A worthwhile panoramic action camera.

It has to be said that Insta360 is increasingly understanding the needs of its target audience.

Insta360 Ace Pro 2, released by Insta360 last month, specifically targets motorcycle riding scenarios, introducing a flip screen, intelligent wind noise reduction, a dashcam mode, speed data acquisition via Apple Watch, and other new features. These made me, a motorcycle enthusiast, quite excited. Unfortunately, I already had a DJI Action 4, and there was a significant overlap in their use cases. Therefore, I decided to spend my budget on another iconic Insta360 product, the Insta360 X4. After all, in the field of panoramic cameras, Insta360 is undoubtedly at the top level.

(Image source: Lei Technology Production)

So, what makes Insta360 the only choice in the panoramic camera market, and does it justify its price of over 3,000 yuan?

Bigger and Stronger

The most significant difference between the Insta360 X4 and X3 is their size. If the Insta360 X3 is like a Snickers bar, the Insta360 X4 is more like a sandwich. This additional size has significantly improved the battery life and screen of the Insta360 X4 compared to its predecessor. The actual measured weight of the Insta360 X4 without any accessories is 200.5g, which is basically too heavy to be mounted on a helmet and can only be fixed to the motorcycle handlebar via a 1/4 screw mount.

(Image source: Lei Technology Production)

Although the battery capacity of the Insta360 X4 has only increased from 1800mAh to 2290mAh, my actual test showed that when recording at 5.7K 60fps in 360° mode, the Insta360 X4 lasted for 74 minutes from full charge to complete depletion. In contrast, the Insta360 X3 entered low battery mode (7%) in less than 40 minutes. For someone like me who enjoys riding, the battery life of the X3 is indeed insufficient.

The front of the Insta360 X4 features a 2.5-inch touchscreen, which is considered a large screen for an action camera. The large screen can display more content and provide a better control experience. Additionally, the surface glass has been upgraded to more scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass, coupled with higher resolution and brightness, making it possible to see the screen clearly even in bright sunlight.

(Image source: Lei Technology Production)

The screen of the Insta360 X4 integrates some daily functions, such as selecting single-lens or 360° panoramic shooting and switching between various shooting modes. There are also two physical buttons at the bottom of the screen for direct operation when touchscreen access is inconvenient.

(Image source: Lei Technology Production)

Regarding the hardware parameters of the product, I'll briefly mention that the Insta360 X4 is equipped with two 48MP sensors with a specific size of 1/2 inch. However, with the support of algorithms, it can record up to 8K 30fps panoramic videos. Additionally, it supports formats such as 360° panoramic motion HDR, standard 5.7K 60fps, 4K 100fps, and 72MP panoramic photos. However, based on my personal experience, 4K 60fps is sufficient for most shooting scenarios, and it also slightly improves battery life.

(Image source: Lei Technology Production)

In terms of other minor parameters, the Insta360 X4 supports dust and water resistance up to 10 meters, voice control, gesture control, and other functions, significantly enhancing its practicality.

However, regarding accessories, I have to say that Insta360's pricing is quite bold. When I accidentally broke the protective lens provided by the official store and wanted to buy a new one, I was discouraged by the price of 228 yuan.

Don't ask why I didn't choose a cheaper, generic protective lens. Rather than spending over 100 yuan on a plastic protective lens, I'd rather spend a bit more on a tempered glass version, which at least offers better wear resistance.

(Image source: Insta360 Official)

I won't go into details about other accessories like the 80-yuan screen protector or the 500-yuan diving case. As someone who uses Insta360 on a budget, I'll just have to wait for third-party manufacturers to introduce compatible accessories as soon as possible.

More Professional Shooting and Smoother Post-Production

The most intuitive upgrade of the Insta360 X4 lies in video recording. The new Insta360 X4 not only supports three field-of-view options: "Natural Wide," "Super Wide," and "De-warp," but also shows significant improvements in overall image quality and exposure control.

Previously, when I used a colleague's Insta360 X3, its image quality in low-light environments could only be described as average. Not only was there severe smearing in the image, but there were also an excessive number of noise points in dark areas, making post-processing almost unnecessary.

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