Why This Compact 360 Camera Stands Out

You can always tell when a tech company pays attention to what people want. The Insta360 X4 Air is that rare camera that feels like it was built by listening first, engineering second.

After years of watching 360 action cameras grow like they were preparing for hibernation, Insta360 finally went the other way. 

They went lighter. Smaller. Simpler.

And as someone who has spent way too much time in the mountains with Insta360 cameras, this shift feels overdue in the best possible way. The X4 Air replaces the original X4 and steps into the lineup as the ‘everyday’ 360 cam. 

It’s not the top model on the shelf. That crown stays with the X5. However, the X4 Air is the one that people will carry more often. That’s the whole point. 

This review is based on real testing and real use, along with a few quiet moments of realizing that the camera fits comfortably in my hand without any juggling.

A Lighter 360 Camera That Finally Makes Sense

The first thing you notice is the weight. At 165 grams, the X4 Air isn’t tiny, but it finally feels like the size an action camera should be. 

It’s also visibly smaller, and you feel that right away. 

One trade-off is the exterior material. It looks and feels a bit cheaper compared to the original X4, which had a more premium finish. But considering the X4 was the biggest of the three, even larger than the flagship X5, the lighter build on the X4 Air makes sense. 

When I first picked it up, the size felt right in a way previous models didn’t. It’s as if the camera finally settled into the form factor it always needed. 

Insta360 always loved adding new tech, but this is the first time in a while that the company has focused on trimming the body rather than expanding it. 

The X4 Air slips easily into a jacket pocket and stays light on a selfie stick. It’s also light enough to wear on a helmet without turning your neck into a sore science experiment, something heavier 360 cameras are guilty of.

This is the kind of weight that makes long filming sessions feel normal, rather than like a workout.

8K in a Camera That Doesn’t Weigh Like It Shoots 8K

The headline feature is an 8K 360 video at 30 frames per second.

On paper, it looks like another big number, but once you shoot fast-moving scenes, you start to understand why it matters. 

The footage stays sharp even when you drag your finger across the frame to reframe shots later. You avoid that soft, muddy look that cheaper 360 cameras often produce.

This is especially useful if you’re a blogger or someone who posts to YouTube. High-resolution reframing gives you more freedom in editing, and platforms like YouTube show the difference right away. 

Your footage retains detail after compression, and the final video appears cleaner and more polished without requiring any additional work on your part. 

Real Use on Snow and Slopes

We tested the X4 Air in various conditions, including sunny, mixed shade, and flat light, as well as everything in between. Most of that testing happened on the mountain while skiing and snowboarding, which is exactly where exposure usually falls apart. 

AdaptiveTone handled these shifts with confidence. It smooths out those harsh lighting dips that normally leave part of the frame glowing like a sunrise, while the rest remains buried in shadow. 

With older cameras, such as the X3 model, exposure often required constant attention. With the X4 Air, it stayed under control without extra effort. 

Active HDR at 8K30 also helped more than expected. Filming bright snow with darker forest patches usually pushes small sensors to their limits. Yet the X4 Air kept the exposure under control and preserved more detail than I’m used to seeing from lightweight action cameras.

This type of performance aligns with the camera’s true purpose. 

When you’re on the mountain, you don’t want camera gear taking up space in your backpack. That space already belongs to your avalanche kit, tea thermos, spare gloves, snacks, and the first aid pouch you hope you never need. 

The X4 Air slips into that setup without demanding attention. It gives you solid image quality while staying out of the way. 

Replaceable Lenses – Continued Trend That We Love

The one accessory I wouldn’t skip with the X4 Air is the replaceable lens bundle. You buy it separately – $39.99 for the double-lens pack – and it’s absolutely worth having in your kit.

This idea isn’t new. Insta360 introduced replaceable lenses with the X5, but bringing that option to the lighter, more affordable X4 Air ecosystem still matters. 

It shows that the company is thinking about durability across the entire lineup, not just at the flagship tier. 

There’s real comfort in knowing you don’t have to treat your selfie stick like a fragile museum object just because a scratch might end your shooting day. 

In the past, a marked lens could mean repairs, shipping, and a long wait. With the replaceable lens pack, you can now handle the swap yourself in the comfort of your own home. 

Built-In Wind Guard, Stabilization, Audio – The Little Things Add Up

A surprising amount of life happens in the wind. Walking. Skiing. Driving. Even standing still on a beach. 

The X4 Air features a built-in wind guard that reduces wind noise, and with the upgraded audio modes and voice enhancement, the camera finally captures sound that you won’t feel the urge to mute during editing. 

It still won’t replace a dedicated microphone, but for an action camera, it’s a solid option. For many users, that’s good enough. 

The only extra accessory I’d consider is the Mic Windshield. It’s tiny, light, and easy to forget you’re even carrying it. 

It reduces wind noise and keeps voices clearer. For Instagram Reels and TikTok, it won’t change much, but for YouTube uploads, it produces noticeably better sound. 

On a windy ridge or a fast descent, that slight improvement can save a lot of frustration later when you’re editing. 

FlowState stabilization remains impressive. I spun the camera while going down the slope, ran with it mounted above me, and shook it during quick turns. The footage stayed level. 

Horizon Lock, which spans 360 degrees, feels almost like cheating. It handles motion with ease and keeps the footage smooth enough that even chaotic filming turns into something pleasant to watch. 

Battery Life, Waterproofing, Controls – Reliable Everyday Workhorse 

The camera uses a 2010 mAh battery, and Insta360 claims up to 88 minutes of 8K30 shooting. 

In our outdoor tests on the mountain, even in moderately cold weather, battery life held up well. Unless you record every single run from start to finish, you won’t burn through a full battery in one go. 

The waterproofing is another area where Insta360 feels confident. 

The X4 Air is safe down to 15 meters without any housing. Although we didn’t take it underwater, previous models, from the X3 to the X5, have consistently handled splashes, wet snow, storms, and melting slush without trouble. 

Control methods give you flexibility. You can use gesture control with simple hand movements, voice commands through Voice Control 2.0, or the Touchscreen for quick adjustments. 

There’s also the Twist-to-Shoot motion control, which lets you start or stop recording by rotating your selfie stick. 

And one small but welcome improvement is the main physical record button. It feels more tactile now, with a more confident click. When the camera is mounted on your helmet, and you’re wearing gloves, that difference matters. 

Editing and Software – Still the Secret Sauce

Shooting great footage is half the battle. The rest happens inside the Insta360 app, which has always been one of the brand’s biggest strengths. 

From the very beginning, Insta360 earned praise because the app was simple, stable, and made every feature easy to find. If you’ve ever spent time in GoPro’s Quick app, you know how chaotic and laggy an editing app can feel. Insta360 never had that problem. 

However, in recent years, the company has continually updated and reshuffled the interface. With every new generation, tools move around, menus shift, and features you rely on suddenly live somewhere else. 

That means each update brings a short scavenger hunt. It gets frustrating, especially when you’re in a hurry or editing on the go. 

Still, there’s a silver lining this time. The Keyframe editor resembles its appearance from the old Insta360 One X2 days. It has that original layout that many of us started with – clean, predictable, and oddly nostalgic. 

Overall, the Insta360 app remains powerful, with smart editing tools and a smooth cloud export process that keeps the workflow ahead of most cameras once you get familiar with it. 

I hope Insta360 continues to listen to users in the same way they clearly did when designing the X4 Air itself. 

The hardware is heading in the right direction. If the app stops jumping around and returns to the stability we loved, the whole ecosystem will feel even stronger.

Price and How X4 Air Compares to Other 360 Cameras

The Insta360 X4 Air starts at $399 for the standalone camera, but it’s currently on sale for $299. 

The GoPro Max 2 sits at $499 (or $399 on sale), and the DJI Osmo 360 comes in at $549.99 for the standard bundle. None of them includes an SD card. 

At this price, the X4 Air offers the best value. 

GoPro hasn’t made meaningful updates to its 360 line in years, and the Max series never gained significant traction. DJI is trying to join the 360 space but still goes through very visible trial-and-error. 

Insta360 feels several generations ahead, and the X4 Air benefits directly from that lead. 

Should You Buy the Insta360 X4 Air? 

The real story with the X4 Air is where Insta360 is heading. 

The company finally leaned into what everyday creators want: a compact, simple 360 camera you can carry all day without thinking about it. It replaces the old X4, which will now be phased out, and the move feels right. 

The X4 Air lands exactly where a modern, no-fuss adventure camera should be. 

For hikers, skiers, bikers, travelers, and anyone seeking strong image quality in a compact form factor, this is the model to choose. 

If you need a bigger sensor and the full Triple AI Chip system, spending about $150 more on the flagship X5 makes sense. 

But for real-world adventures and everyday filming, I’ll be sticking with the X4 Air. 

Anya Zhukova is an in-house tech and crypto writer at Techreport with 10 years of hands-on experience covering cybersecurity, consumer tech, digital privacy, and blockchain. She’s known for turning complex topics into clear, useful advice that regular people can actually understand and use.  Her work has been featured in top-tier digital publications including MakeUseOf, Online Tech Tips, Help Desk Geek, Switching to Mac, and Make Tech Easier.
Whether she’s writing about the latest privacy tools or reviewing a new laptop, her goal is always the same: help readers feel confident and in control of the tech they use every day.  Anya holds a BA in English Philology and Translation from Tula State Pedagogical University and also studied Mass Media and Journalism at Minnesota State University, Mankato. That mix of language, media, and tech has given her a unique lens to look at how technology shapes our daily lives.  Over the years, she’s also taken courses and done research in data privacy, digital security, and ethical writing – skills she uses when tackling sensitive topics like PC hardware, system vulnerabilities, and crypto security.  Anya worked directly with brands like Framework, Insta360, Redmagic, Inmotion, Secretlab, Kodak, and Anker, reviewing their products in real-life scenarios.
Her testing process involves real-world use cases – whether it's stress-testing laptops for creative workloads, reviewing the battery performance of mobile gaming phones, or evaluating the long-term ergonomics of furniture designed for hybrid workspaces.  In the world of crypto, Anya covers everything from beginner guides to deep dives into hardware wallets, DeFi protocols, and Web3 tools. She helps readers understand how to use multisig wallets, keep their assets safe, and choose the right platforms for their needs.  Her writing often touches on financial freedom and privacy – two things she strongly believes should be in everyone’s hands.
Outside of writing, Anya contributes to editorial style guides focused on privacy and inclusivity, and she mentors newer tech writers on how to build subject matter expertise and write responsibly. 
She sticks to high editorial standards, only recommends products she’s personally tested, and always aims to give readers the full picture.  You can find her on LinkedIn, where she shares more about her work and projects. 
Key Areas of Expertise: Consumer Tech (laptops, phones, wearables, etc.) Cybersecurity and Digital Privacy PC/PC Hardware Blockchain, Crypto Wallets, and DeFi In-Depth Product Reviews and Buying Guides Whether she’s reviewing a new wallet or benchmarking a PC build, Anya brings curiosity, care, and a strong sense of responsibility to everything she writes. Her mission? To make the digital world a little easier – and safer – for everyone. 

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