The Insta360 X4 is in its GoPro Hero era

This is the new $500 Insta360 X4. It is capable of 360 video at 8k, 30fps, 5.7k, 60fps, and 4k, 100fps. It can take 72MP 360 degree photos. It is waterproof down 10 meters. It has great stabilization, a battery rated for 75 minutes of 8k footage, and it has a much improved removable lens guard system. But unlike previous X series cameras there are no fancy software tricks or large hardware overhauls in the X4. Which begs the question: has the X series hit its peak?
Read more: www.theverge.com/e/23895536
0:00 Hello Insta360 X4
0:28 New specs you should know about
1:29 The story of the GoPro Hero lineup
3:05 Where Insta360 currently stands
3:41 The story of the Insta360 X lineup
4:13 One X vs. X2 vs. X3 vs. X4
4:51 Insta360 X4 comments
5:55 The real question about the X lineup
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[@TheVerge]

What do you think is next for the X series? 10k?!

[@DominicPettifer]

Bigger image sensors for better low-light recording.

[@actoraine_]

How about ability to remove unused portion of the vid to shrink the file size. 360 vids are huge

[@ridetardjackass]

I need a 360 Action Camera that's made for night and ghost hunting ...

[@KillerkoUK]

personally... I would be happy if they just add "Save as" in their editing app... so you can edit like a pro and not salvage your keyframes from a random name directory in your appdata folder :D ...I know, I know.. not everybody is so EXTREME like saving their project... but maybe.. JUST MAYBE in next 2 years.. we can get this 😅

[@JohnMFlores]

Another great Becca vid; really puts X in context. I've hung the original X, X2, and (very carefully) the RS with 1" 360 cams off of motorcycles and bicycles for years. I skipped the X3 but maybe it's time to upgrade to the X4. But it's bigger and likely heavier. I expect the coming months will be filled with complaints about failing selfie sticks and mounts. I may be the only one, but I'd love to see the series branch off with lightweight models, either back to the X2 size or, better yet, the Go2 size. Better for action, better for drones. I know GoPro has tried this with little success but I still want lighter.

[@sergiodeoliveira5358]

I think the video missed another big reason for increased resolution - 360 degree VR content. You really need 8k+ resolution for VR to not look fuzzy and soft. I believe the X4 is a transitional product in that respect as 30fps in VR isn't great. It would be nice if they eventually supported ambisonic audio as well.

[@BeccaFarsace]

great point! What 360 content are you watching in VR currently? Where are you getting it?

[@bilawalm1]

I was wondering why it's 8k. Thanks

[@skylargreyjuly]

Absolutely spot-on 👍

[@stefanhenratter7196]

What you need is good image quality and thus SENSORS. This one has the same poor sensor as the X3.

[@SkyDomeVIZE]

Definitely a much needed upgrade, but insta360 One R series IMO was a show stopper because at the end it is Insta360 software that is the real difference. I'm still hoping Insta360 release a new version of the One R , with 8k 3d mod, especially with VR. Does anyone remember Xiaomi Mi Sphere from 2017?

[@carojeiu5191]

The real benefits of 8K is the reframed footage. After reframing, you've got some footage that is on par with the regular camera. This is huge for video production

[@Baneling93]

Yep, I use my x3 a lot but mostly just reframe the 360 footage so I get a regular video of whatever was happening. This resolution bump will be super nice for that.

[@demonhogo]

Exactly. I think most of these reviewers are out of touch and kind of miss the point

[@liamness]

Yeah the footage from my X3 is way worse after reframing than any half decent camera that you have to frame more intentionally in advance. But the whole fun of these camera is not having to pick your shots in advance. The footage, in good light, and viewed at typical mobile / social media sizes, generally looks pretty good.

[@peter1088]

Becca is a treasure. Even when I don't think I'll be interested in the topic or device at all, I always end up fascinated and learning something.

[@PutTheKettleOnGromit]

Snowboarding as a business expense, Nice!

[@michaelprovence]

This video is more about the X5 Than the X4 😂

[@benislosthushan4490]

That ending whistle of the video is just 🔥

[@RobertBoerner]

Your videos are always excellent, because you always provide context. Also, bonus points for using the word ‘salve’, which you don’t hear that often :-)

[@SerYang]

I really don't see the value in speculating whether this will be the final form of the product. So what if it is, so what if it isn't? It does not take away what's good or bad about this camera itself, does it? I thought I'm here to learn about the camera, not of such inconsequential and speculative issue.

[@2_Bike_is_Life]

It has to do with market saturation. Same business model as the GoPro. If you can't innovate and get people to buy the next greatest thing, your business will stagnate.

[@jmc6209]

They put the same small sensor than previous camera

[@yuzehe9375]

Thanks for sharing, I think the X4 is really amazing. At first, when we use it with 5.7K resolution, the frame rate is 60, quite higher than the X3 before. And the new lens guard is also covenient to be put on and removed. Tha battery lasts also much longer than before, over 130 munutes, that's quite a thing. So I would say,. Insta360 X4 is the strongest360 action cam on the market.

[@britneyforever]

woah, this video is short and sweet, didn't expect the analogy lol. I think the market is still accepting the 360 action camera for major action sports and hopefully insta360 can make this type of consumer 360 camera more mainstream. The 8K looks sweet and good to know the battery life is holding up.

[@HeathCajandigforreal]

I really appreciate your camera reviews, well balanced and it's clear you know the subject material. Thank you.

[@sturm3n]

It's almost perfect for me: I just hope the X5 adds true 10-bit and Insta360 adds their log format to Davinci Resolve's color management. Then it'll be ready for the next decade of media!

[@frankcosgrove9958]

Because your a legend , could watch your content all day , it’s all about the story and personality, you won KZbin today

[@fusionxframes.]

It's time to buy the X3 then 😅

[@costagf]

how does it compare to it's other closest INSTA cam? The Insta360 ONE RS 1-Inch 360 Edition. (they got to work on naming...)

[@miket7396]

Thanks for the review - I mainly use my X3 for still photography (uploading to Google maps) rather than videos. Is there any improvement on the quality of stills?

[@ak_hoops]

Love a Becca video! Doesn't miss. Honestly if I ever expand on what I shoot, I would shoot for this though great point about the resolution may not be needed depending on where footage would be seen most

[@dalbertsnyc]

I love your angle! As if someone asked if you’d like to see something cool, and you go to glance around them to see if anything else cooler might be showing up 😂

[@babyandromeda8762]

Would this be good good camera for gym videos?

[@squeezedoz]

What a talent, true thoughtful tech reporting. She is reinventing something new herself.

[@oscarjeans4119]

What desk pad are you using at 0:15 ? Is it an actual cutting mat or is it just a desk pad styled as one?

[@aliettienne2907]

The size look great for what it can do and also for the latest technology that can be integrated into its overall design form factor. 😎💯💪🏿👍🏿

[@skylargreyjuly]

Thanks for the info! this is gonna be another good product. Just simply like the lens guard and the heat dissipation design, should be much improved than X3!

[@qbgabe12]

Waiting for Insta 360 Go 4

[@craigpugsley]

Becca, I love everything you do! Keep it up!

[@FLG8r]

speaking of GoPro: will the GoPro Hero Max '2' ever come to fruition ... getting ready to jump ship, pull the trigger, and get this Insta360 X4.

[@illgazillion]

How do you keep it cool while mountain biking? Especially in the summer?

[@tanksoo]

You got wind with biking, isn't it?

[@niketanparmar7267]

Amazing 😮

[@DAXimusTT]

Well said. Always love your coverage of tech. Thank you.

[@sentientkeyboard]

I’m a simple man… I see Becca, I click.

[@MiyagisRant]

Innovation is key, other companies have been laying dormant and riding on coat tails for too long. There's a new sheriff in town and it's looking good so far, maybe it will wake competition up from their hibernation ;)

[@illgazillion]

You are funny, with the drone…. Love you kept it in the video.

[@jorge10928]

The GoPro problem is that the cameras overheat. Everything else is secondary.

[@camilo8cheryl]

I just bought the X3 last xmas, i only use it on daylight environment and vacations..ill wait for the X5 if they improve the low light.

[@maxix545]

Becca never misses.

[@TyKix]

Why does its use in VR always get overlooked. 8K is a great bump in quality for people who want to see real world scale and more res in a VR headset. immersive media content creators need tools like this.

[@tenphan0n0]

I see Becca, I click Like

[@iconicmnl3498]

I just hope they don't stop producing accessories for the older models like for X2 the dive case became obsolete when the X3 was released they never sold x2 dive case again :(

[@tapasyak429]

What about low light?

[@TheSaint226]

Your videos are awesome!

[@izakshuvo8434]

Apple Vision Pro, Spatial Video. Insta360 should make an open source version of that to view on the Meta Quest 3.

[@chino397]

Calling it now... their next new product category will be security camera

[@BlownMacTruck]

What? That would be exceedingly lame. There are already plenty of security cameras that do 360º views, and at MUCH higher resolution. I don't want 8k from the tiny sensor on the Insta360 with an extremely wide FOV and no ability to view things in high res more than an arm's length away. Please don't talk about things you have no idea about.

[@chino397]

@BlownMacTruck gosh, you must be fun at parties

[@BlownMacTruck]

@@chino397When you have nothing pertinent to say you don’t have to respond.

[@chino397]

That's very hypocritical of you after reading your replies to other comments lol

[@BlownMacTruck]

@@chino397 That's irrelevant, as I directly responded to your comment with why it didn't work, and you've done nothing to discuss it further or challenge the premise. Instead you continue to try and distract from that.

[@MatthewParksSr]

If a user has a X3, do you think the X4 is worth the upgrade?

[@cameronkennedy7053]

The real benefits are: automatic gimbal and the SOFTWARE... GoPro made it easy to shoot and awful to share. Insta360 is completely solving the share feature.

[@anerdwitdacamera204]

My problem is that there is no significant improvement on the video or images qualities in the past few years. I still have my insta one r and I don’t find good reason to upgrade. Plus I really hate their social media like invasive app. I don’t want to use an app that have servers mostly in China.

[@firstsoldier4257]

they dont have good software why you thing camera make all alone !? its like iphone camera and software make everthing

[@kiantech]

Ok so how does the new resolution compare, not real valuable insight from this.

[@Remix26]

Buuuuud! Great vid as always 🫡

[@MichaelBylehn]

Form factor is the final one? I hope not. It's a terrible for factor for putting eg. on a helmet.

[@asimkasir]

Removable lens guard is the only real update... The rest same...

[@ParaSucd]

Is Becca the only one left at The Verge, who is doing proper reviews?

[@Priimerra]

is it an ad?

[@iblackfeathers]

gopro overheating helped contribute to its downfall. then you had dji make their own version with modular attachments. its 360 camera also had issues which consumers didn't like and opted for the insta360 lineup instead. same with the drone. gopro may have been first to market and pioneered a lot from the attachments to the paradigm, but fix the overheating issue already and make something compelling without issues that would make it unusable.

[@Mateusz-jl1sv]

Go pro is designed for action use. No overheating will happen when you are doing wheelie at 120mph or jumping from the plane. Basically it’s same for all of the ACTION cameras

[@firstsoldier4257]

@@Mateusz-jl1sv insta360 x3 or x4 there not action camera they give with lens guard they know shity lens they have i dont think about the talk software and huge files

[@FoxyCAMTV]

Its a tool,to help you capture your adventures in 360.If you constantly focus on the product instead of focusing on your adventure....You are doing it wrong. I would care less if it doesn't change from now on.

[@flaxvert]

Can you upload a 360 video?

[@dferrerll]

Smaller than the X2 at least with similar specs... The X2 buttons are too bad with winter gloves

[@BladimirSalazar]

What about low light? Is it better? Does the footage look noisy?

[@hanve]

❤❤❤

[@Harvey1976]

but nonetheless x4 might still be the best 360 camera ever 😅

[@flavioc.209]

X4 is indeed a small spec bump over the X3 . Does using the same 1/2 inch sensor for 3 generations ( X2, X3, X4...) qualify for "innovation" ? it still performs poorly in low light conditions, when you are forced to drop settings to 5.7k 30 fps . X5? I can tell you right now what specs will be like : 1/1.3 sensors from Ace Pro, and only because 18 months for now will be cheaper for the company to use that component, giving them higher profit. Their marketing will certainly call it "miracle and innovation "

[@ROAMitRALPH]

X2 used a different sensor

[@flavioc.209]

@@ROAMitRALPH that’s true innovation ;)

[@dbmooo]

Great review!

[@demonhogo]

Every camera they’ve released before this just had a really mediocre and sometimes just plain BAD image. I’ve owned every single one including the 1” and am just continually disappointed. This still has 8 bit color, but I’m hoping the resolution makes it at usable for pro level projects

[@ALBRAINER]

guys i really really need one but cant afford it, can some one make my dream come true pleasee?

[@lil----lil]

Never wanted nor cared for 8K. A waste of resource and extra $ for nothing. We're just not there yet. 4k isn't even mainstream _yet._ Getting there but not quite. Name ONE person that you personally know who has an 8K Monitor/TV. Didn't think so. I hear you say VR? Please. Vision Pro is basically DOA.

[@alainchristian]

Just a spec bump. I'm a stay with the X3. So glad I don't have FOMO over this.

[@BlownMacTruck]

You clearly do, as you're trying to reassure yourself with your comment.

[@alainchristian]

@@BlownMacTruck I left that comment two weeks ago and haven’t thought about the device since. Are you projecting on me??? 🤔 Also, two weeks ago when I was looking at it the reviewers had the same thing to say. So if it’s a must have device for you, enjoy. I don’t need it. Now leave me alone and stay out of my mentions.

[@BlownMacTruck]

@@alainchristian See, on the internet, comments don't age and disappear. This may be a difficult concept for you to fully understand, but give it a shot.

[@alainchristian]

@@BlownMacTruckYou’re kinda slow huh? Still use Velcro laces as an adult? I said that to demonstrate how dead the topic is for me. Try to keep up.

[@BlownMacTruck]

@@alainchristian It's dead to you, yet you keep responding out of desperation. It's completely bizarre how you can't even be honest with yourself.

[@deshpardeshkochautari8910]

wow ! most useful information video 👍️

[@PiecesofVinyl]

Buyer beware on all these videos - this is KZbinr influencer at its HIGHEST - the embargo has lifted - there are 50 videos out there about this "ACTION CAMERA" - and what NONE OF THEM TELL YOU - is that these lenses are DELICATE - like you WILL SCRATCH the lens in snow - or on a bike trail - or a dropping it on a table - and then - it will cost (at least it did on previous models) $99 to fix it - or all your footage will have a smudge from the scratch. Also - you have to write an email to them explaining it - then wait 4 weeks for a reply - then fill out a form and pay the $99 plus shipping - to CHINA - then - wait another 4 weeks - until you get our camera back.....ALL of these videos got a FREE camera - and then went snowboarding - and if they had to pay $500 for the camera - then another $99 if they dropped it in the snow - which WILL scratch it - they would not use it. The lens guards dont work - in fact I had one scratch my actual lens when the camera hit the ground while not even snowboarding - SLEDDING on a bunny hill! BUYER BEWARE! These are just commercials for free cameras given to influencers.

[@firstsoldier4257]

every where i see same videos they saying alltogether how good is the camera but not so is

[@FLOODOFSINS]

Is 499 by the way. Let's stop this online misinformation BS

[@maxix545]

She said it at the beginning tho

[@ridetardjackass]

I would have bought it if they added PureShot Low light mode ... X3 good enough 4 me ...