Have you ever been disappointed with your phone’s selfie camera? Perhaps frustrated that the main powerful rear camera goes to waste when taking selfies? Could this be the solution for you?
The Insta360 Snap is a small portable selfie screen that plugs into your phone’s USB-C port and allows you to view pictures that you are taking while actually using your powerful rear-facing phone camera. It comes in two versions, depending on your requirements, and you can purchase with or without a light. It eliminates the need to use your front-facing selfie camera in favour of utilising the high-powered rear camera!

While I was aware of Insta360 as a regular YouTube viewer, I had not personally used their products until this review. This device can Snap onto the rear of any Android or iPhone that support USB-C (with DP Alt mode capability to allow sending audio and video signal) using the enclosed magnetic attachment, MagSafe, Qi2 capabilities or a compatible case. The Snap retails currently (Aug 2026) in the UK for £82.99 (with light) and £72.99 (without light) – the additional light helping to eliminate shadows in poorly lit areas. Ideal for users to take high end selfies.

How would the Snap perform for selfie enhancement? I tested using a few iPhones, which included an iPhone 16 pro and iPhone 15 models.

The official everythingelse.blog Insta360 affiliate link to purchase or find out more information is here.
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Packaging and Presentation

Reminiscent in style of another well know IT hardware company, the packaging is high end with a quality feel. Designed to not only ship the item, but store your device when not in use due to the handy slip case and mould that the Snap can rest in.
On first viewing, device construction is solid and in the box are instructions, a quick reference guide and a magnetic ring (if needed). The magnetic ring helps you to apply the device to your phone or case if required.

Set Up

Attaching the Snap to my phone was easy, but connecting proved more of a challenge than I expected.
Prior to receiving the device, I checked compatibility and the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 15 that we use as a household were capable of supporting the Snap. I connected the Snap using the attached USB-C cable to my iPhone using the quick start guide and pressed the power button. The screen advised that the device was not compatible. However, it did work without issue on two other iPhones.

It appears that the issue may have been my iPhone. I changed the wired accessory settings, cleaned the USB-C port and tried again. I worked through all available resolutions that I could think of which included updating the iPhone and Snap software/firmware. At best, the device would only occasionally work for me. Therefore for review purposes, I completed the review on other family devices.
I remain open minded that the issue that I experienced is likely not an Insta360 hardware issue but related to my own phone.
Maybe I have some obscure phone setting enabled or an issue with the USB-C port. My only feedback would be that despite the quick start guide and the fuller instructions, the product really needs more problem solving advice.
Had I purchased this unit, I discovered that Insta360 offers a reassuring 15-day return policy if the product isn’t right for you, which is fantastic peace of mind given that compatibility can occasionally vary depending on individual phone setups and software quirks.
There is also a 7 day price match guarantee, in the event that Insta360 reduce the price within 7 calendar days of purchase.
I did notice that the iPhone that struggled to connect also got quite hot. But again, I did not experience this same issue with the other iPhones that I connected to. Most likely in part related to the issue and gained warmth while I problem solved.

Hands On Usage

Once up and running on the alternative iPhones, I was curious to see if the device could help improve my selfie capture quality. When attached to my iPhone, it naturally snapped in place and felt secure. The Snap screen is covered with a white cover to protect the Snap. It cannot be removed but folds back around your phone, in doing so it then covers your phone’s main large screen and stops you pressing the phone’s touch screen. Effectively serving two purposes to protect the Snap screen and stopping accidental pressing of your phone’s screen when it is in use. However, for those with a later iPhone that has a photo capture button, it does obscure access.

For comparison, I took some standard selfies using the normal iPhone selfie camera in a darker room indoors. The photos were quite grainy and lacked lighting to remove shadows. Without doubt, the Snap device does give a higher quality well-lit photo capture, allowing full resolution photos.
My iPhone photo gallery then confirmed the photos captured were higher resolutions and the rear camera.

The official everythingelse.blog Insta360 affiliate link to purchase or find out more information is here.
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Initial Thoughts

For review purposes, this review was written over a 2 week period.
A well-built device which is a nicely packaged product at an attractive price. While I personally experienced an issue with connectivity using my own iPhone, I successfully connected with two other iPhones which likely means an issue with the hardware or software of my iPhone. This likely proves that the issue was not a hardware issue with the Snap.
For those just wanting enhanced rear camera selfies, the Snap is ideal, it mirrors your phone screen and you can control your phone and take photos from the selfie screen. The product is not perfect but has potential. Should a version 2 ever be released, my recommendations would be for Insta360 to address the following:

• While the plug-and-play design is convenient, an enclosed troubleshooting guide would be helpful for any issues.  But the instruction manual did include some limited notes to check and a post-sales QR code and warranty only.  
• The ability to remove and attach the protective cover as needed could be beneficial for some. Particularly for newer iPhone users who will find their new photo capture button not accessible when covered by the case.
• A solution to allow dual USB-C connections straight out the box would be useful. This could make the system more versatile and practical for those who wish to vlog and connect a mic still.

The positives that I experienced were:

• Speedy and fast delivery.
• Quick turn on and easy to Snap into position.
• Small and compact build which is well made.
• The Snap stays securely attached to the phone using magnetics/Mag-Safe.
• Decent strength light to help illuminate scenes with varied lighting options and strengths.
• High quality photos and ideal for selfies requiring high production values with lighting.
• Easy and convenient plug and play with phones most phones that have USB-C.

While the product is marketed for selfie usage, it can be used to capture video using your phone’s microphone. It is probably not suitable for professional vloggers as this device uses your USB-C port, preventing connection of some mics that require a hardware dongle connection in the same port.

The official everythingelse.blog Insta360 affiliate link to purchase or find out more information is here.
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Overall

I haven’t reviewed the standard model without light but since the light version is only £10 more, it’s definitely the version worth considering.

Do look out for a follow up piece in the next couple of weeks exploring the light in-depth.

While disappointed that the connection was inconsistent with my own iPhone, it worked without issue on two other such iPhones. While I personally will not use for selfies, should a version be released with better support for vlogging and connecting mics, it would then be of interest to me. But I should point out, it is only marketed to support selfie taking,

If you wish for good visibility when taking selfie photos and have a compatible phone, this could be a reasonable priced solution. Also worth considering that the price difference between the two versions is minimal and the light for indoor selfies is beneficial even during daytime. Therefore, if purchasing I would recommend the light.

Therefore, in summary:

• Excellent light options to enhance indoor and outdoor photos.
• Good build construction and decent enough screen serve the purpose.
• Check your phone’s compatibility.
• Insta360 offer a 15 day return policy.
• Easy and quick to use with proven compatible phones.

Recommended?

• Ideal for content creators and those wanting to take high quality stills using rear cameras.
• Avoid if you are a professional vlogger or wish to connect multiple USB-C devices at once.

If you’ve weighed up the compatibility, checked your setup, and would like to grab an Insta360 Snap, you can use our official affiliate link below to purchase and support the blog…
Helpful guides are here:
https://onlinemanual.insta360.com/snap/en-us/tutorial/specs

The Snap currently (Aug 2026) retails in the UK for £82.99 (with light) and £72.99 (without light).
The official everythingelse.blog Insta360 affiliate link to purchase or find out more information is here.
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