Insta360 Go3: We test the world’s smallest action camera

It’s pretty hard to believe the camera in my hands weighs just 35 grams. That’s just three and a half $2 coins.

The Insta360 Go3 bills itself as the world’s smallest action camera, and it’s probably like nothing you’ve seen before. Its compact size makes it ideal for travel.

There are two parts to this device: the camera and the action pod. Let’s start with the camera. It’s about the size of a thumb, with a lens on top. It has magnets on the back that allow it to attach to a range of accessories.

One of the more popular is a pendant that you wear around your neck, under your clothes. As soon as the camera gets near it, it locks itself on, meaning you have a hands-free camera sitting on your chest. This pendant is included with the camera – but some other accessories you need to buy separately.

With such a tiny camera, the battery is limited to around 45 minutes. But here’s the genius of the action pod. If you magnetically snap your camera into the pod, it acts as a battery pack, and you can use it like a traditional action camera with longer battery and a screen. It almost looks like a GoPro.

My favourite function is “Pro Video”. This allows you to pick between landscape or vertical video after you’ve filmed the content – perfect for social media.

I recently used the camera on a chef’s chest when he was making us dinner – which gave a really cool perspective as he was creating our meal.

Most people ask: should I get this, or a GoPro? It depends on what you need the camera for. GoPros are excellent for rugged use, and shoot exceptionally sharp pictures and video. However, the Go3 is great for POV (point-of-view) shooting. And at just 35 grams, it’s easy to take anywhere.

The Insta360 Go3 starts from $729 at electronics stores.