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Hands on with the Insta360 Flow Pro gimbal, the first with Apple DockKit tracking

The new Insta360 Flow Pro gimbal

The new Insta360 Flow Pro gimbal is the first stabilizer to incorporate Apple’s DockKit technology for easy subject tracking and is even better with a solid iPhone app experience and design.

Gimbals are becoming more commonplace these days as the technology becomes more democratized, thanks to lower prices and better mobile cameras. Insta360 still looks to differentiate itself, though.

It offers DockKit, which is a new framework from iOS 17 that allows users to track people on camera and a multitude of situations. It’s still a new technology and has only been getting better.

The stabilizer itself builds upon the existing Insta360 Flow but drops the price tag and adds new features.

We’ve been testing it out for a couple of weeks, and while there are some minor drawbacks, it makes a very compelling case for why it should be added to your kit.

Insta360 Flow Pro: Compact, easy-to-use design

The latest iteration of Insta360’s handheld gimbal feels instantly familiar to users who have tried one before. With one hand, you can stabilize your videos and do so much more.

Insta360 Flow Pro gimbal folded and held in the palm of a hand above a white table

The Insta360 Flow Pro folds for added portability

It folds up into a small package, even enough to fit into our pocket — at least if you’re not wearing skinny jeans.

The side of the Insta360 Flow Pro gimbal, showing its USB-C charging port

The USB-C port can charge the gimbal or your phone in a pinch

When you’re ready to shoot, the top twists outward, which automatically turns the device on at the same time. Just mount your phone on the top, and you’re ready to go.

The gimbal is controlled with the centralized set of buttons and dials. You can start and stop recording — or take a photo, switch camera orientation, alternate between front and rear camera, switch shooting mode, and recenter the frame.

Close up of the Insta360 Flow Pro gimbal controls which are situated in a black circle on top of the white grip

The controls can be overwhelming, but are easy to use and necessary

Switching modes is done by sliding your finger around the dial, reminiscent of an iPod. It felt a little finicky at times, but once we got the knack down, it worked.

Finally, there’s a wheel around the dial that spins, and you can use it to zoom in and out.

Holding the Insta360 Flow Pro with the selfie stick extended against a purple background

It even has a built-in selfie stick for POV shots

Besides just unfolding for use, the bottom contains an integrated tripod so it can stand on its own, and the top extends out for a selfie stick.

Insta360 Flow Pro: A reliable stabilizer

At its core, the Insta360 Flow Pro is a solid stabilizer. It holds your phone super smooth and stable as you pan around, filming moving videos or wild 360-degree panoramas.

The exhaustive on-device controls are great for using it with or without the Insta360 app. However, you do get more features when you use it.

Closeup of the Insta360 Flow Pro gimbal with its built-in tripod on the bottom sitting on a white table

A built-in tripod is extra nice when used with Apple DockKit or DeepTrack 3.0 tracking

The Insta360 app has its own DeepTrack 3.0 technology that allows you to track people and animals. It also works as it loses sight of your subject, using AI to look ahead at where the subject moves.

In our testing, this worked well. It spun around following our dog in the yard and even re-identified them as they went behind the patio stairs.

Other in-app tricks include barrel roll effects, TimeShift, motion timelapse, and more.

Magnetic metal plate that attached to the top of the Insta360 Flow Pro gimbal where an iPhone can connect via MagSafe

The MagSafe mount is very handy for quick connections

We loved the MagSafe connection. This is an add-on accessory but makes it quick to connect your phone versus the bundled clip.

Insta360 Flow Pro: DockKit

What sets this apart from the other litany of gimbals and stabilizers that has flooded the market in the last few years, is support for Apple DockKit.

DockKit is a native iOS framework that allows a motorized companion device to interface with an iPhone. It then is able to move the iPhone to track subjects via the Camera app and many third-party apps.

A phone connected to the gimbal with the iOS camera app open and a subject being tracked on-screen

Track people with the stock Camera app or hundreds of others

It’s a set-it-and-forget-it situation that doesn’t require any manufacturing apps to operate. We first saw it in the Belkin AutoTracking Stand Pro, making the Insta360 Flow Pro the first gimbal to incorporate it.

DockKit makes even the pairing process easy. Just tap your iPhone on the center circle and it will pair via NFC.

A card interface pops up, very similar to a set of AirPods. A couple on-screen confirmations and you’re set.

Now, when you open the stock Camera app, it will identify a subject and track them. Multiple subjects can be tracked, and it works with both the front and rear-facing cameras.

The gimbal can rotate and track 360 degrees. No matter where you or your subject goes, the camera should be able to find them.

Closeup of the Insta360 Flow Pro logo on the side of the gimbal where it is clear and you can see the internals

A lower price and Apple DockKit support make this a win

It doesn’t just rotate though, but can tilt up and down, too. It’s a very wide range of motion.

What makes this especially powerful is that it works in any app that uses the native camera interface. Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and countless others will work out of the box.

The Insta360 Flow Pro sitting on a white table with an iPhone on the top, held up by the built-in tripod

The Insta360 Flow Pro makes your videos look even better

Anyone who uses a gimbal knows it can be annoying to be required to use the manufacturer app for tracking, where you then have to export the footage and upload to another app.

It’s shockingly simple and working exceedingly well. Whether you’re making a FaceTime call from your yard, hosting a boardroom meeting, or skateboarding, the Insta360 Flow Pro can help you capture it.

Insta360 Flow Pro: Available now

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