point, it faces direct competition from top-tier action cameras like the Ace Pro 2, DJI Action 5, and GoPro Hero 13 Black. And in many head-to-head comparisons, those cameras deliver crisper, more detailed, and more versatile footage—often at the same price.

For users who value compactness, detachable design, and microSD storage, the Go Ultra is a strong option. But for those prioritizing overall image quality and ecosystem compatibility, alternatives may be the better choice.

Big picture: the Insta360 Go Ultra sets a new benchmark in the small action camera space, but whether it’s the right choice depends on how much you value size and convenience versus top-tier performance.