It's tough to gather the penetration level of
360-degree cameras on consumers. For starters, they break down to two kinds of
camps – dedicated ones, and ones that are attached as an accessory. We've seen
plenty of solutions from both categories already, like the dedicated Samsung
Gear 360 and the 360-degree MotoMod, but the ION360 U is specifically targeting
iPhone 7, 7Plus, Samsung Galaxy S8and S8+ users.
That's because the ION360 U is particular to them,
boasting a handy phone case that allows the 360-degree camera to attach
properly to the phones in question. Whichever one you end up going, the
tight-fitting cases double as battery cases as well, boasting 1260 mAh battery
cells that can charge your smartphone on the go. This, too, is used to power
the 360-degree cameras, which are positioned over the top of the case.
As for the specs, they're not too shabby. It
features two 7.4MP cameras with 200-degree views, 4K Ultra HD 3840 x 2160
recording at 30 FPS, and livestreaming support for Facebook and YouTube. With
Facebook in particular, not only can you stream in 360 using your personal
account, but you can also do it with Facebook pages that you manage. Everything
is captured using the accompanying ION360 U app for Android and iOS.
If you happen to own any of the phones we mentioned
that's supported by the ION360 U, just know you'll be forking over US$ 299.99 to
pick it up online through ION360's web site – or alternatively, on Sprint's web
site. There's also a deal going on right now through Sprint where you can save US$ 100 when you bundle the ION360 U with the iPhone 7 or 7 Plus.
