Skip to main content

No gimbal? Insta360 One says app update offers better stabilization anyway

Insta360 ONE – Introducing FlowState Stabilization

The smartphone add-on 360 camera Insta360 One is powering more mobile capabilities, including stabilization and on-the-go editing. On Tuesday, March 20, Insta360 announced an app update that brings FlowState stabilization, along with mobile editing options. The update will roll out to the Insta360 One app on iOS and Android this week.

Recommended Videos

The FlowState option adds stabilization to the camera using a firmware update — the company even claims that the technology creates a video smoother than a smartphone gimbal. As a software update, there’s of course no change to the add-on camera’s hardware to integrate optical stabilization. But, stabilizing 360 video is an entirely different beast from steadying a standard camera.

Insta360 didn’t share its insights into how the new tech works, but with the entire view available, algorithms could potentially just adjust the viewing angle. Unlike electronic stabilization that crops the video, 360 programs could use the rest of the image instead of cropping the view. The Insta360 One isn’t the first 360 to integrate stabilization — the Garmin Virb 360 uses on-board sensors to stabilize video.

Insta360 ONE - FlowState vs. Leading Smartphone & Gimbal

The developers also say that the stabilization helps the Insta360 One to shoot better hyper-lapses, or a time-lapse where the camera is moving throughout the video.

Along with the stabilization, Insta360 One is also gaining several new editing tools for sharing 360 videos without a computer. New modes allow 360 videographers to choose the direction the viewer sees. With Pivot Points, the camera follows set points within the footage, making sure the viewer doesn’t miss out on any essential action because they were looking in the opposite direction. Viewfinder allows edits to manually control the view, editing how the video plays out by moving the smartphone. The SmartTrack option, which was previously available but is newly updated, will also direct where the viewer is looking, but follows a specific object.

The Insta360 One is a smartphone-attachable 360 camera that retails for about $300. Originally iOS only, the company launched an Android adapter late last year, expanding the app to Google Play. The camera can also shoot video while unattached from the smartphone. Using dual lenses, the camera can capture 4K at 30 fps or stitch together 24-megapixel stills.

Hillary K. Grigonis
Hillary never planned on becoming a photographer—and then she was handed a camera at her first writing job and she's been…
GoPro Hero 10 Black vs DJI Action 2 vs. Insta360 One RS: Clash of the action cameras
The Insta360 One RS with the 360 lens mod, DJI Action 2, and GoPro Hero 10 Black in a snow bank.

Some circumstances call for a camera that can survive whatever the world can throw at it, and for such situations, the clear choice is an action camera. While a DSLR or smartphone may shatter when dropped, or fizzle out and die when dunked in the briny deep, an action camera will endure all but the most extreme catastrophes. GoPro is by far the best known and most established action camera company -- so much so that you most likely identify action cameras as "GoPros."

However, there are more options available to consumers, with DJI and Insta360 throwing their hats in the ring with cameras that rival GoPro for the action camera crown. It’s a shockingly even match, and more a matter of which is right for you than which is best. I've spent the past year extensively testing the GoPro Hero 10 Black, DJI Action 2, and Insta360 One RS so that I can help you pick the ideal action camera.
Usability
With action cameras, an important factor to consider is how easy they are to use in the field. It’s important to be able to start and stop recording quickly and easily in adverse conditions. In this regard, the Hero 10 Black is the clear winner for a couple of reasons. Primarily, that great big record button on top is by far the easiest to find by feel, even with thick ski gloves on. The other two are fine in this regard, but I was never as sure of whether I had actually activated or ended recording with them.

Read more
Insta360’s One R camera gains lots of exciting new features
insta360s one r camera gains lots of exciting new features insta360 modular

Big Feature Update - Insta360 ONE R

Insta360’s One R modular camera kit won a lot of praise when it launched last year. Indeed, in our in-depth review, we were particularly impressed by the 360-degree unit, saying: “The videos are great, the versatility is unbeatable, the app extensive, and it’s simply a blast to shoot with.”

Read more
5 missing features that would make the Insta360 Go 2 more awesome
5 missing insta360 go 2 features review 6 of 10

The reviews are unanimous -- everyone has fallen in love in the Insta360 Go 2. There are plenty of reasons why the action camera is appealing to users, like its ultra-compact design, grab-and-go usability, versatile accessories, and superb stabilization.

I’ve spent a short time with it, and while I’m astounded by the kind of unique storytelling I’m able to capture with it, there are several things that prevent it from being the ultimate life camera. Here are five missing features that would make the Insta360 Go 2 even more awesome than it is right now.
Native 24 fps capture

Read more