This Action Cam is Not Just for Creators

Anyone can stay in the moment while shooting with Insta360 GO 3S

I put down my phone and picked up the Insta360 GO 3S

The Insta360 GO 3S is probably smaller than your webcam, but don't let that fool you. It shoots 4K footage at 30 frames per second and has completely changed how I capture memories with my family.

Intentional Tech is an Insta360 affiliate partner. Learn more about the Insta360 GO 3S.(Affiliate links support this newsletter and may lead to commission)

What makes it so special?

While most reviews focus on how great this camera is for content creators and vloggers, I've found it to be a brilliant unlock for parents too. The magic is in how it lets you capture hands-free, in-the-moment footage without having to interact with your phone.

If you’re anything like me, by the time you’ve pulled out your phone and taken a video, the moment is gone. You might even miss the next one because simply handling the device has been enough to start a doom scroll loop, while your kids are having the time of their life.

What sets the Insta360 GO 3S apart is how it lets you stay present in those moments. You can mount this little magnetic camera onto just about anything - your baseball cap, a pendant, a ledge in your son’s TMNT hideout - keeping your hands and mind free to stay present while still getting amazing footage.

Built for real family life

When it’s not swinging from your neck, the Insta360 GO 3S is stowed in a very impressive action pod that charges the main camera, allows you to review media, and is where you’ll select shooting modes or update settings. Even when detached, the flippable screen of the action pod serves as a handy digital viewfinder, giving you the confidence to take creative shots.

Everything about this camera is incredibly well-built and sturdy. The premium materials and matte finish just feel fantastic in your hand. Because it's so robust, I've even felt comfortable letting my son take it around with him to see his true POV of the world.

I once took the larger Insta360 X4 for a family trip to the zoo, and it was just too distracting for my 2-and-a-half-year-old. Its selfie stick may be invisible to the actual camera but certainly not to my son, who spent more time attempting to grab and wave it around than looking at the penguins.

The GO 3S, on the other hand, is small and subtle enough that once he's had his five or ten minutes playing with it, he loses interest and I can capture really natural footage. He even has a toy camera that looks similar enough to appeases him if I ever need to take the real deal back at any moment.

Surprisingly good image quality

One thing that always held me back from action cams was image quality concerns, but that hasn't been a huge problem with the GO 3S. I've used it in incredibly bright conditions on a trip to Edinburgh, and while shooting directly into the sun is challenging for any camera, turning slightly away I got some stunning footage of Edinburgh Castle.

The HDR mode is particularly useful in harsh lighting conditions, broadening the dynamic range to handle high-contrast situations. I was so impressed by how quickly the camera adjusted its exposure as I walked through a tunnel leading to the castle gate and into the blazing sunlight on the other side. Plus, wherever you mount it, you'll get buttery smooth footage thanks to Insta360's flow state stabilisation.

Beyond standard video, you can shoot in slow motion, take photos, create time-lapses, and even use the free frame feature that lets you choose between vertical or horizontal orientation after filming - perfect if you want to share on different platforms later.

Sharing is easy too

Once you've got your footage, you can quickly transfer it to your phone using a local Wi-Fi network or an official disc reader accessory that connects via USB-C. Give yourself a good 10-15 minutes if you've got a lot of 4K footage, but once it's on your phone, it's so easy to share with your family's WhatsApp groups or post on Social Media. You can even use the Insta360 app’s AI video editing features to put together a creative edit for you.

This is honestly the first time I've been truly convinced by an action cam. Whether I'm using it to get creative shots, mounting it for novel first-person experiences, or just hiding it in places where I can get those really candid shots of my son, it's become a valued piece of kit. And the best part? I don't have to worry about holding up a phone to record those memories anymore.

By the way..

Insta360 are actually launching a new camera today at 2pm UK / 9am EDT. Check out their website to see what they’ve come up with this time!