ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The Insta360 Flow 2 Pro Creator bundle is priced at $189.
- It has a longer handle than the previous model, a more stable tripod, and a convenient magnetic clamp system.
- There is no cold shoe available for your mic, and Android support is a bit of an afterthought.
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Today’s smartphone cameras are so good that you can be a content creator without spending thousands on a dedicated camera. The optical image stabilization they have is also very good, but you can capture more creative shots and shoot in more challenging conditions with a smartphone gimbal.
Insta360’s latest smartphone gimbal, the Flow 2 Pro is one of the best options available, with advanced features and a reasonable price.
Also: I tested the best iPhones in 2025: Should you buy the 17, Air, or Pro Max?
I’ve been using the original Insta360 Flow gimbal since 2023, primarily to capture B-roll for my e-bike and running shoe reviews. It’s a decent gimbal, but I have to extend the handle and tripod legs to fit my hand, and one leg broke so the tripod was no longer functional. I also had to remove my phone cases to use the extended clamp connector plate so that was a bit cumbersome.
The first thing I noticed about the Insta360 Flow 2 Pro smartphone gimbal was the longer handle with silicone grip on the front. The tripod was redesigned so that three metal legs extend down three inches from the base and then out to create a solid platform that holds my iPhone 17 Pro Max even when the telescoping stick, which extends out eight inches, is fully deployed.
In addition to the improved handle design and tripod stability, the creator bundle includes the new magnetic phone mount that attaches to the back of the iPhone’s MagSafe connector. The magnetic phone mount also serves as a reliable kickstand for your phone with a metal ring that extends down to prop up your phone in both portrait and landscape orientation.
Support for Apple DockKit means that more than 200 iOS apps work with the gimbal without any additional accessories, allowing creators to use their favorite apps with the gimbal as the on-site camera operator. I personally prefer to use the Insta360 app with the gimbal and that provides the ultimate experience with its Deep Track 4.0 tracking system, but the great thing about this kit is that Insta360 supports your own preferences.
With advanced AI tracking, the gimbal will move and keep the selected subject, or subjects, in view throughout the recording. You can also use another phone or even your supported Apple Watch as a remote for the gimbal so you will never miss out on being a part of a group shot again.
The Insta360 Flow 2 Pro has an integrated selfie stick that extends eight inches to help you capture selfies with the rear camera, but it also has a small selfie mirror on the back of the phone mount. I found this useful as the gimbal moves around, and plan to capture more selfie footage with the better rear cameras.
Also: I’ve tested every iPhone 17 model, and I’m recommending something different this time
One aspect struggled with on the original Insta360 Flow gimbal was using the thumb controls. The directional pad and touch sensitive ring have been redesigned for improved ergonomics and I was able to quickly use the various shooting modes without getting overwhelmed by the options.
The Flow 2 Pro provides up to 10 hours of battery life and includes a USB-C port so you can top off your phone and keep shooting for hours. The creator bundle also includes a small light that attaches to the accessory USB-C port to provide focused light in low light conditions. The Spotlight accessory is available for just $14.99. An AI tracker module, with an included light, is also available for $39.99 and it provides AI tracking in third party apps for Android and iOS users.
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The Insta360 Flow 2 Pro is clearly optimized for the iPhone, but most core features are available on Android in the Insta360 app. The ones that aren’t available on Android are multi-person tracking, Active Zoom tracking, and smartphone remote control. If you want to use the Flow 2 Pro with an Android phone, I recommend the AI Tracker module to take advantage of Insta360’s advanced AI recognition algorithms.
One final feature I’ve tested out a couple of times is the integrated teleprompter function that supports pasting your script into the Insta360 app. You can then mount your phone and record with the selfie front-facing camera while reading the teleprompter. You can have the text scroll with your specified timing or even rotate the rear dial to scroll the text up the display. I highly recommend you check out the tips and tricks article from Insta360 to optimize your use of the Flow 2 Pro gimbal.
ZDNET’s buying advice
Although I love shooting on my Sony Alpha camera, my smartphone is always with me and lets me capture more consistent content. Tthe Insta360 Flow 2 Pro gimbal is small and light, so it also has been traveling with me everywhere. The gimbal unfolds and lets you mount your phone in seconds so I plan to use it even more in order to capture better content to share with family, friends, and other viewers.
