360° cameras are cool because they let you be in the moment and you can worry about framing the shot later. However, once you dial down the field of view to something more traditional, you notice how little detail there is – especially at 4K but even with 5.7K cameras like the Insta360 X3. One way to fix that is to increase the resolution to 8K.
Meet the Insta360 X4, the company’s first
8K 360° camera. It can record 8K videos at 30fps and it now uses the more
efficient H.265 codec (the X3 only did H.264). Even so, the maximum bitrate for
videos has been increased to 200Mbps (from 120Mbps) to handle the extra
resolution. But if the 5.7K resolution of the old model was enough for you, the
X4 is still a worthy upgrade – it can now record 5.7K at 60fps (up from 30fps)
and 4K at 100fps.
There are additional enhancements too. For
example, if you’re lazy and use Me Mode (which automatically keeps you in the
frame, so you don’t need to process footage later), you will get out a 4K 30fps
clip in the end, compared to the 1080p resolution that the X3 could achieve.
MaxView, which shoots videos with a 170°
FoV, now records in 4K at 60fps, up from 30fps. Timelapse videos get a
resolution boost to 11K (up from 8K). In short, if the Insta360 X3 ever felt
limited in terms of resolution or frame rate, the X4 is a major improvement.
There are quality of life upgrades on the new model too. For starters, the
touchscreen is a larger 2.5” panel (up from 2.29”) that is guarded by Gorilla
Glass. The two fish eye lenses on the camera also have removable lens guards to
prevent permanent scratches (you get the standard version in the retail
package, but there is a more durable premium version too).
The new 2,290mAh battery offers a massive
boost to endurance (more than a simple comparison against the 1,800mAh capacity
of the old model would suggest). The X4 can last up to 135 minutes in 5.7K
30fps mode, 67% longer than the X3. The new 8K mode drains the battery in 75
minutes. Like before, the camera is rated to dive 10m/33ft under water without
additional protection. There is an Invisible Dive Case that allows you to go
deeper, 50m/164ft. Also, it can run in cold environments, down to -20°C/-4°F,
for capturing videos during your ski trip. Note that the camera is 23g heavier
and now tips the scales at 203g.
The improved video recording skills and
longer endurance are in part due to the 5nm AI chip that powers the camera. The
camera still uses a 1/2” sensor that can capture 72MP stills (with INSP and DNG
formats available). The Insta360 X4 is available starting today, you can find
it on the company’s online store as well as retailers like Amazon. The camera
costs US$ 500 in the US and € 560 in Europe. The Invisible Diving Bundle pushes the
price up to US$ 680/€ 767 and there is a GPS bundle for US$ 711/€ 806. The latter
includes the Insta360 GPS Preview Remote.
