DJI Osmo Action 3 vs Insta360 Ace Pro 2

VS

Overview of the DJI Osmo Action 3

DJI Osmo Action 3☆☆☆☆☆★★★★★DJI Osmo Action 3
DJI's 2022 premium action camera: 4K120fps video
The DJI Osmo Action 3 was released in 2022 and while it is a few years old, it offers incredible 4K120fps video at a very affordable price. It's successor, the DJI Osmo Action 4 is mostly an incremental improvement, making the Action 3 a great budget friendly action camera.
  • Pros
  • 4K120fps footage
  • Freeze-proof
  • Good image stabilization
  • 52ft / 16m waterproof without case
  • Cons
  • Older model

Overview of the Insta360 Ace Pro 2

Insta360 Ace Pro 2☆☆☆☆☆★★★★★Insta360 Ace Pro 2
Insta360's latest flagship action camera: 8K video and a flipscreen
Insta360 is currently the only manufacturer offering 8k cameras and the Ace Pro 2 is their most recent and capable action camera. The Ace Pro 2 is overall a great action camera which also has the particularity of featuring a flip screen, which some might find handy for filming themselves, just like it's predecessor, the Insta360 Ace Pro.
  • Pros
  • Great image stabilization
  • 8x Slomo video
  • Good low light performance
  • Weather proof
  • Cons
  • Limitation in 8K mode
  • Overheating in 8K mode

Comparison of the Action 3 vs the Ace Pro 2

Quick links:

Video performance

The Action 3 and the Ace Pro 2 both offer HDR video. Both cameras feature slomo video. The two cameras have image stabilization.
DJI Osmo Action 3
Insta360 Ace Pro 2
4K video at 120fps
Max resolution
8K video at 30fps
4K
HDR video
4K 60fps
8x at 1080p
Maximum slow motion
8x at 1080p
RockSteady 3.0
Stabilization
Flowstate
Why it matters: A high resolution will give you crisp footage but also allow you to reframe your video without losing too much quality. A higher framerate (fps) will result in smoother video and is important when filming action scenes or fast moving subjects. Image stabilization is a crucial feature for an action camera, as it removes camera shake, vibrations, rotation and other movements that deteriorate your final footage.

Battery life

The Action 3 and Ace Pro 2 have similar battery capacities. Both cameras have removable batteries.
DJI Osmo Action 3
Insta360 Ace Pro 2
1770mAh
Battery capacity
1800mAh
Removable
Removable battery
Removable
160min at 1080p
Battery life
100min at 4K30fps HDR and 180min at 1080p24fps
Why battery life matters: Nothing worse than running out of battery just before capturing the best footage of the day! A long battery life is reassuring and convenient when shooting footage outdoors where options to charge are limited. Even the use of a power bank can be tedious or simply impossible like when filming watersports. Having removable batteries allows battery swapping on the go which further extends your runtime.

Storage

Neither camera features built-in storage. Both the Action 3 and the Ace Pro 2 support SD cards. The Ace Pro 2 supports a lot more storage than the Action 3.
DJI Osmo Action 3
Insta360 Ace Pro 2
No built-in storage
Built-in storage
No built-in storage
microSD
Storage format
microSD
256GB
Maximun storage supported
1TB
Why storage matters: High quality footage can quickly take up lots of space and insufficient storage can soon be frustrating. Having a large amount of storage and the possiblity to extend it or swap SD cards while on a outing will ensure you will always be able to capture the footage you want. However, smaller, wearable action cameras often rely on built-in storage because of their small size.

Weight and size

The Action 3 is a slightly smaller camera. The Action 3 weighs a little less than the Ace Pro 2.
DJI Osmo Action 3
Insta360 Ace Pro 2
2.78in x 1.74in x 1.29in / 70.5mm x 44.2mm x 32.8mm
Dimensions
2.83in x 2.06in x 1.5in / 71.9mm x 52.2mm x 38mm
5.11oz / 145g
Weight
6.25oz / 177.2g
Why size and weight matter: Weight is important for action cameras because we often mount them on helmets, or hold them at the end of a selfie stick while moving. Therefore a heavier camera can be difficult or uncomfortable to film with. Weight is even more crucial for certain sports like road cycling or running.

Waterproofing and usage conditions

The Action 3 offers a slightly better waterproof rating. Both the Action 3 and the Ace Pro 2 are waterproof to 197ft / 60m with a diving case. Both cameras have the same minimal usage temperature. Both cameras have the same maximum usage temperature.
DJI Osmo Action 3
Insta360 Ace Pro 2
52ft / 16m
Waterproof
39ft / 12m
197ft / 60m
Waterproof with diving case
197ft / 60m
-4°F / -20°C
Min operating temperature
-4°F / -20°C
113°F / 45°C
Max operating temperature
113°F / 45°C
Why it matters: Most action cameras are waterproof for accidental splashing or use above water, but if you plan on Snorkeling or Scuba Diving, we recommend choosing a camera which offers a diving case and always using it for underwater footage. If you plan on filming Snowboarding, Skiing or other wintersports in extremely cold conditions, you should pick a camera that is rated for those temperatures, most cameras are only rated down to 14°F / -10°C. Many action cameras are prone to overheating, even in ordinary conditions, so if you plan on filming in hot environments, you should choose a camera that can function at high temperatures.

Camera and sensor technology

The Ace Pro 2 features a much higher resolution. The Action 3 and the Ace Pro 2 both have a similar field of view. The Ace Pro 2 features a much higher bit rate than the Action 3
DJI Osmo Action 3
Insta360 Ace Pro 2
12MP
Pixels
50MP
155°
Field of view
157°
130Mbps
Video bite rate
180Mbps
Why it matters: A higher amount of pixels will offer better quality footage and higher resolution photos. A higher field of view means that the camera captures over a wider angle and therefore more action can be seen in the final footage. Some cameras require accessories to enable the maximum FOV. A higher bitrate at a similar resolution will offer higher quality video.

Camera settings

The Action 3's 100-12800 ISO range is far superior to Ace Pro 2's. Both cameras have the same exposure compensation adjustments.
DJI Osmo Action 3
Insta360 Ace Pro 2
100-12800
ISO range
100-6400
+/-4
Exposure Compensation
+/-4
Why these settings matter: The ISO range and exposure compensation settings will mostly allow you to tweak your action camera for low light situations.

DJI Osmo Action 3 versus Insta360 Ace Pro 2 specifications

NameDJI Osmo Action 3Insta360 Ace Pro 2
Year of release20222024
Width2.78in / 70.5mm2.83in / 71.9mm
Height1.74in / 44.2mm2.06in / 52.2mm
Depth1.29in / 32.8mm1.5in / 38mm
Weight5.11oz / 145g6.25oz / 177.2g
Waterproof52ft / 16m39ft / 12m
Waterproof with diving case197ft / 60m197ft / 60m
Min operating temperature-4°F / -20°C-4°F / -20°C
Max operating temperature113°F / 45°C113°F / 45°C
Battery capacity1770mAh1800mAh
Removable batteryYesYes
Battery life160min at 1080p100min at 4K30fps HDR
180min at 1080p24fps

Charging time49min47min (30W)
75min (5V/3A)
Storage formatmicroSDmicroSD
Storage rating requiredV30 or UHS-3V30 or UHS-3
Maximun storage supported256GB1TB
Rear screen size-2.4in
Front screen size-Yes
Field of view155°157°
Sensor1/1.7"1/1.3"
Pixels12MP50MP
ApertureF2.8F2.6
Focal length-13mm
ISO range100-12800100-6400
Video zoom-4x
Color Depth10bit8bit
Video bite rate130Mbps180Mbps
Exposure Compensation+/-4+/-4
360-degree videoNoNo
8K video-30fps
4K video120fps120fps
2.7K video120fps120fps
1440p video-60fps
1080p video240fps240fps
Slow motion at 4K44x
Maximum slow motion8x at 1080p8x at 1080p
HDR video4K4K 60fps
StabilizationRockSteady 3.0Flowstate
Horizon lock-Yes
Video formatH.264 (MP4)H.265 (HEVC)
Live streamingNo-
Timelapse modeYesYes
Starlapse modeYesYes
Timeshift modeYesYes
Loop recording modeYesYes
Subject trackingNo-
Photo burst modeNoYes
RAW format supportedYesYes
Microphones33
Stereo audioYesYes
Noise reductionYesYes
Audio formataacaac
Audio bluetooth support-Bluetooth headsets
Wifi802.11 a/b/g/n/ac802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
BluetoothBLE 5.0BLE 5.2
USBType-C USBUSB-C
GPS integratedNoNo
GPS pairing-iOS Application
Android Application
Voice commandsYesYes
Gesture commands-Yes