Choosing the Best MicroSD card for your Insta360 X4
MicroSD cards suitable for your Insta360 X4 360 camera need specific features to ensure optimal function and best results. The key features which Insta360 themselves recommend:
- UHS-I Compatibility: Micro SD cards should be of the UHS-I class.
UHS-II and UHS-III Micro SD cards are not advisable as they are incompatible and may lead to recording failures. - V30 or Above Speed Class: For continuous, smooth recording, the speed of the MicroSD card is crucial. The card should have a speed class of V30 or over, this prevents unexpected stops during shooting.
- exFAT Format: The Micro SD card should be formatted in the exFAT system.
Formatting can be done right on your device when your new card is inserted before doing any filming. - Maximum Storage: Although larger storage options may seem better, memory cards larger than 1TB are not recommended.
Best MicroSD for Insta360 X4 360 camera table
I’ll give you my top picks here with further explanations below.
➡️Click links for prices and more info.
| Budget medium capacity ➡️ | Sandisk Extreme 256MB |
| Budget high capacity ➡️ | Sandisk Extreme 1 TB |
| Premium medium capacity ➡️ | Sandisk Extreme Pro 256MB |
| Premium high capacity ➡️ | Sandisk Extreme Pro 1TB |
My favorite however is the Sandisk Extreme Pro 512 MB, due to its speed and build quality, with moderately high capacity due to filming lots of video when I travel around the world. Holds about 5 hours of 8k 30fps video. Also don’t mind switching out cards earlier so if card lost/breaks I dont lose all that footage.
Samsung is good and I use this card also.
V30 minimum requirement
When recording 8K 30fpsvideo on the Insta360 X4, it’s essential to use a microSD card that provides a minimum sustained write speed of 200 Mbps (megabits per second), which is roughly equivalent to 25 MB/s (megabytes per second).
The V30 rating ensures a minimum sustained write speed of 30 MB/s, which is more than the 25 MB/s of an 8k 30 fps video.
In comparison, the SanDisk Extreme Pro exceeds this standard, boasting a write speed of up to 140 MB/s. This significant difference means that the SanDisk Extreme Pro can handle more demanding tasks and higher bitrates without any issues.
In summary:
- V30 Rating: Minimum sustained write speed of 30 MB/s
- SanDisk Extreme Pro: Write speed up to 140 MB/s
While the V30 rating ensures a minimum sustained write speed of 30 MB/s, which is sufficient for 8K video recording on the Insta360 X4, there are still advantages to using a card with a higher maximum write speed, such as the SanDisk Extreme Pro:
- Faster File Transfers: A higher write speed can significantly reduce the time it takes to transfer large 8K video files from the card to your computer.
- Reduced Buffering: During continuous shooting or recording, a higher write speed helps clear the camera’s buffer more quickly, allowing for longer uninterrupted recording sessions.
- Handling High-Bitrate Scenarios: While the Insta360 X4’s 8K video bitrate falls within the V30 range, other high-bitrate scenarios (like high-frame-rate recording or additional data from advanced features such as HDR) can benefit from the higher write speeds.
- Future-Proofing: As camera technology advances and file sizes continue to grow, having a card with a higher write speed ensures that you can manage more demanding tasks in the future.
What makes SanDisk Extreme Pro premium
- Higher Maximum Write Speed: Offers up to 140 MB/s, surpassing the Extreme’s facilitating quicker data transfer and reducing buffer times.
- Enhanced Durability: More resistant to temperature fluctuations, water, shock, and X-rays, making it reliable for use in extreme conditions.
- Consistency and Reliability: Designed for consistent performance to minimize the risk of data corruption or loss during critical shoots. aka better build quality.
UHS 1 supported only
The Insta360 X4, just like a lot of other 360 cameras out there, isn’t able to work with UHS-II MicroSD cards because of their extra pin setup. These UHS-II and UHS-IIIcards, which come with V60 and V90 ratings, have an additional row of pins that the Insta360 X4 doesnt have.
Because of this design difference, using a UHS-II or III card might result in bad connections and recording issues, so it’s best to stick with the UHS-I cards for a smooth experience.
Medium capacity 256MB vs High Capacity 1 TB card
Choosing between a 256GB and a 1TB SD card really comes down to what you need and how you plan to use it.
And definitely for Sandisk do not use below 256MB because the write speed is actually slower for the lower capacity cards!
256GB SD Card
- Cost-Effective: Typically, these cards are easier on your wallet compared to 1TB options, making them a solid budget-friendly pick.
- Faster File Management: With less capacity, file transfers can be quicker, which is great if you often offload data and want to keep things organized.
- Reduced Risk of Data Loss: Using several smaller cards instead of one big one can lessen your chances of losing everything if one card decides to fail.
1TB SD Card
- Larger Storage Capacity: Perfect for those long recording sessions or trips when you can’t transfer data frequently.
- Convenience: You won’t have to swap cards as often, which is a major plus during continuous shooting or recording.
- Future-Proofing: As video quality and file sizes get bigger, a 1TB card is better suited to handle those demands down the line.
Storage requirements for videos
Here are the storage requirements for the Insta360 X4 when recording at different resolutions and bitrates to help you decide on what card you want
Storage Requirements for the Insta360 X4
- 8K 30fps
- High Bitrate: Approximately 1.5 GB per minute
- Standard Bitrate: Approximately 1 GB per minute
- 5.7K 60fps
- High Bitrate: Approximately 700 MB per minute
- Standard Bitrate: Approximately 500 MB per minute
Storage Requirements for 8K 30fps High Bitrate
- Data Usage: At approximately 1.5 GB per minute, a 60-minute recording will consume about 90 GB of storage.
- Buffer Room: It’s beneficial to have extra space for file management, such as organizing and transferring footage, and any other data such as audio and GPS and HDR and stabilization.
Storage Calculation for 256GB and 1TB Cards
256GB Card:
- Theoretical Max Time: Approximately 170 minutes of continuous recording at high bitrate.
1TB Card:
- Theoretical Max Time: Approximately 690 minutes of continuous recording at high bitrate.
Realistically less than this due to other data and audio and buffer needs.
What else drains storage and processor speed?
These AI and other effects could also drain processor speed and data transfer and storage
- AI-Powered Stabilization: Utilises AI for enhanced stabilization, requiring additional data processing and storage to ensure smooth video output.
- AI Editing and Highlight Selection: Analyzes footage in real-time to identify highlights and apply AI-driven edits, involving processing and storing metadata related to these edits.
- AI Noise Reduction: Reduces noise in both video and photos using AI, requiring extra processing power and data storage.
- Gesture Control: AI-powered gesture control enables camera operation through hand movements, necessitating further data processing.
- GPS and Sensor Data: When paired with devices like a Garmin or Apple Watch, can overlay GPS data, elevation, speed, and other sensor data onto the footage.
- Audio data– If the camera records audio along with the video, this data will also be written to the SD card.
Buy from Amazon
If buying from Amazon, always double check to make sure its shipped and sold by Amazon or another reputable seller.
- Authenticity: Amazon has stricter controls over the products they sell directly, reducing the risk of counterfeit items compared to third-party sellers.
- Quality Assurance: Products sold by Amazon are more likely to meet the manufacturer’s quality standards, ensuring you get a card that performs as expected.
- Return Policy: Amazon’s return policy is generally more straightforward and reliable, making it easier to return or exchange a product if it doesn’t meet your expectations.
