The new Insta360 Flow Pro retains many smart features of the previous Flow model, but now with iPhone-dedicated features that may make it the best gimbal for iPhone users on the market.
The new Insta360 Flow Pro may be the best gimbal for iPhone users
By Naila Syifa
Updated July 2024
The popular action camera company Insta360 has just announced its latest product, the Insta360 Flow Pro. It is an upgrade to last year's Insta360 Flow gimbal model, now with iPhone-dedicated features that may make it the best gimbal for iPhone users on the market.
Insta360 Flow Pro
Dedicated Gimbal for iPhone
✓ Apple DockKit
✓ 360° Infinite Pan Tracking
✓ Deep Track 3.0
✓ Built-in Tripod & Selfie Stick
Made for iPhone
Insta360 Flow Pro is a gimbal specially made for iPhone, so iPhone users will get the most out of its features and performance. While it also works with Android phones, Android users won't enjoy DockKit integration, which unlocks tracking functionality in iPhone's native camera and third-party apps.
Apple DockKit
Insta360 Flow Pro
Apple DockKit support is the Flow Pro's key selling point, enabling it to integrate seamlessly with the iPhone ecosystem.
DockKit is an API introduced with iOS 17 that enables third-party motorized stands to integrate with any camera app on iPhone to track and follow a subject in the frame.
Being an Apple DockKit-enabled gimbal means that the Insta360 Flow Pro can be used with iPhone's native Camera app or other third-party apps to track and follow subjects.
Imagine attending a Zoom meeting or recording a TikTok video and having your iPhone automatically pan and tilt to keep you in frame as you move around. All the other gimbals that have no DockKit support will not be able to offer this level of seamless integration, you can only use the brand's own app to control the gimbal and track your movements.
Insta360 Flow Pro is the first gimbal to support Apple's DockKit API, making it a highly compelling option for iPhone users.
Another product that has introduced DockKit support even earlier is the Belkin Auto-Tracking Stand Pro, but it is merely a phone stand meant to be placed on a flat surface, whereas the Insta360 Flow Pro is a full-fledged gimbal that can be used in a variety of scenarios.
MagSafe-Compatible Mount
Insta360 Flow Pro Magnetic Phone Mount
Another way iPhone users will benefit from the Insta360 Flow Pro is its MagSafe-compatible Magnetic Phone Mount. It is not included in the box, costing you an extra US$19.99, but the Magnetic Phone Mount allows for easy, quick, and secure attachment to the back of an iPhone.
The usual way to mount a smartphone on a gimbal is through a clamp, which can be fiddly and inconvenient, especially when you need to quickly switch between different phones. The phone clamp is included when you purchase the Insta360 Flow Pro, but the MagSafe-compatible Magnetic Phone Mount offers a more seamless and convenient alternative for iPhone users.
Tracking Features
The more comprehensive tracking features of the Insta360 Flow Pro can be found in the Insta360 app. So, for iPhone users who want more advanced controls than the basic tracking capability offered by Apple's native Camera app or third-party apps utilizing DockKit, the Insta360 app is where they can take full advantage of the gimbal's capabilities.
It is also good news for Android users, as they can utilize the full range of tracking features offered by the Flow Pro via the Insta360 app.
Deep Track 3.0
Insta360 Flow Pro
Insta360 Flow Pro, similar to the Insta360 Flow, uses Deep Track 3.0 technology to track and follow subjects with impressive accuracy and responsiveness.
While Apple DockKit currently only tracks human subjects, Deep Track 3.0 can track people, animals, and moving objects like cars or trams, making it a versatile option for a wide range of video recording needs. So, when you want to track your pets, you can do so in the Insta360 app and not on the iPhone's native Camera app.
The AI-powered Deep Track 3.0 also offers many intelligent tracking features not found in the basic tracking capabilities of Apple DockKit, including:
- Person Reidentification means it will keep focusing on the target even when it is blocked momentarily by an obstacle like another person or car.
- Smart Subject Recovery means it will zoom out or reframe the shot to keep tracking the subject even when it moves out of frame.
- All angle tracking means it can recognize a subject from all angles to keep tracking it, even if the subject’s shape changes as it moves.
With the highly capable and intelligent Deep Track 3.0, using the Insta360 app is more recommended than the iPhone's Camera app for dynamic environments, quick movements, or large movement ranges.
360° Infinite Pan Tracking
Insta360 Flow Pro
Insta360 Flow Pro uses 3-axis mechanical stabilization to provide smooth panning, tilting, and rolling to keep your shots steady and your subject in frame, no matter how much they move around.
The stabilization range is as follows:
Pan: 360° continuous rotation
Roll: -150° to 180°
Tilt: -100° to 82°
The Flow Pro's 360° infinite pan tracking is particularly notable, as it allows unlimited panning to follow a subject moving in any direction. You can move in full circle around the gimbal and it will never lose sight of you!
360° panning also means you can take panoramic shots that capture a full 360-degree view around the gimbal, which is accessible as 360 Panorama Photo in the Insta360 app. Other creative modes and features will be explained in the following section.
Creative Features
Auto Editing on Insta360 app
Modes & Effects
Insta360 Flow Pro supports 4 shooting modes: auto, follow, pan follow, and FPV. This variety of options allows users to choose the most suitable mode for their specific video recording needs.
The Insta360 app also offers various creative effects with dynamic camera movements and speed controls, including TimeShift, Motion Timelapse, Barrel Roll, Dolly Zoom, and Widescreen Mode. These effects can help create cinematic video content with ease.
AI-Editing Tools
Insta360 app offers a suite of AI-powered editing tools to enhance and polish the videos captured with the Flow Pro.
The most interesting one is perhaps Auto Editing, which automatically finds the highlight moments of your clips and stitches them together into a polished video with music and transitions. This is a great feature for users who want to create engaging videos without the hassle of manual editing.
All-in-One Design
Insta360 Flow Pro
Insta360 Flow Pro is lightweight and portable. It folds nicely into 79.6 x 162.1 x 36 mm dimensions, making it easy to carry around and store when not in use.
The gimbal features a smart wheel, which is the main control hub on the device for quickly changing modes, aspect ratio, zooming in and out, accessing video replay, and other settings with just a few turns and clicks.
Insta360 Flow Pro introduces a new tracking ring light, which will flash green to indicate successful subject tracking. This is helpful visual feedback to let you know that the gimbal is keeping the subject in frame, so you can record with confidence and not worry about the gimbal losing track of the subject.
Built-in Accessories
Insta360 Flow Pro
Insta360 Flow Pro has a built-in tripod and selfie stick, making it a truly all-in-one solution for mobile video capture. You can use the tripod to set up the gimbal on a flat surface or extend the selfie stick to capture dynamic shots while on the move.
Insta360 Flow Pro can also serve as an emergency power bank. When your phone runs out of battery, you can plug it into the gimbal to charge it up and continue your recording session uninterrupted.
The gimbal also features a built-in cold shoe, which allows users to mount an external microphone for high-quality audio capture.
If you need extra lighting for your video shoots, the Insta360 Flow Pro also offers a Spotlight accessory available for purchase for $24.99.
The new Insta360 Flow Pro may be the best gimbal for iPhone users
Insta360 Flow Pro
Dedicated Gimbal for iPhone
✓ Apple DockKit
✓ 360° Infinite Pan Tracking
✓ Deep Track 3.0
✓ Built-in Tripod & Selfie Stick
Final Thoughts
Insta360 Flow Pro
The Insta360 Flow Pro appears to be a comprehensive and versatile gimbal solution for iPhone users, offering a range of features and capabilities that set it apart from the competition.
With its seamless integration with Apple's DockKit API, the gimbal can track and follow subjects effortlessly within the iPhone's native Camera app and third-party apps, providing a level of convenience and functionality that other gimbals cannot match.
For more advanced tracking features and creative modes, the Insta360 app offers a robust suite of tools and capabilities that allow users to elevate their mobile video productions.
Insta360 Flow Pro also stands out with its all-in-one design, incorporating a built-in tripod, selfie stick, and even an emergency power bank, making it a highly versatile and practical solution for iPhone users on the go.
If you like to read more on Gimbals, check out our other relevant guides here:
Best Smartphone Gimbals
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