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Insta360 X4 Air review

No. 9 of 10 in our action cameras ranking · Updated · How we rank

Our verdict: The Insta360 X4 Air ranks 9th of the 10 action cameras we compare, with 8.4 out of 10.

8.4/10

The Insta360 X4 Air is a light 8K 360 camera that records in every direction and lets you choose the framing afterwards. It suits cyclists, motorcyclists and travellers who want third-person shots without carrying much.

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Why it's here

  • 8K 360 capture, with the framing chosen after recording
  • Weighs around 165g and has a built-in wind guard
  • Invisible selfie stick effect for third-person shots
  • Replaceable lenses help when a scratch would otherwise write it off

Keep in mind

  • Editing in the app takes longer than with a single-lens camera
  • Exported flat video is lower resolution than the headline 8K figure
  • Battery life is shorter at the highest settings

Why the Insta360 X4 Air scores 8.4

Each bar shows where it places among the 10 action cameras in this guide, so a full bar is 1st of 10. How happy owners are counts for most of the score.

  • How happy owners are9th of 10
  • How many rated it7th of 10
  • How new it is2nd of 10

Level with the DJI Osmo Action 6

The DJI Osmo Action 6 and the Insta360 X4 Air score the same, so either is a safe pick. The DJI Osmo Action 6 goes first because it is the newer design.

About the Insta360 X4 Air

The X4 Air has two lenses back to back, each behind a 1/1.8-inch sensor, and stitches them into one 360 image. It records 360 video at up to 8K and 30fps. You then reframe the footage in Insta360's app or free desktop software, picking angles, tracking subjects and exporting flat clips. A flat 4K export at 60fps is available for social posts.

It weighs 165g and measures 114 x 46 x 37mm, so it is about the size of a small remote control. That is around 35g less than Insta360's X5. FlowState stabilisation and horizon lock keep footage level, and a built-in wind barrier helps with audio. Used with an invisible selfie stick, the stick vanishes from the stitched footage, which gives the floating third-person look.

The lenses can be replaced by the user with a simple tool. A 360 camera cannot take a flat scratch cover like a single-lens action camera, so this matters if you put it down on rough surfaces. The camera is rated to 15m underwater without a case. The battery is removable, and Insta360 says to use only its own batteries and to keep them between -20°C and 40°C.

What owners report about the Insta360 X4 Air

We could not open any owner reviews or forum threads for this exact model, so we report no owner findings here.

Who the Insta360 X4 Air suits

Buy it if you want to film bike rides, motorbike trips, ski runs or travel without worrying about aiming the camera. The 8K 360 capture, the low weight and the invisible stick effect are the reasons to choose it. It also fits anyone who likes the idea of shooting first and framing later.

Look elsewhere if you want finished clips fast. Reframing 360 footage takes more steps than editing from a single-lens camera, and the flat video you export is well below the 8K headline. Night shooting is its weak spot, as the sensors are small. For dim light, easy editing or a simple point-and-shoot camera, the GoPro HERO13 Black or DJI Osmo Action 6 is a better fit. For a cheaper way into 360 filming, look at the AKASO 360.

Questions about the Insta360 X4 Air

Is the Insta360 X4 Air waterproof?

Yes. It is rated to 15m underwater without a case. A separate dive housing is needed to go deeper, and one reviewer saw some distortion at the stitch line in underwater shots.

What is the Insta360 X4 Air good for?

Filming action where you do not want to aim the camera: cycling, motorcycling, skiing and travel. It records in every direction, and you pick the framing afterwards. The invisible selfie stick effect gives drone-style third-person shots.

What is the difference between the Insta360 X4 Air and the X5?

The X5 has larger 1/1.28-inch sensors against the X4 Air's 1/1.8-inch ones. It also adds the PureVideo low-light mode, 120fps slow motion and 72MP photos, where the X4 Air manages 29MP. The X4 Air is lighter at 165g, against about 200g.

How long does the Insta360 X4 Air battery last?

About an hour and a half of continuous 8K 360 recording, according to one reviewer's runs. Lower settings should last longer, and the battery is removable so you can carry a spare.

Is the Insta360 X4 Air good in low light?

Not especially. Reviewers report grainy, soft footage at night, because the sensors are smaller than the X5's and it lacks the PureVideo low-light mode. It does well in daylight.

Other action camera picks

The other badge winners in our action cameras ranking.

Insta360 Ace Pro 2

8.7/10Best Premium

A rival to GoPro in a single-lens body, with a 1/1.3-inch sensor, a Leica-co-engineered lens and a big flip screen that suits vlogging.

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All 10 action cameras, compared

  1. 1 GoPro HERO13 BlackBest Choice 9.0 Check Price
  2. 2 DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro 8.8 Check Price
  3. 3 Insta360 Ace Pro 2Best Premium 8.7 Check Price
  4. 4 DJI Osmo Nano Standard Combo 8.6 Check Price
  5. 5 GoPro HERO (2024) CHDHF-131Value for Money 8.5 Check Price
  6. 6 AKASO Brave 7 LEBest Budget 8.5 Check Price
  7. 7 Insta360 GO Ultra 8.5 Check Price
  8. 8 DJI Osmo Action 6 8.4 Check Price
  9. 9 Insta360 X4 AirThis review 8.4 Check Price
  10. 10 AKASO 360 8.1 Check Price
See the full action cameras ranking

The Insta360 X4 Air on Amazon

Insta360 X4 Air

The Insta360 X4 Air is a light 8K 360 camera that records in every direction and lets you choose the framing afterwards. 8.4 out of 10.

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How we score it

Every score here comes from our ranking model; no editor sets the order. We haven't read the review sites for this guide yet, so for now it is led by owners. It ranks products by how happy owners are, holding back any product few owners have rated until more agree. How many rated it and how new it is only settle close calls, and value for money earns its own badge rather than a higher place. We compared 11 models for this guide before settling on these ten.

Brands can't pay to be included or to move up. We last checked these picks in November 2026.

How we rank, in full

Where these facts come from