Insta360 X5 vs Insta360 X4: which is better for you?
Obviously the X5 is a newer camera with upgrades, but the basic question: is it worth the extra money?
First I’ll have a table that shows the main comparison upgrades.
Then a more comprehensive bullet list after that. (I’ll continue to add as more comes in)
Chart of main comparisons of Insta360 X5 vs Insta360 X4
| Feature | Insta360 X5 | Insta360 X4 | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| PRICE | MRSP | older, so more likely discounts | X5 $50 more MSRP |
| SENSOR | 1/1.28″ | 1/2″ | Better at night/quality |
| CHIPSET | 2 sensor/1 AI chip | Single 5nm AI Chip | More powerful |
| 8K 360 VIDEO | (7680×3840@30/25/24 fps)+ Purevideo | (7680×3840@30/25/24 fps) | Same resolution |
| PureVideo (LOW LIGHT) | Yes for 8K | No | New low light mode for 8k |
| REPLACEABLE LENSES | Yes (user-replaceable) | No (only protective guards) | Revolutionary advantage (repair) |
| WATERPROOFING | 15 meters | 10 meters | Go deeper without case |
| BATTERY | 2400mAh | 2290mAh | slightly bigger capacity |
| FAST CHARGING (TO 80%) | 20 minutes | 38 minutes | almost 2X faster |
| INSTAFRAME MODE | Yes ( selfie, front) | No | X5 exclusive quick framing |
| AUDIO | Hardware wind guard, Voice Enhance, 360° | Software wind reduction, DIRECTIONAL 1/4″ | more advanced audio |
| MOUNT | Magnetic Quick Release + 1/4″ | 1/4″ | more efficient for swaps |
Hardware Improvements of Insta360 X5 over Insta360 X4
- Sensor Size: Upgraded to a 1/1.28″ sensor (from 1/2″), improving light capture and image quality, particularly in low-light conditions.
- Chipset: Features a Triple Chip design (versus a Single 5nm AI Chip), delivering a 140% increase in processing power for enhanced performance.
- Replaceable Lenses: Introduced user-replaceable lenses (X4 only has protective guards), simplifying repairs and maintenance.
- Lens Glass Quality: Enhanced with scratch-resistant glass (X4 has standard glass), increasing durability.
- Waterproofing: Improved to 15 meters (from 10 meters), allowing for deeper submersion without a case.
- Battery Life: Increased to 185 minutes (from 135 minutes) with a 2400mAh battery (versus 2290mAh), extending recording time by 36%.
- Fast Charging: Charges to 80% in 20 minutes (versus 30 minutes), offering nearly twice the charging speed.
- Audio: Equipped with four microphones, a hardware wind guard, and 360° audio (X4 has software wind reduction and directional 1/4″ audio), significantly improving sound quality.
- USB-C Version: Upgraded to USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 (X4 uses USB-C 2.0), enabling faster data transfer speeds up to 5Gbps.
- Magnetic Mount System: The X5 introduces a new magnetic mounting system with a stronger magnetic base and a quick-swap mechanism, allowing seamless transitions between mounts
Software Improvements of Insta360 X5 over Insta360 X4
- 8K 360 Video: Same Resolution but X5 has low light mode (PureVideo)
- 5.7kk HDR– 60fps on X5 vs 30 fps on X4
- 4K 360 Video: Increased to 120 fps (X4 maxes at 100 fps), enabling smoother footage for fast-paced action.
- PureVideo(Low Light): enhancing low-light performance.
- Active HDR: Adds exclusive 4K night shots (not available on X4), improving HDR capabilities in darker environments.
- InstaFrame Mode: Added for quick 360° and flat view posting to social media (not available on X4), streamlining content sharing.
- Twist to Shoot Gesture: Adds a new gesture where twisting the selfie stick starts recording, complementing the X4’s existing palm and peace sign gestures for more intuitive control
- I-Log video mode on X5- not on X4
