Just six months after launching the excellent X5, Shenzhen-headquartered Insta360 is back with another 360 camera: the X4 Air. If you’re wondering how the line’s numbering is going backwards, it’s because the X4 Air is not intended to be a successor to the X5, but rather an update on the X4, which came out in May 2024.
The X4 Air is lighter and thinner than the X4 while bringing a slightly larger image sensor (1/1.8-inch compared to 1/2-inch), and it’s also cheaper, with a starting price of $399, making it the cheapest 360 camera that can shoot 8K resolution videos.
To be clear, the X5 (along with rival DJI Osmo 360) are still more capable than the X4 Air, but they’re considered a higher tier of products, with much larger image sensors and computing power, and are priced accordingly at around $600.
The X4 Air carries mostly the same shape and design language of the X4 and X5, just a bit shorter and lighter. The height difference is almost a non-factor, but the lighter weight of 165g compared to the X4’s 203g is noticeable.
The smaller size does have some compromise: the color touchscreen of the X4 Air is smaller at 1.75-inch compared to 2.5-inches, and the battery is smaller, resulting in about 88 minutes of battery life compared to over 120 minutes for the X4 and X5.
The X4 Air’s footage looks great during the day. With a slightly larger sensor and newer processing algorithms, the X4 Air footage looks better than the X4 of course, but it also keeps up quite well with the X5 during the day. In low light conditions that’s when the X5’s much larger 1/1.3-inch sensor comes into play. The X4 Air’s footage at night isn’t bad, but it’s noticeably noisier.
The most feature-packed and intuitive software
When I reviewed DJI’s 360 cameras, I said the hardware was every bit as good as the Insta360 X5, but the latter was still better due to more mature software and comprehensive list of features. That’s always been a strength of Insta360 and it applies to the X4 Air too. The camera can shoot a variety of videos, from 360 videos that capture the entire scene, to a very useful “Me Mode” that allows the camera to be held at hip height while still filming the user center frame, to easy to use timelapse modes. The Insta360 companion app is also best in class, so good that I do 95% of my editing and exporting on it, foregoing the desktop app that is even more capable.
Ultimately, the Insta360 X4 Air doesn’t do anything the X4 or X5 didn’t already do. I gave both of those cameras rave reviews, and the X4 Air definitely is a great performer.
For me, someone who does not mind splurging a bit more for the best tech, I’d still choose the X5 over the X4 Air. But I can see those who want to save a bit of money, or have a lighter carry, would opt for this one.
