Insta360 has taken bold steps with its line of action cameras, making the Insta360 Ace Pro 2 seem like a more grounded move—but nothing could be further from the truth. From its choice of collaborators to its design decisions, the Ace Pro 2 stands out against the competition.
The Insta360 Ace Pro 2 package includes the camera, one of Insta360’s standard mounts, a USB-C cable and, in this case, two batteries. Built into the Ace Pro 2 is a wind guard, in addition to the standard mic protection, which can be swapped out if needed.
The Insta360 Ace Pro 2 makes several leaps from the original Ace Pro, including a new Pro Imaging AI chip, an upgraded 1/1.3-inch 8K sensor (same size as the original but a new sensor), an increased 157-degree field of view (up from 151 degrees), increased frame rates (from 8K at 24 fps to 8K at 30 fps and from 4K at 30 fps to 4K at 60 fps) and improved waterproofing, now up to 12 metres—two metres more than before.
“The Insta360 Ace Pro 2 was co-engineered with famed camera company, Leica, to help greatly improve the image quality of the camera.”
Rather than a small, forward-facing screen like other action cams, the Insta360 Ace Pro 2 features a 2.5-inch flip screen for a full view of the shot when in selfie mode. However, this design choice makes the Ace Pro 2 noticeably thicker than some competitors’ models. While it is not cumbersome at this size, some action camera peripherals may not be compatible as a result. During testing, a gimbal designed for action cameras was too small to secure the Ace Pro 2 in place.
The Insta360 Ace Pro 2 was co-engineered with famed camera company Leica to significantly improve image quality. It offers an f/2.6 aperture for better low-light shots. (I would have liked to see it go to f/1.8, but one step at a time.) It has 13.5 stops of dynamic range and supports HDR up to 4K at 60 fps for the best images with the least amount of noise.
This does, however, come with a bit of a learning curve. There are several settings that will help achieve the crisp image you’re looking for, but if you forget to enable some of them in certain scenarios, you may notice the noise typical of action cameras.
If you are not adjusting manual settings such as ISO and shutter speed, you can turn on Insta360’s PureVideo, which increases dynamic range and enhances vibrant colours in darker environments. Without it, even with regular HDR turned on, uneven lighting conditions may result in noise in darker areas of the video. However, if you take the time to learn these features (and I encourage practicing with the manual settings if you are a novice), you can achieve results previously unimaginable on an action camera.
The Insta360 Ace Pro 2’s colour profiles add another layer of processing that can be applied outside of a post-production suite to create stunning photos and videos. In addition to Insta360’s standard, vivid, flat and night modes—along with other profiles that function more like filters—there are two Leica profiles: Natural, which has low saturation and high contrast, and Vivid, which produces richer, brighter shots. Any scenario can be well-matched with one of these profiles. There is also an underwater mode that enhances colour accuracy, preventing the washed-out blue hues typically seen in underwater footage.
A lot of your favourite features from Insta360’s other cameras are still available in the Insta360 Ace Pro 2, including amazing slow-motion shots, horizon lock for the types of people who like to flip around on that camera (I fear I am too old for this feature now), corrections to lens distortion with their Megaview and Dewarp features, taking the fisheye out of the lens for the vloggers out there.
It features FlowState stabilization to eliminate shake from action shots and FreeFrame video, which allows for flexible framing to capture content in vertical, horizontal or 1:1 formats. Special effects like Timeshift, Starlapse, Timelapse and AI Warp are still available to create highly stylized content.
Battery life has also improved with an 1,800 mAh battery, offering up to 180 minutes of use. Higher frame rates and resolutions will, of course, reduce battery life from the tested levels at 1080p/24 fps, but it still provides more power than previous models. With the extra battery included in this package, users can quickly swap out and keep shooting. The battery can charge up to 80 percent in approximately 18 minutes.
“Insta360’s apps work with their cameras better than any other brand.”
The Insta360 Ace Pro 2 is compatible with a wide range of accessories. The mount is magnetic, with small clips that secure it tightly while allowing for easy swapping between setups. The camera connects with various apps to overlay stats from smartphone apps like Apple Health and Garmin, displaying real-time performance data in the video. It can also erase selfie sticks from footage and connects to Bluetooth microphones, including earbuds, motorcycle helmet headsets and wireless microphones like the DJI Mic 2.
Gesture and voice controls provide hands-free operation, allowing users to start recording without needing to be within arm’s reach of the camera. A pre-record function captures up to 30 seconds of footage before the record button is pressed, ensuring no moment is missed while on the go.
Insta360’s apps integrate better with their cameras than any other brand. The Insta360 Ace Pro 2 can automatically generate highlight reels from the footage, eliminating the need to scrub through files manually. Users can also edit videos directly on their phone through the app. For those editing on their own, Adobe Premiere and Final Cut support Insta360’s footage, allowing seamless synchronization across multiple cameras.
The standard bundle of the Insta360 Ace Pro 2 is priced at $419.99 USD, aligning with competitors’ pricing for similar packages. (The Ace Pro 2 is $30 cheaper but does not include a selfie stick, unlike other brands.) When compared to the competition, those who take the time to learn how to use the camera can unlock the best image quality available in an action camera.
