With tech giant DJI set to make a splash tomorrow, likely unveiling a new Osmo Action camera, Insta360 isn’t sitting back quietly. The company has released an exciting teaser titled “Be Seen, Be Heard,” stirring up buzz about a mysterious new camera product with a microphone, set to arrive on September 24 at 9 a.m. EDT.
While GoPro recently revealed its latest action camera Hero 13 Black, offering 5.3K video resolution at 60 fps, Insta360 has been leading the charge with its impressive 8K video capabilities, especially with the 360-degree X4 camera. So, what’s the imaging powerhouse up to now? Judging by the teaser, it looks like they’re planning for something different than an action camera this time.
The teaser doesn’t give much away. The phrase “Be Seen, Be Heard” could mean just about anything, but the visuals seem to hint at a webcam. There’s a shot of what looks like a mic above a camera lens, which might point toward a product focused on video calls or content creation. Take a closer look, and you’ll notice what seems to be the edge of a monitor. Could this be Insta360’s version of a high-tech webcam?
Insta360 is clearly gearing up to reveal something exciting, and with DJI’s big announcement right around the corner, we’re in for quite the camera showdown. Stay tuned to DroneDJ for more updates!
In a flurry of camera releases from DJI and GoPro, Insta360 has remained comparatively quiet: whilst we’ve had some leaks and rumors regarding cameras like the Ace Pro 2, the company themselves have kept quiet. But now, with leaks regarding the new Insta360 Link 2, we have our first details on this new high-end webcam.
Insta360 Link 2: AI-Powered Features for Professionals
Thanks to leaker @Quadro_News, we have our initial insight into the Insta360 Link 2’s features. Across a series of posts, he details all of the various improvements and additions to the Link 2:
This is a fairly hefty leak, but what in particular is new in the Insta360 Link 2?
From these specs alone, it would be convenient to believe that the Link 2 hasn’t actually upgraded: with the same video capabilities, sensor size and lens; the initial specifications are fairly minimal. But as the leak goes on to detail, the additions are less tangible in numbers but in overall functionality.
Starting with the autofocus, the new Phase Detection AF system is closer to what’s used on full-fledged cameras: focusing more sharply and with minimal blur. Given the f/1.8 aperture, improvements to this will create sharper, better-looking webcam footage. At the same time, you can set custom boundaries and tracking distances to ensure the webcam stops and starts focusing on you when you want it. Thanks to a new AI-based algorithm and built-in gimbal, the Link 2 follows you no matter the framing.
Speaking of, the Link 2 comes with a compatible tripod, that can easily rotate the webcam into vertical filming for social media. And with optimized low-light performance as well as true-to-life High Dynamic Range, you can rest assured that you video content - be it livestreams, shortform or long-form recording - will look great.
But what about audio? Implementing AI in its noise reduction features means that the single microphone used in the Link 2 will seemingly be much more versatile. 3 modes - Quiet, Crowded and Streaming - enable you to customize your audio levels, whilst maintaining high quality. And if talking isn’t your thing, you can control the camera with a series of programmed gestures.
Overall, we’re very excited to see this new iteration of webcam from Insta360 - but what about a release date? Though the leak doesn’t specify, the sheer volume of information points to a release sooner rather than later. We’d place our bets on late October for the Insta360 Link 2 release date, but we’re not betting the family farm on it. Insta360 have had a slurry of leaks of late, so there are a number of products that could come first. We’ll keep you updated with all the latest on this promising new webcam.
The Insta360 Link 2C: A More Compact Option
The leaks suggest the Insta360 Link 2 is the more feature-packed option among the two. It will have an Auto Framing feature, which utilizes a built-in gimbal and AI to keep you (or your colleagues) in the center of the frame during calls.
Additionally, Link 2 is said to have a Whiteboard Mode that leverages AI to optimize the visibility of whiteboard content. With the growing popularity of remote collaboration, this feature could be a boon for educators and business professionals.
The leaks further detail features like Portrait Mode and uncropped 4K vertical video feature for the growing popularity mobile-first content creation. Security-conscious users will likely appreciate the Privacy Mode, which automatically tilts the gimbal down after 10 seconds of inactivity or allows for manual control.
Notably, Link 2 also offers a DeskView Mode for capturing desk content, potentially useful for product demos or showcasing physical materials during presentations.
Moreover, you will get an AI Noise Cancellation is another feature highlighted in the leaks to improve voice clarity by filtering out unwanted background sounds. Additionally, the leaks suggest that Link 2 utilizes a 2-axis gimbal with AI Tracking to keep subjects in focus even while moving around.
The Link 2C, on the other hand, prioritizes compactness while still packing a punch. Leaks suggest it will boast 4K UHD Resolution with Auto-Adjust Framing, ensuring users remain in the shot. An HDR Mode is also rumored, offering improved dynamic range in various lighting conditions.
Fast and accurate focusing seems likely with the inclusion of a PDAF (Phase Detection Auto Focus) system. The Link 2C reportedly adds a layer of interactivity with Gesture Control, allowing users to control settings with hand movements.
Unlike the Link 2’s gimbal-based privacy solution, the Link 2C features a built-in privacy shutter for a more traditional approach. Both versions are expected to offer USB-C connectivity and come with a magnetic mount for easy placement.
Conclusion: Insta360 Takes On the Webcam Market
From the extensive list of leaks so far, the Insta360 Link 2 and Link 2C seem to have multiple use-cases, from virtual meetings and presentations to content creation and streaming. The Link 2 clearly looks like the more feature-rich version, while the Link 2C offers a compact, simplified option without sacrificing core functionalities. Pricing and availability aren't available right now - more info is expected to surface in the coming days.
The stage is now set for a DJI announcement tomorrow and expectations are for a new Osmo Action camera, but the other big name in the space is Insta360 and they aren't keeping completely quiet either, releasing a new “Be Seen, Be Heard” trailer just a few minutes ago. (GoPro already showed their hand with the new GoPro Hero 13 Black.)
For now, Insta360 has been sitting pretty at the top of the best action camera table for resolution with 8K video, plus the firm already boasts the 8K 360-degree X4 which eclipses GoPro's attempt in that area. Given that, it might not be a surprise that, on close inspection, this teaser seems to be about something else entirely!
The other obvious clue is that the shape beneath the outline illustrations appears, to my eye at least, to be the edge of a monitor, atop which one might balance a webcam.
Play the teaser once more and you'll also see a flash of what looks like generic vents and a product – which could be a webcam moulding, or, to be fair, almost any other type of camera, rising from near them. It quickly flashes to something which hints at a chip design or processor, suggesting (as is so commonly the case these days) that AI plays a marketable part.
To add to that, What I'm not seeing, however, is an indication of moving parts. It would make sense that – soon after Insta360's Link webcam – they would add more software-based alternatives as Obsbot, who make some of the best webcams, have.
Of course, it could be something else entirely; that barrel lens shape might be something more like the Sony QX10 lens-style camera; the smartphone attachment that was a 'real' camera. Now that'd be an interesting concept to see again!
