Best VR Cameras

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VR cameras have become more and more popular in recent years. Whether it’s an action camera or a drone, this type of camera allows you to take 360° images and videos. In most cases, the cameras are tiny and portable, so you can take them anywhere with you and get one step closer to experiencing virtual reality.

Besides being very portable so you can take them on vacations without having to worry about bulky DSLRs and lenses, VR cameras connects to your phone through Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, which makes transferring, editing, and sharing on social media easier and faster. With a VR camera you can post 360° updates on your trip without needing computer access.

We put together a list of the best VR cameras currently available on the market so you can find the one that best suits your needs and let your creativity run wild.

1. GoPro Max

Price: $499

The second-generation 360-degree action camera from Go Pro is a great fit for most action videographers who are looking to capture and edit 360-degree content. The design is similar to the Go Pro Fusion, boasting a matte gray finish builds to withstand any kind of rain. You can take this VR camera underwater without an additional external housing. The Go Pro Max can record 360-degree video at 5.6 K quality, and you can choose from multiple aspect ratios.

GoPro Max
gopro.com

Pros

  • Great image stabilization
  • Waterproof without an additional case
  • Also works as a single lens camera

Cons

  • Single-lens capture is capped at 60 fps

Review Summary

Score: 9.9/10

Reviews for the GoPro Max typically praise the streamlined workflow and quality build of the camera. There are also a couple of downsides mentioned, which includes

the fact that the 3D content requires more editing time in order to get the best results.

Buy GoPro Max at Amazon


2. Insta360 One R

Price: $479

Insta360 One R
insta360.com

This modular camera is one of the most versatile VR cameras out there as you can convert it into a 4K action camera, 360 drone camera and a 1-inch sensor camera. You can easily select the best camera for the job, like using the 4K wide-angle feature for slow motion and more detail or the 1-inch-wide angle mode for better low light performance.

Pros

  • Great video quality
  • Extremely versatile
  • Takes good quality photos, too

Cons

  • The editing app is resource hungry and requires the latest smartphones
  • Expensive

Review Summary

Score: 9.6/10

Reviews for the Insta360 One R are positive overall, with users praising the user-friendliness and versatility of the camera. Downsides include the price and the stitching lines that are sometimes visible.

Buy Insta360 One R at Amazon


3. Garmin VIRB 360

Price: $799.99

The Garmin VIRB 360 is one of the most expensive 360 cameras currently available on the market. It offers high-quality 5.7K 360-degree video capture and it’s waterproof, but it has a short battery life when recording in 5.7K. The camera is well-built and the footage is lifelike and really sharp.

Garmin VIRB 360
buy.garmin.com

Pros

  • Waterproof to 33 feet
  • High-quality 5.7K video
  • Integrated GPS

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Short batter life when recording in 5.7K

Review Summary

Score: 9.3/10

Even though there are numerous positive reviews for the Garmin VIRB 360 praising the sharpness of the footage and build quality, the camera is seen as an expensive alternative to the Go Pro Max.

Buy Garmin VIRB 360 at Amazon


4. GoPro Fusion

Price: $599.99

The Go Pro Fusion is the predecessor of the Go Pro Max and offers excellent video and photo quality. The camera is very easy to use and offers very good software stabilization. It comes with two free microSD cards and a removable battery. This is a camera that can shoot incredible 360 video, but the software is not perfect and makes the workflow a bit difficult.

GoPro Fusion
gopro.com

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Waterproof
  • Comes with a selfie stick and two free microSD cards

Cons

  • The app makes it difficult to process footage
  • Needs two SD cards to operate

Review Summary

Score: 9.1/10

Users typically praise the image and sound quality of the GoPro Fusion, but they also point out that the software is frustrating, and that the camera is expensive for the features it provides.

Buy GoPro Fusion


5. Samsung Gear 360

Price: $229

Samsung released this VR camera back in 2017, but the Gear 360 is still an excellent choice for those who are looking for a quality 360 camera at an affordable price. The Samsung Gear 360 shoots in 4K and supports live streams. It’s compatible with iOS and macOS and is rain resistant but not waterproof.

Samsung Gear 360
samsung.com

Pros

  • More affordable than other models
  • Supports live streams
  • High quality 4K video capture

Cons

  • Not waterproof
  • Non-removable battery

Review Summary

Score: 9/10

The Samsung Gear 360 receives lots of positive reviews especially regarding the footage quality. Downsides include the fact that it’s not submersible and that the 4K footage is limited to 24p frame rate.

Buy Samsung Gear 360 at Amazon

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