Description
The X4 Air is Insta360’s 360 camera designed for light travel. It captures everything around you in 8K, you choose your framing later in editing, and most importantly, it weighs only 165 grams, about the weight of an iPhone. Insta360 has positioned it between the X4 and the X5: almost everything the big sister does, in a smaller, lighter, and significantly cheaper package.
We’ll be transparent as usual: we haven’t had it in our hands for weeks, we rely on the specs and on the feedback from creators who have tested it in the field (motorcycle, cycling, skiing, urban walks). The feedback is consistent everywhere, and we present it to you unfiltered because it’s what helps in making a decision.
In practice, it’s a travel and action camera. The kind of device you grab when you’re on the move, when the perfect angle is impossible to anticipate, and you want to shoot first and think later.
Who is this camera for?
If you want to discover 360 without aiming for the X5, this is currently the smartest option. You get 8K, interchangeable lenses, and almost all the modes from the range, but for about £200 less than the flagship.
In a van or on a road trip, the use is obvious. You place it on the dashboard to film yourself while driving, you extend it out the window on a pole for a wide shot of the road, and in the evening you choose the angle at your leisure. Its lightweight really changes the game: on a helmet, at the end of a pole, or at the bottom of a pocket, you forget it’s there. It’s the camera for those who want to travel light without sacrificing image quality.
If you’re looking for the best low-light performance and maximum battery life, check out our page on the Insta360 X5. And if budget is the priority above all, the Insta360 X4 remains the entry-level option. The X4 Air, on the other hand, aims for the sweet spot.
What it has under the hood
It shoots in 8K at 360 degrees at 30 fps thanks to its two 1/1.8 inch sensors, larger than those of the X4. This translates to better dynamic range and more consistent colors in output, especially through the Adaptive Tone mode which produces a great image without adjustments. It switches to 6K at 50 fps when you want smoothness, and behaves like a classic action cam in 4K single-lens mode.
The big point, inherited from the X5: the lenses are user-replaceable. On a 360, the optics are the fragile part. A pebble, a fall, and previously you had to throw away the camera. Here, you can change the lens protection at home with a small kit, and you’re good to go. Add waterproofing up to 15 meters, FlowState stabilization, 360 horizon lock, and an audio mode that cuts wind noise: you have a real adventure camera, not a budget version.
Shooting in 360, choosing the angle later
This is the whole point of 360 and what makes it so practical on the go. You start recording, live your moment, and in editing, you reframe the sphere as you wish: a shot that follows you, a rear view, a panorama. The app and the Insta360 Studio software do this work automatically, with AI tracking, and remain by far the simplest on the market. It’s free, included with the camera, and saves you a ton of time compared to the competition.
High-angle shots where drones are banned
This is the use we expect the most in a van. In many places worth visiting, national parks, heritage sites, beaches, city centers, drones are simply prohibited. With the X4 Air at the end of its invisible telescopic pole, you can raise the camera two or three meters above you and capture an elevated viewpoint that no one else has, without breaking any rules. The pole automatically disappears from the shot, and since you’re filming in 360, you can reframe downwards for an almost aerial effect. It’s not a drone, but for capturing a clean view from above when flying is prohibited, it’s the trick we love.
The lightweight, a comfort we underestimate
165 grams may seem trivial on paper. In practice, it’s anything but that. At the end of a pole, a lighter camera means less leverage, thus less fatigue and more stable shots. On a helmet, you barely notice it. And it fits in a jacket pocket, ready to deploy. The trade-off is battery life: about 88 minutes in 8K 30 fps, which is a bit less than the X4 or X5. An extra battery in the bag solves the issue for a full day.
Why buy from Vantour?
Because we send you to buy directly from Insta360, never from a third-party retailer:
- Direct purchase from the brand: the best value for money, without a middleman inflating the price.
- 100% authentic and official product, with full manufacturer warranty.
- Stocks and shipments managed directly by Insta360, so real availability.
- Customer service provided by the brand, for the longest possible duration.
On the pricing side, to give you a concrete idea: £359,00 at the brand, and £341,05 with our code VANTOUR (-5% off).
We’ve spotted it for the van
We’re not going to tell you about a test we haven’t done. What we can say is that on paper and based on field feedback, the X4 Air checks all our boxes for nomads: lightweight, sturdy, repairable, and this story of high-angle shots without a drone really appeals to us for filming the spots where we stop. As soon as we get our hands on it, we’ll update with our experience.
