AKASO 360° Action Camera 5.7K Review: Unleashing Creativity Without Breaking the Bank

I remember it vividly. I was on a mountain bike trail, winding through a stunning forest with dappled sunlight breaking through the canopy. My friend was right behind me, and to our left, a deer darted across the path. I had a traditional action camera mounted on my helmet, pointed straight ahead. The footage of the trail was fine, but I completely missed the deer, and the reaction on my friend’s face was lost forever. It was a dynamic, 360-degree moment, and my camera only captured a tiny, linear slice of it. This is the fundamental frustration for so many creators, adventurers, and families: you either capture what’s in front of you or you miss everything else. You’re forced to become the director in the moment, rather than just living it. This is the problem the AKASO 360° Action Camera 5.7K promises to solve—the ability to capture everything, all at once, and decide what was important later.

What to Consider Before Buying an Action Camera

An Action Camera is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for capturing life’s most dynamic moments from a first-person perspective. Unlike a smartphone or a traditional DSLR, these cameras are built to be mounted, abused, and taken into environments where other electronics fear to tread. Their primary benefit lies in their ruggedness, portability, and wide-angle view, allowing you to record immersive footage of everything from a rollercoaster ride to a scenic motorcycle journey. They free your hands and your mind, letting you participate in the action while simultaneously documenting it. The rise of 360-degree models like this one adds another layer, eliminating the need to aim and ensuring you never miss off-camera action again.

The ideal customer for this type of product is someone facing the challenge of capturing immersive, stabilized video in motion. This includes vloggers, travellers, athletes (runners, cyclists, skiers), and families who want to create more engaging home movies. It’s for the creative mind who sees the potential in reframing a shot after the fact to tell a more compelling story. Conversely, it might not be suitable for those who primarily need cinematic, shallow depth-of-field shots or extreme zoom capabilities, which are the domain of mirrorless or DSLR cameras. If your primary need is simple point-and-shoot photography in stable conditions, a modern smartphone might suffice. However, for anyone craving a tool that captures the entire sphere of a memory, a 360° action camera is a game-changer.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Portability: Action cameras need to be small and light. Consider the camera’s weight (the AKASO is 180g) and form factor. A compact, candy-bar shape is easy to pocket and mount on helmets or handlebars without feeling cumbersome. Check its mounting options, usually a standard 1/4″ tripod thread, for compatibility with your existing gear.
• Performance & Resolution: For 360° cameras, 5.7K resolution is a fantastic sweet spot. This high resolution is crucial because it’s spread across a full 360-degree sphere; when you reframe it into a traditional 16:9 video, you need that extra detail to maintain a crisp 1080p or 4K output. Also, look at image stabilization—digital stabilization like AKASO’s “SuperSmooth” is non-negotiable for watchable action footage.
• Materials & Durability: Most action cameras feature a durable plastic or composite body. A key differentiator is water resistance. The AKASO 360° Action Camera 5.7K is splash-resistant, making it suitable for rain or snow, but for full submersion, you’d need a separate waterproof housing. Premium models may offer waterproofing out of the box, but often at a much higher price.
• Ease of Use & Workflow: How you interact with the camera and its footage is paramount. A large, responsive touchscreen makes changing settings on the fly simple. The post-production workflow—how you edit and reframe the 360° video—is just as important. A user-friendly mobile and desktop app can be the difference between creating amazing content and having a hard drive full of unusable files.

Understanding these factors will help you choose a camera that not only captures great footage but also fits seamlessly into your adventures. While we’re focusing on one excellent model, it’s part of a much larger ecosystem of capable devices.

While the AKASO 360° Action Camera 5.7K is an excellent choice, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

First Impressions: A Surprisingly Premium Package

Upon opening the box of the AKASO 360° Action Camera 5.7K, the first thing that struck us was the thoughtfulness of the package. In an era where even premium brands are stripping accessories away, AKASO goes the other direction. Finding not one, but two batteries included is an immediate and significant value-add, effectively doubling your shooting time right out of the gate to a claimed 120 minutes. This was a highlight echoed by many users we spoke with. The camera itself feels solid and well-constructed, with a reassuring density that belies its budget-friendly price point. The large 2.29-inch touchscreen is bright and responsive, a massive improvement over the tiny, non-touch displays on older action cameras.

The layout is brilliantly simple, with just two physical buttons for power/mode and record/stop. This minimalist approach, combined with the intuitive touchscreen interface, means you can get filming within minutes. One user described the setup as “child’s play,” and we wholeheartedly agree. A small but clever design choice is the hinged battery/SD card door; it’s connected to the main body, so there are no tiny parts to lose when you’re swapping batteries in the field. The included soft pouch and lens cloth are nice touches that complete a package that feels generous and user-focused. It immediately gives the impression of a camera that’s ready for adventure and designed to lower the barrier to entry for creators wanting to explore the world of 360° video.

Deep Dive: Performance and Real-World Results

A spec sheet can only tell you so much. To truly understand the AKASO 360° Action Camera 5.7K, we had to take it out of the office and into the wild. We put it through its paces on bike rides, trail runs, and bustling city streets to see if its performance could live up to its promising feature list. Over several weeks of testing, we explored its core functions: the video and photo quality, the all-important stabilization, and the AI-powered editing features that make 360° video so magical.

Unboxing and Real-World Usability

From the moment you unbox it, the AKASO 360° is designed for immediacy. After charging the two included batteries with the USB-C cable, setup was a breeze. The camera prompts you to download the AKASO app via a QR code, and pairing it with our smartphone over Wi-Fi was seamless. What we appreciated most was the onboard user experience. The large touchscreen is the star of the show. Navigating menus to switch between video, photo, and timelapse modes, or to adjust resolution and frame rates, is incredibly intuitive. As one user noted, there are “no deep menus to get lost in.” Everything is a tap or a swipe away, which is crucial when you’re trying to capture a fleeting moment.

The physical design complements this ease of use. The two-button system is straightforward for quick-start recording, even with gloves on. The hinged battery door, which also houses the microSD card slot, is a fantastic quality-of-life feature, preventing the dreaded fumble-and-drop of a tiny plastic door. During a chilly morning run, we were able to swap batteries without taking our gloves off, a small detail that makes a big difference in the field. While some users mentioned a lack of detailed instructions, we found the camera’s interface so logical that an extensive manual felt almost unnecessary for basic operation. For anyone hesitant about the complexity of 360° filming, this camera provides one of the cleanest and simplest entry points we’ve ever tested. It truly empowers you to focus on the scene, not the settings.

The 5.7K 360° Video & 72MP Photo Experience

This is the heart of the camera, and we’re happy to report that the quality is genuinely impressive for its price class. The dual 1/2-inch sensors capture a huge amount of data, resulting in 5.7K video that is sharp and vibrant in good lighting. The real magic of 360° is the “shoot first, reframe later” philosophy, and this is where the AKASO 360° Action Camera 5.7K shines. We mounted it to a selfie stick and walked through a busy market. Later, in the app, we were able to produce a conventional 16:9 video that looked like a multi-camera shoot. We could pan to follow a street performer, tilt up to the architecture, and then cut back to our own reaction—all from a single, uninterrupted clip. The freedom this offers is transformative.

The high resolution is not just a marketing number; it’s essential for reframing. When you punch into a section of the 360° sphere to create a flat video, you’re only using a fraction of the total pixels. The 5.7K source ensures that the reframed 1080p output remains crisp and detailed. In lower light, some noise naturally creeps in, but the performance is more than respectable. The 72MP photos are similarly powerful, allowing for high-resolution 360° stills that are perfect for creating immersive “tiny planet” effects or for virtual tours. We captured a photo in a park and, with a few taps in the app, warped it into a creative image that looked like a tiny, self-contained world. This artistic flexibility is something many users fall in love with, turning everyday scenes into something truly special and making this a powerful creative tool for any skill level.

SuperSmooth Stabilization and Horizon Lock in Action

If there’s one feature that can make or break an action camera, it’s stabilization. Shaky, nauseating footage is unusable, no matter how high the resolution. We put AKASO’s “SuperSmooth Stabilization” to the ultimate test: mounting it directly to the handlebars of a mountain bike for a ride down a rocky, root-filled trail. The results were astonishing. The footage, processed through the app, was incredibly smooth and watchable, gliding over bumps that were jarring in real life. It rivals the stabilization found in cameras costing twice as much, a sentiment shared by users who found it “way better than expected.”

Even more impressive is the 360° Horizon Lock. Because the camera is capturing in every direction, it always knows where the horizon is. When this feature is enabled, the footage remains perfectly level, no matter how much you tilt or even spin the camera. We held the camera and ran, intentionally swinging it from side to side. In the final video, the world remained locked in place as if filmed on a professional gimbal. This feature is a superpower for action sports, motorcycling, or any activity with a lot of rotational movement. It elevates the production value of your footage from amateur to professional with zero effort, making it one of the most compelling reasons to choose this camera.

AI Tracking and the Invisible Selfie Stick Effect

Beyond capturing and stabilizing, the AKASO 360° offers intelligent features that simplify the editing process. The AI Tracking is remarkably effective. In the app, you simply draw a box around a subject—a person, a pet, a car—and the software automatically generates a reframed video that keeps them perfectly centered in the shot. We tested this by filming a friend’s dog playing in a field. The AI flawlessly tracked the fast-moving pup, creating a dynamic video that would have been impossible to film manually with a traditional camera. It’s like having a virtual cameraman at your disposal.

The other “wow” feature is the Invisible Selfie Stick effect. When used with a compatible (and separately sold) stick, the camera’s software digitally erases the stick from the final footage. The result is incredible, creating floating, drone-like shots and third-person perspectives that seem impossible. We used it to capture footage that looked like it was filmed by a drone following just behind us on a hike. As one user rightly put it, getting the invisible selfie stick is a “game changer.” These AI-driven tools are not just gimmicks; they are powerful storytelling aids that make creating polished, professional-looking videos accessible to everyone, regardless of their editing skills. You can check the latest price and options available to see if a bundle includes this essential accessory.

What Other Users Are Saying

After our own extensive testing, we delved into the broader community feedback to ensure our experience was typical. The sentiment is overwhelmingly positive, especially concerning the camera’s value proposition. Many users, like us, were impressed straight out of the box, frequently citing the inclusion of two batteries as a major selling point. One user called it a “nice, clean & simple package across the board, perfect for beginners… who can’t afford the general high cost of entry.” This perfectly captures the camera’s primary appeal.

The ease of use is another common thread, with praise for the “easy to read touchscreen” and intuitive app that makes editing an “absolute doddle.” On the critical side, the most common complaint aligns with one of our minor gripes: the lack of detailed instructions. As one reviewer noted, “with no menu explanation it was frustrating to use from the get go,” especially for those entirely new to 360 cameras. Another point raised by a few is that the camera “seemed to get warm,” which we also observed during continuous 5.7K recording, though it never shut down or impacted performance in our tests. Overall, the consensus is clear: the AKASO 360° Action Camera 5.7K delivers fantastic results and a user-friendly experience that far exceeds its price tag.

How Does the AKASO 360° Compare to the Alternatives?

The AKASO 360° Action Camera 5.7K carves out a fantastic niche in the market, but it’s important to know your other options. Depending on your budget and specific needs, one of these three alternatives might be a better fit.

1. Insta360 X4 360 Action Camera

The Insta360 X4 is the premium, market-leading competitor. Its main advantage is resolution, boasting incredible 8K 360° video capture, which provides even more flexibility for reframing and cropping. It also features superior out-of-the-box waterproofing (down to 10 meters) and a more mature software ecosystem with slightly more advanced AI editing features. You also get removable lens guards for added protection. However, these upgrades come at a significantly higher price. The Insta360 X4 is the choice for prosumers and professionals who need the absolute best image quality and ruggedness and have the budget to match.

2. AKASO V50 Elite 4K Action Camera

If you’re intrigued by the AKASO brand but don’t need 360° capture, the V50 Elite is a compelling traditional action camera. It focuses on doing one thing well: capturing high-quality, forward-facing 4K video at 60fps. It’s waterproof in its included case, offers robust image stabilization (EIS), and comes with a vast array of mounts and accessories right in the box. This camera is for the user who wants a straightforward, rugged camera for point-of-view shots—think chest mounts or helmet cams—and prefers a simple, linear recording experience without the need for reframing in post-production. It’s a simpler, often more affordable, tool for a different job.

3. Insta360 X5 8K 360 Action Camera Bundle

Note: The product name here is likely a typo for a higher-end Insta360 bundle, possibly the X4 or a future model. Treating it as the ultimate premium package, this option is for the creator who wants it all. Bundles like this typically include the top-tier camera (like the 8K Insta360 X4), the “invisible selfie stick,” extra batteries, lens guards, and sometimes a dedicated charging hub. It’s the “buy once, cry once” solution. You’re not just getting the camera; you’re getting the entire ecosystem of accessories needed to maximize its potential from day one. This is for serious content creators, vloggers, or enthusiasts who are fully committed to the 360° format and want the best performance and convenience without compromise.

Final Verdict: The Best 360° Camera for Most People?

After weeks of rigorous testing, we can confidently say that the AKASO 360° Action Camera 5.7K is a phenomenal piece of kit that punches well above its weight. It successfully democratizes 360° video, offering features like 5.7K resolution, rock-solid stabilization, and a seamless “shoot first, reframe later” workflow that were previously reserved for much more expensive cameras. The inclusion of two batteries and an incredibly intuitive interface makes it the perfect entry point for beginners curious about immersive video, while the quality of the output is good enough to satisfy seasoned hobbyists and content creators.

While it lacks the full waterproofing and cutting-edge 8K resolution of its premium rivals, it makes no compromises on the core experience. For anyone looking to elevate their travel vlogs, capture dynamic family moments, or add a creative spark to their action sports footage without emptying their wallet, this camera is an outstanding choice. It’s a powerful, fun, and accessible tool that genuinely changes the way you think about capturing memories. If you’re ready to stop worrying about what to point your camera at and start capturing everything, we can’t recommend it highly enough. You can see the latest price and read more user reviews for yourself right here.