Do I need an 8K action camera?

For most users, no. 4K remains plenty for social platforms and even YouTube. The main practical benefit of 8K sensors (as seen on the Insta360 X5 and DJI Osmo Action 6) is reframing flexibility in 360 footage and cropping headroom — not pixel-peeping playback quality. Reviewers consistently note that low-light performance and stabilization matter more than raw resolution.