Insta360 Flow, full review: the 4-in-1 mobile stabilizer

Article updated on 29 August 2024

Challenging DJI in the field of smartphone stabilizers, the Insta360 Flow is all about versatility. This little gem isn’t just a simple stabilizer: it also acts as a tripod, selfie pole and even an external battery. But does it really live up to its promises? Can it excel in all these functions at once? And above all, is this the stabilizer for you? We tell you all about it in our full review!

Table of contents

Insta360 Flow: Key features

Let’s start by reviewing the key technical features of this little marvel:

Weight	369 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: -230° to 100° Tilt: -150° to 180° Tilt: -100° to 82° Pan: -230° to 100° Tilt: -150° to 180°
Autonomy	12 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: Design and Interface

Ultra-compact design

At first glance, taking the Insta360 Flow out of its box reveals a compact, lightweight device weighing just 369 g. When folded, it’s about the size of a smartphone, making it ultra-convenient for travel and easy to take anywhere. Despite this mini format, it conceals a 2900 mAh battery capable of lasting up to 12 hours of use, perfect for long sessions without recharging.

Let’s take a closer look at the device. Like any self-respecting stabilizer, the Insta360 Flow has a handle that groups together the controls, and an upper arm to which the smartphone is attached. To turn it on or off, simply rotate the ball-and-socket joint that connects these two parts.

The arm is equipped with a magnetic clip that attaches to the back of your smartphone in the blink of an eye. This clamp is compatible with a wide range of smartphones, even the larger models. A nice little detail: the back of the arm is transparent, revealing the device’s integrated circuits, and at the bottom, a discreet trapdoor hides a port for an external microphone. At the top of the arm, you’ll find a USB-C port dedicated to charging the phone or the small auxiliary lamp included in the designer pack.

The handle houses a circular control panel with a central joystick, physical buttons, a peripheral scroll wheel, and a trigger at the rear. We’ll explore this interface in detail in the next section. On the side of the handle is a second USB-C port, intended for charging the stabilizer.

The top of the handle is telescopic, transforming the unit into a 215 mm selfie pole. You can turn the head in any direction for precise control over the angle of your shots.

Finally, the base of the camera hides a little surprise: an extendable part made up of three legs that unfold to form a tripod, handy for placing the stabilizer and freeing your hands. Note also that a gray silicone cover is supplied to improve grip.

A rich, intuitive interface

As mentioned in the design section, the Insta360 Flow’s handle features a round control panel on the front, known as the SmartWheel, and a trigger on the rear. The wheel features indicator lights for selected modes, physical buttons, a thumbwheel, a small joystick and even a touch-sensitive surface.

With all these controls, the device may seem complex at first, but once in hand, it proves surprisingly intuitive.

Here is an overview of the commands and their functions:

On/off button: turns the stabilizer on and off.
Record button: Used to capture photos or start video recording.
Switch button: toggles between the phone’s front and rear cameras with a single press; two presses change screen orientation (horizontal or vertical), and three presses switch from photo to video mode.
Joystick: Used to navigate application modes and settings, it can also be clicked to confirm a selection.
Zoom wheel: Turn to control zoom in and out.
Touch-sensitive surface: The touch-sensitive part of the control panel lets you change modes with a half-circle of the thumb, or advance/rewind a video with a full scan.

The trigger on the back of the handle is also multifunctional, depending on the number of presses:

One press: Selects a target for subject tracking.
Two presses: Refocuses the camera.
Three presses: Switches to selfie mode by turning the camera towards you.

In addition to these controls, Flow also features gesture control. This means you can start or stop video recording simply by raising the palm of your hand in front of the camera, as on some of the brand’s other devices.

Insta360 Flow : Features

A 4-in-1 stabilizer

As mentioned in our design section, the Insta360 Flow stands out from other mobile stabilizers thanks to its multi-functionality. This all-in-one aspect is undeniably one of its greatest assets.

The Flow is a true 4-in-1 device:

Image stabilizer (its main function): With its three-axis stabilized gondola, the Flow excels in this task. It offers 330° of pan (left/right horizontal movement) and roll (left/right tilt), as well as 180° of tilt (up/down vertical movement).
Selfie pole: The handle is telescopic and can be extended by 215 mm to transform the camera into a practical selfie pole.
Tripod: the base of the handle cleverly unfolds into a tripod, allowing you to place the camera on any stable surface for filming without having to hold it.
External battery: With a 2900 mAh battery, much larger than that of its competitors, Flow can also be used as a powerbank, extending your phone’s autonomy during shooting sessions.

Shooting modes

The Insta360 Flow offers four shooting modes, each offering a different way of managing the gondola’s movements, depending on the effect you want for your video. In short, these modes let you decide on which axes the camera can move (while maintaining fluid movements) and on which it will remain fixed. The chosen mode is indicated by an LED at the top of the control pad.

Here are the 4 available modes:

Auto mode: Ideal for beginners or those who prefer to keep things simple. In this mode, Flow automatically selects the most appropriate mode for the situation, from among the three other options.
Follow mode (F): This mode enables the gondola to follow horizontal movements from left to right (panning) and vertical movements from top to bottom (tilting). The roll axis, which tilts the camera to the left or right, is locked to ensure maximum stability.
Pan Follow (PF) mode: This mode limits the movement of the gondola to the pan axis, i.e. the camera follows only horizontal movements from left to right, while vertical (tilt) and lateral (roll) movements are locked. Perfect for shots where you want the horizon to remain stable.
FPV mode: This mode allows the gondola to move freely on all axes: pan (left/right), tilt (up/down), and roll (sideways). This creates a fluid, immersive shot, reminiscent of the dynamic movements of an FPV drone, ideal for capturing dynamic, immersive videos.

The different functions

To unleash your creativity, the Insta360 Flow is equipped with a host of functions accessible via the Insta360 app. Already well known for its other devices such as action cameras and 360-degree cameras, this app stands out for its intuitive interface and numerous options.

Here’s an overview of the available modes:

Deep Track 3.0: This AI-assisted subject tracking mode is capable of recognizing and tracking different types of targets: people, animals, vehicles, buildings, monuments and even objects. Tracking is ultra-smooth, and if someone passes in front of the camera or you’re briefly obscured by a pole or tree, the stabilizer automatically picks you up.
Timelapse mode: a classic now found on many cameras, this mode lets you create a time-lapse video. For added dynamism, the Motion Timelapse mode incorporates a panning motion.
TimeShift mode: Also known as Hyperlapse, this mode creates an accelerated video effect while moving, perfect for capturing dynamic scenes.
Barrel mode: This mode lets you rotate your mobile as if you were performing a barrel roll with an FPV drone, adding an impressive effect to your videos.
Dolly Zoom mode: Recreate the iconic Vertigo effect, famous in cinema. By combining a zoom-in with a zoom-out, this mode gives the impression that the subject remains motionless while the background compresses or stretches in strange ways.
Panorama photos: Capture panoramic photos with several options: 360°, 240°, 180°, or in 3×3 grid format, for spectacular shots.
Shot Genie fashion: need inspiration? Shot Genie is here for you. This feature guides you through step-by-step tutorials, offering montages with music and shots to reproduce scene by scene, all with video explanations. It’s the perfect way to get creative without the headaches.

Discover our accessories for
Insta360 Flow

Insta360 Flow : Our Opinion

With the Flow, Insta360 offers us a stabilizer of impeccable design and finish, far from the “cheap” look. After numerous openings and closings, the unit remains solid and sturdy, easily rivaling competing stabilizers, notably DJI’s Osmo Mobile range.

The metal clip that attaches to your smartphone is another highlight. We’ve tested it with a wide range of smartphones, from the smallest to the largest, with and without protective shells, and it has never failed. The magnetic system is reliable and inspires confidence.

Theuser interface, with its control panel on the front and trigger on the back, is pleasant to use. Admittedly, it takes a little time to get used to all the functions, especially as some keys have different actions depending on the number of times they are pressed (once, twice or three times), but once mastered, everything becomes intuitive and fluid to use.

That said, the device is not without its shortcomings. The rather slim and compact handle could pose problems for people with large hands. Fortunately, the silicone grip helps in this case, and a little tip: the tripod’s extendable base, not deployed, can add a little length for a better grip.

The real weak point, in our opinion, is the front control panel’stouch-sensitive interface. This tactile circle, used to switch between shooting modes and navigate through a video, is sometimes too sensitive, making it frustrating to use at times. Fortunately, it’s not used that often, so the discomfort remains limited, but it’s an aspect that Insta360 could improve in future versions of the stabilizer.

Despite these minor reservations, using the Insta360 Flow is a real pleasure. The gondola does an excellent job of stabilizing (which is, after all, its main function 😁 ), subject tracking is fluid and efficient, and additional features like the tripod and selfie pole are real assets. The various modes, from Timelapse to TimeShift to panoramic shots, work wonderfully well and add great versatility to the whole package.

Insta360 Flow : Price

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Standard package	155€ (Insta360 store)	See on Amazon
Pro tripod pack	189.98€ (Insta360 store)
Designer’s pack	229€ (Insta360 store)	See on Amazon

The Insta360 Flow is available in three distinct packs: the standard pack, the pro tripod pack, and the designer pack.

Standard pack: This basic pack includes the stabilizer, a magnetic clamp to secure your smartphone, a silicone coating for the handle, a protective cover, and a Type-C to Type-A charging cable. Initially priced at 169€, it is now available for 155€ from the manufacturer’s official store.
Pro tripod pack: In addition to everything included in the standard pack, this pack adds an “all-purpose” tripod that screws onto the base of the stabilizer. This pack, launched at a price of €208.98, is currently offered at €189.98.
Creator’s pack: The most complete pack, ideal for content creators. It includes the stabilizer, the magnetic clamp, the grip cover, a small carrying bag, a spotlight (detailed below), and three charging cables: Type-C to Type-A, Type-C to Type-C, and Type-C to Lightning. The pack is available for €229.

🔎 Focus on the Spotlight
The little spotlight included in the designer pack, dubbed ” Spotlight “, is a small spot of light attaches to the side of the stabilizer head and plugs in via the device’s USB-C port. Despite its compact size, it can make all the difference in illuminating your face, especially if you’re not too far away from the camera. You can adjust the light temperature and choose from three intensity levels.

Insta360 Flow: Conclusion

The Insta360 Flow is a true Swiss Army knife for your smartphone. Stabilizer, tripod, selfie pole and external battery: this 4-in-1 is the ideal companion for those who love filming and want to improve the quality of their videos, with stability worthy of Hollywood productions.

Thanks to its intelligent functions, such as subject tracking that works in all applications, and its various creative modes, the Insta360 Flow proves to be a complete and powerful device. What’s more, its ultra-compact size when folded makes it easy to take with you wherever you go.

For whom?

Because of its size and magnetic attachment system, this stabilizer is not the best choice for fans of extreme sports – an action camera will be more suitable in this case. However, it will be an ally of choice for content creators such as vloggers, interviewers, tutorial enthusiasts, travel videographers, as well as streamers, whether in horizontal or vertical format.

Read our review of the “Pro” version of Insta360 Flow:
➡️ Insta360 Flow Pro, full review: what’s new?