The Best and Worst Insta360 X5 Accessories Ranked!

What are the best and worst accessories for the Insta360 X5? Well, for an accessory to rank highly, it needs to tick two boxes:

✅ It needs to solve a problem. If it doesn't solve a legitimate problem that 360 video creators have, it’s going to get a low score.

✅ It needs to be a good price. Price is usually relative to the accessory, and naturally, some will come in at higher prices due to being more expensive to make. But the price needs to at least meet average market price or be proportional to the value the accessory brings.

And after reviewing 20 of the most popular accessories from the Insta360 store, I’ve scored each one out of 10 based on these factors. At the end, I’ll crown one accessory as the best of the best (10/10) and one as the worst of the worst (0/10). 

I've also linked every accessory in red throughout this post in case you want to pick up any of these yourself.

 

Throwpod

The throwpod is a recent accessory from Insta360 with the premise that you drop it on the ground and its legs spring out instantly. But honestly, I can’t see why you’d want to do this - especially with your camera attached, since it adds unnecessary risk.

The stand doesn’t even reach eye level, making it useless for virtual tours. And at $50 USD, it’s just not worth it. That’s why this one’s going straight to the bottom.

⭐️ Ben's ranking: 2/10 

 

Standard 114cm Invisible Selfie Stick

Insta360 have improved their most basic entry-level selfie stick over the years, and this one is really impressive. The main reason is that when retracted, it’s only 23 cm, making it highly portable. When extended, it reaches all the way to 114 cm, which is a great length.

Using a selfie stick with your camera solves the problem of having to handhold it, which can result in a “massive hand” in your shots. At just under $25, the standard selfie stick is an easy purchase for anyone with an X5.

I’m rating the 114 cm stick 8/10. My only issue is that it does produce a bit of resistance when you pull it out or push it back in, but otherwise, it does a great job.

⭐️ Ben's ranking: 8/10

 

Extended Edition Selfie Stick

This selfie stick extends all the way out to 3 meters, which sounds impressive and does give you those high-up perspectives. But when you compare it to a standard 114 cm selfie stick, the difference in viewpoint really isn’t that dramatic. Since 360 cameras are wide-angle, shots look pretty similar once the camera is above your head.

On top of that, the stick tends to bend slightly — especially in windy conditions or if you’re holding it out horizontally. This can cause parts of the stick to creep into your shots. So yes, it can help you pull off those high-up, fake drone-style shots, but at $100 USD, it’s hard to justify unless you’re shooting that style often.

⭐️ Ben's ranking: 4/10

 

85cm Mini Selfie Stick

This is a little-known selfie stick that I’ve quickly fallen in love with: the 85cm Mini Selfie Stick. It comes in two parts. The first part is the stick itself, which closes down to just 19.4 cm, making it the most portable selfie stick Insta360 has ever made.

The second part is a rubber grip that wraps around the base, making it much more comfortable to hold and use.

Even though it’s only 19 cm when closed, it extends to a full 85 cm, putting the X5 far enough away from your hand for most types of shots.

At only $25—the same price as the standard selfie stick—this accessory solves the extra problem of portability. You can easily slip it into a pocket, small camera bag, or pouch.

⭐️ Ben's ranking: 10/10

 

Foldable 2-in-1 Selfie Stick

Next up is the foldable 2-in-1 Selfie Stick. Its main advantage is that it folds over when you tap the latch, making it even more pocket-friendly. It also comes with a lens protector that you can secure to the mount, keeping a very small footprint that easily fits in a pocket.

On top of that, it has a mini remote attached to the handle (which can also be removed) to help you activate shots quickly.

The downsides? This stick doesn’t extend very far—only up to 58 cm, which is significantly shorter than the Mini Selfie Stick. Plus, at $55, it’s on the higher end for a selfie stick. Unless that extra pocketability is essential for you, you’ll probably want to give this one a miss.

⭐️ Ben's ranking: 5/10

 

Action Invisible Selfie Stick

This is the Action Invisible Selfie Stick, released by Insta360 a year or two ago. It’s made from premium carbon fibre, making it much lighter than standard selfie sticks, and it extends and retracts very smoothly.

It ranges from 28 cm at the shortest to 100 cm at the longest, which is more than enough, and it feels really premium in hand. I feel like this is the kind of selfie stick that would last for years, whereas other sticks have a higher chance of breaking or snapping. In fact, this has been my go-to selfie stick for two years.

The regular price is just under $50, which may be a bit high for users who only need a basic stick.

⭐️ Ben's ranking: 9/10

 

X5 Horizontal Mount

This accessory was designed for situations where you don’t want to mount the camera vertically. For example, if you’re shooting in single-lens mode and want to place it on a tripod or monopod to take advantage of a wider horizontal frame.

It’s also handy for sports, where a lower profile mount makes more sense — like on a helmet, where standing the camera upright isn’t very aerodynamic. A horizontal mount keeps it sleeker and less noticeable. Or, if you’re attaching the camera to a vehicle, this setup reduces the risk of it being bumped or broken.

It's a pretty niche use case though, and this accessory is not cheap. 

⭐️ Ben's ranking: 6/10

 

Insta360 SD Cards

Did you know that Insta360 now sells SD cards? This has been a thing for the past year or two, and they’ve clearly modeled them after the SanDisk Extreme Pro—you can even see a lot of the same markings. Previously, the SanDisk card was the recommended choice for Insta360 cameras, so Insta360 basically thought, why not make our own?

From my experience using both cards, the results are pretty similar. I think they’re great SD cards, and the Insta360 card is even cheaper than the SanDisk, whether you go for 256 GB or 512 GB.

A micro SD card is an essential accessory for saving files on your camera. Plus, the pricing is very competitive.

⭐️ Ben's ranking: 9/10

 

Spare Batteries (Standard + Ultra)

Next up is the spare battery for the X5. You can get a standard 2400 mAh battery, or the newer 2800 mAh Ultra Battery, which gives up to 104 minutes of shooting time at 8K30.

How many batteries you need really depends on your usage — some people go through a lot, others very few. From my experience, one battery has been enough for nearly every 360 camera I’ve owned. A backup is nice, but rarely essential, especially if you turn your camera off between shots. I’d only consider spending $45–$50 on a spare if you shoot tons of footage and want peace of mind.

One caveat: with each new Insta360 camera, the body design tends to change. Batteries from the X5 may not work on the X6, meaning you’d have to sell old ones and buy new ones.

⭐️  Ben's ranking: 7/10

 

Fast Charge Case

Insta360 released a Fast Charge Case alongside the X5, designed to charge two batteries simultaneously via USB-C fast charge. While that sounds convenient, it’s a $60 accessory — and unless you’re someone who burns through multiple batteries every day, it’s hard to justify.

Personally, I’ve always just charged my battery by plugging the camera directly into a power source without removing it, and that’s worked perfectly fine for me over many years. If you do need to charge several batteries at once, then sure, this accessory could come in handy. But overall, I don’t think it delivers enough value for the price.

⭐️ Ben's ranking: 5/10

 

Ring Remote

Another new accessory that Insta360 released recently is the Ring Remote. And it's exactly what it sounds like. It's a small ring with a felt band that you can attach to your finger. And it's got a remote control button on it.

This will be handy for anyone who does sports or needs to activate the camera when it's far away from them without having to manually touch the camera or open up your phone every time you want to film.

At $45 though, this is more of a nice-to-have than a must-have.

⭐️ Ben's ranking: 6/10

 

Mic Air

Next are two new lapel microphones Insta360 has released for the X5. One is called the Mic Air, and the other is the GPS Preview Remote with a built-in mic, which records 32-bit float—essentially the most flexible type of audio file you can record.

Both mics feel premium and clip onto your shirt with ease. The Mic Air is ridiculously small—around 2 cm wide—but still records surprisingly good audio quality given its size.

The Mic Air is extremely beginner-friendly and syncs instantly with the X5, saving you all the hassle of a complicated technical setup. And for the price—get this—under $50, it’s a no-brainer for anyone who wants clean, in-camera synced dialogue.

⭐️ Ben's ranking: 9/10

 

GPS Preview Remote Mic

As for the GPS Preview Remote, this one is much more expensive at nearly $160, but it’s not just an audio recording mic. Yes, it records 32-bit float and syncs perfectly with your X5 footage, but it also records GPS data. So if you’re shooting for Google Street View or doing sports where GPS tracking is important, this device has you covered.

On top of that, it can be used as a remote camera screen to set up, record, and preview shots when the camera isn’t within reach. It’s definitely a niche use case, but for sports or multi-tasking scenarios, this device is incredibly multi-functional. It can do a lot of things—and it does them well.

It even mounts onto a watch strap if you want to wear it. While the price might seem high for a 32-bit float recorder, the functionality makes it well worth it.

For all these reasons, I’m ranking it 9/10 as it solves several high-level problems and is more than worth the investment if you need one—or multiple—of its capabilities.

⭐️ Ben's ranking: 9/10

 

Dive Case / Dive Case Pro

While I don’t have one of these myself, I can say for sure that the Dive Case and Dive Case Pro solve a major problem 360 video creators face: stitching 360 videos underwater.

When water touches the lenses directly, it causes lens refraction and major stitching issues around the seam line. With a plastic case over the camera, the camera can stitch the case out completely, while keeping water off the lenses. This prevents magnification issues and ensures footage looks correct underwater.

This is a big problem for 360 cameras, and this accessory solves it without question.

The price is reasonable too—$110 to $120, which is on the low end for a waterproof housing, especially for a niche 360 camera.

If you shoot underwater frequently, this is a 9/10 accessory. For the average user, given the price and niche use case, it’s probably more 8/10.

⭐️ Ben's ranking: 8/10

 

ND Filters

Insta360 recently released ND filters — the first time 360 cameras have ever had them. They fit perfectly and function exactly as they should, but honestly, I’ve found they make very little difference for the types of shots I capture.

Normally, ND filters are used to handle bright highlights or to create natural-looking motion blur for action shots and vehicle capture. While I haven’t done extensive testing, I find the artificial motion blur in Insta360 Studio more than good enough for most filming situations.

The truth is, most everyday users won’t notice much of a difference. Experienced video creators will definitely see the value, but for the average person, ND filters aren’t a must-have.

They don’t solve a big enough problem in my opinion. So while I won’t rank them at the very bottom, they’re still only getting a 3/10. Usable and helpful for a niche group of creators, but definitely not essential.

⭐️ Ben's ranking: 3/10

 

Replacement Lens Kit

Prior to the X5, replaceable lenses weren’t even an option. But now that the X5 has them, they’ve instantly become a must-have. And the best part? You can get a replacement lens kit for under $30.

This solves the number one problem 360 camera owners have faced for years—scratching a lens and then having to send the camera back, deal with postage costs, and wait through a whole world of frustration.

With the replacement lens kit, you can swap out lenses yourself in under 60 seconds. The camera instantly works again, and you’re good to go.

No question about it—the replacement lens kit is 10/10. Think of it as your built-in insurance policy for when you inevitably scratch a lens.

⭐️ Ben's ranking: 10/10

 

Standard Lens Guards

For some reason, Insta360 offers regular lens guards on top of the replacement lenses — and at $25, they cost practically the same. Why buy guards when you could just replace the lens itself?

They don’t solve a problem, add fingerprints, and even require different stitching algorithms, which increases the chance of errors. To me, this accessory makes zero sense and goes straight to the bottom with a 0/10.

⭐️ Ben's ranking: 0/10

 

Rubber Lens Cap

Speaking of lens protection, while the X5 does come with a zippered neoprene pouch—which is handy—it can be a bit annoying when you just want to quickly preview your shots. Once the camera’s out of the pouch, the lenses are exposed, and if you set it down on a table, you’re instantly putting them at risk.

That’s where the X5 Rubber Lens Cap comes in. It slips on easily—just pinch it and place it over the lenses. The cap has enough air in the bubbles so it doesn’t actually touch or smudge the lenses.

Now you can set your camera down safely and preview shots without worrying about damage.

At just $7, this one’s a no-brainer.

⭐️ Ben's ranking: 9/10

 

Screen Protector

Insta360 offers a Screen Protector for the X5, similar to a smartphone screen protector. However, smashing the screen is surprisingly uncommon — when you drop your camera, it’s usually the lenses that take the hit first, not the screen.

Sure, it’s possible to damage the screen, but it would take a lot of force, like a car running over your camera. In that case, the screen protector could help, but it’s far from essential. In my 10 years of using 360 cameras, I’ve never broken a screen.

So, while it does address a potential problem, it’s not a major one.

⭐️ Ben's ranking: 5/10

 

Quick Reader

The Quick Reader plugs into both the X5 and your smartphone, letting you transfer large amounts of footage without relying on Wi-Fi — which can drain both your phone and camera battery faster.

That sounds handy, but I just don’t see it solving a huge problem. If you’ve got lots of files, you’re probably better off downloading them to your computer, not your phone. And even if you do want to transfer to your phone, a power bank will do the trick just fine.

I’ve used Quick Readers in the past mainly to save my camera’s battery, but honestly, it’s not a must-have. For me, the Quick Reader scores a 4/10 — somewhat useful in specific cases, but not solving a big enough issue to justify it for most people.

⭐️ Ben's ranking: 4/10 

 

Final Thoughts

So, now that everything’s been ranked, let’s talk best and worst.

👎 The worst of the worst? For me, it’s a toss-up, but the Lens Guards take the crown. They just don’t make sense when you can buy a full replacement lens for the same price. At least the Throw Pod might work if you left it permanently set up as a light stand—but the Lens Guards? Not a good idea.

The best of the best? I’d call it a tie.

🏆 First up is the 85cm Mini Selfie Stick. It shrinks down small enough to fit in a pocket yet still extends far enough for most shots. That makes it my go-to stick moving forward—it’s just so much easier to shoot on the fly when your setup takes up next to no space.

🏆 The other equal first place goes to the Replacement Lens Kit. It’s basically an insurance policy for when you inevitably scratch a lens. Swapping them takes under 60 seconds, and knowing you’ve got that backup gives you the freedom to be more adventurous and capture shots you might otherwise skip—that’s what 360 cameras are all about.

And if you haven’t grabbed an X5 yet, you can even get a Replacement Lens Kit for free by using my link, so you won't even have to pay for the top ranked accessory!