An 360 camera is a brilliant way to easily capture fast-paced and high quality video while on the go. But which one should you go for?
As both the DJI Osmo 360 and Insta360 X4 achieved a 4.5-star rating from us, which compact 360-degree camera is better suited for you?
To help you decide, we’ve compared both the cameras and highlighted the key differences and any notable similarities below.
Otherwise, make sure you visit our list of the best action cameras to see some of our other favourite options.
Price and Availability
The DJI Osmo 360 has a starting RRP of £409.99 for the camera itself, one battery, a protective pouch and a lens protector. Alternatively, you can opt for one of DJI’s bundles, which includes additional accessories.
For example, the Adventure Combo retails at £539.99 and includes a 1.2m selfie stick, two additional batteries and a battery case, while the Road Cycling First-Person Combo will set you back slightly less at £498.99 and includes a chest strap mount and a handlebar mount too.
Similarly, the Insta360 X4 offers various bundles with accessories tailored to what you intend on using the camera for. While the Standard Bundle has an RRP of £499.99/$499.99 and only includes the camera and a standard lens guard, the Starter Bundle has an RRP of £579.99/$579.99 and includes an additional battery, lens cap and a 114cm Selfie Stick.
Alternatively, the Invisible Dive Bundle will set you back £648/$650 but includes everything included in the Starter Bundle, plus an Invisible Dive Case, a Floating Hand Grip and a Selfie Stick Wrist Strap too.
It’s worth noting for both cameras, neither comes equipped with a microSD card, so you’ll need to buy one separately.
Design
- DJI Osmo 360 has an IP68 rating which means the camera can be submerged in up to 10 meters of water without a case
- Although the Insta360 X4 doesn’t explicitly have an IP rating, it can also withstand up to 10 meters of water
- Osmo 360 is lighter at 183g
The DJI Osmo 360 has a short and stout design which, although feels solid and durable in hand, isn’t particularly inspiring aesthetically. On the other hand, the Insta360 X4 sports a taller, slimmer yet still pocket-sized design with its two lenses slightly bulging outwards.
Otherwise, both are fitted with a touchscreen on one side of the camera and have various buttons and controls to navigate through settings and operate the camera. However, it’s worth noting that the Osmo 360 also benefits from gesture control, which we’ll get into more later.
Although the Osmo 360 isn’t particularly stylish, it’s admirably lightweight at 183g and has an IP68 rating which means it can not only withstand splashes but it can also be submerged in up to 10m of water. Similarly, the slightly heavier 203g Insta360 X4 can also be submerged in up to 10m of water or up to a whopping 50m when donning a dive case.
Finally, both have removable batteries and USB-C compartments, which are both dust and water-resistant too.
Winner: Insta360 X4
Features
- Both can be operated via their respective touch screen or smartphone app
- Insta360 X4 has an AI-based editing, which can be hit and miss
- Insta360 X4 promises up to 135 minutes of filming while the Osmo 360 offers up to 100 minutes
Whether you’ve used an action camera before or this is your first jump into the tech, both the Osmo 360 and Insta360 X4 are refreshingly simple to use.
Once you switch on either camera, you’ll instantly see a preview of the video feed on their touchscreens. From here, you can swipe across the screen to take you to various menus and settings.
However, you can also control the Insta360 X4 via its smartphone app instead, as it not only gives you more space but it also includes a few additional features such as AI-based editing which automatically analyses and reframes your videos.
Similarly, you can feed all the video you capture with the Osmo 360 into the DJI Mimo app, where it’s easy to edit your videos. Alternatively, there’s also DJI Studio on PC and Mac which offers a more in-depth editing experience.
The Osmo 360 is also fitted with gesture and voice controls. This saves you from having to use the touchscreen whenever you want to start or end a recording. We found these gestures to be particularly useful when physical controls are out of reach.
Otherwise both cameras can capture full 360° footage in up to 8K or through a more traditional single-lens option that’s better suited for vlogging. With the Osmo 360’s single-lens, there’s also a clever Boost Video mode which draws the viewer’s attention to the background.
Finally, according to Insta360 the X4 can provide up to 135 minutes of recording time (in 5.7K resolution and 30fps) while the Osmo 360 offers up to 100 minutes of filming at 8K and 30fps.
Winner: DJI Osmo 360
Video Quality
- Both can shoot up to 8K footage
- The Insta360 X4 sports two action modes, including 5.7K/60fps and 4K/100fps
- Osmo 360 can take panoramic photos in up to 120MP while the X4 can take 360° images in 72MP
While both cameras are capable of shooting 8K footage up to 30fps, the Insta360 X4 sports both a 5.7K/60fps mode alongside its more standard 4K/100fps action mode, with the latter found in the Osmo 360.
As the Osmo 360 uses one-inch sensors, we were impressed by how the device is able to capture heaps of light, regardless of the setting you’re using. In fact, we praised the Osmo 360’s ability to ensure colours look vibrant, even in overcast situations, with detailed videos even when zoomed.
Both cameras also naturally benefit from impressive stabilisation too, with the X4 sporting FlowState Electronic stabilisations which renders movements smooth and jerk-free, while HorizonLock keeps videos level while turning 360°.
Although you wouldn’t necessarily purchase a camera like this for its photography ability, it’s worth noting that they both can capture detailed images.
While the Osmo 360 can capture panoramic photos in up to 120MP, its single-lens images are captured at a max 30.72MP. The Insta360 X4, on the other hand, can capture its 360° in up to 72MP quality.
Winner: Insta360 X4
Verdict
Both the DJI Osmo 360 and Insta360 X4 are brilliant options for anyone looking for an easy-to-use, all-in-one 360 camera. As the Insta360 X4 is more expensive, although it has been known to see price drops from time to time, if you’re just getting started with content creation, then the Osmo 360 is a great option.
However, if you want a mainstream device, then you can’t go wrong with the Insta360 X4.
