Review: Insta360 GO 2 Camera – Better than GoPro for FPV?

I really like the Insta360 GO when it first came out, and now they just dropped an upgraded version – the Insta360 GO 2 camera! This is a powerful tiny action camera that you can put on small FPV drones to capture cinematic footage.

Where to Buy?

You can get the Insta360 GO 2 from these vendors (these are affiliate links):

• Banggood: https://oscarliang.com/product-i2wl
• Amazon: https://amzn.to/2NgHo1x
• GetFPV: https://oscarliang.com/product-u7sq
• NBD: https://oscarliang.com/product-gewv

The standalone version comes with the following accessories:

• 1 x Insta360 GO V2 Camera
• 1 x Charge Case
• 1 x Magnet Pendant
• 1 x Stand
• 1 x Easy Clip
• 1 x Lens Guard (already installed on camera)

Differences Between GO and GO 2

Left: GO 2; Right: GO V1

Here’s a summary of the differences and improvements between the GO V1 and GO V2. You can see my review of the Insta360 GO camera here.

Left: GO 2; Right: GO V1

Charging case differences.

Left: GO 2; Right: GO V1

Insta360 GO 2 Improvements

Image quality is overall improved from the previous GO as you can see in this comparison video:

The maximum clip length has been increased from 5 mins to 15 mins.

The GO 2 has 4 times the onboard memory – used to be 8GB, now 32GB.

The GO 2 uses a larger image sensor (1/2.3″), in fact it’s the same size as the GoPro Hero 9 which results in better low light performance than the previous version.

Resolution and FPS have been improved as well up to 1440p 50FPS – smoother videos and more suitable for slow motion.

Maximum video bitrate has been doubled from 40Mbps to 80Mbps.

Both the GO and GO2 are water-resistant to some extent, but the newer camera can be used in deeper water up to 4 meters (GO – IPX4, GO2 IPX8).

The case of the GO 2 has an integrated battery, it can charge the camera on the go, same as the GO. It also can be used as the remote for changing camera settings with the small screen which is very handy.

Both cameras support FlowState stabilization – a feature in their software that is available on Windows as well as Android and iOS. That means you can edit footage on your phone if you wish.

FlowState is a powerful tool as you can see in my comparison between before and after FlowState is applied. This video is from my GO V1 review.

Downsides of the GO 2

The GO 2 (27g) is almost 10 grams heavier than the original Insta360 GO (18g). If you have used the GO V1 on your quads, you will need new 3D printed mounts for the V2 as it’s slightly larger in size.

The new camera is also $100 more expensive, though I think it’s reasonable because of all the hardware upgrades.

Insta360 GO 2 vs GoPro Hero 9

It’s interesting to see how many people are actually comparing the Insta360 GO 2 to the mighty GoPro Hero 9, because there is just no way this tiny little camera can beat the Hero 9, right?

Well, it’s true that the Hero 9 is still a better camera, I am actually surprised at how small the gap is in image quality between these two cameras.

Yes, the 5K resolution of the Hero 9 is a huge jump from the 1440p of the GO2, but most people on Youtube only watch videos on their phones at 1080p, so the difference might not be that noticeable.

Video bitrate of the GO 2 is 80Mbps while the Hero 9 is 100Mbps.

The biggest advantage of the Insta360 GO 2 over the GoPro is definitely size and weight. The GO 2 is only 27g while the Hero 9 is 158g! You can put the GO 2 on most micro quads, but the GoPro would be a struggle for a lot of FPV drones even the powerful 5″. You can make a Naked GoPro 9 and drop the weight to 30g but it’s still considerably larger than the GO 2.

Insta360 GO 2 Specification

• Dimensions (W x H x D)
  • Camera: 52.9 x 23.6 x 20.7mm (2.08 x 0.93 x 0.81in)
  • Charge Case:
    • 68.1 x 48.54 x 26.6mm (Closed)
    • 132.5 x 26.03 x 26.6mm (Open)
• Weight  Camera: 26.5g (0.93oz) Case: 63.5g (2.24oz)
• Aperture: f/2.2
• 35mm Equivalent Focal Length: 11.24mm
• ISO: Auto, 100-3200
• White Balance: Auto, 2700K, 4000K, 5000K, 6500K, 7500K
• Exposure Value (EV): -4 to 4
• Waterproofing: IPX8 to 4 meters (13ft)
• Audio: Mono with optional Wind Noise Reduction
• Bluetooth: BLE 5.0
• Wi-Fi: 802.11a/b/g/n/ac
• Storage: 32GB (~28GB usable)
• Battery Capacity:  Camera: 210mAh  Case: 1100mAh
• Run Time: Standalone: 30 mins – 1440p30 Basic stabilization video
• In Case: 150 mins – 1080p30 Basic stabilization video
• Charging Method: Type-C USB
• Charging Time: Camera: 23 mins to 80%, 35 mins to 100%
• Case: 47 mins to 80%, 65 mins to 100%
• Use Environment: 14°F to 104°F (-10℃ to 40℃)
• Compatible Devices: iOS:  A11 or above chip, iPhone 8, 8 Plus, X and newer models.

Video Resolution

• Video Modes: Basic stabilization, FlowState stabilization, HDR, Timelapse, TimeShift (Hyperlapse), Slow Motion
• FlowState stabilization:
  • 2560×[email protected], 30fps
  • 1920×[email protected], 30fps
• Basic stabilization:
  • 2560×[email protected], 30fps
  • 1920×[email protected], 30fps
• HDR:
  • 2560×[email protected], 24fps
  • 1920×[email protected], 24fps
• Timelapse:
  • Interval: 0.5s, 1s, 2s, 5s, 10s, 30s, 60s, 120s
  • 2560×[email protected]
  • 1920×[email protected]
• TimeShift (Hyperlapse):
  • Speed: Auto (up to 6x)
  • 2560×[email protected]
  • 1920×[email protected]
• Slow motion:  1920×[email protected]

Max. Clip Length

• FlowState stabilization: 10 mins
• Basic stabilization: 15 mins
• FPV mode: 30 mins
• Timelapse: Adjustable interval, record up to 110 minutes with the Charge Case for a 7-minute clip

Video Files

• Video Format: MP4
• Video Exposure Modes: Auto, Manual (Shutter 1/8000 – 1/30, ISO 100-3200)
• Video Coding: H.264
• Max. Video Bitrate: 80Mbps

Photos

• Photo Modes: Standard, Interval, Night Shot, Starlapse, PureShot
• Photo Resolution: 16:9, 1920×1088；1:1, 2000×2000；9:16, 1088×1920
• Photo Format:
  • INSP (can be exported via App or Studio)
  • DNG (can be exported via App or Studio)
• Photo Exposure Modes: Auto, Manual (Shutter 1/8000s-120s, ISO 100-3200), Shutter Priority (1/8000s-1s), ISO Priority (100-3200)

Manual on how to use the GO2:

Best Settings

Always use Pro mode and high bitrate, then you will have all the possibility in post production.

When exporting from the Insta360 APP, enable “Use Flowstate Stablization”, and select the “FPV Stabilization” option. This will make your footage look silky smooth similar to Reelsteady and Hypersmooth.

For FOV option, I recommend Ultrawide and ActionView. ActionView gives a wider vertical view while UltraWide has a wider horizontal FOV. Personally I prefer UltraWide for FPV as the image looks less distorted.

For advanced users, order some ND filters if you can. The GO2 really shines with the correct ISO, EV and shutter speed settings combined with the correct ND filter.

Get your ND filters here:

• Banggood: https://oscarliang.com/product-b4ic
• Amazon: https://amzn.to/3AOvjVa

Conclusion

I really like the original GO, the video quality is pretty good already for how little that camera is, and now it just got even better with the GO2. Between the two, if you don’t mind the extra 10g, the GO 2 is definitely the way to go.

No SD card is needed thanks to the internal storage, just pop it on the quad and it’s ready to go. It’s tiny and water proof, it can be charged inside the case which can be used to change settings. Don’t forget FlowState stabilization which is essential for cinematic FPV videos.