Insta360 Flow vs Insta360 Flow 2 Pro: A Big Leap Forward
Naila Syifa
Updated January 2025
The Insta360 Flow 2 Pro was released just two years after the original Insta360 Flow, but it represents a significant leap in features, performance, and overall capabilities. In this article, we'll explore the key differences between the two models so you'll know what to expect from the upgraded version.
Key Takeaways
The Insta360 Flow 2 Pro significantly improves upon its predecessor with an expanded mechanical range, advanced tracking features, and enhanced design elements. Despite the slightly shorter battery life, it offers superior functionality through Apple DockKit support, teleprompter capabilities, and versatile remote control options, making it a worthy upgrade for content creators.
Insta360 Flow
AI Phone Stabilizer
✓ Foldable and Lightweight
✓ Deep Track 3.0
✓ Built-in Tripod & Selfie Stick
✓ 12-Hour Runtime
Insta360 Flow 2 Pro
Next-Gen AI Phone Stabilizer
✓ Free Tilt Mode
✓ Deep Track 4.0
✓ Apple DockKit
✓ Built-in Tripod, Selfie Stick & Mirror
Design
Insta360 Flow
The Insta360 Flow 2 Pro retains the foldable design of the original Flow, making it compact and portable. When unfolded, the Flow 2 Pro measures 4.8 x 11.1 x 2.1 inches, slightly longer than the original Flow at 2.9 x 10.6 x 2.8 inches. However, it boasts a lighter weight of 357 grams compared to the original's 369 grams.
While the original Insta360 Flow integrates a built-in tripod and selfie stick into its design, the Flow 2 Pro adds a new selfie mirror for convenience and a tracking ring light that glows green to give visual cues that subject tracking is active.
The tripod also has a more sturdy build quality compared to the original, while the handle is more ergonomic with a longer, anti-slip design. All of these make the Flow 2 Pro a more refined all-in-one solution overall.
Another design difference between the two gimbals is the SmartWheel. Other than the upgraded appearance, the SmartWheel on the Flow 2 Pro now features a C button, which provides quick access to creative effects. Other controls like Touch Panel, Joystick, Switch Button, Shutter Button, Zoom Wheel, and Trigger Button remain present on both gimbals.
Mechanical Range
Insta360 Flow 2 Pro
Insta360 Flow and Flow 2 Pro both feature advanced 3-axis gimbal stabilization technology, which delivers smooth and stable video recording. However, the Flow 2 Pro offers an expanded mechanical range of motion compared to the original Flow model.
Insta360 Flow
Tilt: -100° to 82°
Roll: -150° to 180°
Pan: -230° to 100°
Insta360 Flow 2 Pro
Tilt: -99° to 231°
Roll: -390° to 135°
Pan: 360°
The continuous 360° infinite panning on the Insta360 Flow 2 Pro is particularly impressive, allowing the gimbal to capture everything surrounding it. It even offers a 360° Pan Shot feature, which will activate the continuous 360° panning with a single press of the C button.
Another new feature on the Flow 2 Pro related to this aspect is Free Tilt Mode. Free Tilt Mode allows you to break the tilt axis limitation, opening up creative possibilities like crane shots, orbit shots, dolly shots, and low-angle transitions.
Tracking Features
Deep Track
The companion app of both gimbals, the Insta360 app, houses many advanced features. One of them is Live Mode, which allows subject-tracking on compatible third-party apps in both iOS and Android, such as Instagram, TikTok, FaceTime, Skype, and Facebook Messenger. That means, you can live stream or video call with the camera automatically following and keeping you in frame.
The Insta360 Flow 2 Pro adds Apple DockKit integration, which gives it native subject-tracking capabilities on the iPhone Camera app and over 200 third-party apps in iOS. It is more robust than the Live Mode feature, but only benefits iPhone users.
If you're an Android user, don't worry because even without using third-party apps, both gimbals can still benefit from subject-tracking features within the Insta360 app. The Deep Track technology supports advanced tracking features like zoom tracking, slow motion tracking, person re-identification, animal and object tracking, and more, which may not be supported on third-party apps.
It's just that the Insta360 Flow uses the older Deep Track 3.0 version, while the Insta360 Flow 2 Pro utilizes the newer Deep Track 4.0 technology, adding more advanced tracking capabilities like Active Zoom Tracking, Multi-Person Tracking, and Pro Framing Grid for tracking based on Golden Ratio composition.
Other Features
Insta360 Flow 2 Pro
The Insta360 Flow 2 Pro is much more well-equipped in terms of its overall features. For remote control, it supports gesture control, Apple Watch remote control, and smartphone remote control that allows you to use a second smartphone for preview and control if you don't have an Apple Watch. Meanwhile, the original Flow only offers gesture control.
On top of that, the Flow 2 Pro has a Teleprompter feature, which allows you to read scripts on the phone's screen while recording so you can deliver your content flawlessly while still maintaining eye contact with the camera.
The Flow 2 Pro also supports Apple ProRes and Dolby Vision on iPhone, which enables higher-quality video capture suitable for professional workflows. The Insta360 is hinting that the original Flow may also receive a firmware update in the future to add the ProRes and Dolby Vision support.
Lastly, the Insta360 Flow 2 Pro supports One-Tap Pairing using NFC, so you can pair the gimbal with your smartphone by simply placing the phone's NFC area close to the gimbal's pairing area. Meanwhile, pairing on the original Flow still requires a manual Bluetooth pairing process.
Battery
Insta360 Flow
The Insta360 Flow 2 Pro is rated for up to 10 hours of runtime, which is very impressive considering that it packs just an 1100 mAh battery with a range of advanced features.
Meanwhile, the original Insta360 Flow boasts a massive 2900 mAh battery, which can last for up to 12 hours. This makes it the superior choice when it comes to runtime.
However, considering how the original Flow can only provide a 20% longer runtime despite having more than double the battery capacity of the Flow 2 Pro, the Insta360 Flow 2 Pro seems to be more power-efficient and optimized in its battery management.
Insta360 Flow vs Insta360 Flow 2 Pro
Final Thoughts
Insta360 Flow 2 Pro
The Insta360 Flow 2 Pro's improved design, expanded mechanical range, enhanced tracking capabilities, and a range of additional features make it a clear upgrade over the original Insta360 Flow.
While the original Insta360 Flow offers longer battery life, the Flow 2 Pro's power efficiency and additional capabilities, such as Apple DockKit support and versatile remote control options position it as the more capable and versatile option for content creators.
If you like to read more on Gimbals, check out our other relevant guides here:
Best Smartphone Gimbals
Best Gimbals for iPhone
Insta360 Flow Pro vs Insta360 Flow 2 Pro
DJI Osmo Mobile 6 vs Insta360 Flow 2 Pro
DJI Osmo Mobile 6 vs DJI Osmo Mobile SE
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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