In September of 2024, Insta360 introduced the Link 2 and Link 2C, both setting a standard of what was to be expected of webcams (both PTZ and static webcams) from then on. Today, the company has announced their newest line of webcams, the Insta360 Link 2 Pro and the camera we are looking at in this review, the Insta360 Link 2C Pro. Both cameras offer some major upgrades and offer the tools you need for your type of content.
In the box, you get the Insta360 Link 2C Pro, a magnetic monitor mount, USB-C cable, USB-C to USB-A adapter and the documentation. The camera is built solidly with a dual-microphone on the top for improved voice isolation and a built-in privacy shutter on the side. The monitor mount has firm axis points that let you adjust the position of the webcam and give you the confidence that it will stay in place.
The specs on the Insta360 Link 2C Pro are exactly the same as those on the Link 2 Pro, with a 1/1.3” sensor and 24mm equivalent focal length, giving you an 83.9 degree field of view. The camera has an f/1.9 aperture and a 4x digital zoom with resolutions up to 4K/30fps or 1080p/60fps. It handles shutter speeds from 1/30-1/8000 and ISO from 100 to 3200K. Lined up with the Link 2 Pro, it is a one-to-one comparison, with the only difference being that the Link 2 Pro has a gimbal and the Link 2C Pro doesn’t.
“Stream Deck compatibility with the Insta360 Link 2C Pro can simplify even the already simple controls you trigger via the app.”
The image coming from the Insta360 Link 2C Pro is great. It delivers what I consider to be a really good base image, with great colour and excellent detail, with no real noise in the darker areas of the picture, but the image is open to being improved, even if you don’t feel that it’s needed. You can stylize the picture to meet a certain aesthetic without losing the initial quality that makes it special. It’s actually a lot harder to deliver than it sounds, as so many cameras are optimized to deliver the image the way the company wants, not you.
While you can certainly adjust the image with external software, the Insta360 Link Controller app is designed to help you make all sorts of adjustments, from exposure to colour temperature and all the basics (brightness, contrast, saturation). You can control the focus and add a virtual background or background blur with the help of the added Virtual Camera download for the software. Filters can also be added to nail down a specific look without the need for small adjustments to a number of settings.
The Insta360 Link 2C Pro doesn’t provide the same type of tracking that exists on the Link 2 Pro, given the lack of a gimbal, but there are still auto framing options available. If you are zoomed in with the camera, the auto framing is capable of keeping your face in the centre of the picture as you move around. You can also create presets with different zooms and frame positions, then go to them immediately with the press of a button.
Stream Deck compatibility with the Insta360 Link 2C Pro can simplify even the already simple controls you trigger via the app. Insta360 demonstrated this at CES, and the two devices come together so well to make any broadcast effortless. Activating virtual backgrounds or switching between presets without the need for the software to be up on your screen (even in its “toolbar mode”) just makes anything easier.
The Insta360 Link 2C Pro comes in at $199.99 USD, $50 more than the previous generation’s launch price, but $50 cheaper than the Insta360 Link 2 Pro. The jump in price for the new generation makes a lot of sense given the new sensor size, and I am more than comfortable saying that it is worth the price, as it’s going to give you a much more detailed image, even in low light.
So, with a $50 price gap, which is the better option for you, the Link 2 Pro or Link 2C Pro? It really comes down to whether or not you need the PTZ functionality that the gimbal provides. It truly is the only difference between the two. If you need the gimbal, then it is a no-brainer. If you may need it down the road, it is a worthwhile investment. If you just need an excellent, but static camera, then the Insta360 Link 2C Pro is a fantastic choice.
