GO 3S is the more affordable and compact option, emphasizing ease of use and versatile mounting, making it great for casual users seeking a hassle-free action cam. In contrast, the ONE RS 1-inch 360 Edition is a more premium and customizable camera, offering superior 360-degree capture, low-light performance, and external mic support, appealing to advanced users prioritizing creative flexibility and high-quality footage.
Insta360 GO 3S vs ONE RS 1-inch 360 Edition
By Naila Syifa
Updated July 2024
The Insta360 GO 3S and ONE RS 1-inch 360 Edition are two popular action cameras on the market, each offering unique features and capabilities.
While the Insta360 GO 3S is an ultra-compact and lightweight option, the ONE RS 1-inch 360 Edition boasts a larger sensor and unique 360 capture.
Both cameras are designed to capture high-quality footage, but their target audiences and use cases may differ. Let's explore how these two action cameras compare and which one might be the better fit for your needs.
Key Takeaways
GO 3S is the more affordable and compact option, emphasizing ease of use and versatile mounting, making it great for casual users seeking a hassle-free action cam. In contrast, the ONE RS 1-inch 360 Edition is a more premium and customizable camera, offering superior 360-degree capture, low-light performance, and external mic support, appealing to advanced users prioritizing creative flexibility and high-quality footage.
Insta360 GO 3S
Tiny Mighty Action Cam
✓ 4K Video + 12 MP Photo
✓ Compact, Lightweight, Magnetic
✓ Interval Video Mode
✓ Waterproof to 10m
Insta360 ONE RS 1-inch 360 Edition
Swappable 360 Camera
✓ 6K/30 fps 360 Footage
✓ Dual 1-inch Sensors
✓ Live Streaming & Webcam
✓ Modular Design with ONE RS Core
#1 Price
Insta360 GO 3S
Insta360 GO 3S is not considered cheap for an action camera, but it is relatively more affordable than the ONE RS 1-inch 360 Edition.
While the GO 3S retails at US$399.99, the ONE RS 1-inch 360 Edition retails at US$799.99, twice the price of the Insta360 GO 3S. This makes it a more significant investment for users, and you would need to carefully consider whether the added capabilities of the ONE RS 1-inch 360 Edition justify the higher price tag.
#2 Design & Durability
Insta360 GO 3S
Insta360 GO 3S, often claims to be the world's smallest action camera, measuring very tiny at just 25.6 x 54.4 x 24.8 mm and weighing only 39 grams, nearly the size of a thumb. This makes it an extremely versatile option, suitable for various placements and mounting positions.
Especially, the GO 3S comes with 3 mounting accessories (a magnet pendant, an easy clip, and a pivot stand), which enables capturing unique perspectives like hands-free POV shots or even from a pet's point of view.
Note that the GO 3S includes two units: the camera and the Action Pod. The Action Pod, featuring a 2.2" flip touchscreen, serves as a remote control, preview, and additional battery for the Insta360 GO 3S. The Action Pod is only splashproof, but the camera unit of the GO 3S is waterproof to 33ft (10m).
Insta360 ONE RS 1-inch 360 Edition
Insta360 ONE RS 1-inch 360 Edition can also be considered lightweight and portable as an action camera, though it surely can't beat the ultra-tiny size of the GO 3S. The camera measures 53.2 x 129.3 x 49.5 mm, weighs 239 g, and features a 1.3" touchscreen for preview and control.
One thing that stands out from the ONE RS camera is its modular design, which allows users to easily swap out the lens module with other ONE RS camera lenses to suit different shooting needs, enabling greater versatility and customization. However, if you don't plan on buying any additional lens modules, the modular design may not provide much benefit.
Unfortunately, the ONE RS 1-inch 360 Edition is not waterproof. With an IPX3 water-resistant rating, the camera can only withstand light rain and snow but cannot be submerged in water, making it less suitable for underwater or water-based activities compared to the Insta360 GO 3S.
#3 Video & Photo
Insta360 ONE RS 1-inch 360 Edition
Insta360 ONE RS 1-inch 360 Edition delivers 360 videos and photos, with a maximum resolution of 6K/30 fps for videos and 21 MP for photos. 360-degree capture allows for creative and immersive content, enabling you to capture the entire scene around you and choose the desired framing during post-processing.
Meanwhile, Insta360 GO 3S captures standard, flat videos and photos like a typical action camera, with a maximum resolution of 4K/30 fps for videos and 12 MP for photos.
Insta360 GO 3S tries to catch up with the ONE RS's flexible 360-degree capture through its FreeFrame Video mode, which allows users to select the desired aspect ratio during post-processing, providing similar flexibility to reframing in a 360 camera.
Insta360 ONE RS 1-inch 360 Edition
In addition, Insta360 GO 3S offers various video modes that the ONE RS 1-inch 360 Edition doesn't come with, including Slow Motion, Pre-Recording, and Interval Video. Interval Video is a unique mode, allowing users to automatically record footage at set intervals, perfect for creating highlight videos of day-long activities.
While the Insta360 ONE RS 1-inch 360 Edition lacks those creative video modes, it excels in low-light imaging thanks to its larger dual 1-inch sensor. In PureShot photo mode, the ONE RS 1-inch 360 Edition can capture high-quality low-light photos with enhanced dynamic range, reduced noise, and clear details. This makes the ONE RS a better option if you frequently shoot at night or in other low-light conditions.
#4 Audio
Insta360 GO 3S
Insta360 ONE RS 1-inch 360 Edition offers 3 built-in microphones, which capture crisp audio better than the 2 built-in microphones of the Insta360 GO 3S.
The ONE RS also has an advantage with its external microphone support, allowing you to connect an external microphone like an AirPods via Bluetooth or other third-party microphones via the separately sold Mic Adapter.
The GO 3S, on the other hand, doesn't support external microphone connectivity, which limits its audio recording capabilities compared to the ONE RS 1-inch 360 Edition.
However, Insta360 GO 3S offers 3 audio modes, including Wind Reduction, Stereo, and Direction Focus. Meanwhile, the ONE RS only offers the first two modes while lacking the Direction Focus mode found in the GO 3S.
#5 Features
Insta360 GO 3S
Insta360 GO 3S excels in ease of use, providing features like Voice Control and Gesture Control for hands-free operation, making it a more user-friendly option for quick and spontaneous capture. The ONE RS, on the other hand, only features Voice Control and not Gesture Control.
Insta360 GO 3S also stands out with its trackability via Apple Find My, allowing users to locate the camera if misplaced. The Insta360 ONE RS lacks this feature, but it may not need the feature anyway. Trackability is more crucial in the GO 3S, as the camera is so small it could easily be lost.
Insta360 ONE RS 1-inch 360 Edition has an advantage with its Live Streaming feature, which the GO 3S doesn't offer. With the feature, you can live stream your 360-degree footage directly to popular platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and others, providing an immersive live viewing experience for your audience.
#6 Battery Life
Insta360 ONE RS 1-inch 360 Edition
Featuring a 1350mAh battery, the ONE RS 1-inch 360 Edition offers 62 minutes of continuous recording in 6K/30 fps. Charging the battery takes around 90 minutes to complete, which is longer compared to the Insta360 GO 3S.
Insta360 GO 3S has a 310mAh battery in the camera unit and a 1270mAh battery in the Action Pod, providing up to 140 minutes of total recording time at 1080p/30 fps when used with the Action Pod. Without the Action Pod, the GO 3S can last for only 38 minutes, which may not be sufficient for most recording needs.
However, the GO 3S charges rather quickly. The Action Pod reaches 100% in just 65 minutes and 80% in 47 minutes, providing a fast charge option.
Insta360 GO 3S vs ONE RS 1-inch 360 Edition
Final Thoughts
Insta360 GO 3S
The Insta360 GO 3S and ONE RS 1-inch 360 Edition each offer distinct advantages that cater to different user preferences and needs.
The GO 3S's ultra-compact size and versatile mounting options make it an excellent choice for capturing unique perspectives. It also comes with various video modes and hands-free control features, making it an easy and convenient option for casual users or those seeking a simple, hassle-free action camera.
On the other hand, the ONE RS 1-inch 360 Edition offers creative 360-degree capture, superior low-light performance, and external microphone connectivity. The camera's modular design also allows for greater customization and versatility, appealing to more advanced users who want to explore different shooting possibilities.
If you’d like to read more about Action Camera, check out our other relevant guides here:
Insta360 GO 3S vs GoPro Hero 12
Insta360 GO 3S vs GoPro Hero 11
Insta360 GO 3S vs GoPro Hero 11 Mini
Insta360 GO 3S vs DJI Osmo Action 4
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