The Insta360 brand may have made its name with the likes of its action cams, gimbals, and the like. In fact, if you go to sporting events, chances are you’ll see one of those in use by athletes and spectators.
But aside from the action cameras and gimbals, the brand also makes webcams. Back in 2022, Insta360 introduced its first webcam called the Insta360 Link. It was an AI-powered 4K webcam designed to work in all kinds of situations – work, live streaming, and more. What makes it unique is that it sits on a built gimbal allowing it to follow the user.
Now, two years after its initial release, Insta360 launched its webcam’s successor – the Insta360 Link 2. As with most of their products, it is on the expensive side. But with newer AI software, including AI noise canceling, is it worth it? Well, I suggest you read on to find out.
Table of Contents
Design and Construction
In terms of design, the Insta360 Link 2 definitely received a major makeover from its predecessor. It no longer has that bulky base that looks very unsightly when you clip it onto your monitor. Instead, you get a nice thin base, similar to your traditional webcam.
It’s no longer a one-piece design too. Instead, the base is separate, and the webcam itself attaches to the base magnetically. If you have a metal surface, you don’t even need to use the base. Instead, just let the magnet do its work.
As a result, you have more flexibility when it comes to setting the Insta360 Link 2 up. Perfect if you want to try out different angles for streaming, or if you have limited space on the desk for a webcam.
As for the webcam itself, it also underwent a makeover. Instead of directly behind the webcam, the arm now connects to the side. As a result, the camera now faces downwards when it is turned off, and the microphone is instead directed towards you.
Since it is gimbal-based, it does take up more space than your traditional webcam. So for those that do not have a lot of headroom above their monitor, that might be an issue. Instead, you will have to mount it on the side or somewhere else.
To connect it to your computer, you have a long USB-C to USB-C cable. If you don’t have a USB-C port, there is a USB-A adapter.
Camera and Audio
As for the webcam iof the Insta360 Link 2 itself, it seems to be a carry over from the previous model. It uses a half-inch sensor with 4K resolution, giving you some of the best quality available. Like before, it also has AI tracking, and it automatically follows your face wherever you may go.
One thing I noticed is that you have to be a bit slow for the tracking to work properly. If you move too quickly, the webcam will have a hard time following you around. If you don’t want the webcam to move around, you can also stop it by pressing the circle button on the webcam.
Just like a gimbal, the webcam faces down when it’s not powered on. But once it is turned on, you see the green circle on the side to indicate that it is live.
In terms of quality though, it is really great. The image is very sharp in almost all kinds of lighting conditions. The webcam itself seems to have a fairly wide aperture rating since even without using bokeh mode, there is some background blur. It also has a wider FOV as compared to the other webcam I’ve been using.
Even in low-light situations, the image quality is really clear. You do get some noise, but that’s to be expected. Just check out the sample images below to see for yourself.
In terms of video output, it’s where the Insta360 Link 2 really shines. It easily outshines any laptop webcam or webcam I’ve used in the past, and it’s mainly thanks to the larger 1/2-inch sensor.
The audio quality is great too, especially for a webcam. It easily picks up your voice, and the other people in my Discord chat can hear you loud and clear. However, it doesn’t pick up background noise such as the one from my keyboard thanks to its built-in AI noise cancellation function.
Just check out this sample recording below to see what I mean.
I compared the microphone of the Insta360 Link 2 to my dedicated stand mic, and according to my friends, the quality is still better when using the dedicated microphone during a Discord call. But still, not everyone will have a dedicated microphone.
Software and compatibility
As with any other webcam, the Insta360 Link 2 is very easy to use and set up. Just plug it into your computer, and it will automatically work. I’ve tried it with various applications, and it works with Discord, Zoom, and Google Meet. It even works with OBS Studio for those who are considering this for a streaming setup.
In addition to the plug-and-play settings, you can also download the Insta360 Link Controller app from the Insta360 website. Here, you can play around with the settings even more, and adjust it to your liking.
Since it sits on a gimbal, it’s on this app that you can adjust the angle of the webcam. It’s easy to do too since the controls are similar to that of a gimbal. Interestingly, the video quality is set to 1080P at standard, but you can quickly change that to 4K in the menu. There are even more AI noise cancellation modes to work around with.
But what I really liked about this software is that you can adjust the settings like brightness, contrast, sharpness, and more. There’s even a tone curve you can play with similar to the one you use in Adobe Lightroom. If you want more color, you can also turn on HDR mode to take full advantage of the webcam’s dynamic range.
There are other interesting functions too like desk mode, which automatically tilts the camera down to your desk. I did need to adjust the angle a bit, but it’s perfect for gamers who want to show their movement when using the mouse and keyboard or controller.
Conclusion
So far, out of all the webcams I have tried and experienced over the years, the Insta360 Link 2 is the most versatile I’ve tried. With the gimbal, you have a lot more functionality to work with, opening up an entirely new world of possibilities when you’re live streaming, recording, or more.
Not to mention, the image and video quality is really great too. It’s a perfect middle ground for those who want something more than a basic webcam, but don’t want to spend on a mirrorless camera just for streaming.
While the audio isn’t better than a dedicated microphone, it’s still a lot better than what you would normally find in other webcams. More importantly, it’s the noise cancellation function that you’re after too, especially if you’re going to be on calls on live streaming often.
All of that does come at a price though. The Insta360 Link 2 webcam isn’t exactly the most affordable webcam out there. Depending on where you order yours, it could set you back PHP 11,990, which is a lot for a webcam no doubt.
But as I said earlier, if you’re someone who constantly uses a webcam whether for business or live-streaming then it is a worthwhile investment. Just imagine the possibilities with a webcam that tracks you wherever you go in your room.
Still, what do you think of the Insta360 Link 2 webcam though? Would you cop? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
What we liked:
Great image and video quality
Works well even in low-light
Gimbal follows you even from a distance
What we didn’t like:
It’s a bit expensive
Audio is fine, but a dedicated microphone still has better audio
