Insta360 announced the X4, a versatile 360-degree camera featuring 8K video and AI-powered gesture control. On paper, the new 360 camera appears to be a dramatic upgrade over its predecessor, offering higher video resolution, a larger touchscreen, longer battery life, and a more rugged build than the X3. Best of all, instead of grunting voice commands at your camera like some kind of caveman, you can now take photos and capture video with a wave of your hand.

At $499.99, the X4 is only slightly more expensive than the X3 was when it debuted back in 2022. That’s not bad considering the X4 offers higher max video resolution across virtually all shooting modes.

For example, in 360 mode, the X4 can shoot 8K video at 30 fps, while the X3 tops out at 5.7K video at 30 fps. In single-lens mode, the X4 can do 4K video at up to 60 fps; the X3 also supports 4K video, but only at 30 fps. Other video modes, including Bullet Time, Timelapse, and Me Mode, also received similar boosts to resolution.

Resolution bumps aside, the X4’s most notable upgrade might be its new gesture controls, which let users start/stop recording or take a photo using hand signals. That might sound like something of a niche feature, but for anyone who’s ever suffered the humiliation of shouting voice commands at a non-compliant camera in a public place, it’s a welcome addition.

Additional X4 upgrades include a slightly bigger and more durable 2.5" touchscreen, removable lens guards for improved ruggedness and flexibility, and a major boost to battery life: in lab tests, the X4 was able to record 5.7K video at 30 fps for 135 minutes, which is 67% longer than the X3’s recorded time of 81 minutes.

Insta360 also announced several new accessories for the X4, including a storage module, mic adapter, various carrying cases, and more.

Combined with Insta360’s powerful suite of editing tools, the X4 is a major leap forward for the popular X series. Unlike the X3, which was only a marginal update to the X2, the X4 features significant improvements across the board—enough to elevate it to a whole new class of camera.

To learn more about Insta360’s newest camera, including info about additional features, specs, and highlights, be sure to check out the X4’s detailed product page. While you’re there, be sure to check out all of the new accessories that launched with the X4. You can also drop us a line below, and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.