Credits: Insta360

• The Insta360 X4 stands out in the 2024 prime action camera lineup with its 8K 360° video, FlowState Stabilization, AI-enhanced features, and long battery life. However, it’s not entirely fair to compare it directly with its peers DJI and GoPro because they have different form factors.

We've already done simple and brief reviews of the vlogger helpers for 2024, but we missed an essential device for a complete list of this year's new products—the Insta 360 X4 action camera. Although it was released earlier than the new HEROes from GoPro and the OSMO Action 5 Pro from DJI back in April, it differs significantly from comparable action cameras that are essentially their peers. We decided that the 2024 year of release is more important to us than the form factor.

You’re unlikely to look for a more versatile camera than the Insta360 X4 for content creation. With this camera, you can shoot everything from extreme sports to vlogging on the streets. It’s one of the most convenient cameras for travel: compact, with great battery life, and it delivers excellent image quality while shooting in 360° at 8K resolution, which means 4K per lens.

The camera offers excellent stabilization and comes with software for both PCs and smartphones, making it easy to create high-quality content for social media. Just remember, it's important to prepare extra equipment, like selfie sticks, mounts for motorcycles or bicycles, and cases for underwater filming.

The Insta360 X4 looks similar to its predecessor, the Insta360 X3, but has a slightly larger body and screen—2.5 inches compared to 2.3 inches on the previous model. The screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass. On the black plastic body, you'll find four physical buttons: a power button, a button for selecting shooting modes and custom presets, a record button, and a main menu button located beneath the screen. The front features textured diagonal stripes that not only enhance durability but also help hide scratches from extended use.

On the other side, there are two pockets. One holds a USB-C port, which can be connected to an adapter for an external microphone. The second compartment hides the battery; pressing on both sides lets it pop out. There's also a slot for a memory card in the same compartment.

The camera also has impressive specs, including 72 megapixels for photos. It records video in stunning 8K 360°, and it now supports a regular action mode with a single lens, upgraded to deliver smooth, ultra-wide 4K at 60fps.

Insta360 claims to support 8K at 30 FPS, but it's important to understand that 360-degree shooting means that you actually get 4K on one lens, so one could say it's a bit of a marketing trick. You won't achieve a final image for a blog or extreme video in 8K—the maximum will be 4K.

The screen of a 360 Camera allows first-time users to easily rotate video in any direction and manage settings through side menus. Swiping left reviews footage, while swiping right opens exposure settings, which can be set to automatic or manual. A dedicated button accesses the main menu.

The action camera boasts significant improvements, starting with removable protective lenses that are easy to attach and detach, enabling underwater diving up to 10 meters (33 feet) and featuring an IPX8 rating for protection. Additionally, it comes with a more powerful 2290 mAh battery, offering 135 minutes of operation—67% longer than the previous model at 5.7K30fps recordings. Finally, it can endure challenging weather conditions, functioning effectively in low temperatures as low as -20ºC, comparable to the DJI OSMO Action 5 Pro.

The new generation of cameras comes with better technical features and smart options. The Insta360 X4 action camera includes a 5nm AI chip and an intelligent control system, allowing for voice and gesture commands. It has many AI-driven shooting and editing features that make filming easy and fun, while video editing becomes a smooth creative process. One impressive feature lets you instantly remove the selfie stick from videos without any extra work. If a selfie stick appeared in the footage, it won't show up in the final video, making it look like it was never there. The end result is high-quality videos and photos that you’ll want to share with everyone.

The FlowState Stabilization and 360° Horizon Lock features provide smooth, even shots no matter how intense the action is. The Insta360 X4 camera works with various devices, including iOS and Android smartphones, tablets, headphones, and more. It also supports Bluetooth 5.2 and Wi-Fi at 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz (802.11a/b/g/n/ac).

In the box, you'll find the standard set: The Insta360 X4 Standard Bundle includes 1 Insta360 X4 camera, 1 Type-C to Type-C cable, 1 set of standard lens guards, 1 lens cloth, 1 protective pouch, and 1 user guide. Based on feedback, I advise against using the protection while shooting underwater or near water. This design is not truly waterproof, and water can seep in, which will disrupt your recordings.

It’s not entirely correct to make this comparison, as these cameras have different form factors, and the functionality of a 360° camera is significantly better, in my opinion. However, I intended to describe this camera rather than the Insta360 Ace Pro, which is similar to the others on the list but was released last year.

The Insta360 X4 is more expensive than the DJI OSMO Action 5 Pro and the GoPro HERO13, which is not surprising since it's not a single-lens camera, although it can shoot like a regular action camera with one lens. Due to its design, the X4 has a larger battery capacity, but its stated recording time doesn’t greatly exceed that of the others, with the winners in recording time being as follows: first place with 240 minutes for the DJI OSMO Action 5 Pro, second place goes to the GoPro HERO13 with 155 minutes of recording, and third place for the Insta360 X4. This also applies to the "higher" resolution of 8K versus 5.3K in the GoPro and 4K in the DJI since this is all in 360°.

The standout features include being able to capture any angle while shooting, a cool drone view if you buy a required kit and a unique invisible selfie stick effect that makes this camera great. The Insta360 X4 camera is, of course, designed for content creators and traveler vloggers first. It’s a true max camera that allows you to capture everything at once and then edit the material in a very user-friendly app. It provides more opportunities for creating high-quality content.