Insta360 X5 vs X4: Is the Bigger Sensor Worth the Upgrade?
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Insta360 X5 vs X4 comes down to a bigger sensor, a tougher body and a better night mode, not a new resolution: both shoot 8K at 30 fps. On Insta360's own pages the X5 has dual 1/1.28-inch sensors against the X4's dual 1/2-inch ones, lenses you can replace yourself, and 15 m of waterproofing against 10 m. We read both maker pages on 9 October 2026 and checked both Amazon listings with a US address.
Quick answer
Checked on 9 October 2026. Pick the Insta360 X5 if you shoot at dusk or at night, near water, or anywhere a lens can get scratched: it has the larger sensors, the PureVideo low-light mode, replaceable lenses and 15 m of waterproofing. Pick the Insta360 X4 if you mostly film in daylight and want to spend less: it records the same 8K30 and 5.7K60 and lists the same 135 minutes at 5.7K30.
All 2 picks, with a buy button each
Insta360 X5 8K 360 Action Camera
Dual 1/1.28-inch sensors, replaceable lenses, 15 m waterproof. Sold by Insta360, ships from Amazon. Read more
Insta360 X4 Standard Bundle 8K 360 Camera
Dual 1/2-inch sensors, 10 m waterproof, lens guards in the box. Sold by Insta360, ships from Amazon. Read more
Where to go deeper
Best Cameras for Content Creating Digital Nomads in 2026
Action cameras, pocket cameras and mirrorless, side by side. Read more
How we compared them
The NomadsToolsLab team read Insta360's spec pages for the X5, X4 and X4 Air and its own X5 vs X4 comparison end to end on 9 October 2026, and checked the Amazon pages with a US address. What surprised us: the battery headline. Insta360's launch blog says 185 minutes for the X5 against 135 for the X4, but the spec tables list the same 135 minutes at 5.7K30 for both. The gain shows at 8K30: 93 minutes against 75. TechRadar's Andrew Williams (28 April 2025) explains that the 185 figure is for an endurance mode at 24 fps.
Testers agree on where the X5 pulls ahead. The Verge's reviewer found the footage noticeably more detailed, the dark blob he often saw in the sky on the X4 mostly gone, and low-light clips much cleaner in PureVideo. The 360 Guy found the daytime gap slight but the night gap clear. Both point at the catch: the X5 takes a new battery, so X4 batteries do not fit it. Amazon's own review summaries say owners praise the X5 in low light, while for the X4 they report mixed reliability, with some people receiving units that did not work. Every number in the table comes from Insta360's own pages.
Insta360 X5, X4 and X4 Air side by side
| Spec | Insta360 X5 | Insta360 X4 | Insta360 X4 Air |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Insta360 X5: Dual 1/1.28 inch | Insta360 X4: Dual 1/2 inch | Insta360 X4 Air: Dual 1/1.8 inch |
| 360 video | Insta360 X5: 8K30, 5.7K60 | Insta360 X4: 8K30, 5.7K60 | Insta360 X4 Air: 8K30 |
| Low-light mode | Insta360 X5: PureVideo | Insta360 X4: No PureVideo | Insta360 X4 Air: PureVideo |
| Lenses | Insta360 X5: Replaceable | Insta360 X4: Not replaceable, lens guards in the box | Insta360 X4 Air: Replaceable |
| Built-in wind guard | Insta360 X5: Yes | Insta360 X4: No | Insta360 X4 Air: Yes |
| Waterproof, no case | Insta360 X5: 15 m (49 ft) | Insta360 X4: 10 m (33 ft) | Insta360 X4 Air: 15 m (49 ft) |
| Weight | Insta360 X5: 200 g | Insta360 X4: 203 g | Insta360 X4 Air: 165 g |
| Battery | Insta360 X5: 2400 mAh | Insta360 X4: 2290 mAh | Insta360 X4 Air: 2010 mAh |
| Run time at 8K30 | Insta360 X5: 93 min | Insta360 X4: 75 min | Insta360 X4 Air: 88 min |
| Run time at 5.7K30 | Insta360 X5: 135 min | Insta360 X4: 135 min | Insta360 X4 Air: Not listed |
| Charge to 80% | Insta360 X5: 20 min | Insta360 X4: 38 min | Insta360 X4 Air: Not listed |
Figures are Insta360's own lab claims, read on 9 October 2026 on the pages for the X5, the X4 and the X4 Air, plus its X5 vs X4 comparison. "Not listed" means the page does not give that figure. The X4 Air page lists run times for 8K30, 6K24 and 5.7K24 but not 5.7K30.
Insta360 X5: the one for night, water and rough use
Insta360 X5 8K 360 Action Camera
Insta360 says the X5 uses two 1/1.28-inch sensors, 144% larger than the X4's, and adds two imaging chips next to the 5nm AI chip. It still tops out at 8K30, or 5.7K60 with Active HDR. The new PureVideo mode uses AI noise clarifying and dynamic range optimization for dusk, dawn and night footage. InstaFrame records a flat video next to the 360 file, so you have a clip to post straight away.
The body is built for knocks. Insta360 gives the lenses an ultra-hard coating it calls twice as drop- and scratch-resistant as the X4's, and they pop off and screw back on if one does get damaged. The camera is rated IP68 to 15 m, with a dive case for deeper, and a multilayer wind guard reinforced with steel mesh is built into the body. The spec page lists a 2400 mAh battery that charges to 80% in 20 minutes, and a weight of 200 g.
The limits are in the tester notes. The 360 Guy says the X5 does not ship with lens guards, which the X4 had in its box, and that the X4 dive case does not fit the X5. The Verge adds that the battery changed too, so your old X4 batteries will not work. On cost, the same reviewer notes the X5 launched $50 above the X4.
Insta360 X4: still 8K30, for daylight and a smaller budget
Insta360 X4 Standard Bundle 8K 360 Camera
The X4 lists dual 1/2-inch sensors, an f/1.9 aperture, 8K30 in 360 and 5.7K60 in 360, a 2290 mAh battery and a 203 g body. Insta360 gives 135 minutes at 5.7K30 and 75 minutes at 8K30 in lab conditions, and a charge to 80% takes 38 minutes. The waterproof rating is 10 m. Screw-on lens guards protect the glass, and The 360 Guy describes them as in the box.
Where it falls behind is light. In his X5 review The Verge's reviewer remembers X4 clips from a dim trade-show booth as noisy, with weak dynamic range and stitching that suffered in low light, which is the gap PureVideo was built to close. TechRadar's verdict is that the X5 is not a must-upgrade for most X4 owners, because there is plenty of life left in the older camera. If you are buying new and shoot mostly in daylight, that makes the X4 the sensible saver.
Also worth a look: Insta360 X4 Air
Insta360 X4 Air Ultralight 8K 360 Camera
Insta360 lists the X4 Air at 165 g, with dual 1/1.8-inch sensors, replaceable lenses, a built-in wind guard, PureVideo mode and 15 m of waterproofing without a case. Run time is 88 minutes at 8K30 from a 2010 mAh battery. It showed up next to the X5 in several of the comparisons we found, including a video by RobHK, so we added it.
RobHK's verdict in October 2025: if you already have the X5, there is no reason to buy the Air, but on weight and replaceable lenses it is an upgrade over the X4. Amazon's owner summary for the Air is positive on video quality and portability, with mixed notes on low light and battery.
Which one to pick
City nights and evening travel vlogs: the X5, because night is where the testers saw the biggest gap. Beach, boat and snorkel days: the X5 or the X4 Air at 15 m; the X4 stops at 10 m. Skiing, biking or motorcycle: the X5, as the glass is harder and replaceable and the wind guard is built in. Daylight travel on a budget: the X4. Smallest and lightest in the bag: the X4 Air.
A flat action camera does the job when you do not need the whole scene: see our Insta360 Ace Pro 2 vs GoPro HERO13 for a single-lens comparison, and the camera guide for digital nomads for pocket cameras and mirrorless. 8K files get big fast, so plan how to back up your footage before a long trip. Our other camera comparisons cover the Insta360 GO Ultra vs GO 3S and the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro vs GoPro HERO13.
- Both cameras shoot 8K30 and 5.7K60; the X5 has larger sensors (1/1.28 inch against 1/2 inch), PureVideo and replaceable lenses.
- The X5 is rated to 15 m without a case, the X4 to 10 m; the X5 weighs 200 g, the X4 203 g.
- At 5.7K30 both list 135 minutes; at 8K30 the X5 lists 93 minutes against 75 for the X4.
- TechRadar does not see the X5 as a must-upgrade for X4 owners; for new buyers who shoot at night it is the pick.
- The X4 Air is the lightest at 165 g, with replaceable lenses and 15 m waterproofing.
Watch: Insta360 X5 vs X4 in action
The Verge's reviewer, who bought an X4 himself, skis with both cameras on the same stick and compares detail, wind noise and low light.
Video by The Verge.
Seen enough? Here is the Insta360 X5 from this article.
Insta360 X5 8K 360 Action Camera
The 360 Guy goes through every difference in daylight, low light, audio and lenses. Insta360 sent him the camera, and the description has an affiliate link.
Video by The 360 Guy.
Here is the Insta360 X4 from this article.
Insta360 X4 Standard Bundle 8K 360 Camera
RobHK puts the X4 Air next to the X5 and X4. His description has affiliate links.
Video by RobHK.
Here is the Insta360 X4 Air from this article.
Insta360 X4 Air Ultralight 8K 360 Camera
FAQ
Is the Insta360 X5 worth it over the X4?
At night or near water, yes. In daylight, TechRadar says most X4 owners need not upgrade, and a new buyer can save money with the X4.
What is the difference between the Insta360 X5 and X4?
Larger sensors (1/1.28 inch against 1/2 inch), PureVideo, replaceable lenses, a built-in wind guard and 15 m instead of 10 m of waterproofing. Both shoot 8K30 and 5.7K60.
How long does the X5 battery last compared with the X4?
Insta360 lists 135 minutes at 5.7K30 for both, and 93 against 75 minutes at 8K30 (X5 and X4), in the lab. Amazon's owner summaries call battery life mixed on both.
Do my X4 batteries and accessories fit the X5?
Not all. The Verge says old X4 batteries do not fit the X5, and The 360 Guy says the X4 dive case does not fit either. Invisible selfie sticks still do.
Are the Insta360 X5 and X4 waterproof?
Insta360 rates the X5 to 15 m (IP68) and the X4 to 10 m without a case. For deeper dives it sells a dive case rated to 60 m for the X5.
Is there a newer Insta360 X camera than the X5?
Yes, the X6, a flagship 8K 360 camera with 1-inch sensors. This guide covers the X5 and X4, the two people still weigh against each other.
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