Insta360
Insta360 is a Shenzhen-based Chinese consumer electronics company founded in 2015, specializing in 360-degree cameras, action cameras, and related imaging technologies designed to capture and share immersive experiences.[1][2] The firm, officially known as Arashi Vision Inc., produces modular and compact devices such as the flagship X5 360 camera with 8K resolution, the tiny hands-free GO Ultra 4K action camera, and the AI-enhanced Ace Pro 2 wide-angle model, alongside accessories like smartphone gimbals and enterprise conferencing tools.[3][1][4] Insta360 has earned recognition for innovation, including third place in consumer electronics on Fast Company's 2024 World's Most Innovative Companies list, TIME's Best Inventions awards for the ONE R (2020) and X4 (2024), and a YouTube Streamy Award for brand engagement.[5][1] In June 2025, the company listed on China's STAR Market with a $9.4 billion market cap, elevating founder Liu Jingkang to billionaire status.[6][2]History
Founding and Initial Development
Insta360, operating under the legal entity Arashi Vision Inc., was founded in 2015 in Shenzhen, China, by Liu Jingkang (commonly known as JK Liu), a computer science graduate from Nanjing University. Liu, born in 1991 in Guangdong province, developed an early interest in technology and assembled a team of co-founders he met during his university studies to pursue advancements in imaging hardware. The company's establishment followed Liu's recognition of gaps in existing 360-degree camera technology, prompting a shift from academic pursuits to commercial development shortly after his 2014 graduation.[2][7][8] The founding motivation centered on enabling users to capture and share immersive experiences more effectively than available alternatives, which lacked seamless integration for consumer applications. Lacking suitable off-the-shelf solutions, the team self-developed core technologies for panoramic imaging, emphasizing compact form factors and smartphone compatibility to democratize 360-degree content creation. Initial operations were bootstrapped with a focus on hardware innovation, drawing from Liu's technical expertise rather than external validation from established industry players.[1][9] The first product, Insta360 Nano, debuted in 2015 as a clip-on accessory for iOS devices, featuring dual fisheye lenses to generate 360-degree photos and 3K videos by leveraging the smartphone's processor for real-time stitching and stabilization. This device, claimed as the world's smallest 360 camera at the time, targeted entry-level users interested in virtual reality content and social sharing, with a retail price around $49 for the module alone. Early development emphasized software algorithms for flow stitching to minimize seams and parallax errors, setting the foundation for subsequent iterations while navigating challenges in sensor miniaturization and computational efficiency.[1][9][10]Early Product Launches and Growth
Insta360 launched its inaugural product, the Insta360 Nano, in July 2016. This clip-on accessory for iPhones enabled users to capture 360-degree photos and videos at resolutions up to 3K, priced at $199, marking the company's entry into consumer-accessible spherical imaging.[11][1] The following year, Insta360 introduced the Insta360 Pro in January 2017, a professional-grade six-lens camera system capable of 8K spherical video for VR content creation, targeting filmmakers and enterprises.[1] This was followed by the Insta360 ONE in August 2017, the firm's first standalone consumer 360-degree action camera, supporting 4K video capture and innovative "reframe later" editing via its app.[12][1] These early releases fueled initial growth through venture capital infusions and market adoption. The company secured seed and early-stage funding totaling several million dollars by 2017, enabling product iteration and international distribution.[13] By March 2018, the Insta360 ONE became available in Apple Stores worldwide, and the introduction of FlowState stabilization enhanced its appeal for action footage, contributing to rising sales in consumer and professional segments.[1] This period established Insta360 as a challenger to established players like GoPro in the emerging 360-camera niche, with domestic Chinese sales driving early revenue amid global expansion efforts.[2]Global Expansion and Key Partnerships
Insta360 initiated its international expansion early in its history, with over 70% of its revenue derived from overseas markets including the United States, Europe, and Japan by 2025.[14] In July 2024, the company raised $30 million in funding from investors including Everest Venture Capital, MG Holdings, and Huajin Capital, earmarked specifically for accelerating global operations and market penetration.[15] Following its initial public offering on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in June 2025, Insta360 outlined strategies to further bolster international presence through heightened marketing expenditures and enhanced distribution networks abroad.[16] A pivotal step in U.S. market consolidation occurred in August 2025, when Insta360 appointed Helmet House as its exclusive distributor, effective August 5, with initial shipments of cameras commencing shortly thereafter to expand retail availability.[17] In October 2025, the company opened its flagship store in Hong Kong, accompanied by initiatives to partner with local universities, secondary schools, and student clubs aimed at promoting creative content production among youth.[18] Among its most prominent collaborations, Insta360 established a strategic partnership with Leica Camera AG in 2020, focusing on integrating Leica's Summicron lenses and imaging expertise into action cameras, such as the ONE R 1-Inch Edition; this alliance was extended in March 2025 and further renewed in August 2025 to advance optical innovations in the action camera segment.[19][20] The partnership emphasizes co-engineering for superior low-light performance and color accuracy, distinguishing Insta360 products in competitive markets.[21] In the enterprise domain, Insta360 has forged alliances with firms like Cupix in April 2024 to integrate 360-degree imaging into 3D digital twin platforms for construction, and with XCMG to optimize road construction workflows using its cameras.[22][23] Additional collaborations include GreenValley International for LiDAR mapping solutions in August 2024 and Avatour for enhanced 360 video sharing in virtual tours as of September 2025.[24][25] In consumer applications, Insta360 partners with Google to facilitate user-submitted 360-degree footage for Street View contributions.[1] The company has also secured sponsorships, such as becoming the official action camera for the SMX League in motorsports.[26]Recent Milestones and IPO
Insta360 achieved significant recognition in 2024 when its X4 360-degree camera was named one of Time Magazine's best inventions of the year for its 8K video capture capabilities and dual-lens design, outperforming many premium action cameras in versatility.[27] The company also ranked third in the Consumer Electronics category on Fast Company's 2024 list of the World's Most Innovative Companies, highlighting its advancements in panoramic and action camera technologies.[5] In September 2025, Insta360 received a Technology & Engineering Emmy Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for its innovative 360 camera technology and seamless software integration, underscoring its contributions to immersive content creation.[28] The firm marked its 10-year anniversary in August 2025, reflecting on its evolution from a startup focused on 360-degree capture to a global leader in action imaging, with ongoing emphasis on user-driven innovation.[29] On June 11, 2025, Insta360, operating as Arashi Vision Inc., completed its initial public offering on the Shanghai Stock Exchange's STAR Market, raising 1.94 billion yuan (approximately $270 million) through the issuance of 41 million shares at an initial price of 47.27 yuan per share.[2] [30] The shares surged over 285% on debut, closing at 171.8 yuan by June 13, elevating the company's market valuation and making founder Liu Jingkang, aged 33, a billionaire.[31] Proceeds are allocated primarily to constructing a smart imaging manufacturing facility and an R&D center to support global expansion and technological advancements in areas like AI-enhanced imaging.[16] This listing positions Insta360 to challenge competitors like GoPro more aggressively in international markets while leveraging China's domestic tech ecosystem.[32]Products
360-Degree Cameras
Insta360's 360-degree cameras utilize dual fisheye lenses to capture equirectangular footage, enabling post-production reframing for traditional video outputs via proprietary stitching algorithms.[33] The lineup spans consumer action-oriented models, modular systems, and professional VR production tools, emphasizing features like FlowState stabilization, waterproofing up to 10 meters, and AI-powered editing in the Insta360 app.[34] The consumer X-series represents the core of Insta360's 360 offerings, evolving from the Insta360 ONE X released on October 10, 2018, which introduced 5.7K video and "Bullet Time" slow-motion effects.[12] Successors include the ONE X2 (October 28, 2020), adding a color touchscreen, extended battery life up to 80 minutes of 360 video, and IPX8 waterproofing without a case; the X3 (September 8, 2022) with a larger sensor for improved low-light performance; the X4 (April 16, 2024) achieving 8K 360 video at 30fps via a 5nm AI chip; and the X5 (April 22, 2025), featuring user-replaceable lenses, a triple AI chip for enhanced processing, and up to 3 hours of runtime with wind guards.[34][35] These models support modes like Steady Cam for single-lens reframed footage and integrate invisible selfie stick effects through software.[34] Modular designs like the ONE R (January 7, 2020) and ONE RS (March 22, 2022) allow swapping 360 lens modules with wide-angle or 1-inch sensors, offering flexibility for hybrid shooting.[12] The ONE RS 1-Inch 360 Edition (June 28, 2022), co-engineered with Leica, employs dual 1-inch CMOS sensors for 6K 360 video at 30fps and 21MP photos, prioritizing dynamic range and low-light capability over action ruggedness.[36] Professional-grade cameras include the Pro 2 (August 21, 2018), equipped with six F2.4 fisheye lenses for 8K stereoscopic video at 30fps or 7680x3840 at 60fps, FlowState stabilization, and live streaming via FarSight wireless transmission up to 20 meters.[37] Earlier models like the Pro (January 7, 2017) and Titan (January 7, 2019) targeted VR broadcasting with 8K and 11K resolutions, respectively, using multiple lenses for high-fidelity spherical capture.[12]| Model | Release Date | Max Video Resolution | Key Specs |
|---|---|---|---|
| ONE X2 | October 28, 2020 | 5.7K 360° | FlowState stabilization, 10m waterproof, touchscreen[34] |
| X4 | April 16, 2024 | 8K 360° | 5nm AI chip, 135min battery[38] |
| X5 | April 22, 2025 | 8K 360° | Triple AI chip, replaceable lenses, 3hr runtime[35] |
| ONE RS 1-Inch 360 | June 28, 2022 | 6K 360° | Dual 1" sensors, Leica optics, 21MP photos[36] |
| Pro 2 | August 21, 2018 | 8K 360° | 6 lenses, live streaming, HDR[37] |