Lighter housing, larger sensors
The "Air" in the name says it all, because with only 165 grams and dimensions of 46 × 113,8 × 37 mm, the camera is clearly designed for portability.
Interestingly, Insta360 has installed larger sensors here than in its direct predecessor, the X4. The X4 Air uses two 1/1,8-inch sensors (aperture F1.95), which, according to the manufacturer, corresponds to a 134% increase in pixel area per frame compared to the X4.
Despite the focus on lightweight construction, there is hardly any need to compromise on resolution:
- 360-degree video: Maximum 8K (7680 x 3840) at 30, 25, or 24 frames per second. This puts it on par with the heavier X5 in terms of resolution.
- High frame rates: 6K at up to 50 fps or 4K at up to 50 fps.
- Single lens mode: In 16:9 format, recordings in 4K and up to 60 fps are possible.
- Photos: About 29 megapixels (7680 x 3840).
The maximum video bitrate is 180 Mbps.
Battery, software and operation
The battery has a capacity of 2.010 mAh. According to the manufacturer, it should last up to 88 minutes in 8K30 recording mode. A full charge should take 57 minutes.
For rugged use, the X4 Air is waterproof up to 15 meters and features interchangeable lenses. Stabilization is provided by Insta360's FlowState technology and a 360-degree horizon lock.
New on the software side is Adaptive Tone, an algorithm that analyzes and balances the exposure of both lenses separately. Active HDR is now available up to 8K 30fps.
Interesting are the new control modes that underline the "Air" character:
- Twist to Shoot: Recording starts or stops by twisting the selfie stick.
- Gesture Control: The camera recognizes hand gestures.
- Voice Control: Voice control is also integrated.
For users who want to share footage quickly, there's InstaFrame Mode. This simultaneously records a flat video and the full 360-degree version.
Positioning in the line-up
While the flagship X5 continues to be designed for the highest image quality and precision, the X4 Air is designed to emphasize shooting freedom. It shares core features like 8K 30fps video and interchangeable lenses with the top model, but is significantly lighter and more compact. Insta360 appears to be filling a gap for users who found the X5 too heavy, but the X4's performance no longer sufficient.
Technical data at a glance
| Sensor | 1/1.8" CMOS, F1.95, 6.4mm |
| picture resolution | 29MP (7680 3840 XNUMX) |
| video Resolution | 8K@30fps, 6K@50fps, 4K@60fps |
| video formats | INSV, MP4 (H.264/H.265, up to 180 Mbps) |
| Photo formats | INSP, DNG |
| Colors & Profiles | Vivid, Standard, Flat |
| ISO range | 100–3200 |
| Exposure time | 1/8000–120s |
| White balance | 2000K–10000K |
| Audio | AAC, 48kHz/16bit, wind reduction & stereo |
| Dimensions | × × 46 113.8 37 mm |
| Weight | 165 gr |
| Storage | microSD up to 1 TB (UHS-I V30) |
| battery capacity | 2010 mAh, running time up to 100 min |
| Charging time | 80% in 36 minutes, 100% in 57 minutes (9V 2A) |
| Waterproof | up to 15 m (49 ft) |
| Connections | Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, USB-C 3.0 |
| Sensors | 6-axis gyroscope |
| Montage | 1/4" quick-release thread |
| Compatibility | iOS from iPhone XS, Android from Snapdragon 855 / Kirin 990 |
| Supported accessories | Bluetooth headsets & microphones (RØDE, DJI, SENA etc.) |
| Color | Black and white |
Prices and availability
The Insta360 X4 Air will be available from October 28th in Graphite Black and Arctic White.
In Germany, the Standard Bundle costs €399. The Starter Bundle costs €429. The latter includes the camera, a 114 cm invisible selfie stick, a lens cap, and an additional battery. A one-year subscription to the Insta360+ cloud service (200 GB) is also included at launch.
Source: Press Release
