Insta360 X5 vs X4: Why the Upgrade Was Totally Worth It
- gear4greatness
- Jul 26, 2025
- 5 min read
Updated: Nov 5, 2025
Insta360 X5 vs X4: Why the Upgrade Was Totally Worth It
Just Switched from the Insta360 X4 to the X5? Here’s What Actually Changed — and Why It Might Be the Best Content Creation Move of the Year
You know that moment when you finally upgrade and realize your old camera wasn’t the ceiling — it was just the starting point? That’s exactly how it felt switching from the Insta360 X4 to the X5.
I’ve spent months filming with the X4 — from city bike rides to cat slow motion to 8K hyperlapses that looked like time bending. It’s an incredible camera. But after just one full day with the X5, I could tell: this wasn’t a spec bump. It was a creative unlock.
The Insta360 X5 takes everything the X4 did right and quietly fixes what held it back. The difference isn’t loud or flashy — it’s subtle, refined, and instantly noticeable once you start filming.
🆕 First Impressions: Familiar, Yet Sharper in Every Way
The X5 feels like the X4’s more mature sibling — same body language, but more composed. It boots faster, writes files cleaner, and balances exposure better.
The first clip I shot — a slow pan across the park — had that cinematic “finished” look right out of the camera. It was smoother in motion, deeper in color, and finally handled highlights without blowing them out.
It’s the kind of improvement that doesn’t just look good — it makes you feel like a better filmmaker.
🔍 What’s Actually Better in the X5?
📸 Sharper 8K Video
The X4 was already a powerhouse, but the X5’s 8K footage feels more refined.Textures breathe. Grass, skin, shadows — everything looks more dimensional. When you reframe in post, the extra sharpness gives you editing freedom without losing fidelity.
🎯 If you’ve ever tried to crop 8K from the X4 and found it soft, the X5 will surprise you — it holds up beautifully.
💡 Improved Low-Light Performance
The X5 finally bridges the gap between compact 360 and mirrorless feel.It’s not a 1-inch sensor, but you wouldn’t know it in practice. Shadows are cleaner, and those dimly lit indoor clips now look like ambient scenes, not noise battles.
Night shots at The Forks had definition where the X4 just had grain. That’s not marketing — it’s real-world difference. 🌙
🚀 Faster File Transfers
This one’s huge for workflow.Importing X4 footage into Insta360 Studio used to feel like waiting for a download to finish. The X5 flies through transfers, and the stability is miles better.
No more app freezes. No more “file repair” warnings. It’s ready to edit the moment you sit down.
🎤 Mic Support & Smart Audio
Pair it with the Insta360 Mic Air, and the X5 becomes a creator’s dream.Clearer pickup, better directionality, and — soon — voice control support. For walk-and-talk vloggers or creators like me who narrate while biking, this is a game-changer.
You can literally talk to your camera — and it listens. 🎙️
🤖 AI Touch Enhancements
The interface feels alive. It’s smoother, more intuitive, and faster to react. The AI reframing feels smarter — it anticipates what you’re about to center.
Even the menus feel tuned for creators, not engineers. It’s the kind of polish you don’t realize you needed until you go back and try the X4 again.
🎬 Real-World Test: My Bike Ride Comparison
To really see the difference, I did what I always do — a 150-second bike hyperlapse through downtown Winnipeg, same route, same mount, same light.
The X4 footage looked great — stable, clear, very usable. But the X5? It looked cinematic.The shadows had depth. The reflections shimmered. The stabilization felt like it was breathing with me, not fighting the bumps.
When I watched both side-by-side, the X5 clips didn’t need color correction or sharpening. They were already “there.”
That’s when I realized: this upgrade didn’t just save time — it elevated my entire workflow.
⚖️ Is the Upgrade Worth It?
If you’re happy with the X4, you’re still using an amazing camera. It’s durable, powerful, and reliable. But if you’re starting to notice its limits — low-light noise, transfer lag, or post-production frustrations — the X5 feels like what the X4 was meant to be.
Here’s when it makes sense to upgrade:
✅ You film in low light or mixed indoor/outdoor scenes✅ You reframe heavily in post and want sharper 8K✅ You plan to use voice control and AI editing✅ You want cleaner color and faster transfers
If any of that sounds like you — the X5 isn’t a luxury, it’s a logical step forward.
Insta360 X5 vs X4: Why the Upgrade Was Totally Worth It
🔌 Buy on Amazon USA
Flagship 8K 360° camera with AI low-light, removable lens cap, and next-level stabilization.
Wireless mic system designed for crisp voice capture — perfect for vlogging and narration.
Don’t get caught short — carry spares for long shoots or cold conditions.
Get immersive hands-free POV footage for biking, skiing, and action.
Create floating camera shots — disappears completely in 360° footage.
🌄 Final Thoughts
When I first bought the Insta360 X4, I didn’t think it could get much better. It was already my go-to for bike rides, hyperlapses, and winter walks. But after switching to the X5, I finally understood what “refinement” means in the creator world.
💡 Why I upgraded: I wanted sharper 8K and cleaner low-light — plain and simple. But what I got went deeper. I got speed, consistency, and a sense of creative control that made filming more fun again.
⚙️ How I use it now: Every ride, every walk, every quick POV moment — it’s always on me. The X5 feels like a small studio in my pocket. I film, transfer, reframe, and post without the friction I used to accept as “normal.”
🔥 What I liked: The detail. The dynamic range. The workflow speed. I loved how it made my edits faster without sacrificing quality. It’s the most balanced 360 camera Insta360 has ever made.⚙️ What I didn’t: The price stings a little — and accessories like the fast-charge hub should come standard. But once you see the footage, you understand where the money went.
💭 What I learned: Upgrading isn’t about chasing specs — it’s about chasing flow. The X5 gave me that flow again. Less waiting. More creating.
✨ How it changed me: It reminded me that every tool is a partner — and when it fits your rhythm, everything clicks. I’m already planning new projects with it, from night hyperlapses to AI-edited shorts.
🎬 The X5 didn’t just improve my footage — it reignited my curiosity.
That’s Pete. That’s Gear4Greatness. 🌄🎥💭🚴♂️📷🔥