Recently, Insta360 opened a new store at Chadstone Shopping Centre here in Melbourne, and as part of this, they shared their latest innovations with the Australian public.

I had a chance to check out any number of their new products, and in the end, I chose the Insta360 GO Ultra.  Why? We have seen the action camera space be dominated in recent years by GoPro and DJI, so I was interested to see where the GO Ultra sat in the whole action camera ecosystem.

The Insta360 GO Ultra comprises a new 1/1.28″ sensor with a new 5nm AI chip to deliver better-than-ever imaging performance.  Weighing in at just 53 grams, the GO Ultra is the size of a smartwatch (albeit a thick one) and features a built-in magnetic base, making it easy to pair with a vast number of accessories.

Accessories include a Magnet Pendant, Toddler Titan Hat Clip, Magnetic selfie stick, and more.  I was sent all of these to test out, and if you couldn’t get the package with them all, it would be a very tough decision to make about which to buy because they are all useful for various things.  The accessories basically make the GO Ultra a wearable camera.

Design and build quality

The Insta360 GO Ultra can be used just as you would a GoPro and the like.  It comes with a frame with a display that the smaller wearable camera section slots into, but does not have to be used with that.  

With just the camera section, you can control it using the button on the camera, the remote control that comes with the mini tripod, or the app on your smartphone. 

The problem with controlling the camera with just the button on the camera is that it is difficult to frame the video/picture well because there is no display.  The functions are also limited when not using the display or the app, just to plain old video and photos.   

The camera section is the only part that is fully waterproof though.  It is extremely solid and well-built, with the control button a touch button beneath the outer skin of the camera.   The microSD card sits underneath a slide-out port.  It isn’t super easy to get it in there, but if you have nails, it won’t be an issue.

The camera section slots into the more traditional camera body thanks to the strong magnets on the rear and in the body.  It cannot be removed, nor will it fall out, without pressing the specific removal button on the side.

The camera body has a rear display that flips up to be viewable from the front if needed.  There is a control button on the top of the body, a power button, and a Q button on the right-hand side.  Charging the camera body also charges the camera section, and that is done with the USB-C port on the side.

Below are the magnetic ports for attaching the camera body to the mini tripod.  Unfortunately, you will need to purchase either the mini tripod or the creator bundle, which includes the tripod, to use the camera with a tripod.  There is no standard screw attachment that lets you mount it on another tripod.

Using the Insta360 GO Ultra

Using the camera without the body isn’t super simple, but doing so is what makes this camera different and possibly better than many other action cameras.  That small camera section can be attached to a pendant on your clothes (included in the box) , to a hat using the included attachment (also included), or simply held in your hand. The pendant and the hat clip are two of the other things that make this camera. The ability to simply attach the camera to your clothing like this is fantastic and allows for some excellent footage.

Stick the camera section into the camera body, and the camera comes to life with every shooting option available, including AI-driven PureVideo, slow motion, timelapse, time shift, and more.  The display is a touch display so it is easy to select and scroll to the mode you prefer.  

For standard shooting, this is the style of use I preferred – especially when the tripod can be easily attached to it and used at any time.  For those who want more camera control, you can set your own presets and other advanced camera settings, such as colour mode, white balance and exposure value (EV).

How good is the imaging?

The plain images were good but don’t expect DSLR or smartphone quality images. It’s more a case of a camera that you have handy that can take decent snaps.

The videos were also pretty good, mostly testing with me running after the dogs, holding the camera on the tripod. I used the hat clip at one stage too quite successfully, although it can feel heavy if the hat isn’t super secure.

The Insta360 app  

The app is fairly basic, but it does offer everything that all other camera apps offer in what is now 2026.  You can view the album of images and videos that you have downloaded from the camera to your phone, and if you connect the camera to your phone, you can view the content that is still on the camera.

One thing you can do is control the camera with the app.  From the app, you can preview the image/video and control the type of video or image you are taking.  This is especially useful if you are using the pendant/camera attachment only without the body with a display.  

The app also has some editing options, including an AI Auto Edit if you wish to edit your videos on the go.

The accessories

Mic Air

The Mic Air is for vloggers who want better-quality audio for their video content.  The mic is incredibly small and includes a magnetic backing, a lapel clip and a wind sock.  It worked really well, although, given its size, I’m not convinced it would be better than one of the bigger ones you see your favourite YouTubers such as Trevor Long using.  

For this small camera, it was perfect because its size adds very little bulk to carry around. The Mic Air retails for $95.99.

Mini 2-in-1 Tripod 2.0 Remote Kit

I wasn’t super convinced of this one when I saw it, but it is extremely handy and useful.  It is not the easiest thing to setup, given its proprietary attachments but after using it and the camera for a bit it became second nature.  

You can use it telescoped or not, without any issues, or standing on its own, thanks to the large feet located within the handle.  

The best thing about it was the remote control though.  I used this remote control when using the camera section, as it is sometimes difficult to locate the required buttons on the small camera section.  This way I had my camera-holding hand set aside only for holding and not for starting or stopping capturing.  

Quick-release mount

The Quick Release Mount allows you to use the Insta360 camera’s proprietary connection system with standard screw mounts.  It is also needed to attach the camera body to the tripod.  

I’m not entirely sure why Insta360 has made all these different mounting kits, which are essentially all required.  It seems to have over-complicated things, and unfortunately, if you are going to buy this camera and get the best out of it, you will have to get all these mounting accessories too.  

I’m sure there is a reason for it other than just getting more money out of you, but I don’t see why they couldn’t use the quick-release mount with a standard screw insert on the bottom so you could just attach it to any tripod or gimbal, etc.

The Creator Bundle

The good news is that you can buy a “Creator Bundle” pack, which includes the Insta360 camera, tripod, quick-release mount and a pivot stand to stick the camera to a surface.  This will cost you about $160 more than just the camera by itself though.

Final thoughts and availability

I’ve always loved the idea of action cameras but never really got into them because the quality of imaging just wasn’t there, nor was the flexibility. The Insta360 GO Ultra solves all of those issues. The quality of the images and videos was really good considering the size of the camera itself.

The big advantage of the Insta360 GO Ultra is its flexibility, which includes all the accessories. The ability to detach the camera section from the body and attach it to your shirt as a pendant, to your hat, or to a fixed camera, or even just to hold it in your hand, is extremely useful.

If you are looking for an action camera that is so much more than just an action camera, then the GO Ultra is perfect for you. My advice though, is to get all the accessories you can when you buy the camera. At only $80 more than the camera, you can get the Creators Bundle, which includes nearly everything you could need for creating great content.

Insta360 GO Ultra is available now from the Insta360 Store, Amazon, and select retailers.

The Standard Bundle is priced at AU$759 and includes GO Ultra (Standalone Camera and Action Pod) in either Midnight Black or Arctic White, a Quick Release Safety Cord, Magnetic Easy Clip, Magnet Pendant, USB-C cable, and a Lens Guard. The Creator Bundle, which includes everything the camera alone does, plus the Quick Release mount, the Mini 2-in-1 Tripod 2.0, and the Pivot Stand, is priced at AU$839 and well worth the extra outlay.