Every phone has the same quiet compromise. The best cameras point away from you.
The iPhone 17 Pro's 18-megapixel front camera is perfectly decent, but the good lenses are on the back. The Insta360 Snap Selfie Screen with Light gives those rear cameras a screen of their own, so you can see yourself while you use them.
Essentials
- Screen: 3.5-inch touchscreen, 550 nits. Bright enough to frame a shot outdoors.
- Size and weight: 103 x 67.5 x 8.2mm, 88.6g. It adds less bulk than most wallet cases.
- Connection: USB-C cable, no Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Nothing to pair and no noticeable lag.
- Power: no battery. It runs off your phone, so there's nothing to charge or wear out.
- Works with: USB-C iPhones with MagSafe (iPhone 15 or later), and Android phones with USB-C video output (DisplayPort Alt Mode) using the included magnetic ring.
- Price: $154.99 AUD, or $139.99 AUD for the version without the light.
It attaches magnetically to the back of your phone and connects with a short USB-C cable.
The Snap mirrors your whole phone screen, not just the camera, and you can control everything from it by touch. You can frame a shot in the camera app, or record straight into Instagram or TikTok.
It's wired, so there's no complicated connection to set up or lag. The Snap just runs off your phone's battery - and Insta360 recommends unplugging the Snap Selfie Screen when you're not using it.
The annoying part is on iPhone. The touchscreen only works once you turn on Zoom in the Accessibility settings (not the first place anyone would look). It works, but it feels like a workaround rather than a setup.
The built-in fill light works like a tiny ring light, which is the difference between a usable indoor selfie and a murky one. It has three colour temperatures with three brightness levels each, so you can match warm lamplight or cool daylight.
The artificial leather cover is the clever part. It folds back over your phone's main screen and stops you from tapping anything by accident. When you pack it away, it protects the Snap's screen and holds the cable in place.
Price and availability
- $154.99 AUD with the light, or $139.99 AUD without
Avaliable from:
Tech That Fits Take
The Snap isn't the only way to take rear-camera selfies, but it's one of the most flexible.
What the Snap has over other options is reach. It mirrors your whole phone screen, so you can shoot in your favourite app, or quickly change settings without ever turning the phone around. It's pretty neat workaround given the limitations of screen mirroring in iOS and Android. It doesn't require any app.
It suits anyone who regularly films themselves on a USB-C iPhone (iPhone 15 or later) or a compatible Android phone. Occasional selfie-takers can skip it. So can live streamers, since Insta360 advises against long, high-load sessions.
It turns out my selfie game didn't need upgrading. My mum received every test shot from this review anyway. My niece received the Snap itself, and she loves it.
It earned its place. Just not on my phone.
Disclosure: I bought this unit myself. Editorial Policy.
