Insta360 Announces a New Smartphone Selfie Monitor, But Only in Asia
Insta360 Japan announced a new Snap selfie monitor that magnetically attaches to the back of a smartphone and enables mobile users to capture higher quality selfies using the superior rear cameras on their device.
As reported by Asobinet, the Insta360 Snap has a 3.5-inch touchscreen surrounded by a fill light to let people frame, light, and capture self-portraits using their phone’s rear cameras.
Although front-facing cameras have come a long way in recent years, rear cameras still feature bigger, better sensors and larger, faster lenses, resulting in better photos. However, it is difficult to use rear cameras for selfies because there is no way to preview the photo before capturing it. That is, unless the user has a rear screen like the Insta360 Snap.
This is not a wholly novel idea, as other products have been filtering into the market to achieve the same thing. For example, PetaPixel recently went hands-on with the Dockcase Selfix, which opts for a case-based design with an integrated circular rear display.
Insta360 has taken a different approach with its selfie-friendly product, opting for a magnetic add-on that connects to the phone via USB-C. Insta360 supports both Android and iOS devices, while Selfix is only available for select iPhone models at this time.
“Plug and play — simply connect and it’s ready to use,” Insta360 says on its Japanese product page. “No charging required, and with 4K recording and real-time preview, it delivers a ‘shoot what you see’ experience.”
The Insta360 Snap includes a folding cover that protects the snap-on screen when it’s not in use.
Technically, there are two versions of the Insta360 Snap, one with a light and one without. The one with the light further differentiates itself from the competition and the company says it was developed in collaboration with the beauty technology brand, Amiro. The light has three color options, warm, neutral, and cool, and has five brightness levels.
“Even in dark places, it softens shadows and imperfections, creating a bright and natural-looking complexion,” Insta360 says of the Snap’s built-in light.
The Insta360 Snap is now available for purchase in Japan. The monitor-only version is 14,000 yen, or about $88 at current exchange rates. The version with the built-in light costs 15,800 yen, which is nearly $100. Insta360 has not announced the Snap in other markets.
Image credits: Insta360
