![[images/Insta360 X4 Air vs X5 Watch Before You Buy.webp]] # Insta360 X4 Air vs X5 Watch Before You Buy! **Creator:** MountMedia · **Uploaded:** Nov 25, 2025 · **Length:** 14:19 · [Watch on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBc60xGaImU) > The outline comes from YouTube's English captions, the video frames, and the description. A short version of this comparison is [[Insta360 X4 Air vs X5 Comparison]]. ## Outline - **0:00–0:40 – Intro.** After the GoPro Max 2 and DJI Osmo 360, Insta360 surprised everyone with one more 360 camera this year, the X4 Air. He compares it with the X5 across 10 categories and says at the end who each camera suits. - **0:40–2:12 – Design and weight.** The X4 Air is visibly shorter, a little narrower, and thinner than the X5. It weighs 165 g (the same as an iPhone Air) against the X5's 200 g, and is more than 20 g lighter than the Osmo 360 or Max 2, making it the smallest and lightest 360 camera from a major brand this year. He finds the name misleading, since it shares little with the X4, not even the sensor. Crucially, its lens cover is user-replaceable with a lens replacement kit, as on the X5. ![[images/Insta360 X4 Air vs X5 Watch Before You Buy-t0047.webp]] - **2:12–3:54 – Sensor and color.** The X4 Air uses a 1/1.8-inch sensor, slightly bigger than the X4's but much smaller than the X5's. He argues sensor size matters even in good light for dynamic range, noise, and color. Still, in bright, colorful, high-contrast scenes the two are almost impossible to tell apart, with the X5 a touch more saturated. Both share Standard, Vibrant, and Flat color profiles, but only the X5 has a log profile. The test clips use standard settings and no editing. ![[images/Insta360 X4 Air vs X5 Watch Before You Buy-t0300.webp]] - **3:54–5:04 – Difficult light and dynamic range.** In bright, low-contrast high mountains, the X5 copes better and often exposes the subject brighter, a strength also seen against the Max 2 and Osmo 360. The X5 sometimes shows slightly more lens flare. Its dynamic range is a bit better, protecting highlights that burn out sooner on the X4 Air. - **5:04–6:41 – HDR, Adaptive Tone, and detail.** Surprisingly, only the X4 Air supports Active HDR in 8K; the X5 must drop to 5.7K for HDR, even though it has three chips to the X4 Air's one. HDR shadows on the X4 Air are a bit too dark, which he hopes firmware fixes. Both support Adaptive Tone, which adjusts exposure and contrast in post depending on framing, and the X4 Air can combine it with HDR in 8K. At 300% magnification the detail is nearly identical. ![[images/Insta360 X4 Air vs X5 Watch Before You Buy-t0517.webp]] - **6:41–7:20 – Low light.** As it gets darker, the X4 Air's footage is darker, noisier, and worse in color. It has no dedicated low-light mode (PureVideo). His verdict is that if low-light or indoor shooting matters, get the X5. ![[images/Insta360 X4 Air vs X5 Watch Before You Buy-t0645.webp]] - **7:20–8:17 – Frame rates and slow motion.** The X5 shoots 4K at up to 120 fps; the X4 Air tops out at 50 fps, in 6K rather than 5.7K (the X5 does 5.7K60). Without slow motion, the X4 Air also has no bullet time mode, a surprising omission for Insta360. - **8:17–10:20 – Shooting modes and features.** Both have single-lens mode in 4K60, and in tough light the X5 again has the edge. Both have Me mode, but the X5 saves Me mode clips up to 2.7K30 as ready-to-use flat files, while the X4 Air's must be stabilized in the app. Apart from bullet time and PureVideo, the X4 Air has every X5 mode, including InstaFrame, TimeLapse, TimeShift, Starlapse, and Road mode. It also has Twist to Shoot, the AI highlights assistant, gesture control, and voice control. Only the X5 has Endurance mode. - **10:20–11:19 – Battery and overheating.** In a 19 °C office test, neither camera overheated in 8K. The X4 Air recorded 8K30 for 1 h 25 min, and the X5 for 1 h 36 min, about 10 minutes longer. He doesn't see that as a deciding factor. - **11:19–12:28 – Accessories.** All X5 sticks and mounts fit the X4 Air, and an invisible dive case was available from launch. Both are waterproof to 15 m, but you need the dive case for 360 footage underwater. ND filters aren't available yet for the X4 Air. The remote and Mic Air work with it, but he's unsure about the mic adapter, and the thermal grip cover doesn't fit. ![[images/Insta360 X4 Air vs X5 Watch Before You Buy-t1146.webp]] - **12:28–14:19 – Price and verdict.** The X4 Air lists at $400, $150 less than the X5. Black Friday prices were $465 for the X5 and $299 for the X4 Air, $165 apart, and his links add a free Mic Air with either. For the best image quality, buy the X5. The X4 Air is a cheaper way into Insta360's software, which he still calls by far the best 360 software, and it may be plenty for beginners shooting in good light. A comparison with the Max 2 and Osmo 360 is coming. ## Things mentioned ### Cameras and products - **Insta360 X4 Air** – 165 g, 1/1.8-inch sensor, 8K with Active HDR, 6K50, replaceable lens cover; $400 list. - **Insta360 X5** – 200 g, larger sensors, three chips, log profile, 4K120, PureVideo, bullet time, Endurance mode; $550 list. - **Insta360 X4** – earlier model; the X4 Air shares little with it. - **GoPro Max 2** and **DJI Osmo 360** – competing 360 cameras from the same year, both heavier than the X4 Air. - **iPhone Air** – used as a weight reference (165 g). - **Insta360 lens replacement kit**, **Invisible Dive Case**, **invisible selfie sticks and mounts**, **remote**, **Mic Air**, **mic adapter**, **thermal grip cover**, **ND filters** (X5 only so far). ### Software and features - Color profiles: Standard, Vibrant, Flat, and Log (X5 only). - Active HDR (8K on X4 Air, 5.7K on X5) and Adaptive Tone. - Single-lens mode, Me mode, InstaFrame, TimeLapse, TimeShift, Starlapse, Road mode, bullet time (X5 only), PureVideo (X5 only). - Twist to Shoot, AI highlights assistant, gesture and voice control, Endurance mode (X5 only). - Insta360 smartphone and desktop apps. ### Announcements and news - Launch of the Insta360 X4 Air, late 2025. - Insta360 Black Friday 2025 sale, with a free Mic Air through his links. - An upcoming MountMedia comparison of the X4 Air with the GoPro Max 2 and DJI Osmo 360. ### Purchase options (Black Friday 2025, affiliate links from the description) - X4 Air: 25% off plus a free Mic Air – https://www.insta360.com/sal/x4-air?utm_term=INRNHMF - X5: 16% off plus a free Mic Air – https://www.insta360.com/sal/x5?utm_term=INRNHMF - Insta360 accessories – https://store.insta360.com/accessory?utm_term=INRNHMF - Music: Audiio ## Bios - **MountMedia** – a YouTube creator who reviews 360 cameras, action cameras, and drones, especially Insta360 and DJI gear, often filming in the Alps. Contact: [email protected]. Also on Instagram and TikTok as @mountmedia_channel. - **Insta360** – a Shenzhen-based maker of 360 cameras (the X series), action cameras (Ace, GO), gimbals (Flow), and audio accessories (Mic Air). - **GoPro** – US action camera maker behind the Hero series and the Max 360 cameras. - **DJI** – Shenzhen-based drone and camera maker, which entered 360 cameras with the Osmo 360.