Insta360 X4 Review: Best 360-Degree Camera Available in India

Three weeks ago, I strapped an Insta360 X4 to a selfie stick, extended it over the railing of a houseboat in Alleppey, Kerala, and hit record. Then I kayaked for twenty minutes through the backwaters with the camera hovering above the water on the invisible selfie stick. When I got back to my hotel room and opened the footage in the Insta360 app on my phone, I reframed the shot to track my kayak from what looked like a drone perspective — sweeping from behind me, panning to a wide establishing shot of the backwater, then pushing in for a close-up as I paddled past coconut trees. One clip. No drone. No pilot license. No DGCA permissions. No risk of my Rs 80,000 drone crashing into the Kerala backwaters.

That single clip got 2.3 million views on Instagram Reels. And it sums up everything the Insta360 X4 does well: it gives solo creators impossible camera angles from a single, pocketable device, with the creative flexibility to decide your composition after the fact.

I have been using the Insta360 X4 for about five months now, primarily for travel content across India. This review covers what it does brilliantly, where it falls short, how it fits into my creator workflow, and whether it is worth Rs 49,900 for Indian content creators.

What Is a 360-Degree Camera and Why Should Creators Care?

For anyone new to the concept, a 360-degree camera has two fisheye lenses — one on the front and one on the back — that together capture everything in every direction simultaneously. The camera records the entire sphere around it in a single video file. After recording, you use software to "reframe" the footage, essentially choosing where to point the virtual camera within that sphere.

Think of it this way: a normal camera captures what it is pointed at. A 360-degree camera captures everything, and you decide what to show afterwards. You can make it look like the camera was pointing left, right, up, down, or following a subject — all from the same recording. You are not stuck with the framing you chose during filming.

This has specific, practical value for creators:

• Solo creators get impossible angles. Without a camera operator, you are limited to selfie-perspective or fixed-tripod shots. A 360 camera on a selfie stick gives you the invisible-drone-follow perspective, the tracking third-person perspective, and the dramatic wide-angle perspective — all from one shot.
• You never miss the shot. Because everything is recorded, the decisive moment is always captured. If something unexpected happens behind you, to your left, above you — it is all in the footage. You just reframe to it in post.
• The selfie stick disappears. This is the 360 camera's party trick. Because both lenses overlap at the stick's connection point, the selfie stick is automatically erased from the footage. The camera appears to float in mid-air, which creates impossible-looking shots that get massive engagement on social media.

Insta360 X4: What Is New and Why It Matters

The X4 is Insta360's fourth-generation 360 camera, and the upgrade from the X3 is significant enough to justify the price increase. Here are the key specifications:

8K 360-degree video: The X4 shoots full 360-degree video at 8K 30fps. This is a major upgrade from the X3's 5.7K. Why does resolution matter for 360 video? Because when you reframe the footage to a standard 16:9 or 9:16 frame, you are cropping a portion of the full 360 sphere. Higher source resolution means your cropped output retains more detail. From the X4's 8K source, reframed 4K output looks genuinely sharp and detailed. From the X3's 5.7K, reframed 4K output was noticeably soft, especially if you zoomed in.

Larger sensors: The X4 uses two 1/2-inch sensors, an upgrade from the X3's smaller sensors. Larger sensors mean better low-light performance and better dynamic range — both critical for Indian shooting conditions where you go from blazing sunshine to dim temple interiors within minutes.

Improved stabilization: FlowState stabilization and 360-degree horizon lock keep the footage perfectly level regardless of how the camera moves. You can spin the camera, tilt it, wave it around — the output remains rock-steady with a level horizon. This is genuinely magical the first time you see it work.

Longer battery life: A larger 2290mAh battery provides approximately 135 minutes of recording at 5.7K and about 75 minutes at 8K 30fps. This is a meaningful improvement over the X3, though still not enough for all-day shooting without spare batteries.

Removable lens guards: The X4 comes with removable, replaceable lens guards that protect the fisheye lenses from scratches. This is a practical upgrade — the X3's lenses were exposed and vulnerable, and a scratched lens ruins every shot. Replacement lens guards cost about Rs 1,500 on Amazon India.

In India, the Insta360 X4 is priced at Rs 49,900 for the standard edition. Insta360 sells directly through their Indian website, and it is also available on Amazon India and Flipkart. Various bundle options include accessories like a selfie stick, lens cap, and carrying case.

My Five Months of Shooting with the X4 Across India

Mumbai: Street-Level Chaos Content

Mumbai is my home base, and it is where I use the X4 most frequently. The camera excels at capturing the overwhelming sensory experience of Mumbai's streets in a way that traditional cameras cannot.

Walking through Crawford Market with the X4 on a selfie stick, recording in 8K, I captured the entire environment — the fruit stalls above me, the crowd around me, the ornate colonial architecture to my sides, and the chaotic traffic behind me. In the edit, I reframed this into a dynamic sequence: starting with a wide establishing shot that shows the market's scale, then pushing in to track my face as I walk and talk, then panning to the right to follow a vendor tossing mangoes, then pulling back to the wide shot. That is four different "camera moves" from a single recording. With a traditional camera, I would have needed four separate takes, a camera operator, and probably a gimbal.

The invisible selfie stick effect works brilliantly in Mumbai's narrow lanes. Walking through the Chor Bazaar lanes of Mutton Street, the X4 on the extended stick appeared to float three feet above and behind me, creating a following shot that looks like a drone hovering at head height. In lanes so narrow that two people can barely pass each other, no actual drone could fly. The X4 gave me that drone aesthetic from a selfie stick.

Goa: Beach and Water Content

The X4 is waterproof to 10 metres without any additional housing. I took it into the Arabian Sea at Palolem Beach, mounted on a floating handle, and captured split-level shots — half above water, half below — that looked like they came from a GoPro with a dome housing. The 360 capture meant I could reframe to show the underwater portion, the above-water portion, or a dramatic split view, all from the same recording.

Beach sunset timelapses in 360 are extraordinary. I set the X4 on a small tripod at Anjuna Beach and recorded a 360 timelapse as the sun set. In the reframe, I created a sweeping pan that starts facing the sunset, slowly rotates to show the beach crowd watching, continues to the darkening eastern sky, and comes back full circle to the now-orange horizon. A single timelapse recording became a cinematic 30-second sequence that would have required a motorized pan head with a traditional camera.

One critical Goa learning: sand and salt water are the X4's enemies. After a beach day, I rinse the camera thoroughly in fresh water and dry it completely. Salt residue on the lens guards, if left overnight, creates a hazy film that affects image quality. The removable lens guards are a lifesaver here — I scratched one on beach rocks and simply replaced it for Rs 1,500 rather than worrying about the actual lens element.

Rajasthan: Fort and Palace Tours

Using the X4 at Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur and the Amber Fort in Jaipur produced some of my most-viewed travel content. The 360 capture is perfect for architecture — instead of trying to fit an enormous fort into a single wide-angle frame, you capture everything and then choose your composition later. I created virtual tour-style content where the camera appears to fly through corridors and courtyards, achieved simply by walking with the stick extended above my head.

The X4 handled the extreme heat of Rajasthan in April better than I expected. At ambient temperatures reaching 42 degrees Celsius, the camera became warm during extended 8K recording but never overheated or shut down. I limited continuous recording sessions to about 15 minutes and gave the camera a few minutes of rest between sessions. The battery drained faster in the heat — I got about 60 minutes of 8K recording instead of the 75 minutes I get in cooler conditions.

Kerala: Backwaters and Hill Stations

The Alleppey backwater kayak footage I mentioned in the opening was shot on this trip. Beyond that, I used the X4 extensively in Munnar's tea plantations. The rolling green hills of a tea estate are the perfect subject for 360 content — the landscape extends in every direction, and a 360 timelapse from the middle of a tea field captures a vista that no single-lens camera could contain.

The humidity in Kerala is intense, and I was concerned about condensation on the lens elements. Using the removable lens guards helped — condensation formed on the guards rather than the actual lenses, and I could wipe them clean without worrying about scratching optical elements. I also kept silica gel packets in the carrying case as an additional precaution.

Varanasi: Cultural Documentary Content

Varanasi is the ultimate test of any travel camera, and the X4 added a dimension to my Varanasi content that I could not have achieved otherwise. During the evening Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat, I held the X4 on the stick above the crowd. The 360 recording captured the priests performing the ceremony in front of me, the river with floating lamps behind me, and the thousands of spectators on either side. In the reframe, I created a sequence that slowly rotates through the entire scene — priests, crowd, river, ghats, and back — giving viewers a true sense of the scale and intensity of the ceremony that a fixed-angle camera simply cannot convey.

The low-light performance during the Aarti was the X4's weakest point. At 8K resolution in dim firelight, the footage showed visible noise and reduced detail. Dropping to 5.7K improved the low-light performance noticeably, and the reduced resolution was still sufficient for sharp 1080p reframed output. For nighttime 360 content, I recommend shooting at 5.7K and accepting the resolution trade-off for cleaner footage.

The Reframing Workflow: Where the Magic Happens

Shooting 360 footage is only half the process. The other half — arguably the more important half — is reframing. This is where you take the full 360-degree recording and create a traditional flat video by choosing where to point the virtual camera.

Insta360 offers two primary reframing options:

Insta360 App (Phone)

The mobile app is surprisingly capable. You play back the 360 footage on your phone and drag to look around the sphere in real-time. When you find the angle you want, you set keyframes. The app then smoothly animates between your keyframes to create camera movements. You can export in 1080p or 4K, in 16:9 horizontal or 9:16 vertical format.

For quick Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts, the phone workflow is fast enough. I can reframe and export a 30-second Reel in about 10 minutes on my iPhone. The quality is good enough for social media. For longer content or higher-quality output, I move to the desktop.

Insta360 Studio (Desktop)

The desktop software (available for Mac and Windows) provides more precise control over reframing, including the ability to use AI-assisted tracking that automatically follows subjects in the scene. I use this for YouTube video B-roll and any content where I want maximum quality.

The AI tracking works by letting you select a subject in the 360 footage, and the software automatically creates keyframes that keep the camera focused on that subject as they move. For walking-through-a-market sequences, I select myself as the tracking subject and the software automatically creates the follow-cam perspective. For food stall B-roll, I select the vendor's hands and get a tracking close-up of food preparation.

My typical desktop workflow: import 8K footage into Insta360 Studio, reframe to 4K, export as ProRes or H.265, then import into DaVinci Resolve or Final Cut Pro for final editing with the rest of my footage. The reframed output from 8K source material looks genuinely professional — sharp, well-exposed, and indistinguishable from traditional camera footage when viewed at 4K on YouTube.

Direct Plugin for Editing Software

Insta360 offers plugins for Adobe Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro that let you reframe directly in your editing timeline. This is the most efficient workflow for professional editors, though it requires a powerful computer — reframing 8K 360 footage in real-time demands serious processing power. My M2 MacBook Air handles it at reduced playback quality. For smooth, full-quality playback during reframing, you need an M3 Pro or better.

Image and Video Quality: Honest Assessment

Here is where I need to be completely honest: the Insta360 X4 produces good video quality, not great video quality. It is significantly better than the X3, and the 8K mode provides genuinely usable output when reframed to 4K. But it does not match the image quality of a traditional camera with a proper lens.

The limitations are inherent to the technology. Two tiny fisheye lenses capturing a 360-degree sphere will never match a single large sensor behind a high-quality lens capturing a directed 90-degree field of view. The X4's footage, when examined closely, shows less detail, less dynamic range, and less colour depth than footage from my DJI Osmo Pocket 3 or Sony ZV-E10 II. On a phone screen or in a social media feed, the difference is negligible. On a 4K monitor or in a carefully colour-graded YouTube video, it is visible.

The stitch line — the seam where footage from the front and rear lenses is joined — is well-handled in the X4 but not invisible. In most scenarios, you can position subjects away from the stitch line during reframing and the seam is undetectable. But when a subject crosses the stitch line (walks from the front lens to the rear lens), you will occasionally see stitching artifacts — slight misalignment, colour shifts, or blurring. The X4 handles this better than any previous 360 camera I have used, but it is still a consideration when planning your shots.

Low-light performance is the X4's biggest weakness. The small sensors produce visible noise in dim conditions, and the noise reduction processing can smear fine detail. Anything dimmer than a well-lit restaurant will challenge this camera. Street scenes at night are usable but noticeably noisy. Dimly-lit temple interiors are difficult. The Ganga Aarti footage I mentioned was the X4 at its practical limit — and I was shooting at 5.7K with noise reduction on high.

Dynamic range is adequate but not impressive. The Indian sun creates extreme contrast situations — bright sky and deep shadows — and the X4 struggles to retain detail at both extremes simultaneously. Shooting in the flat "Vivid" or "Log" capture modes helps, giving you more latitude for adjustment in post, but the small sensors simply cannot capture the same dynamic range as a 1-inch or APS-C sensor.

Single-Lens Mode: A Traditional Camera Alternative

The X4 can also shoot in single-lens mode, using just one of its two lenses for a standard (non-360) ultra-wide-angle video at up to 4K 60fps. In this mode, it functions like an action camera — similar to a GoPro but with an extremely wide field of view.

I use single-lens mode for two scenarios: underwater shots where I only need the forward-facing view, and quick Instagram stories where I do not want to deal with the reframing workflow. The quality in single-lens mode is similar to a mid-range action camera — perfectly fine for social media, but not competitive with dedicated cameras.

There is also a "Me Mode" that uses the front lens to create a stabilized, stick-invisible vlog shot with the camera pointed at your face. This is useful for quick, casual vlogs where you want the floating-camera aesthetic without the reframing workflow. The quality is good enough for Instagram Reels and stories, which is where I use it most.

Audio Quality

The X4 has four microphones for 360 spatial audio capture. In quiet environments, the audio quality is acceptable for casual content. In noisy Indian environments — and let us be realistic, almost every outdoor location in India is noisy — the built-in microphones are overwhelmed.

For any content where voice audio matters, I use external recording. My DJI Mic 2, clipped to my collar, records my voice separately, and I sync it in post. This adds a step to the workflow, but the quality difference is enormous. The X4's built-in audio becomes ambient background sound, and my clean voice audio from the external mic becomes the primary track.

Insta360 offers an AirPods-compatible Bluetooth microphone that connects wirelessly to the X4. I have not tried it, but colleagues report that it provides acceptable voice quality for social media content, though not as clean as a dedicated wireless mic system.

Battery and Storage Realities for Indian Creators

The 2290mAh battery provides approximately 75 minutes at 8K 30fps and 135 minutes at 5.7K 30fps. These numbers are under ideal conditions — in Indian heat, expect 15-20% less.

For a full day of travel shooting, you need spare batteries. Insta360 sells spare batteries for approximately Rs 2,500 each. I carry three batteries total (one in the camera, two spares) and a fast-charging power bank. With this setup, I have never run out of power during a shoot day.

Storage is a more pressing concern. 8K 360-degree video produces massive files — roughly 150MB per minute at 8K 30fps. A one-hour recording generates about 9GB of data. A full day of shooting can easily produce 50-100GB. I use a 512GB microSD card (SanDisk Extreme Pro V30 — about Rs 4,500 on Amazon India) and carry a spare 256GB card as backup. At the end of each shooting day, I transfer everything to my laptop and external SSD.

The file management aspect of 360 content creation is more demanding than traditional camera content. Each 360 recording generates large files that need specialized software to view and edit. Your computer needs adequate storage and processing power. My recommendation: minimum 1TB SSD storage on your editing computer and 16GB RAM for comfortable 360 editing in Insta360 Studio.

Insta360 X4 vs. Alternatives in India

X4 vs. GoPro Max (Rs 41,500)

The GoPro Max is the main competitor in the 360 camera space, but it is now a significantly older product. The Max shoots 5.6K 360 video compared to the X4's 8K — a resolution gap that is visually obvious in reframed output. The GoPro Max's advantage is GoPro's legendary durability and the GoPro subscription ecosystem. If you already use GoPro products and want a 360 option, the Max is serviceable. For anyone buying fresh, the X4 is the clearly superior product.

X4 vs. DJI Osmo Pocket 3 (Rs 44,500)

These are fundamentally different tools that I use for different purposes. The Pocket 3 shoots traditional, framed footage with superior image quality from its 1-inch sensor. The X4 shoots 360 footage with inferior image quality but unlimited compositional flexibility. If you want the best-looking footage from a pocket camera, get the Pocket 3. If you want impossible angles and creative reframing, get the X4. Many creators, including myself, carry both.

X4 vs. Insta360 X3 (Rs 34,990)

The X3 is still available and significantly cheaper. For creators on a tight budget, the X3 remains a capable 360 camera that produces good results at 5.7K. The X4's advantages — 8K resolution, larger sensors, longer battery, removable lens guards — are meaningful but not critical for social media content. If your output is primarily Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts viewed on phone screens, the X3's quality is sufficient. If you also produce YouTube videos viewed on larger screens, or if you want the maximum flexibility in reframing, the X4 is worth the premium.

Who Should Buy the Insta360 X4 in India?

Travel content creators: If you travel across India creating vlogs, reels, and visual content, the X4 adds a dimension to your content that no other single device can provide. The impossible angles, the invisible stick effect, and the shoot-now-frame-later flexibility are genuinely transformative for travel storytelling.

Solo creators without a camera crew: The X4 is the closest thing to having a camera operator when you are shooting alone. The tracking reframe, the follow-cam perspective, and the ability to capture everything simultaneously give solo creators shots that normally require a dedicated camera person.

Real estate and property content creators: Virtual tours and property walkthroughs in 360 are a growing content category in India's booming real estate market. The X4 produces immersive property tours that static photos and traditional video cannot match.

Adventure and outdoor creators: Waterproof to 10 metres, rugged construction, and the ability to capture everything around you make the X4 excellent for trekking, water sports, and outdoor adventure content. Trekkers in Himachal, Ladakh, and the Western Ghats will find the X4 captures the immensity of mountain landscapes better than any standard camera.

Not ideal for: Studio creators, talking-head content, product reviews, or any scenario where you shoot from a fixed angle. If your content does not involve movement, travel, or environmental immersion, a 360 camera adds complexity without proportional benefit. Also not ideal if your priority is maximum image quality — a traditional camera will always produce sharper, cleaner footage at any given price point.

Essential Accessories for Indian X4 Users

• Invisible selfie stick (Rs 1,800–2,500): The signature accessory. Insta360's own 120cm selfie stick is the standard choice. Third-party options from brands like Telesin work equally well at lower prices.
• Spare batteries (Rs 2,500 each): Buy at least one spare, ideally two. Available on Amazon India and Insta360's Indian store.
• Lens guards (Rs 1,500 per set): The X4 comes with standard lens guards installed. Buy a spare set and consider the premium lens guards for better optical quality.
• 512GB microSD card (Rs 4,500): The SanDisk Extreme Pro V30 or Samsung EVO Select are reliable choices at this capacity. You need the storage space for 8K footage.
• Floating handle (Rs 1,200): Essential for beach and water shooting. Keeps the camera afloat if you drop it, and provides a comfortable grip for underwater shots.
• Motorcycle/bicycle mount (Rs 1,500): For capturing rides through Indian cities and landscapes. The 360 view from a motorcycle ride through Ladakh or Goa's coastal roads is spectacular content.

My Honest Verdict After Five Months

The Insta360 X4 is not a camera that replaces your main camera. It is a camera that gives you shots no main camera can achieve. The floating drone-follow perspective through Mumbai's lanes. The sweeping panoramic reveal of the Taj Mahal. The underwater-to-above-water split at a Goa beach. The 360 timelapse of a sunrise over Varanasi's ghats. These are shots that make viewers stop scrolling, and they come from a device that fits in your pocket.

The trade-offs are real. Image quality is good but not great. Low-light performance is limited. The reframing workflow adds post-production time. The files are enormous. And at Rs 49,900 plus accessories, it is not an impulse purchase.

But for Indian travel creators — and I emphasize travel, because India's incredible visual diversity is perfectly suited to 360 content — the Insta360 X4 is a creative tool that expands what you can do as a solo creator. The shots I have captured with this camera have driven more views, more engagement, and more follower growth than any other single piece of equipment I own. Not because the image quality is the best, but because the perspectives are unique. In a social media environment where every creator in India is shooting the same locations with the same traditional cameras, the X4 gives you a visual language that stands apart.

For Rs 49,900, it is the most creatively liberating camera purchase I have made. Every Indian travel creator should seriously consider adding one to their kit.

Insta360 X4: Quick Specs Reference

• Sensor: Dual 1/2-inch sensors
• 360 Video: Up to 8K 30fps
• Single-Lens Video: Up to 4K 60fps
• Photo: 72MP (360), 36MP (single-lens)
• Stabilization: FlowState + 360 Horizon Lock
• Waterproof: 10 metres without housing
• Battery: 2290mAh (up to 135 min at 5.7K)
• Storage: microSD (up to 1TB)
• Weight: 203g
• Screen: 2.5-inch touchscreen
• Price in India: Rs 49,900
• Where to Buy: Amazon India, Flipkart, Insta360 India website