Insta360 has unveiled a new feature called Spatial Capture that transforms ordinary 360-degree video into an explorable 3D scene, according to Camera Jabber. The technology utilizes 3D Gaussian Splatting, known as 3DGS, to recreate a real-world environment from video footage without requiring specialist rigs, complex software, or programming knowledge, as reported by CNET. The rollout is scheduled to begin in the United States on September 28, 2026, alongside the September 19 opening of Insta360’s first North American flagship store at 1515 Broadway in Times Square, New York, where visitors can test the feature on the X6, as detailed by The Gadgeteer.
Insta360 Introduces Spatial Capture Feature Using Gaussian Splatting
Supported Devices and Capture Limitations
Support for Spatial Capture extends beyond the newest hardware to include existing models. According to Camera Jabber, compatible devices include the Insta360 X6, X5, and X4 Air (with Blogspan noting model name variations across certain reports). Users are limited to recording a 360 video of a space for up to two minutes, though longer clips can be trimmed down before processing, as noted by Camera Jabber. Tutorials recommend recording spaces smaller than 100 square meters—roughly 1,000 square feet—such as a small house or a few rooms, rather than sprawling environments like stadiums, according to CNET and The Gadgeteer.
Shooting and Cloud Processing Workflow
To gather appropriate viewpoints for reconstruction, the shooting technique requires specific physical movement through the area. As outlined by The Gadgeteer, users start by holding the camera overhead on a selfie stick, walking steadily back and forth across the space with neighboring paths kept no more than 2 meters (about 6.6 feet) apart, and later lowering the camera to chest height to walk separately around key subjects for additional detail.
Once recorded, users navigate to Album, then Spatial Capture, and select Create within the updated Insta360 mobile app, according to The Gadgeteer. All processing is cloud-based, requiring footage to be uploaded to Insta360’s servers, as reported by Camera Jabber and CNET. The cloud generation typically takes roughly one to two hours, and users can close the mobile app while waiting for a notification, as stated by Camera Jabber.
Viewing, Sharing, and Tier Limits
Finished scenes can be explored using touch controls, a virtual joystick, or a phone’s gyroscope, as described by Camera Jabber. Users can also add effects, build custom camera paths into guided videos, export scenes as standard videos, or share an interactive browser link, according to Camera Jabber and CNET.
The free tier permits up to four 3DGS scene generations per month, which resets on the first of the month, according to Camera Jabber and Blogspan. While a US rollout date is set for September 28, 2026, no UK or German release date has been confirmed by the manufacturer, leaving users in those regions waiting for further regional details, as noted by Camera Jabber and Blogspan.