Insta360 X4: The Ultimate Camera for Solo Content Creators

As a journalist, I’ve had the privilege of attending numerous tech conferences, including high-profile events like Apple’s annual iPhone launch and the Mobile World Congress in Spain. At these events, I’ve noticed a trend - the cameras that dominate the scene are iPhones, followed closely by Sony mirrorless cameras and Insta360 X3s. The X3 has been a favorite among solo content creators who don’t have the luxury of an extra hand or time to frame a shot. With the X3, they can simply hit record and capture everything in their environment.

The new Insta360 X4 takes this concept to the next level. It can shoot 360-degree footage in 8K resolution, which can then be reframed into 4K videos - ideal for solo travelers or creators. The extra pixels mean the footage appears sharper, and the 8K resolution is close to professional-level 360-degree footage.

“The X4 is going to take that to another level, because it ups the maximum 360 video resolution to 8K, instead of 5.7K from before. The extra pixels mean footage appears sharper, and 8K resolution is close enough to a professional level 360 footage.” - [Source]

But what’s the use case for 360-degree footage? Most people, including myself, shoot a 360 video first and then reframe the video later, exporting a “normal” video. The extra resolution comes into play here too. With the X3, the reframed footage maxed out at 2.7K, but the new X4 can produce a 4K video.

The X4’s larger sensors and better chip allow it to shoot in higher resolution or faster framerate in every mode.

The X4 has increased in size to house a bigger battery and provide more space for heat dissipation. It’s still a very portable package, weighing 203g and measuring 46x123.6x37.6mm, but it’s about 10% bigger than the X3. The extra size allows for a larger 2.5-inch screen, which is also brighter than before.

The X4’s screen is larger and brighter than before, making it perfect for real-world use.

The reason this camera is so popular with solo creators is that not only can it record footage all around you, which can be reframed later, but Insta360’s software also does a very intelligent job. For example, you can hold the camera out far away with a selfie stick, and the software will erase the selfie stick, making it appear as if someone else is holding the camera from a distance.

The X4’s software can erase the selfie stick, making it appear as if someone else is holding the camera.

The X4’s larger sensors and better chip allow it to shoot in higher resolution or faster framerate in every mode, including slow motion, timelapse, etc. It’s an improvement over the X3 in every area, other than overall size.

The X4 starts at $529 for the most basic package, which includes the camera and some small accessories. If you add some widely used extras like a selfie stick, an extra battery, card reader, etc., the price jumps to well over $640. But considering how much this camera can do, I think plenty of one-man content creators, frequent travelers, vloggers, and influencers would make good use of this versatile device.