Insta360 X4 Air vs Insta360 X3
In short: The Insta360 X3 costs $120 less; the Insta360 X4 Air collects light over 38 mm² per lens against 31, which is 1.2× the area; the Insta360 X4 Air reframes to about 1.7K against 1.3K; the Insta360 X4 Air goes 15 m deep with no housing against 10 m; the Insta360 X4 Air claims 1 h 28 min at 8K30 360 video, screen off, Wi-Fi on auto, standard bitrate.
| Spec | Insta360 X4 Air | Insta360 X3 |
|---|---|---|
| Approx. price | ~$399 | ~$279 |
| Year-one cost | ~$435 with the plan | ~$315 with the plan |
| Type | 360 | 360 |
| Sensor size | 2 × 1/1.8-inch | 2 × 1/2-inch |
| Sensor area | 38 mm² per lens | 31 mm² per lens |
| Max resolution | 8K 360 @ 30fps | 5.7K 360 @ 30fps |
| Reframed resolution | ≈1.7K (estimated) | ≈1.3K (estimated) |
| Max fps at 4K | 50 | 30 |
| Max fps at 1080p | 60 | 60 |
| Max bitrate | 180 Mbps | Not published |
| Colour depth | Not published | Not published |
| Log profile | None | None |
| Stabilisation | FlowState | FlowState |
| Horizon lock | 360° (full) | 360° (full) |
| Aperture | f/1.95 | f/1.9 |
| Waterproof | 15 m bare, 60 m cased | 10 m bare, 50 m cased |
| Claimed runtime | 1 h 28 min at 8K30 360 video, screen off, Wi-Fi on auto, standard bitrate | 1 h 21 min at 5.7K30 360 video, lab conditions |
| Tested runtime | No third-party test collected | No third-party test collected |
| Battery | 2010 mAh | 2290 mAh |
| Cold rating | -4°F | -4°F |
| Weight | 165 g | 180 g |
| Screens | 2.09-inch rear touch | 2.29-inch rear touch |
| Mount | Magnetic quick-release + 1/4-20 | 1/4-20 |
| Replaceable lenses | Yes | No |
| GPS | No | No |
| Voice control | Yes | Yes |
| Storage | microSD | microSD |
| Subscription | Insta360+, ~$35.88/yr | Insta360+, ~$35.88/yr |
| Released | 2025 | 2022 |
A highlighted cell is the outright better figure in that row, and only where one direction is unambiguously better. Weight, field of view and battery capacity are left neutral because the better direction depends entirely on what you are shooting.
Strengths and drawbacks
Insta360 X4 Air
- +35 g lighter than the X5, which is felt immediately on a pole or a helmet
- +Replaceable lenses and 15 m bare waterproofing, both inherited from the X5
- +Bigger sensors and a lower price than the X4 it sits beside
- +Magnetic mounting, which the X4 does not have
- −Sensors are roughly half the X5's area — this is a daylight camera
- −Single-lens mode caps at 4K50 against the X5's 4K120
- −88 minutes at 8K30 from a smaller 2010 mAh battery
- −No colour bit depth published, same as the rest of the line below the X6
- −The 2010 mAh cell is the smallest battery in the current X-series
Insta360 X3
- +Under $300, the cheapest current 360 camera from a major brand
- +Same FlowState stabilisation and reframing workflow as the flagships
- +2290 mAh battery is bigger than several newer cameras'
- +A huge stock of cheap used accessories and selfie sticks exists for it
- +The battery is user-replaceable and spares are cheap and plentiful after four years on sale
- −5.7K reframes to roughly 1.3K of usable 16:9 — visibly soft on a large screen
- −1/2-inch sensors and a 2022 processor, so low light is poor
- −Lenses are not replaceable
- −Insta360 publishes no bitrate or bit-depth figure for it
- −No magnetic mount and no internal storage, both of which the newer bodies have