Insta360 Ace Pro review: the Leica action camera

Perhaps it's in the name, but we tend to think of Insta360 as a producer of 360-degree cameras. In reality the company is more of an innovator and while the Insta360 X3 might be the 360-degree camera of the moment, the company's tiny Go 2 camera which pops into a case might be more relevant here. That and history of making action-camera sized devices in partnership with Leica.

Here we're testing the Ace Pro, an action camera which sports a horizontally folding touchscreen. That's interesting because the two key competing cameras, the DJI Osmo Action 4 and GoPro Hero 12 Black both opt for a smaller color display on the front next to the lens. DJI's is a touchscreen too, though so small only limited options are available.

Insta360 have, in the past, experimented with modular cameras (as did DJI with the Osmo Action 2), yet the market – so far – doesn't seem to have rewarded any change from the bland cuboid shape established by the original GoPro. It seems that Insta360 has the guts to try again and perhaps the timing is right this time too.

Vlogging is more important than ever and, by reducing the number of complications to a single hinge, the device isn't actually that different to a traditional action camera. Will this be the best of both worlds, as well as bringing some Leica magic?

The camera is being released in two versions, the Ace and Ace Pro – it is the latter we are testing here, but the Ace still has 6K video and the same body, though a smaller 1/2-inch sensor.

Note – during my quick review I wasn't able to fully test the software, so this review will be updated in a few days.