Insta360 Ace Pro 2 vs. Insta360 X4: Key Strengths
Naila Syifa
Updated October 2024
The Insta360 Ace Pro 2 and Insta360 X4 are two of the latest action cameras from Insta360, offering a range of advanced features at premium pricing. Both are the 2024 flagship models, but each has distinctive strengths that set them apart from the other. Which one suits your needs better?
Key Takeaways
Insta360 Ace Pro 2 is superior in terms of video quality, low-light performance, and professional features, but the Insta360 X4 takes the lead in terms of flexibility and creativity thanks to its 360-degree capture capability.
The Ace Pro 2 is the better choice for those prioritizing high-end video quality, while the X4 is more appealing for creators seeking a versatile 360-degree solution.
| Insta360 Ace Pro 2 | Insta360 X4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 72 x 52 x 38 mm | 46 x 37.6 x 123.6 mm |
| Display | 2.5” Flip Touch | 2.5” Touch |
| Image Sensor | 1/1.3” | 1/2” |
| Field of View | 157° | 360° |
| Max Video Resolution | 8K/30 fps | 8K/30fps (360) 4K/60 fps (Single) |
| Max Photo Resolution | 50 MP | 72 MP |
| Color Profiles | I-Log, Standard, Vivid, Leica Vivid, Leica Natural, Portrait, Film, Vintage, Urban, Night | Standard, Vivid, Flat |
| AI Chip | Pro Imaging Chip + 5nm AI Chip | 5nm AI Chip |
| Audio | 3 Mics | 4 Mics |
| Hands-Free Control | Gesture Control, Voice Control | Gesture Control, Voice Control |
| Timecode | ✅ | ❌ |
| Reverse Charging | ✅ | ❌ |
| Battery | 1800mAh | 2290mAh |
| Waterproof | 39ft (12m) | 33ft (10m) |
Insta360 Ace Pro 2
Powerful Action Camera
✓ 8K Video + 50 MP Photo
✓ 1/1.3” Sensor
✓ Dual AI Chip
✓ Wind Guard
Insta360 X4
Versatile 360 Camera
✓ Reframeable 8K 360 Footage
✓ 1/2” Sensor
✓ 5nm AI Chip
✓ Auto & Active Wind Reduction
Design
Insta360 Ace Pro 2
While coming in a very different design and appearance, both the Ace Pro 2 and X4 are rugged and compact action cameras. They also offer the same display size of 2.5 inches, which can be useful for framing shots and reviewing footage.
The display of the Ace Pro is a flippable touchscreen to accommodate selfie mode, while the X4 has a regular touchscreen display. The X4 doesn't need a flip display as it has a 360-degree camera setup, which means that you can still preview the screen no matter which way the camera is oriented.
When it comes to waterproofing capability, the Insta360 Ace Pro 2 is leading. It can be used underwater up to 39ft (12m) as compared to the X4 which can be used only up to 33ft (10m) underwater without any additional housing.
While both cameras support mounting on various accessories, the X4 is most ideally mounted on a selfie stick, so it offers a 1/4 built-in thread to accommodate it. The Ace Pro 2 requires a 3-prong to 1/4" adapter for mounting on a selfie stick, but instead, it offers a magnetic mounting system that allows for easy attachment and detachment to various accessories. Generally, I find the magnetic mounting system of the Ace Pro 2 to be more convenient and flexible for various mounting needs.
Video & Photo
Insta360 X4
At a glance, the Insta360 Ace Pro 2 and X4 seem to have the same video resolution of 8K/30 fps, but deeper down, the Ace Pro 2 delivers a higher quality 8K video. This is because it captures 8K video with a single lens, while the X4 stitches two 4K video streams to create 8K footage. 8K resolution is dispersed across the 360-degree field of view in the X4, whereas the Ace Pro 2 can concentrate the full 8K resolution into a narrower field of view, resulting in sharper video quality.
Insta360 Ace Pro 2 is also leading in terms of low-light performance, thanks to its larger 1/1.3" image sensor, Leica Summarit lens, and dual AI chip. It also offers PureVideo, a dedicated video mode for low-light capture. With a much smaller 1/2" sensor, the Insta360 X4 struggles more in low-light conditions and has no dedicated low-light video mode.
Another advantage that the Ace Pro 2 has over the Insta360 X4 is the various color profiles available, including I-Log, Standard, Vivid, Leica Vivid, Leica Natural, Portrait, Film, Vintage, Urban, and Night. Meanwhile, the color profiles of the X4 are limited to Standard, Vivid, and Flat.
Despite falling short in those aspects, the Insta360 X4 offers a more versatile 360-degree capture capability. Compared to Ace Pro 2's 157-degree FOV, the X4 takes more immersive and comprehensive 360-degree footage that captures everything around the camera.
360 footage is also far more flexible and creative, as it can be reframed in post-production to show various perspectives to highlight different stories or cropped in various aspect ratios to suit different social media platforms. Editing is also far from a hassle, as the Insta360 mobile app and desktop software provide powerful yet intuitive tools to work with 360-degree footage, from Deep Track to AI editing, Shot Lab templates, and more.
Audio
Insta360 Ace Pro 2
Insta360 X4 has 4 built-in microphones, which is slightly more than the 3 microphones of the Ace Pro 2. However, it's very reasonable as the X4 has a more comprehensive 360-degree capture capability compared to the narrower field of view of the Ace Pro 2, thus requiring more microphones to capture high-quality 360-degree audio.
Insta360 X4 offers 4 audio modes: Auto Wind Reduction, Active Wind Reduction, Stereo, and Direction Focus. Active Wind Reduction is intended for use during more intense action scenes in windy conditions, such as while riding a motorcycle.
Insta360 Ace Pro 2 only has 3 audio modes, including Wind Reduction, Voice Enhancement, and Stereo. However, it has a wind guard integrated into its body, which physically blocks wind noise and improves audio quality in windy conditions.
If the built-in audio capture is not sufficient, both the Insta360 Ace Pro 2 and X4 support external microphones to further enhance the audio quality, including Bluetooth headsets like AirPods and motorcycle helmet headsets like Sena.
Features
Insta360 Ace Pro 2
Insta360 Ace Pro 2 and Insta360 X4 are quite comparable in terms of features. They both support voice control, gesture control, and sports stats integration with compatible Garmin devices or Apple watches.
.tabilization technology on both cameras is also impressive, with FlowState Stabilization and 360° Horizon Lock to keep footage smooth and level even during intense activities.
One additional feature that the Ace Pro 2 has that the X4 lacks is timecode, which allows for easy synchronization of footage from multiple cameras. This makes the Ace Pro 2 more suitable for professional video production workflows where the use of multiple cameras is common.
Battery Life
Insta360 X4
Insta360 Ace Pro 2 is powered by an 1800mAh battery, which can provide up to 180 minutes of runtime when recording at 1080p/24 fps. The camera supports fast charging, taking 18 minutes to reach 80% or 47 minutes for a full charge.
Insta360 X4 offers a 27% larger battery capacity of 2290mAh, allowing it to last for up to 135 minutes at 5.7K/30 fps or 75 minutes at 8K/30 fps. However, charging takes longer at 55 minutes for a full charge or 38 minutes to reach 80% capacity.
Insta360 Ace Pro 2 also has an advantage with reverse charging capability, which makes it a useful power bank to charge other devices like smartphones on the go.
Insta360 Ace Pro 2 vs. Insta360 X4
Final Thoughts
Insta360 Ace Pro 2
Overall, the Insta360 Ace Pro 2 is the more premium and capable action camera, offering higher video quality, better low-light performance, more color profile options, timecode feature, and a flexible magnetic mounting system. However, the Insta360 X4 excels in 360-degree capture capability, which gives it more versatility, flexibility, and creative potential.
Go with the Ace Pro 2 if you prioritize video quality, low-light performance, and professional video production features. However, if you value the creative possibilities of 360-degree capture, then the Insta360 X4 may be the better choice.
If you would like to read more about Action Camera, check out our other relevant guides here:
Insta360 Ace Pro vs Insta360 Ace Pro 2
Insta360 Ace Pro 2 vs Insta360 X3
Insta360 Ace Pro 2 vs GoPro Hero 13
Insta360 Ace Pro 2 vs GoPro Hero 12
Insta360 Ace Pro 2 vs DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro
Insta360 Ace Pro 2 vs DJI Osmo Action 4
Insta360 Ace Pro 2 vs DJI Osmo Pocket 3
Author
Naila Syifa
Content Manager at Synced. She crafts insightful content on the latest trends in technology, consumer electronics, and smart home gadgets.
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