With the ability to “shoot first, point later” and the Invisible Selfie Stick effect, the new Insta360 X4 doubles as both a 360° camera and a regular wide-angle action cam.

Delivering 8K 360 for unmatched creative possibility, the new and groundbreaking flagship camera from Insta360 features the much-anticipated 8K 360° video, plus 5.7K60fps and 4K100fps, adding unparalleled image quality to the endless creative possibilities of 360° capture. All of this in a tough, pocket-sized device makes X4 the new, essential tool for action enthusiasts, casual creators, and professionals alike.

Insta360 notes that the Insta360 includes the ability to “shoot first, point later” and the Invisible Selfie Stick effect, which filmmakers appreciate, and it also doubles as a traditional action camera, with its Single-Lens Mode now upgraded to smooth, ultra-wide 4K60fps.

This premium imaging arsenal is supported by a powerful 5nm AI chip, a smart control system with features such as Voice and Gesture Control, and, Insta360 adds, “vastly improved battery performance with 135-minute run time. A host of AI-powered shooting and editing features make it easy to capture and share unique, creative shots. New, removable lens guards for X4 will also be a very welcome addition, providing convenient, robust protection and peace of mind.”

Invisible Selfie Stick effect

“8K will be transformative for creators as reframed video now holds its own alongside footage shot on regular cameras. But X4 isn’t just about image quality, it’s designed to be the most robust, easy-to-use 360° camera ever, no matter your experience. This idea was at the heart of a lot of the changes we made,” JK Liu, founder of Insta360 explained.

With 360° video, the company says, “creators can choose any angle after filming (known as reframing), like going back in time and pointing the camera! This makes X4’s 8K resolution a real game-changer because the footage remains incredibly detailed and sharp, even after reframing– perfect as high quality, standalone clips or for seamless integration into any edit.”

And the upgrades don’t stop there, as videographers have a series of options available. For action shots or slow motion, 60fps 360° video is now available at 5.7K for smoother, sharper images. There’s also a new 4K100fps setting for glorious, cinematic shots at 4x slow-mo.

Whatever the resolution or frame rate, 360° shooting with X4 offers unique benefits like the Invisible Selfie Stick effect, creating impossible third-person views that look like they were shot on a drone or with a personal camera crew! That extends to photos too, with X4 capable of 72MP 360° photos, now with built-in AI denoising.

With Me Mode, X4 can even automatically frame the subject in the shot, while keeping the selfie stick invisible. Now at a whopping 4K30fps (up from 1080p with X3) or 2.7K120fps, that means ready-to-share flat video clips with zero reframing!

Two cameras in one

Insta360 claims that with the X4 you “get two cameras in one” because the X4 doubles as both a 360° camera and a regular wide-angle action cam. When you know exactly what you want to shoot, like a first-person POV from a chest-mounted position, simply switch to Single-Lens Mode for an immersive, wide-angle video. This has been souped up for X4 with super smooth 4K60fps, and an ultra-wide 170° view with MaxView at an upgraded 4K30fps.

Here are the key specifications and features for this true action camera, ready to withstand the rough and tumble of adventure:

• Removable Lens Guards: A key upgrade for X4. Easy to apply and remove at a moment’s notice. Two options include Standard Lens Guards (free with the camera) or the Premium Lens Guards, made with tough, scratch-resistant, tempered glass for action-ready ruggedness.
• 5″ Corning Gorilla Glass Touchscreen – Bigger, tougher, and super responsive for on-the-go use.
• FlowState Stabilization & 360° Horizon Lock – X4 delivers smooth, level shots, no matter how intense the action.
• 135-Minute Run Time at 5.7K30fps – A huge new 2290 mAh battery offers genuinely impressive 67% longer run time than X3!
• Seriously Waterproof – Take X4 down to 33ft right out of the box, or for seamless 360° underwater stitching, try the Invisible Dive Case for shooting to 164ft.
• Cold-Weather Resistant – Handles temperatures as low as -4ºF (-20ºC) with ease.

The X4 features Gesture Control, so you can use hand gestures to start/stop shooting or take a photo, or use voice commands courtesy of Voice Control 2.0. Timed Capture lets you schedule X4 to power on, record, and shut itself off automatically.

X4’s creative shooting modes have also had some major upgrades:

• Bullet Time – our signature Matrix-like slow-mo shot, now up to 5.7K120fps or 3K240fps.
• 8K TimeShift – a mind-bending hyperlapse in sensational 8K resolution.
• 11K Timelapse – watch time fly and capture the magic in between moments.

Other fun tools to try with X4 include the Motion ND effect, for adding cinematic motion blur without an ND filter. For runners and riders, try overlaying data like GPS, speed, and power from your Garmin device or Apple Watch in your video, with a choice of interactive stats dashboards (applied in the Insta360 app).

Insta360 Reframe, a plugin for Premiere

The Insta360 editing suite has options for creators of all levels, from one-tap, zero-effort AI edits, to fully customized manual editing. Reframing in the Insta360 app has two upgraded options. With Quick Edit (formerly known as Snap Wizard), simply move your phone or use the virtual joystick to point the camera. Editing your 360° video is now easier than playing a video game and just as fun! The reframed clips are immediately saved and ready to share!

For a fully hands-off approach, try AI Edit. Insta360’s algorithm handles the entire reframing process, now faster with improved subject detection. The Insta360 app also has Shot Lab, where creators can find 30+ viral-worthy effects that can be edited in just a few taps.

For creators who prefer a desktop workflow, the recently updated Insta360 Studio is a highly flexible editing tool for seriously clean, ready-to-share edits at maximized resolution, compatible with both 360° footage and regular flat images. Both the mobile app and desktop software are also free to use, no subscription required!

Besides this, Insta360 has just launched Insta360 Reframe, their own plugin for Adobe Premiere Pro! Creators can reframe 360° files shot on X4 directly in Premiere Pro for a smoother workflow with minimal exporting and maximum image quality.

Insta360 X4 is available to purchase worldwide from 16th April 2024, priced at US$499.99. For more information and to order, visit https://www.insta360.com/.