Before the Pro, One and Air, Insta360 was already known for its relatively affordable 360 camera dongle, Nano, for iOS devices since 2016. For this CES, the Chinese startup brought out a Nano S which makes use of the same form factor (so it'll work with existing Nano accessories), but with upgraded guts to capture 4K video and 20-megapixel photos -- a notable jump from the previous 3K video and 4.6-megapixel stills. There's also a new matte black option in addition to the original silver offering, while the microSD card slot remains in standalone camera mode.
On top of this unsurprising refresh, Insta360 took one step further by adding a couple of practical features: "MultiView Shooting" to output a conventional video clip with two or three camera angles, and 360-degree video chat that gives any recipient -- even those without an Insta360 device or app -- a live spherical view on the caller's end. For the latter, the caller just needs to share a link from the app to the recipient. As a bonus, each Nano S comes bundled with a small foldable stand that lets you prop up your iPhone for the occasional 360 video calls, if not selfies.
While Insta360 was still fine-tuning the software ahead of launch, I could already appreciate the vast improvements in image quality between the Nano and the Nano S. Not only does the new device deliver significantly sharper images, but it also has much less noise in darker environments. My only complaint at this stage is that the auto white balance for my indoor shots with the Nano S is biased towards green, but that should be an easy fix in software.
Here's a shot was taken with the Nano S:
And here's one taken with the original Nano:
As with all Insta360 cameras, the Nano S comes with gyroscopic image stabilization, meaning even if the iPhone is slightly tilted or gets a light bump during recording, you'll still get a "buttery-smooth" capture in the end. Similarly, you can use FreeCapture mode in the app to reframe any 360 videos as if you're holding a conventional camera back then, but with the added ability to zoom in or out for special visual effects in the new clip.
While I have yet to get around to trying 360 video call with the Nano S, I did quickly play with MultiView Shooting with several templates -- each with two or three angles in different layouts -- available for both post-capture and live streaming on the likes of Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter. Each angle can be manually adjusted by a simple swipe and pinch, and when sharing in the post, you can also set your desired aspect ratio as well as in portrait or landscape.
As for the damage, the Nano S is asking for $239 and is immediately available for purchase on Amazon plus Insta360's own online store. For comparison's sake, the original Nano is currently priced at $199 and is being phased out, whereas the more powerful One costs $299. Personally, I'm all for the higher performance on the One, but then again, the Nano S does have its charm with its portability.
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