That in turn means connecting the camera to your computer, transferring footage or photos over, and going from there. That’s hugely disappointing, since it means that anybody who wants to use the best 5.7K resolution or smoothest 60fps frame rate has to turn to the Vuze VR Studio desktop app for video editing there’s no alternative on-the-go method. Even then, there are fewer editing options than its Insta360 rivals.įor instance, you can’t alter the playback speed of the video to make a hyper-lapse, or crop out a section of a 360-degree video to focus on in a standard frame size. If you want to edit footage on the fly, you’ll need to record it at 4K/30fps quality, transfer it wirelessly from the XR to your phone or tablet, then edit from there. The XR’s app feels undercooked by comparison, with no editing or preview functions for videos recorded at either 60fps or the highest 5.7K resolution. Perhaps we’ve been spoiled recently by using the Insta360 Evo’s superb companion app, which supports editing, social media sharing and more. It’s a shame, then, that the app (which pairs with the XR via your device’s Wi-Fi connection) feels like a work-in-progress – a beta rather than a finished product. The XR is technically usable without a smartphone or tablet running its companion app, but without it you won’t be able to change settings, review footage or see what you’re filming. Thankfully, you can turn them off using the companion app. The designers have shown themselves a little too keen on the beeps, though – this thing never shuts up while you’re using it. The camera doesn’t have an on-board display of any kind, so visual feedback has to be supplied via other means: indicator lights and beeps, mainly.

The mechanism feels reliable and solid – not likely to snap or fail a year or two into the camera’s lifetime. The flip-out mechanism for the twin lenses is spring-loaded: they simply pop out into VR mode when you push a button, and are returned to 360-degree mode by being pushed back until they click into place. At the bottom of the handle is a standard tripod mount, which can be used to attach anything from a selfie stick to the supplied wrist strap. There’s no card included in the box, and with no built-in storage, you’ll need one to use the camera. Its makers make no claims regarding it being an “action camera” though, so we think that’s forgivable.Ī pull-out flap covers a USB-C port (for both charging and data transfer) and a microSD card slot.

The XR is constructed from solid plastic, but not waterproof or ruggedised in any way. In this closed-up configuration the XR is at its smallest – although it’s worth noting that, while it will fit into a jacket pocket, it’s noticeably bigger and heavier than the Insta360 Evo. It’s an elongated plastic “stick”, with two bulging camera modules at the top, a smattering of physical controls, and a handle that takes up the bottom two thirds of the unit. Out of the box, the Vuze XR resembles existing 360-degree action cameras such as the Insta360 One X or Samsung Gear 360. So which is best for those who need a single, pocket-sized device that can create two very different types of immersive content? Let’s take a look. At launch, it was the only camera with the ability to transform in this way, but it’s since been joined by the Insta360 Evo.

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