Insta360 Flow Pro, full review: what’s new?

One year after the release of its first smartphone stabilizer, Insta360 is back in the spotlight with a “Pro” version of its flagship product: theInsta360 Flow Pro. Built on the solid foundations of the original, this new version promises significant improvements for creators in search of perfection. But what’s really new in this “Pro” model? Is it a simple update or a real leap forward in quality? Should you consider trading in your Flow for this newcomer? We break everything down to answer all your questions!

Insta360 Flow Pro: Key features

Before we dive into the details and see what the Insta360 Flow Pro has up its sleeve, let’s take a quick look at its main technical features:

Weight	366 g (+ 32 g magnetic clamp)
Dimensions (L x H x W)	162.1 x 79.6 x 36 mm (folded) 269.4 x 73.6 x 69.9 mm (unfolded)
Length of selfie pole	215 mm
Rotation range	Pan: 360° continuous rotation Roll: -150° to 180° Tilt: -100° to 82
Autonomy	10 hours
Charging time	2 hours
Connectivity	USB-C Bluetooth 5.0
Compatible phones	Width: 64 to 84 mm Thickness: 6.9 to 10 mm Weight: 130 to 300 g

Insta360 Flow Pro: Design, Interface and Autonomy

A 4-in-1 device

The Insta360 Flow stands out from other smartphone stabilizers thanks to its exceptional versatility. This all-in-one device is one of its main strengths.

Flow combines four functions in a single device:

1. Image stabilizer: This is its main function, with a three-axis stabilized gondola. The Flow Pro allows 330° roll rotation (tilt), 180° tilt (up/down), and – one of the big new features of this Pro version – continuous 360° panning (left/right).
2. Selfie pole: The telescopic handle can be extended up to 215 mm, transforming the camera into a practical selfie pole, ideal for capturing moments from different angles.
3. Integrated tripod: the base of the handle cleverly unfolds to transform into a tripod, allowing you to place the camera on a stable surface and film without having to hold it.
4. External battery: Equipped with a 2900 mAh battery, significantly larger than those of many competitors, Flow can also act as a powerbank, extending your smartphone’s autonomy during extended shooting sessions.

Virtually unchanged design

The Insta360 Flow Pro retains the familiar appearance of the original Flow, with very few aesthetic changes. At first glance, it’s hard to tell the two models apart. Weighing in at 366g, 3 grams less than its predecessor, it retains the same dimensions, making it a compact, easy-to-take-anywhere travel companion.

The only real visible change is the addition of the ” Tracking Ring Light “, a luminous ring located at the top of the grip, which lights up to indicate that subject tracking is activated and the target is locked. A reassuring little extra when shooting.

The rest is the same functional design, with a folding handle and arm that not only unfolds the device in a jiffy, but also switches it on and off automatically.

Handle details :

• Round control pad: Located on the front, it groups together various control elements, including physical buttons, a peripheral scroll wheel and a central joystick. The surface is also tactile. We’ll take a closer look at this interface below, to give you a complete overview of its functionalities.
• Multifunction trigger: located at the rear, it adds an extra dimension of control that we’ll also explore below.
• USB-C port: Located on the side of the device for recharging.
• Telescopic section: at the top of the handle, it transforms Flow Pro into a 215 mm selfie pole. The head is freely rotatable, allowing you to adjust your mobile to the perfect angle.
• Extendable base: can be extended into three legs for use as a tripod, or simply to provide a better grip.

Like its predecessor, Flow Pro comes with a gray silicone case, which adds a little thickness to improve grip.

Arm details :

• Transparent part: At the rear, revealing the printed circuit boards, with a small trapdoor at the base that hides a port for connecting an external microphone.
• Magnetic part: on the top, it allows you to attach your smartphone in a fraction of a second thanks to the supplied clip, compatible with a wide range of phones, both small and large.
• USB-C port: a second port at the top for charging your phone, turning Flow Pro into an external battery.

A complete, intuitive interface

The Insta360 Flow Pro uses the same interface as its predecessor. It features a handle with a round control panel on the front, called the SmartWheel, and a trigger on the rear. The SmartWheel brings together several controls, such as indicator lights for the various modes, physical buttons, a zoom wheel, a miniature joystick and a touch zone.

Despite its complex appearance, this control system proves surprisingly easy to use after just a few manipulations.

Here is a summary of the main commands and how to use them:

• On/off button: Activates or deactivates the stabilizer.
• Record button: Triggers photo shooting or the start of video recording.
• Toggle button: press once to switch from one camera to another, and press twice to change screen orientation (horizontal or vertical). Three presses toggle between photo and video modes.
• Joystick: This small joystick lets you navigate menus and select options, with a click function for confirmation.
• Wheel: Used to zoom in or out.
• Touch-sensitive surface: You can change modes by making a semicircle with your thumb, or scroll through a video by scanning the surface.

The trigger on the rear offers several functions depending on the number of times it is pressed:

• One press: Selects a subject for automatic tracking.
• Two presses: realign camera to center.
• Three presses: Switches the camera to selfie mode.

What’s more, Flow Pro offers a gesture control function, enabling you to start or stop video recording simply by raising your hand in front of the camera, a feature also present on other Flow Pro products.

Slightly reduced range

The original Flow stood out for its impressive autonomy, offering up to 12 hours of use on a single charge, which was a real asset for users. However, with the arrival of the Flow Pro, a little surprise awaits us: autonomy is slightly reduced, dropping to around10 hours. While this may seem like a step backwards, it’s important to note that these 10 hours are still far superior to what the competition is offering in this category.

In all likelihood, this reduction is due to the new, more power-hungry features integrated into Flow Pro. However, even with this reduction, you still benefit from a battery life that allows you to capture moments throughout the day without having to constantly worry about recharging.

Insta360 Flow Pro : Features

4 shooting modes

The Insta360 Flow offers four shooting modes, each of which allows you to manage the gondola’s movements differently to achieve the desired effect in your videos. These modes give you control over the axes where the camera can move, while ensuring fluid movements, or those where it remains fixed. An LED on the control pad indicates the selected mode.

Here’s an overview of the 4 available modes:

• Auto mode: Designed for those who want simplicity of use, this mode automatically selects the most suitable setting from the other three options, depending on the situation.
• Follow mode (F): This mode enables the gondola to follow horizontal (left/right) and vertical (up/down) movements, while locking the roll axis (left/right tilt) to ensure greater stability.
• Pan Follow (PF) mode: Here, only horizontal movements (panning) are followed, with vertical (tilt) and lateral (roll) axes locked. This mode is perfect for shots where horizon stability is essential.
• FPV mode : This mode frees the gondola, allowing it to move in all axes: pan, tilt and roll. It offers an immersive, dynamic experience, similar to the movements of an FPV drone, ideal for captivating videos.

Deep Track 3.0 subject tracking

Deep Track 3.0 is the Insta360 Flow Pro’s subject tracking function. Assisted by AI, this technology is designed to recognize and track a wide range of targets with great precision. Whether you’re shooting people, animals, vehicles or even inanimate objects such as buildings and monuments, tracking remains smooth and precise.

One of Deep Track 3.0’s major assets is its ability to maintain tracking, even if the subject is temporarily obscured by an obstacle, such as a person passing in front of the camera or a tree. The stabilizer automatically recovers the subject as soon as it reappears in the field of view.

One of the great new features of this Pro version is its compatibility with Apple DockKit. Thanks toNFC pairing, the first time you use the stabilizer, all you have to do is touch your iPhone to the NFC logo on the stabilizer’s handle, and the two devices will pair up in a matter of seconds. Thereafter, the connection is made automatically each time the stabilizer is used.

This feature enables subject tracking to work not only with the iPhone’s native camera application, but also with over 200 third-party iOS applications. This means you’ll stay in the center of the frame during calls, lives and online meetings.

What’s more, a new light on the stabilizer ball joint lights up green when tracking is active. So even if you’re not using the front camera, you can instantly see whether the subject is correctly locked.

Finally, the Insta360 Flow Pro incorporates 360° panoramic tracking, enabling the camera to turn on itself to follow the subject without interruption, even if you rotate the camera around completely. This feature is ideal for capturing dynamic videos without losing sight of the main subject, regardless of its movements.

Other features

The Insta360 Flow Pro is equipped with a host of additional functions that allow you to create a variety of visual effects, enriching your creativity:

• Timelapse mode : This classic mode lets you shoot time-lapse videos. For an even more dynamic effect, Motion Timelapse adds fluid panning motion to your footage.
• TimeShift mode: also known as Hyperlapse, this mode lets you capture time-lapse video while on the move, ideal for capturing dynamic scenes with cinematic effect.
• Tonneau mode: This mode simulates mobile rotation as if you were performing a barrel roll with an FPV drone, adding a spectacular touch to your videos.
• Dolly Zoom mode: recreate the iconic Vertigo effect by combining a zoom in with a zoom out. This gives the impression that the subject remains fixed while the background is dramatically distorted.
• Panorama photos: Capture panoramic images with several options, such as 360°, 240°, 180°, or in 3×3 grid format, for striking, immersive views.
• Shot Genie mode: Looking for inspiration? Shot Genie offers guided step-by-step tutorials, including music montages and shots to reproduce, with clear video explanations. It’s the perfect tool for effortless creation.

All these features are accessible via the Insta360 app, already well known from the brand’s other products, such as action cameras and 360 cameras. The application stands out for its intuitive interface and numerous options.

Insta360 Flow Pro : Our Opinion

With the Flow Pro, Insta360 delivers a solid update to a stabilizer already recognized for its quality and robustness. This new version, like its predecessor, easily stands up to competitors such as the DJI Osmo Mobile range.

The strengths of the previous version are still there:

• Magnetic clamp: easily attaches to the back of your smartphone, whether it’s a compact or large model, for fast, secure installation.
• High-quality stabilization: Flow Pro continues to shine with its smooth, flexible movements, significantly improving the rendering of your videos.
• Intuitive control interface: Simple and pleasant to use, the interface proves intuitive after a little practice, making for a fluid user experience.

That said, there are still some minor shortcomings:

• The handle, still small and thin: It can be uncomfortable for those with large hands. Fortunately, the supplied grip and the non-deployed tripod extension are there to lend a hand.
• The control pad’s tactile interface: sometimes too sensitive, it can be frustrating when it doesn’t respond as expected.

Despite these points, the new features, though discreet, are a real plus for this Pro version. Automatic connection via NFC is an appreciable time-saver: simply unfold the stabilizer and it’s connected to your smartphone in an instant, making it even smoother to use. The ability to use subject tracking in various applications is also a significant advantage, even if this feature is currently reserved for iPhone users, leaving Android users somewhat disappointed.

Finally, the 360° continuous panoramic rotation, already present on other stabilizers, brings real freedom of movement, enabling shots to be captured from all angles without interruption. This feature expands creative possibilities and makes Flow Pro even more versatile than its predecessor.

Insta360 Flow Pro : Price

Standard package	159€ (Insta360 store)	See on Amazon
Pro tripod pack	194€ (Insta360 store)

The Insta360 Flow is available in two versions: the standard pack and the pro tripod pack.

• Standard pack: This basic pack includes the stabilizer, a magnetic clamp to hold your smartphone, a silicone coating to improve grip, a protective cover, and a Type-C to Type-A charging cable. The pack is available for €159 from the manufacturer’s official store.
• Pro tripod pack: In addition to the elements of the standard pack, this pack includes a multifunction tripod that attaches to the base of the stabilizer. This pack is priced at 194€.

Insta360 Flow Pro: Conclusion

In short, the Flow Pro retains the key elements of the original model, such as 3-axis stabilization, which ensures excellent fluidity, AI-based subject tracking, and the integrated selfie pole and tripod. The various modes, such as Timelapse, TimeShift and panoramic shots, offer great versatility and continue to work well. All in a compact, easy-to-carry format.

Despite a slight reduction in battery life, the Insta360 Flow Pro boasts some notable improvements, particularly for users of recent iPhones. Compatibility with Apple DockKit enables subject tracking with the iPhone’s native camera and various iOS applications, while offering continuous 360° panoramic tracking, giving even greater freedom of movement when capturing video.

For whom?

Due to its compact size and magnetic attachment system, this stabilizer is not ideal for extreme sports enthusiasts – an action camera would be more appropriate in this context.

On the other hand, it proves an excellent tool for content creators such as vloggers, interviewers, tutorial enthusiasts, travel videographers and streamers, whether they prefer to shoot in horizontal or vertical format.

I already have Insta360 Flow, do I need to buy Insta360 Flow Pro?

The improvements made to Flow Pro, while significant, do not revolutionize the user experience, even for iPhone enthusiasts. If you already own Flow, it may be wise to continue using it for the time being.

However, if you’ve been looking forward to any of the new features, such as Apple DockKit compatibility or 360° panoramic rotation, then upgrading to Flow Pro might be worth considering. These additions, while subtle, offer additional flexibility that could meet the specific needs of some content creators.

Also check out our full review of its predecessor, the Insta360 Flow:
➡️ Insta360 Flow, full review: the 4-in-1 mobile stabilizer

🆚 Looking for DJI alternatives? Take a look at our Osmo Mobile 7P versus 7 comparison to explore the differences between these two flagship models.