I Unlocked My Iphone 17 Pro Max Camera's Hidden Potential With This Handheld Accessory

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• The Insta360 Flow 2 Pro Creator bundle is priced astatine $189.
• It has a longer grip than nan erstwhile model, a much unchangeable tripod, and a convenient magnetic clamp system.
• There is nary acold footwear disposable for your mic, and Android support is simply a spot of an afterthought.

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Today's smartphone cameras are truthful bully that you tin beryllium a contented creator without spending thousands connected a dedicated camera. The optical image stabilization they person is besides very good, but you tin seizure much imaginative shots and sprout successful much challenging conditions pinch a smartphone gimbal.

Insta360's latest smartphone gimbal, the Flow 2 Pro is 1 of nan champion options available, pinch precocious features and a reasonable price.

Also: I tested nan champion iPhones successful 2025: Should you bargain nan 17, Air, aliases Pro Max?

I've been utilizing nan original Insta360 Flow gimbal since 2023, chiefly to seizure B-roll for my e-bike and moving footwear reviews. It's a decent gimbal, but I person to widen nan grip and tripod legs to fresh my hand, and 1 limb collapsed truthful nan tripod was nary longer functional. I besides had to region my telephone cases to usage nan extended clamp connector sheet truthful that was a spot cumbersome.

The first point I noticed astir nan Insta360 Flow 2 Pro smartphone gimbal was nan longer grip pinch silicone grip connected nan front. The tripod was redesigned truthful that 3 metallic legs widen down 3 inches from nan guidelines and past retired to create a coagulated level that holds my iPhone 17 Pro Max moreover erstwhile nan telescoping stick, which extends retired 8 inches, is afloat deployed.

Matthew Miller/ZDNET

In summation to nan improved grip creation and tripod stability, nan creator bundle includes nan caller magnetic telephone equine that attaches to nan backmost of nan iPhone's MagSafe connector. The magnetic telephone equine besides serves arsenic a reliable kickstand for your telephone pinch a metallic ringing that extends down to prop up your telephone successful some image and scenery orientation.

Support for Apple DockKit intends that much than 200 iOS apps activity pinch nan gimbal without immoderate further accessories, allowing creators to usage their favourite apps pinch nan gimbal arsenic nan on-site camera operator. I personally for illustration to usage nan Insta360 app pinch nan gimbal and that provides nan eventual acquisition pinch its Deep Track 4.0 search system, but nan awesome point astir this kit is that Insta360 supports your ain preferences.

Matthew Miller/ZDNET

With precocious AI tracking, nan gimbal will move and support nan selected subject, aliases subjects, successful position passim nan recording. You tin besides usage different telephone aliases moreover your supported Apple Watch arsenic a distant for nan gimbal truthful you will ne'er miss retired connected being a portion of a group changeable again. 

The Insta360 Flow 2 Pro has an integrated selfie instrumentality that extends 8 inches to thief you seizure selfies pinch nan rear camera, but it besides has a mini selfie reflector connected nan backmost of nan telephone mount. I recovered this useful arsenic nan gimbal moves around, and scheme to seizure much selfie footage pinch nan amended rear cameras.

Also: I've tested each iPhone 17 model, and I'm recommending thing different this time

One facet struggled pinch connected nan original Insta360 Flow gimbal was utilizing nan thumb controls. The directional pad and touch delicate ringing person been redesigned for improved ergonomics and I was capable to quickly usage nan various shooting modes without getting overwhelmed by nan options.

Matthew Miller/ZDNET

The Flow 2 Pro provides up to 10 hours of artillery life and includes a USB-C larboard truthful you tin apical disconnected your telephone and support shooting for hours. The creator bundle besides includes a mini ray that attaches to nan accessory USB-C larboard to supply focused ray successful debased ray conditions. The Spotlight accessory is disposable for conscionable $14.99. An AI locator module, pinch an included light, is besides disposable for $39.99 and it provides AI search successful 3rd statement apps for Android and iOS users.

Also: I recovered a $170 mobile gimbal that rivals my DJI - and it's easy to group up

The Insta360 Flow 2 Pro is intelligibly optimized for nan iPhone, but astir halfway features are disposable connected Android successful nan Insta360 app. The ones that aren't disposable connected Android are multi-person tracking, Active Zoom tracking, and smartphone distant control. If you want to usage nan Flow 2 Pro pinch an Android phone, I urge nan AI Tracker module to return advantage of Insta360's precocious AI nickname algorithms.

Matthew Miller/ZDNET

One last characteristic I've tested retired a mates of times is nan integrated teleprompter usability that supports pasting your book into nan Insta360 app. You tin past equine your telephone and grounds pinch nan selfie front-facing camera while reference nan teleprompter. You tin person nan matter scroll pinch your specified timing aliases moreover rotate nan rear dial to scroll nan matter up nan display. I highly urge you cheque retired nan tips and tricks article from Insta360 to optimize your usage of nan Flow 2 Pro gimbal.

ZDNET's buying advice

Although I emotion shooting connected my Sony Alpha camera, my smartphone is ever pinch maine and lets maine seizure much accordant content. Tthe Insta360 Flow 2 Pro gimbal is mini and light, truthful it besides has been walking pinch maine everywhere. The gimbal unfolds and lets you equine your telephone successful seconds truthful I scheme to usage it moreover much successful bid to seizure amended contented to stock pinch family, friends, and different viewers.