Insta 360 Luna Pro review | Tech Radar

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I tested the Insta 360 Luna Pro, and its chief vlogging camera rival isn't DJI — it's the company's own Luna Ultra

A capable vlogging camera whose price sits uncomfortably close to Insta 360's more versatile flagship

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The Insta 360 Luna Pro fits almost everything that makes the Luna Ultra so appealing into a slightly smaller, slightly cheaper package. You get the same reliable tracking and clever detachable touchscreen remote and similarly excellent video quality. The trouble is the price: with not much separating this single-lens camera from the dual-lens Ultra (at least in the UK and USA), it's hard to shake the feeling that most buyers would be better served stretching to the more versatile flagship instead.

+Sticky, reliable subject tracking and stabilization

Sticky, reliable subject tracking and stabilization

+Clever detachable touchscreen module doubles as a remote

Clever detachable touchscreen module doubles as a remote

+Sharper 4K vertical video than the pricier Luna Ultra

Sharper 4K vertical video than the pricier Luna Ultra

+Clean, detailed video quality across color profiles

Clean, detailed video quality across color profiles

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I'll be honest: my first reaction to the Insta 360 Luna Pro wasn't really about the camera itself — more its price tag. At

That's not a knock on the Luna Pro itself, though, because it handles its actual job — smooth, hands-free footage you don't have to think about — with real aplomb. Popping the touchscreen module free from the body and using it as a standalone remote is a neat trick, and it's just as handy here as it was on the Ultra. Tracking is another standout feature for me: click the joystick once, or tap a subject on screen, and the Luna Pro locks on and stays locked on, whether I was walking, gesturing or just generally being difficult to follow. But all that is also available on the Luna Ultra.

With just a single lens, the Pro misses out on the second 3x telephoto camera that the flagship Luna Ultra has (Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

I did come away with a couple of gripes concerning the Pro (both of which, incidently, one could also level at the Ultra). The little wire tripod tucked into the handle is more fiddly than useful once you're off a flat surface. Battery life also isn't quite what Insta 360 claims — you can expect closer to 90 minutes than the quoted 240 (for 1080p) if you're shooting 8K with the screen switched on.

Photos are also an afterthought here — they're soft and low on contrast, and in most cases a smartphone will do a better job. Video is a much stronger story, particularly once you dip below the headline 8K resolution into the more practical 4K modes, and vertical shooters will get unexpected bragging rights over owners of the Ultra thanks to the Pro's sharper 9:16 footage. The fact that the Pro has just the one lens does affect things, of course: push the digital zoom past 2x and the drop-off in detail becomes obvious immediately.

So where does that leave the Luna Pro? As a piece of hardware, it's a likeable and very capable little camera that does almost everything I wanted it to. As a purchase decision, it's a trickier sell than Insta 360 probably intended, sitting just a little too close to its more versatile sibling for comfort.

Launched on September 10, 2026, priced at

Costs

The Luna Pro comes with a few accessories, but at present there appears to be no Creator Bundle available. (Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

At

7.6oz / 215g (Cosmic Black), 7.7oz / 218g (Stellar White)

7.6oz / 215g (Cosmic Black), 7.7oz / 218g (Stellar White)

Effectively a single-lens version of the Luna Ultra

Clever detachable touchscreen module, complete with its own built-in mic

A rubber cap replaces the Ultra's bulky protective case

Strip away the second lens and the Luna Pro is basically the Luna Ultra all over again. The dimensions and weight between the two cameras are barely different (the Pro is about half an inch shorter and 20g lighter than its dual-lens sibling), so if you've read my colleague Tim Coleman's take on the Ultra's design, most of the same applies here too: the Pro, like the Ultra, has a stick-like, gimbal-topped body that sits comfortably in the hand, with the option to extend the included handle for a more secure grip.

Its signature design feature is unchanged, too: the entire touchscreen-and-controls module pops free, working as a standalone remote with a 20m range and its own built-in microphone. It's just as useful here for solo shooting as it is on the Ultra.

One design compromise that did stand out to me during my time with the camera is the thin wire tripod that extends from the handle base — another thing carried over from the Ultra. On a genuinely flat surface, like a tabletop, it holds the Luna Pro upright well enough, but it offers little stability on uneven ground, and it's fiddly to pull out in the first place. Thankfully there's a standard tripod thread on the base too, so a proper mini tripod is only ever a few twists away.

The included protective case is also more basic than the Ultra's: it's just a rubber cap over the lens and gimbal, which trades some protection for a slimmer profile and much easier removal and replacement.

Dual-chip setup (4nm flagship chip plus dedicated imaging chip)

Sticky, reliable subject tracking, and smooth stabilization whether shooting horizon-level or FPV-style

Video up to 8K 30fps or 4K 120fps in 16:9 mode, 4K 30fps in 9:16

The Insta 360 Luna Pro pairs the same 1-inch sensor and 20mm-equivalent f/1.8 lens found on the Ultra's main camera with a leaner dual-chip setup — a 4nm flagship chip and a dedicated imaging chip. The Ultra has three chips.

On paper that sounds like a step down, but in practice I rarely found the Luna Pro underpowered or sluggish. Subject tracking is a particular highlight: a single joystick click will pick out people and animals automatically, or you can tap a subject on the touchscreen and even adjust its position within the frame, which is useful if you don't want it to be dead center. It's sticky and dependable throughout. Stabilization is equally impressive, delivering smooth, level footage on the move, with the option to switch to a more dynamic FPV-style movement if you want it.

Insta 360 rates the 1,550m Ah battery at 240 minutes, but that figure is sneakily based on 1080p 24fps recording with the screen and Wi-Fi both switched off, which isn't how most people will use this camera. Shooting 8K at 30fps with the screen active, a much more realistic scenario, drained the battery in around 90 minutes during testing. That's still a respectable battery life in my book, so I'm not sure why Insta 360 saw fit to base its claims on an underpowered setting.

The camera runs a little warm under sustained use of its more demanding modes like 4K120fps and 8K30fps in particular, but during my testing, it took more than 75 minutes of continuous 8K recording before it shut itself down. What I'd consider normal use never triggered any overheating issues.

The four microphones (three on the main body, one on the detachable module) handle audio reasonably well, and 32-bit recording is on offer for anyone editing seriously. Still, anyone prioritizing audio quality should consider buying an Insta 360 Mic Air or Mic Pro, both of which pair directly and add proper wind protection and noise cancellation.

Moving on to image quality, and photos are the camera's weak point: detail and contrast are both underwhelming, and it's not a device worth buying for stills alone. Frankly, in most cases you'd be better off using your smartphone for snaps than pulling out the Pro.

Video is a different story: footage looks clean and sharp in good lighting, across Standard, Dolby Vision and I-Log color profiles, though the 120 Mbps maximum bitrate (shared with the Ultra) seems quite modest. 8K is the headline spec, of course, but I think 4K is a much more practical everyday choice thanks to its smaller files, greater range of frame rate options (up to 120fps), and the fact it still offers plenty of detail.

Slow motion goes up to 4x at 4K (120fps) or 8x in 1080p (240fps) and, surprisingly, vertical shooters get a genuine edge over the Ultra here: 4K30fps in 9:16 (built from 6K oversampling) versus the Ultra's ceiling of just 3K. One thing to note about vertical footage though: while the Ultra can hit 60fps in that mode, the Pro tops out at 30fps.

The digital zoom is the clearest trade-off for losing that second lens, and the Pro lacks the reach of its pricier cousin. Up to 2x magnification, Insta 360's "lossless zoom" claim holds up in practice, but push it further and the digital crop shows, with softer detail and muddier edges.

You want excellent tracking and stabilization Whether it's a single joystick click or tapping a subject on the touchscreen, the Luna Pro locks onto people and pets reliably, and its gimbal keeps footage impressively smooth in both horizon-level and FPV-style modes.

You shoot a lot of vertical content Its 4K30fps 9:16 mode, built from 6K oversampling, is sharper than anything the pricier Luna Ultra can manage in that orientation.

You can stretch to the Luna Ultra With a relatively small amount separating the two, the Ultra's second lens and true 6x lossless zoom could be worth the step up.

You need all-day battery life Insta 360's four-hour battery claims are based on using 1080p at 24fps, so if you're an 8K or 4K shooter, the real-world figure is a lot less.

If you're not tied to the Insta 360 ecosystem, DJI's Osmo Pocket 4 remains the benchmark single-lens compact vlogging camera. It lacks the Luna Pro's detachable touchscreen module (though there is an optional controller available), but its tracking and color science have been refined over several generations, and it's a joy to use.

Insta 360's flagship costs a little more than the Luna Pro, but justifies it with a second, 60mm-equivalent telephoto lens offering 6x lossless zoom, and a third processing chip for extra power. It's a little larger and heavier, and caps vertical video at a lower 3K, but I think the added versatility makes it worth the modest premium for many creators.

Insta 360 sent me the Luna Pro's basic box bundle ahead of launch

I shot footage and photos at all available resolutions, and tested the slow motion and Pure Video special shooting modes

I tested battery life and thermal management by running the camera continuously

I was sent a Luna Pro sample ahead of the launch day, allowing me time to test the Luna Pro over a few days. I shot a mix of horizontal, vertical and slow motion video across its available resolutions and color profiles, and put its subject tracking and stabilization through everyday use. I also took photos in and outdoors, in both JPEG and DNG format. I ran the camera's battery down twice to test its battery life, and tested its thermal performance too, to see how real-world use compares to Insta 360's claims.

Sam has been writing about tech and digital culture for over 20 years, starting off in video games journalism before branching out into the wonderful worlds of consumer electronics, streaming entertainment and photography. Over the years he has written for Wired, Stuff, GQ, T3, Trusted Reviews and PC Zone, and now lives on the Kent coast in the UK – the ideal place for a camera reviewer to ply their trade.

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Key Takeaways

• News, deals, reviews, guides and more on the newest computing gadgets

• Start exploring exclusive deals, expert advice and more

• Unlock and manage exclusive Techradar member rewards

• I tested the Insta 360 Luna Pro, and its chief vlogging camera rival isn't DJI — it's the company's own Luna Ultra

• A capable vlogging camera whose price sits uncomfortably close to Insta 360's more versatile flagship