The small action camera that thinks big

Action cameras come in all shapes and sizes, but the Insta360 Go 2 is one of the smallest and most agile on the market. Only two inches long, the Go 2 is portable, clip-on, attachable, and glue-down. The Go 2 is significantly smaller than the One X2 and One R cameras from Insta360. It’s intended for everyday hobbyists and video artists who prefer smaller equipment over bulkier, more advanced shooting equipment. Is the Go 2 the action cam for you? Find out in Android AuthorityInsta360 Go 2 review.

See also: Best action cameras

What you need to know about the Insta360 Go 2

Insta360s Go 2 is an updated version of the company’s popular, tiny Insta360 Go. Its size gives it a huge advantage over larger competing cameras. The Insta360 Go 2 is not aimed at the 360-degree video market. Rather, it deals with the wide angle vision market. It should be tied to people, places or things that are the focus of the action. Clip it to your shirt or bike helmet for the ultimate first-person video.

The camera comes with everything you need. The sturdy charging case with basic camera controls can be used as a miniature tripod. It also has a 1/4-inch metal screw for a real tripod. With a special clip you can attach the Go 2 to a cap or helmet.

There is also a magnetic tag in the box. You wear the pendant around your neck and let the pendant hang under your clothes. You can then magnetically attach the camera to the tag through your shirt. The magnet is very strong. Lastly, there is a rotating stand in the box that can be used to hit the camera on smooth surfaces like a hood or window. It sticks surprisingly well, even though driving my car made me nervous.

Many competing action cameras are sold without the accessories needed to attach the camera to yourself, your bike, or whatever. In terms of price, it is compared to offers such as the GoPro Hero 7 and the DJI Osmo Action 4K cameras.

What is good?

It goes anywhere. The charging case is roughly the same size as the case for Apple AirPods, so it fits easily in the pocket. The Go 2 itself is roughly the size of your thumb, which makes it very portable and easy to use. It’s no hassle at all to toss the Go 2 in a weekend bag just in case a video opportunity arises.

It’s also waterproof. With an IPX8 protection class, it can immerse up to 4 m in water (13 feet). That said, it’s safe from the mountain to the beach and everywhere in between. I wouldn’t call it tough, but it’s certainly tough enough for some action.

The video quality is very good. It’s limited to a maximum resolution of 2560 x 1440, but the results are sharp and clean. The large aperture lens (f/2.2) and high-speed shutter ensure a bright, razor-sharp video that impresses. The stabilization is excellent and the shooting modes are flexible. You can adjust the viewing angle, the frame rate and the resolution. With three separate color profiles you can choose the look you want and everything can be edited in the mail.

The battery life is solid. The camera has a 210 mAh battery and the charging case has an additional 1,100 mAh battery, so the case can charge the camera up to five times. The basic life of the battery is limited to approx. 30 minutes per charge when recording 1,440 POV videos with basic stabilization. If you choose the advanced FlowState stabilization, the battery life will decrease somewhat. It takes 35 minutes to charge the camera and 65 minutes to charge the case. This is really good for this category of equipment.

I also really dig the auto horizon feature. You can mount the camera vertically or horizontally and it always knows which way it’s going (even if you don’t).

What’s not so good?

As with many action cameras, connecting to a smartphone can be a bit of a hassle. WiFi is required and you have to jump through multiple frames for the phone and camera to speak properly.

The user interface in front of the camera is a bit clunky. I appreciate that the charging case lets you flip through the different shooting modes, but it takes time. It’s best to rely on the app for everything.

The usable internal memory is limited to only 28 GB – and there is no expansion slot.

The usable internal memory is limited to only 28 GB – and there is no expansion slot. Granted, the Go 2 doesn’t capture 4K footage, but even the 1,440 footage can fill memory in a rush. You will find that you transfer videos to your phone or PC quite often.

Recording 4K at 60 frames per second is the holy grail of video quality right now. Unfortunately, the Go 2 reaches a maximum speed of 1,440p at up to 50fps. Both slow motion and fast motion are available recording modes with frame rates between 0.5 and 120 frames per second. Unfortunately for Insta360, some competing cameras in this price range can Record 4K video.

Insta360 Go 2 Review: Should I Buy It?

Sometimes size matters. When you’re little, the Insta360 Go gives you 2 of spades. It is one of the smallest and most flexible action cameras on the market. The fact that the kit covers all the basics when it comes to accessories means that you can really access high quality video anywhere.

The Insta360 Go 2 is half the size of competing action cams and yet offers great functions in a small space.

However, it all comes at a price. Many 4K-capable action cameras fall in the $ 200 to $ 300 price range. At $ 299.99, the Insta360 Go 2 is expensive – and it doesn’t record 4K video. If 4K is a must look elsewhere. If you prefer the portability and ease of use of the Go 2, and get by with 1440p video, the Go 2 is a ton of money.