New firmware allows you to use your Insta360 X3 as a webcam

Insta360 is incorporating several interesting new features and tweaks in its latest X3 firmware update, from enabling a webcam mode to overhauling Pureshot.

Since its release last year Insta360’s flagship camera, the X3, has been a huge hit. Just like any other camera ecosystem, there are inevitable firmware updates that follow a release, with the aim of improving the existing device, fixing bugs and adding additional functions and uses. Over the weekend, Insta360 announced their latest firmware update for the X3 which includes an exciting new webcam mode alongside revamps and improvements. Here’s what you can expect.

Webcam mode

The idea of turning your 360 camera (or any camera, for that matter) into a webcam is not new, but it suits the X3 very well and we’re glad to see it in this update. Once updated, all you have to do is plug your X3 into your PC via USB, open up Skype or Zoom and select the camera for use. Very simple, and very effective.

Because you’ve got two lenses on the X3, you have the luxury of three different camera angles to choose from. Toggling the two buttons on the front, you can broadcast the image from either side of X3, or a full 360 image that appears split in half horizontally on screen. Chances are that you already have an in-built webcam on devices such as your laptop, but the versatility and quality of the X3 (both image and audio) makes it a no brainer. 

For those too lazy to buy a dedicated webcam for their stupidly large desktop PC (that’s me), this is a really useful update that’s saved some money.

A revitalised Pureshot

The X3 didn’t go without criticism and it’s fair to say one of the weaker points on release was the quality of the photos. Despite a 72mp photo being possible in the AI-powered PureShot mode, a lot of users felt that there was a lack of quality with weak colours and a very pixelated image. 

Insta360 has taken that on board and addressed that in this firmware update by revitalising PureShot mode, allowing for crisper photos with less noise and better colours. “This improvement is noticeable in any shooting conditions, but is particularly beneficial in low-light photography situations”, it notes.

Having played around with the new PureShot mode over the weekend, I can see some improvement. Below is an image shot after the update, compared with an image I shot when first reviewing the camera. Both images are straight out of camera, with the PureShot AI doing its thing:

After: I have my eyes closed with a healthy dose of sunburn, like a true tourist. There is some improvement in quality

Before: the original photo I snapped when reviewing the Insta360 X3 on its release, back in September 2022

App to PC reframing is now available

The other big update here is the ability to now begin an edit in Insta360’s mobile app on your phone, before finishing it off in the studio app on your desktop. To do this, on your phone under the "Edit" tab, click the three-dot menu, then "Edit data", finally hitting "Export to camera storage". Once your X3 is connected to your PC, simply open the newly-made .insdata file, and continue editing in Studio.

While my own thumbs and fingers are far too fat and cumbersome to ever dare attempt an edit on my phone, I can imagine this will prove quite useful for those on the move — the travel influencers and content creators that this camera is primarily aimed at. I think the main benefit here is about mobile editors being able to export their footage in 4K via the desktop.

The update is available to download now via Insta360’s website, app (iOS and Android) and Studio (Mac and Windows).