Insta360 X4 Action Cam Review
When we’re not fine-tuning our home theater systems, many of us have other passions that complement our love for video quality—like photography and videography. It’s not just about enjoying the latest blockbuster; it’s about capturing our own adventures, family moments, or creative projects and reliving them with the same clarity and immersion on our big screens. Photography / Videography allows us to capture our experiences and then watch those moments unfold as if we were right there again, this time in the comfort of our media rooms.
One of the great things about modern 360-degree cameras and action cams is how effortless they make capturing those experiences. These cameras are designed to be portable and user-friendly, so you can grab them and start recording without worrying about missing the perfect shot. They capture everything around you, which means you get every angle, every moment, with minimal effort. And now, with many of these cameras offering 8K resolution, the experience gets even better. As more of us upgrade our media rooms with 8K displays, it only makes sense to shoot and replay our footage in the same quality.
Specifications & Features
The Insta360 X4 is a 360-degree sports camera that brings a solid range of features to the table. It’s capable of shooting video at resolutions up to 8K at 30 frames per second, or 5.7K at 60 frames per second. If you want your video to resemble a Zack Snyder film, the camera shoots slow-motion shots in 4K at 100 frames per second. If you prefer standard wide-angle shots, it can handle 4K at 30 frames per second.
When it comes to photography, the X4 gives you some flexibility with its resolution settings. You can capture 360-degree images at 72MP or 18MP, or switch to single-lens mode for 36MP or 9MP shots. The camera uses H.265 encoding by default, but H.264 is an option if that fits your needs better. The X4 also offers a few color profiles like Vivid, Standard, and Log, which can be useful depending on how much editing you plan to do afterward.
The Insta360 X4 offers a variety of shooting modes to help you capture different types of footage. The Bullet Time effect, for example, records at 120fps and creates a 360-degree rotation with you at the center of the scene. Hyperlapse mode is designed for creating speed-ramped videos while you're on the move, and Timelapse mode is more suited for capturing slower changes, like sunsets or sunrises, with the camera in a stationary position.
In single-lens mode, MeMode helps keep the subject centered using subject tracking, and FreeFrame mode allows you to adjust the aspect ratio, making it easy to choose between horizontal or vertical orientation for sharing your footage. There are also basic shooting modes such as HDR Photo, HDR Video, Loop, Starlapse, and more.
Design & Touchscreen
The Insta360 X4 is surprisingly compact for a camera that can shoot up to 8K footage. It measures 4.87-inches tall, 1.80-inches wide, and 1.48-inches deep and it weighs just 7.16 ounces. The design is a bit different from what you might expect if you're used to the typical GoPro style. The X4 has a stick-like form, which makes it easy to handle. The front features a hard rubber cover that improves grip, and on the back is where you'll find the large touchscreen and main control buttons. The camera is equipped with twin ultra-wide lenses that cover the full 360-degree field of view. To keep them protected, the camera comes with lightweight, clear lens protectors that screw on and off as needed.
The X4 is designed with durability in mind, featuring an IPX8 rating, which makes it fully waterproof up to 33 feet (10 meters). For those who want to take the camera even deeper, there’s an optional Dive Case that extends its waterproof capabilities to 164 feet. The ports are sealed with rubber to protect them from water and dust. One side of the camera includes a microphone, a covered USB-C port for charging and connecting accessories, and a slot for the swappable battery. On the opposite side, there’s another microphone, along with the power button and a customizable Quick button.
Even though the buttons are covered with thick rubber, they remain responsive, including the capture and mode buttons located just below the touchscreen. On the bottom of the camera, there’s a standard quarter-inch socket, which allows for easy attachment to a variety of Insta360 accessories. The camera is powered by a 2,290mAh battery which provides up to 135 minutes of recording time. It records onto microSD memory cards, supporting up to 1TB.
The Insta360 X4 features a 2.5-inch Gorilla Glass touchscreen that’s easy to see, even in direct sunlight. This makes framing your shots outdoors easy. But the touchscreen isn’t just for framing; it also gives you access to a variety of controls. Swiping from right to left reveals exposure settings, including options for adjusting the color profile, while swiping from left to right opens your photo and video gallery for playback. During playback, you can swipe the screen to explore the 360-degree perspective.
Swiping down from the top of the screen brings up the main menu, where you can activate controls like gesture and voice commands, as well as connect to compatible Bluetooth devices. You can also adjust the screen brightness here. There are on-screen descriptions that appear for most controls and shooting modes, which is especially useful when you’re getting familiar with the camera’s features.
Setup
Setting up the Insta360 X4 is straightforward. The package includes standard lens guards, a battery, a Thermo Grip Cover, a USB-C-to-USB-C cable, a protective pouch, a lens cloth, and a user guide. I received the Get Set bundle, which also includes an "invisible" selfie stick that automatically gets removed from your shots, along with a screen protector and lens cap. Inserting the SD card is simple—just open the battery compartment, pop out the battery, and slide the card into the designated slot on the side.
The Insta360 X4 comes with a mobile app that helps you manage and edit your content. Available for both iOS and Android, the app allows you to access your photos and videos, as well as handle basic editing and sharing. It’s fairly straightforward to use—once you download and open the app, you’re prompted to connect your camera and check for any software updates.
The app is divided into sections. At the top, there are tabs for Tutorials, For You, and Activities. At the bottom, you’ll find icons for your album (to view and manage content transferred from the camera), camera controls, editing tools, and settings.
Most of my time was spent in the Album section, where you can review and make basic edits to your media. You can edit 360-degree photos, use Insta360's video templates to create content from your own media and adjust settings like contrast, color, playback speed, and filters. The app also handles file conversion, exporting your photos and videos by converting INSV and INSP files into MP4 and JPG formats, making it easy to share on social media or save to your device.
Performance
Testing the Insta360 X4 was an enjoyable experience. While some might think they don’t need to shoot 360-degree video, the option to crop, reframe, and still get quality footage adds versatility that can come in handy. Even when using just one lens, the X4 delivers sharp and clean images, especially in daylight. The camera shines in bright sunlight, producing clear, detailed video.
Like most action cams, the X4 isn’t at its best indoors or in low light, where the footage starts to show more noise and a drop in detail. If the camera detects that you’re shooting in low light, it provides an on-screen recommendation to lower your video resolution from 8K to 5.7K to help improve the image quality. The footage is still very usable, but the difference is noticeable, which is pretty typical for this type of camera. During use, I did notice the camera gets a bit warm, but it’s not so hot that it becomes uncomfortable to touch or significantly impacts battery life. What really stood out was the Insta360 FlowState Stabilization.
I took the camera on a run, where shaky footage is usually inevitable, even with stabilization. While there is still some movement, it's minimal and impressively smoothed out. On the photo side, the X4 does a really good job. I primarily used the single-lens mode, capturing stills at 36MP, and the results were clear and detailed. When it comes to audio, the X4 offers several modes, including Auto Wind Reduction, Active Wind Reduction, Stereo, and Direction Focus. The audio quality is quite good for regular videos. Even with a significant amount of background noise outdoors, voices still came through loud, clear, and natural. However, if you’re looking for the best sound possible, an external microphone might be a better choice.
Conclusion
For those of us who are passionate about both home theater and photography, the X4 offers an exciting way to capture and relive experiences with the same clarity and immersion we appreciate in our media rooms. The Insta360 X4 is priced at $499.99 for the camera alone, with the Get Set bundle—which includes a selfie stick, screen protector, and lens cap—available for $531.
The company offers several bundle options on its website to suit different needs. Given its features and performance, the X4 stands out as one of the top 360 cameras on the market. It strikes a solid balance between image quality, versatility, and ease of use, making it an excellent choice for anyone who enjoys capturing high-quality video and photos.
If you're interested in testing out the camera for yourself, we've partnered with Insta360 to offer our readers an exclusive free 64GB SD Card with the link HERE. You can also use promo code INRSH5L during checkout. This offer is valid until November 19 or for the first 30 Insta360 X4 camera purchases.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Excellent touch screen | Low light can look a bit grainy |
Easy-to-use editing software | Runs a little hot |
8K resolution |
FAQ
What can you do with a 360 camera?
A 360 camera records video in every direction at the same time. This allows you to choose any part of the scene to create a traditional square or rectangular video. Imagine the footage as a sphere with an image wrapped around it—you can pick any section of that sphere to frame your final shot.
What is the difference between electronic and optical image stabilization?
Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) uses software algorithms to reduce shake by cropping and adjusting the frame, while Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) physically moves the camera lens or sensor to counteract motion, resulting in smoother video.
What is the importance of frame rates in action cameras?
Frame rates, measured in frames per second (fps), affect the smoothness of video. Higher frame rates (e.g., 120fps or 240fps) are ideal for slow-motion playback, while standard rates (e.g., 30fps or 60fps) are suitable for most regular video recording.
How do different codecs (e.g., H.264 vs. H.265) impact video quality and storage in action cameras?
H.264 and H.265 are video compression standards. H.265 (HEVC) offers better compression, resulting in smaller file sizes while maintaining high quality, but it requires more processing power for encoding and decoding compared to H.264.
