Insta360
GO 3
Thumb-sized magnetic POV camera with 2.7K30 video, 12MP photos, Action Pod flip-screen remote, FlowState stabilization, and 10m waterproof 35g body.
$399
Launch priceReleased Jun 2023
Sony
Alpha 1 II
50MP stacked flagship with 30fps RAW, 8K video, and Sony's fastest hybrid performance.
$6,499
Launch priceReleased Nov 2024
Alpha 1 II is 1.4 years newer.
Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Cameraegg earns from qualifying purchases. Cameraegg may also earn commission from B&H links, at no extra cost to you.
Wins
GO 3
Wins
Alpha 1 II
2 categories tied
Which would you choose?
TL;DR — Key differences
- BAlpha 1 II has lower AF low-light limit (-4 EV vs 0 EV)
- BAlpha 1 II has higher AF points / zones (759 vs 0)
- BAlpha 1 II has higher AF frame coverage (94 % vs 0 %)
- BAlpha 1 II has higher Resolution (50.1 MP vs 12 MP)
- BAlpha 1 II has higher RAW buffer depth (200 frames vs 60 frames)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
📸 Snap this size diff to shareGO 3
134 × 91 × 72 mm
580 g (1.28 lb / 20.46 oz)
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
for scale
Alpha 1 II
136 × 97 × 83 mm
743 g (1.64 lb / 26.21 oz)
GO 3 is 2mm narrower, 6mm shorter, and 11mm thinner than Alpha 1 II.
GO 3 is 163 g lighter than Alpha 1 II.
Depth (front-to-back): 72mm GO 3 · 83mm Alpha 1 II
Sensor size, to scale
GO 3
17.3 × 13 mm · Micro Four Thirds
225 mm² area
Alpha 1 II
35.9 × 24 mm · Full Frame
862 mm² area
3.8× larger sensor area = shallower depth of field and better low-light performance.
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
GO 3: mount data unavailable
Alpha 1 II
✓ more lensesSony E
350+
native lenses available
Counts include current first-party and major third-party native autofocus lenses.
Use-case scoring
Which one for what?
Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class
Why pick one over the other
Reasons to choose
GO 3
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 134, 91, 72
Codecs
Adds ProRes
Subject recognition
Adds Vehicle
Max video bit rate
200 Mbps vs 150 Mbps — higher is better
Weight
580 g vs 743 g — lower is better
Battery life (CIPA)
640 shots vs 520 shots — higher is better
Reasons to choose
Alpha 1 II
AF low-light limit
-4 EV vs 0 EV — lower is better
AF points / zones
759 vs 0 — higher is better
AF frame coverage
94 % vs 0 % — higher is better
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 136.1, 96.9, 82.9
Resolution
50.1 MP vs 12 MP — higher is better
RAW buffer depth
200 frames vs 60 frames — higher is better
Codecs
Adds XAVC HS, XAVC S, XAVC S-I
Subject recognition
Adds Insect, Car/Train, Airplane
Both cameras share
- ✓AA filter — Both support aa filter
- ✓ISO min (native) — Both 100
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓Animal / bird AF — Both support animal / bird af
- ✓Pre-Capture / Pre-Release — Both support pre-capture / pre-release
- ✓Internal RAW video — Both support internal raw video
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
GO 3
Pros
- ✓35g magnetic thumb camera
- ✓Action Pod with 2.2-inch flip screen
- ✓170 min runtime with Action Pod
- ✓FlowState + Horizon Lock
- ✓IPX8 waterproof (camera body)
Cons
- –Max 2.7K30 (no 4K vs GO 3S)
- –Built-in storage only (32/64/128GB)
- –Tiny sensor limits low light
- –Superseded by GO 3S / GO Ultra
Alpha 1 II
Pros
- ✓50MP stacked sensor
- ✓30fps blackout-free burst
- ✓8K 30p video
- ✓Best Sony AF
Cons
- –Very expensive
- –Complex menus
- –Large files
Decided which one is right for you?
Compare live prices for the GO 3 and Alpha 1 II at major authorized retailers.
Insta360 GO 3
Sony Alpha 1 II
Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Cameraegg earns from qualifying purchases. Cameraegg may also earn commission from B&H links, at no extra cost to you.
Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for landscape, GO 3 or Alpha 1 II?
Alpha 1 II scores 9.0/10 versus 3.5/10 for GO 3 — 50.1MP — massive detail for large prints.
What's the resolution difference between the GO 3 and Alpha 1 II?
GO 3 is 12 MP and Alpha 1 II is 50.1 MP, so the Alpha 1 II captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the GO 3 and Alpha 1 II have in-body image stabilization?
GO 3 has 6-stop in-body image stabilization, while Alpha 1 II has 8.5-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the GO 3 or the Alpha 1 II?
GO 3 reaches 15 fps electronic. Alpha 1 II reaches 30 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the GO 3 and Alpha 1 II?
GO 3 weighs 580 g and Alpha 1 II weighs 743 g, so the GO 3 is 163 g lighter.
Do the GO 3 and Alpha 1 II record 4K video?
GO 3: 4K up to 60p. Alpha 1 II: 8K (max), 4K up to 120p.
Are the GO 3 and Alpha 1 II weather sealed?
GO 3: Yes. Alpha 1 II: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 640 shots (CIPA) for the GO 3 and 520 shots for the Alpha 1 II, giving the GO 3 the edge.
How much does each cost?
GO 3 launched at $399 and Alpha 1 II at $6,499. The GO 3 is $6,100 less.
Can't decide between two? Compare a third camera.
Add any camera to get a three-way GO 3 vs Alpha 1 II vs X comparison.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed June 2026.
Product images courtesy of Insta360 and Sony press materials.