Insta360 Ace Pro 2 Review (13 Things) Crisp, Stable 8K Footage
Reading Time: 8 minutes On October 22, 2024, Insta360 released their newest action camera, the Ace Pro 2. The Ace Pro 2 is the next generation in Insta306’s Ace series. The Ace Pro and Ace cameras (released in November 2023) were both positioned as robust vlogging action cameras. And the Ace Pro 2 just builds on that.
The Insta360 Ace Pro 2 is made for creators and vlogging. It boasts an improved field of view (now 157°), larger flip screen (2.5″), higher resolution photos (50MP), and longer battery life (now 180 minutes). All this and it shoots in 8K30.
Some notable features of the Ace Pro 2 include a wind guard (removable) for improved audio, a flip touch screen, improved low-light filming, and 2X zoom. It also includes AI Assistant features for easy editing and sorting.
In my hands-on Insta360 Ace Pro 2 review, you’ll learn about all the specs that are perfect for creators and vloggers. Note: Insta360 sent me a prerelease model of the Ace Pro 2, and I’ve been playing with it for the past couple of weeks.
The Ace Pro 2 camera is the latest in the Insta360 lineup.
In this guide, I’ll break down 13 new or important features of the Ace Pro 2 camera. But first, who is this camera for?
Ace Pro 2: The Perfect Action Camera for Vlogging
The Ace Pro 2 is a great travel or vlogging camera. Here’s why.
- Dual, Large Sensors: The larger sensor combined with the dual denoising AI chips means great low-light, low-noise footage.
- Speed: The Ace Pro 2 is fast. It has almost no lag time when powering on, changing settings, or to start filming. If you’ve used older action cameras, you’ll notice the difference. This isn’t a feature they’re promoting, but I noticed this the first time I turned it on.
- 8K Footage: While your use case for this much resolution is probably limited, what it means for creators is that you can zoom in and still capture at 4K. And with this quality sensor, you can also shoot 50MP photos.
- Flip screen: For vlogging and creative filming, this is exceptional. Of course, Insta360 already made the GO3 with the same flip screen. But they are in a different class of camera. This isn’t a new feature in the Ace line – the original Ace Pro camera also has a rear flip screen. Here’s my full Ace Pro review.
Find Ace Pro 2 on Insta360
Other features, like uploading in the background, AI editing, and voice and gesture control, make this a great choice as a camera for creators and storytellers.
Positioning action cameras for vlogging is nothing new. Since GoPro released their MediaMod on the Hero8 Black (October 2019), GoPro has had features for vloggers. And with the the GO 3, Insta360 created a blended action camera/vlogging camera.
But with the improved low-light sensor, functional flip screen, and AI editing support, the Ace Pro 2 makes a great vlogging camera.
Insta360 Ace Pro 2 Review (13 Things)
The Ace Pro 2 is loaded with new and premium features. Here are the 13 features you need to know about the Ace Pro 2 camera.
- Flip Touch Screen (2.5″): The large, articulating back screen is probably the first thing you’ll notice about the Ace Pro 2. It rotates a full 180 degrees – giving you a full view of composition and camera settings. This is slightly larger than the original Ace Pro.
- Preinstalled Wind Guard: Help reduce wind noise when cycling, motorcycling, and MTB. Or even when there’s notable wind coming off the water. It is meant for above water only; you’ll have to swap the guard with the supplied mic cap before submerging the camera.
- Wider FOV: 157° The Ace Pro 2 now has a wider field of view (FOV). Upgraded from Ace Pro’s 151°, the Ace Pro 2 captures 157° – almost everything in front of the lens.
- Night and Low Light (Pure Video Mode): In my tests, I was surprised by the clarity of this feature. It reduced noise and brightened the footage in a natural way. This improvement is thanks to two features: dual 5nm AI chips (denoising) and a 1/1.3″ sensor. The Ace Pro 2 now has dual AI chips, compared to the single AI chip of the Ace Pro.
- Sensor Size: The 1/1.3″ sensor is larger than the Hero12 (1/1.9″) and matches the DJI Osmo Action 4 (1/1.3″). This larger sensor size, combined with the AI denoising chip means exceptional low-light shooting. This is the same sensor size as the Ace Pro.
- Video Resolution: The Ace Pro shoots a mammoth 8K at 30fps. Or, for some exceptional slow-motion footage, shoot 4K video at up to 120 frames per second or even 1080P at 240 fps. This video resolution is pretty standard with current action cameras.
- Photo Resolution: 50 MP. Compare against 27 MP still images of the Hero12 Black or the low 10 MP of DJI’s Osmo Action 4. This is slightly more than the 48MP of the original Ace Pro.
- Battery Life: Shoot about 180 minutes at 4K30 resolution. And the Ace Pro 2 fast charges to 80% in 22 minutes. Battery is 1800mAh. This is a 50% longer runtime than the original Ace Pro.
- Clarity Zoom: Get 2X zoom by double-tapping on the screen. This is better than the 1.4 digital video zoom of the Hero12. And in my initial tests, I didn’t notice any loss of detail. I’ll test and publish more in a future post or video. This feature is the same as the Ace Pro.
- AI Highlight Assistant: Auto-edit your footage and let you choose which moments you want to keep/delete. When you connect to the Insta360 app, it can output a finished video that’s ready to share.
- Pause Recording: The ability to pause recording – and combine numerous shots in one clip is a nice feature. It helps workflow by grouping footage from a single event in one clip. You can also pull up a finished video and start recording on the end of that clip. A related feature is Cancel Recording, which allows the clip to be canceled and deleted. This is a notable help in managing clips and SD storage space.
- Gesture Control: Just like their Link 2 webcam, the new Ace Pro 2 also comes with Gesture Control. The camera is accurate and responsive with gestures. Easily shoot a photo or start/stop video recording. And it’s been made to work even with helmets and gloves, but I haven’t tested this feature yet.
- Voice Control 2.0: The camera has improved Voice Control as an alternative to Gesture Control. They each have their place, depending on the setting. Both features (Voice and Gesture) can be turned off to prevent accidental filming.
Find Ace Pro 2 on Insta360
Specs and Pricing: Insta360 Ace Pro 2
Here are the general specs and prices for the new Ace Pro 2 camera.
- MRSP: $399.99 USD (Single Battery Kit). $419.99 USD (Dual Battery Kit)
- Sensor Size: 1/1.3”
- Video: 8K30, 4K120
- Photo: 50MP
- Battery: 1800mAh
- Battery Life: 180 minutes
- Weight (Grams): 177.2g (6.3oz)
- Size: 2.8 x 2.1 x 1.5in (71.9 x 52.2 x 38mm)
- Waterproof: Waterproof to 39 ft (12 meters)
Appearance, UI, and Battery
The appearance is very similar between the original Ace Pro and the new Ace Pro 2 cameras. Both have a flip screen and standard action camera mounting options. The weight, feel, and navigation are nearly identical.
Capturing Photo and Video: Insta360 Ace Pro 2 Specs
This is the first time I’ve shot with an 8K camera. And while I’m not certain of all the applications, I like that I can shoot in 8K and crop in and still get a decent 4K (or better) video clip.
The Ace Pro 2 comes with FlowState Stabilization and 360° Horizon Lock (can be toggled on/off). These features are also on the older Ace Pro. My tests were impressive, I’ll publish more in the future.
You can connect external mics to improved audio quality. These are the compatibile mic brands: Rode, DJI, Hollyland, Sony, XFAN, BOYA, and Saramonic.
A notable brand missing is Apple (AirPods). The original Ace Pro was compatible, but looks like this one isn’t.
Find Ace Pro 2 on Insta360
Test Footage:
These videos are in editing and will be published later in the week.
For now, I’ll share the demo video from Insta360.
Insta360 Ace/Ace Pro vs Other Action Cameras
Curious how the Ace Pro measures up to other action cameras? Here are our comparisons with the Hero12 Black, Osmo Action 4, and the GO 3.
Is this camera on your wish list?
After our Insta360 Ace Pro 2 review, are you considering investing in this model?
Find Ace Pro 2 on Insta360
This new Insta360 camera is great for creators – for travel and vlogging.
Final Thoughts
Which model are you considering? Have a question? Please drop it below and I’ll do my best to answer it.
