Insta360 X4 Review
The Insta360 X4 arrives as the brand’s fourth-generation 360 action camera, promising a huge leap to 8K capture, nearly 2.5 hours of runtime and tougher construction straight out of the box. I spent two weeks mountain biking in Colorado, free-diving in the Keys and simply walking the dog to find out if those bullet-point specs translate into real-world gains.
Mounted on a handlebar the invisible selfie stick effect still works.
Waterproof down to 33 ft without a dive housing.
Key Specifications
Sensor: Dual 1/2-inch
Resolution: 8K 30 fps 360 video, 4K 60 fps wide-angle (170° MaxView)
Stabilization: FlowState with 360° Horizon Lock
Battery: 2290 mAh (135 min rated, 67 percent longer than X3)
Display: 2.5-inch Gorilla Glass touchscreen
Durability: IPX8 waterproof to 33 ft, cold resistant to ‑4 °F
Special features: Invisible selfie stick effect, AI auto editing, removable lens guards
Design and Build
The X4’s chassis looks familiar but small tweaks make it more rugged. The removable lens guards screw in with a satisfying click and survived several concrete drops with only cosmetic scuffs. The enlarged 2.5-inch screen is bright enough for sunny slopes yet doesn’t inflate the overall footprint, keeping the camera GoPro Mini-size.
Video Quality
8K 30 fps 360 clips are undeniably sharper than the 5.7K footage of the previous X3. Tree bark and street signs remain legible after reframing to standard 16:9, and low-light grain is reduced by roughly one stop. Wide-angle 4K 60 fps mode sacrifices resolution but unlocks a buttery 170° field for POV shots. FlowState stabilization and horizon lock work in tandem to deliver gimbal-like steadiness even when I sidelined a berm at 25 mph.
Battery Life and Charging
I filmed alternating 8K and 4K clips for a total of 128 minutes before the battery tapped out at 10 percent in 70 °F weather. That figure dipped to 103 minutes when skiing at 23 °F, still beating the GoPro MAX by nearly 35 minutes. A full charge took 58 minutes using a 30 W USB-C PD brick.
Software and AI Editing
The Insta360 app remains a highlight. Deep Track now recognizes pets and mountain bikes, automatically keeping them centered while you drag a single keyframe. The new “Time-Shift Remix” template spit out a TikTok-ready hyperlapse with beat-matched cuts in under a minute. Desktop Studio remains the better choice for color grading thanks to its 10-bit log export.
Audio
Four microphones capture immersive spatial audio. Wind reduction is improved, though gusts over 20 mph still sneak through. A 3.5 mm mic adapter is sold separately if you need broadcast sound.
Pros and Cons
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Stunning 8K 360 footage with noticeable detail bump | 8K files are large and strain slower computers |
Removable lens guards plus 33 ft waterproofing | Touchscreen still smaller than single-lens rivals |
135 minute battery life with fast USB-C PD charging | Advanced editing tools have learning curve |
AI-driven app makes reframing and sharing effortless | Accessories quickly raise the overall spend |
Verdict
The Insta360 X4 is the most capable consumer 360 camera available right now. Its 8K upgrade is more than a spec sheet flex — it meaningfully improves reframed footage quality while the longer battery and tougher build remove two of the biggest pain points from earlier models. Unless you never touch 360 mode, the X4 is worth the premium over a traditional action cam.
Rating: 9.2/10