GoKawiilI've been using Insta360's Luna Ultra for the past few weeks, and I've even been able to put it up against its biggest rival, the DJI Osmo Pocket 4. Like DJI's Osmo, the Luna Ultra is a handheld gimbal-stabilized camera aimed at vloggers and YouTube creators wanting higher-quality, smoother-looking footage than you're able to get from a phone camera.
As a YouTube creator myself, I've used DJI's Osmo Pocket 3 all over the world -- including filming up in the frozen Swedish Arctic -- so I was extremely keen to get my hands on the Insta360 competitor. Sporting dual cameras, the Luna Ultra has beaten DJI to the punch, as DJI has confirmed that it's also launching a dual-camera version of the Osmo, named the Osmo Pocket 4P.
As of right now, though, the Luna Ultra has a significant one-up over DJI with its second lens, but that's not the only thing Insta360 has on its side.
The biggest win for Insta360 is that you can actually buy the Luna Ultra in the US. Due to ongoing restrictions from the US government, DJI's products are tricky to get hold of. While DJI's drones have been banned for sale in the US, the company's other products -- including the Osmo range -- are subject to Federal Communications Commission regulations that, at the very least, delay their availability in the US.
The Insta 360's built-in Leica Chrome color profile gives a nice tone to your footage, though I'd typically want do my own color editing later on in post production. Andrew Lanxon/CNET
DJI has officially stated that the Pocket 4 "will not be available in the US market as the application for authorization is still pending." Arguably, that word "pending" suggests that things could change, but at the time of writing, the Pocket 4 doesn't even appear on DJI's US website. Major retailers like B&H Photo and Best Buy only have the older Pocket 3 on sale.
But the Luna Ultra is subject to no such restrictions and will be freely available to buy. Both aforementioned retailers have it listed as "coming soon," with a starting price of $770 for the standard model or $970 for the Creator Bundle, which includes a battery grip and a wireless microphone. That makes it more expensive than the Osmo, which starts at £445 (which roughly converts to $597), but its more advanced features might make it worthwhile.
For US shoppers wanting a great vlogging camera, which one is "best" in my testing is something of a moot point, as you can only buy one of them anyway. The Luna Ultra wins by default in that sense. But for those of you interested in how these two stack up in real-world use, let's dive in.
Insta360 vs. DJI patent dispute
If it feels like these two products are cut from the same cloth then that similarity hasn't escaped DJI or Insta360 either. DJI has gone so far as to bring a lawsuit against its rival on the grounds of alleged patent infringement. In a statement sent to CNET, a DJI spokesperson stated:
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