9 Cons of Insta360 X4 (Review 2024)

I’ve browsed through an avalanche of Insta360 X4 reviews—countless glossies and influencer shout-outs that hail it as some kind of action-cam messiah. And sure, it’s easy to be enthralled by this camera’s audacious specs: immersive 360-degree footage, impossibly high resolutions, and creative shooting modes that push the boundaries of what you thought was possible.

But if you’re anything like me, you’ve probably reached a point where relentless positivity feels suspicious. Beneath all the fanfare, there’s a reality that’s less conveniently packaged. There are shortcomings, quirks, and hassles that don’t always get top billing in a marketing-driven world.

Let’s clear the air: I’m not out to assassinate the Insta360 X4’s reputation. It’s a formidable piece of gear. Yet, I learned pretty quickly that its glossy attributes often overshadow a litany of challenges. So here I am, ready to dissect those thorns so you can see the full rose. From subpar built-in audio to elaborate post-production hurdles, from annoying battery drains at top resolutions to a learning curve that’ll have you scratching your head, I’ve got a lot to say.

This camera isn’t a stress-free escapade, nor does it offer a magic wand to replace your drone. It demands more gear, caters to niche creators, commands a premium price, and even tests your trust in its ruggedness. Let’s plunge into the under-discussed dimensions of the Insta360 X4 that might just make you think twice.

Audio That Undercuts Your Visual Grandeur

When I first fired up the Insta360 X4 in a crowded urban scene, I expected a decent audio track to match its spectacular 360-degree images. Instead, what I got felt like a limp handshake after an epic introduction. The built-in microphones record sound, sure—but the result often comes off as hollow, distant, and easily smothered by environmental clamor. Crisp fidelity? Forget about it. If the camera’s visuals are a grand orchestra, the audio is an out-of-tune kazoo.

Soon enough, I realized I’d have to pair it with an external mic if I wanted more than just “acceptable” sound. That means carrying extra accessories, juggling more gear, and syncing audio in post to get a well-rounded end product. If you’re aiming for a polished, professional aesthetic, you’ll need to treat the Insta360 X4’s native audio as a placeholder at best.

In my experience, this shortcoming isn’t just a nitpick—it’s a stark mismatch between what your eyes see and what your ears are forced to endure. You might start wondering why so many reviewers breeze past this inconvenient detail, as if extraordinary visuals should excuse anything less than stellar audio.

Post-Processing: A Timesink Hidden in Plain Sight

If you think you’ll just shoot with the Insta360 X4 and immediately share your jaw-dropping footage, brace yourself. Working with 360-degree content is a world apart from traditional videography. After my first few capturing sessions, I wound up tethered to my computer, inching through specialized editing suites designed specifically for spherical media. Let’s just say it’s not for the faint of heart or the impatient.

This is not your “quick top-and-tail edit” scenario. Instead, you’re reframing angles, stitching together perspectives, fine-tuning stabilization, and ensuring that your audience doesn’t feel like they’re trapped inside a fishbowl. I’ve spent hours fine-tuning tiny details that, with a more conventional camera, I’d never worry about.

The complexity can be overwhelming, and for anyone lacking time or editing prowess, it might feel like stumbling through a maze. The Insta360 X4’s exquisite footage is its own double-edged sword: the more you want to exploit its unique capabilities, the deeper you must wade into the intimidating waters of post-processing. If you crave instant gratification, you won’t find it here. The camera’s brilliance demands a significant investment of effort behind the scenes.

High-Resolution Filming: A Battery’s Worst Nightmare

The siren song of 8K recording is hard to resist. The notion of capturing reality at a resolution so immense that you could zoom in on a squirrel’s whisker is undeniably thrilling. But once I started filming in these top-tier modes, my battery percentage plummeted faster than I thought possible. High-end video gobbles power, and the Insta360 X4 isn’t shy about draining its cell when you push it to the limit.

This was a rude awakening during a nature shoot, far from any outlet or power bank. Instead of fluidly documenting the scene, I found myself nervously glancing at the battery icon. If you’re serious about filming extended sequences in ultra-high resolution, pack extra batteries. Yes, that means more cost, more weight, and more things to keep track of.

The camera’s vaunted superpowers come at a tangible cost. Is 8K worth it when you’re swapping batteries like a frantic pit crew during a Formula 1 race? Only you can decide, but the trade-off here is glaringly obvious once you’re in the field with a depleted power cell.

A Steep Learning Curve for the Uninitiated

Your phone’s camera: open app, tap record, done. The Insta360 X4: a matrix of settings, modes, frame rates, stabilization techniques, and editing intricacies that can make a tech-savvy person feel like a bewildered newbie. During my first few attempts, I realized that getting the most out of this camera wasn’t a quick read of a user manual away. There’s a level of complexity here that demands patience and a willingness to learn.

The interface isn’t unnecessarily hostile, but it’s not user-coddling either. Every aspect of managing your footage—both in-camera and in post—requires a level of familiarity you don’t just pick up overnight. If you’re the kind of person who wants simplicity, you might quickly tire of the trial-and-error dance. Sure, mastering it can be gratifying, but do you have the time and mental bandwidth to climb this mountain?

For me, it felt like stepping into a lab of experimental features rather than a plug-and-play gadget. The Insta360 X4 rewards dedication and curiosity, but it can also exhaust you if you expected more convenience and less puzzling complexity.

It’s No Drone, Despite the Hype

I’ve seen speculation that the Insta360 X4 might supplant drones by achieving drone-like shots through creativity and clever mounts. Let’s be real: it can’t replace a drone’s perspective. Holding the camera aloft on a selfie stick, scaling a small hill, or hanging it out a car window might yield interesting angles, but it’s no substitute for the breathtaking vantage point you get from a camera hovering hundreds of feet in the air.

I tried tricking my audience with elevated shots, but the absence of true aerial footage was undeniable. The Insta360 X4 is landlocked, constrained by gravity. Drones capture dynamic sweeps of landscapes that you simply can’t replicate from the ground. This camera can do plenty, but it’s not a panacea for every visual craving. If you anticipated leaving your drone at home, consider your bubble burst. The Insta360 X4 is an intriguing complement, not a one-to-one stand-in for airborne cinematography.

The Accessory Ecosystem: Necessary Add-Ons Everywhere

One lesson I learned early on: the Insta360 X4 almost presupposes you’ll buy more stuff. Want sturdier setups? Get a tripod designed for these spherical rigs. Concerned about scratches? Lens guards aren’t just recommended—they feel mandatory. Dissatisfied with tinny audio? External mics or recorders to the rescue. Need extra juice? Batteries and chargers, please. The camera’s ecosystem can start to resemble a shopping list that never ends.

Sure, plenty of gadgets benefit from accessories, but here it feels like essential enhancements are purposely scattered beyond the initial purchase. This nickel-and-dime effect adds complexity to your setup and weight to your gear bag. You’ll be managing a small arsenal of tools just to achieve the camera’s full potential.

That doesn’t align with the minimalist ethos some adventure filmmakers embrace. The Insta360 X4 demands forethought: without carefully selected accessories, you’ll hit limitations that undermine the camera’s promise. It’s not a neat, self-contained package but a modular system that expects you to build upon it—and pay for the privilege.

Targeted at Niche Enthusiasts

The more time I spend with the Insta360 X4, the more I realize it’s not for everyone. If you’re a casual traveler, someone who just wants to film weekend getaways or family gatherings, this might be too much camera for the job. Its full power emerges when you’re capturing something extraordinary—adrenaline-fueled action sports, elaborate filmmaking projects, or VR-friendly storytelling. Otherwise, the features that make it special can feel like ornate bells and whistles that never get rung.

For me, that meant rethinking when and where I’d use it. On low-key afternoons, I found myself opting for simpler devices. I guess I finally grasped that the Insta360 X4 thrives in niche environments. If you’re not pushing boundaries, you’re barely scratching the surface of what it can do.

This specialized identity might leave everyday users feeling out of place. Consider whether your creative ambitions warrant such complexity. If not, a simpler, more conventional camera might serve you just as well, sparing you the learning curve and leaving your wallet happier.

A High Price Tag with Conditional Value

There’s no sidestepping the cost factor. The Insta360 X4 isn’t a budget-friendly impulse buy; it’s a hefty investment that can balloon once you factor in essential accessories and editing software. Even if you can stomach the initial price, you’ll want to ensure that you’re extracting all the value you can from its feature set. Why spend top dollar on 8K 360-degree footage if your final destination is a quick social media clip?

I found myself performing a mental cost-benefit analysis every time I planned a shoot. Will I really use the advanced modes today, or am I just pulling out a pricey gadget to record something mundane? If you’re generating income from your footage, maybe it’s a no-brainer. But if you’re a hobbyist? You might start feeling regret gnaw at you, especially if the camera’s capabilities remain largely untapped. It’s an investment that should align with your aspirations—otherwise, you’re paying a premium for technology that mostly gathers dust.

Durability: Rugged Reputation, Fragile Reality

The Insta360 X4 is billed as rugged, but my experiences left me eyeing it with caution. Sure, it can handle some bumps, but drop it in a careless moment and you might scar those delicate lenses or ding the body. While other action cams pride themselves on shrugging off rough treatment, this one demands more careful handling. I caught myself hesitating before mounting it in risky scenarios, worrying more about damage than creative potential.

Lens protectors and protective cases quickly go from “nice to have” to “necessary insurance.” The tension here is undeniable: it’s supposed to capture heart-stopping action, yet it can’t really afford even a careless fumble. That vulnerability chips away at the confidence you want in an adventure camera. Every exciting scenario becomes a calculated risk, where you weigh the possibility of a perfect shot against the fear of a costly accident. For a device that markets itself as a trailblazer, this delicate nature feels like a mismatch between promise and reality.

Conclusion

Don’t get me wrong: the Insta360 X4 is no dud. It’s a formidable camera that redefines what portable videography can look like—when it’s playing to its strengths. But to ignore its shortcomings is to paint a misleading portrait. The camera that delivers mesmerizing 360-degree scenes and advanced stabilization also burdens you with so-so audio, intricate post-production, battery anxieties at high resolutions, and a learning curve that could frustrate even patient users.

It’s a camera that dangles drone-like temptations but can’t truly soar, that nudges you toward an accessory-laden ecosystem, that thrives in the hands of specialized creators rather than casual hobbyists, that demands a premium price, and that should be handled more delicately than one might expect from a supposed action device.

In other words, the Insta360 X4 is a package of profound capabilities wrapped in a bunch of caveats. For some, these compromises are acceptable, or even exciting. If you love tinkering, editing, and engineering the perfect shot, this camera can be a thrilling playground. But if you crave simplicity, affordability, and minimal fuss, the Insta360 X4’s allure might dim under closer scrutiny. By peeling back the layers, I’m hoping you get a more nuanced understanding. There’s no denying the X4’s brilliance—it’s just not as effortless, intuitive, or universally suitable as the hype might lead you to believe.

Nonetheless, if you’ve reviewed these drawbacks and still decide to purchase the product, congratulations! You’re making an informed choice. You’ll likely be satisfied, with your decision.

Reference:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwhLYK5ONdI&pp=ygULSW5zdGEzNjAgWDQ%3D
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y05S9z493Wg&pp=ygULSW5zdGEzNjAgWDQ%3D
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRibM1yBZK4&pp=ygULSW5zdGEzNjAgWDQ%3D
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRrc7AQWO04&pp=ygULSW5zdGEzNjAgWDQ%3D