(Credit: Insta360)
It's been less than a year since Insta360 entered the action camera market with the Ace Pro, but it didn't take long for the company to overhaul its rugged, go-anywhere video camera. Like the first version, the Ace Pro 2 sets itself apart from competing options from DJI and GoPro with a flip-forward touch screen, Leica-certified optics, and a high-resolution sensor with support for 8K30 video and 50MP photos.
Puts Pixels Ahead of Frame Rates
The Ace Pro 2 matches the original in pixel count. The pair stand alone as the only small video cameras on the market with 8K video recording, but its updated image sensor supports 30fps recording at the top resolution, an upgrade from 8K24, and now supports 4K60 with HDR. The still images get a negligible increase from 48MP to 50MP.
To compare, the GoPro Hero13 Black rolls at up to 5.3K60 and pushes 240fps at 2.7K. Simply put, if you prioritize flexibility to crop and pull out both vertical and horizontal clips from the same clip, the GoPro is better if you want a higher frame rate for smooth slow-motion, though the Ace Pro 2 does 4K120 with an SDR color.
(Credit: Insta360)The extra pixels, along with an ultra-wide Leica Summarit F2.6 lens with a 157° (13mm full-frame equivalent) angle of view, flip forward 2.5-inch LCD, and a microphone with a better wind guard than the original, make a stronger appeal to vloggers and content creators than others, while retaining the tough build that we expect in an action cam. The Ace Pro 2 is waterproof to 39 feet and rated for use in temperatures as low as -4°F.
The camera includes digital stabilization—Insta360 brands it as FlowState—to support handheld recording. It also promises better video clarity in dim light through its PureVideo recording mode, which uses neural network-trained algorithms to smartly apply noise reduction to scenes captured under questionable illumination. PureVideo carries over from the original but is boosted by the addition of a second image processor that Insta360 says will improve quality.
Pricing and Availability
The Ace Pro 2 is available for purchase today for $399.99 or $419.99 in a two-battery kit; the original Ace Pro is still available in stores for $349.99. We've not yet had a chance to test the camera to see how it stacks up against its competitors, but hope to, so check back for a review. In the meantime, check out our best action camera story to see the best options we've tried.