Looking for the best travel camera for your next adventure? After testing the Insta360 X4 Air during a trip to Türkiye, I found myself reaching for it more often than my iPhone. From capturing entire landscapes in 8K to creating drone-like footage without carrying a drone, here’s why the Insta360 X4 Air has become one of my favourite travel cameras.
What Makes the Insta360 X4 Air Different?
You may have heard of Insta 360’s before and there have been many models on the market, but what makes the new x4 Air different?
The X4 Air is a compact, dual-lens 360-degree camera that captures the entire world around you — not just what’s in front of you. It shoots in 8K 360 video and 72MP 360 photos, and its standout feature is that you don’t have to think about framing at all. You just hit record. Everything is captured, and you choose your angle and perspective in editing afterward.
It’s also built for action. The X4 Air is waterproof, lightweight, and designed to mount on anything — a selfie stick (which disappears from the footage thanks to AI removal as you can see in the photos below), a bike helmet, a kayak, or just your hand, great for adventure holidays!
Ready to create drone-style travel footage without carrying a drone? Check out the Insta360 X4 Air Starter Bundle and current Prime Day offers.
Why is an Insta360 X4 Air Better than an iPhone
Instead of carrying a drone, action camera and smartphone gimbal, the Insta360 X4 Air combines several tools into one compact travel camera. For solo travellers, couples and content creators, its ability to capture everything around you means fewer missed moments and less time worrying about camera angles.
1. You’ll never miss a moment. With an iPhone, you have to point the lens at the right thing at the right time. With the X4 Air, everything is captured simultaneously — the street performer in front of you and the crowd reacting behind you. Travelling through a busy market in Morocco, hiking to a summit, or riding a gondola in Venice? The X4 Air captures the full experience and then you can edit what you need!
2. Effortless perspective in post. Because the camera captures 360 degrees, you can reframe your shots after the fact. Wide cinematic panoramas, tight close-ups, dramatic overhead angles — all from a single clip. This creative flexibility is something no smartphone can match.
3. The selfie stick disappears. This is genuinely impressive. Mount the X4 Air on a selfie stick and the stick is automatically removed from the footage. The result looks like a professional drone shot or a floating camera. It’s one of those features you have to see to believe, and it makes solo travel content look polished without a tripod or second person.
4. Built for adventure conditions. The X4 Air is waterproof to 10 metres and rugged enough for outdoor use. While modern iPhones have solid water resistance, they’re not designed to be dunked in the ocean or strapped to a surfboard. The X4 Air is.
5. Immersive storytelling. 360 footage can be experienced in VR or as an interactive video. Travel content shot on a 360 camera tells a story in a way flat video simply can’t. If you care about preserving the feeling of a place — not just its appearance — this is a significant advantage.
Check out the epic starter bundle here!
The Best Camera for Solo Travellers?
One thing I loved most about the Insta360 X4 Air was being able to capture photos and videos without asking strangers for help. Whether I was exploring Istanbul’s streets or hiking scenic viewpoints, the invisible selfie stick created angles that looked as though someone was travelling with me!
Is the Insta360 X4 Air Worth Buying During Prime Day? Prime Day is one of the best times of the year to pick up a travel camera. If you’ve been considering upgrading your travel content, the X4 Air offers features that a smartphone simply can’t replicate. Check current Prime Day deals below—the first 50 people to purchase via my link will receive a free X4 Air Replacement Lens Kit!
What I think!
All in all, the Insta360 X4 Air doesn’t replace your iPhone for travel photos, it expands what’s possible. If your travel photography is mostly snapshots and social posts, your phone is probably enough. But if you want to capture experiences in a way that makes people feel like they were there, the X4 Air is a great choice, especially if you are wanting to build your social media following and gain more views and traction with cool content!
For travellers who want to document adventures, create compelling content, or simply relive trips in full immersive detail, a 360 camera isn’t just better than a phone. It’s a different thing entirely — and once you’ve tried it, it’s hard to go back.
If you’re planning a trip this year and want more creative, immersive travel content, the Insta360 X4 Air is one of the most exciting cameras I’ve tested. Check today’s Prime Day deal here.
