If you love making videos with your smartphone, you might want to get a smartphone gimbal. A smartphone gimbal is a device that stabilizes your phone and makes your videos smoother and more cinematic. But there are so many smartphone gimbals out there, how do you know which one to choose?
In this article, I will compare two of the most popular smartphone gimbals of 2023: the Insta360 Flow and the DJI Osmo Mobile 6. I’ve been using both the Insta360 Flow and DJI Osmo Mobile 6 smartphone gimbals for several weeks now. As a videographer, I rely on gimbals to capture smooth footage for my YouTube videos and client projects.
In this detailed review, I’ll compare the key features and real-world performance of these popular gimbals to help you decide which one is better for your needs.
How They Look and How They Work
The Insta360 Flow and the DJI Osmo Mobile 6 have a similar design concept: they both use a magnet to attach your phone to the gimbal. This makes it easy to put your phone on and off the gimbal.
They also both fold down to a small size that you can easily carry around. They also both have selfie sticks that you can pull out from the handle. This lets you extend the reach of your gimbal and get more creative angles.
But there are also some differences in the details that make each gimbal unique. Here is a table that summarizes some of the main differences:
| Feature | Insta360 Flow | DJI Osmo Mobile 6 |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in tripod | Yes | No |
| Battery capacity | 2900 mAh | 1000 mAh |
| Battery life | Up to 12 hours | Up to 6 hours |
| Power bank function | Yes | No |
| Cold shoe mount | Yes | No |
| Color options | Summit White or Stone Gray | Dark Gray |
As you can see from the table, the Insta360 Flow has some advantages over the DJI Osmo Mobile 6 when it comes to design and portability.
The Insta360 Flow has a built-in tripod in the handle, which means you don’t need to carry an extra accessory with you. You can just pull it down and open it up whenever you need to place your gimbal on a flat surface.
Battery Life Comparison
Having enough battery life is crucial when filming videos out in the field. Here’s how the gimbals compare:
| Gimbal | Battery Life | Extra Features |
|---|---|---|
| Insta360 Flow | 12 hours | Can charge phone via power bank feature |
| DJI Osmo Mobile 6 | 6 hours | No external charging capability |
The Insta360 Flow also has a larger battery capacity than the DJI Osmo Mobile 6: 2900 Mah vs 1000 Mah. In real life, the Insta360 Flow gives me double the shooting time between charges compared to the Osmo Mobile 6.
Moreover, the Insta360 Flow can act as a power bank for your phone, thanks to the USB-C port on the top of the handle. You can connect your phone to the gimbal and charge it while you’re shooting. The DJI Osmo Mobile 6 does not have this feature.
Comparing the Design
The Insta360 Flow also has a cold shoe mount on the bottom of the selfie stick, which lets you attach accessories like a microphone or a light to your gimbal. This is very useful if you want to improve your audio or lighting quality. The DJI Osmo Mobile 6 does not have a cold shoe mount on its body.
The Insta360 Flow also comes in two color options: Summit White or Stone Gray. The DJI Osmo Mobile 6 only comes in one color: Dark Gray.
The DJI Osmo Mobile 6 has a slightly larger and more ergonomic grip than the Insta360 Flow, which makes it more comfortable to hold for longer periods of time. It also has a sturdier tripod that comes with it, which can support heavier phones and accessories.
How They Perform
Both the Insta360 Flow and the DJI Osmo Mobile 6 have similar features and performance when it comes to stabilizing your phone and creating smooth videos. They both have three-axis motors that can move your phone according to your movements.
They both have five different modes that you can switch between using the physical controls on the gimbal: Follow, Pan Tilt Follow, FPV, Spin Shot, and Lock. They both have joysticks that allow you to manually adjust the angle of your phone. They both have zoom controls that let you zoom in and out using the scroll wheel on the side or on the front of the gimbal.
But there are also some differences in how each gimbal implements these features and how well they perform in different scenarios. One of the biggest differences is in the tracking capabilities of each gimbal.
Tracking is a feature that lets the gimbal follow a person or an object automatically, without you having to move the gimbal yourself. This is very useful if you want to film yourself or someone else doing something, like playing sports, cooking, or dancing.
The Insta360 Flow uses Deep Track 3.0, which is an AI-powered tracking technology that can recognize faces and objects and follow them automatically. The DJI Osmo Mobile 6 uses Active Track 5.0, which is also a tracking technology that can track people and objects within the DJI Mimo app.
The Insta360 Flow has an advantage over the DJI Osmo Mobile 6 when it comes to tracking performance, especially in challenging situations. The Insta360 Flow can track subjects in any frame rate, resolution, or lens setting, while the DJI Osmo Mobile 6 can only track subjects in certain settings within the app.
The Insta360 Flow can also track subjects across different apps, such as Instagram or TikTok, while the DJI Osmo Mobile 6 can only track subjects within its own app.
The Insta360 Flow can also track subjects more accurately and reliably than the DJI Osmo Mobile 6. The Insta360 Flow can recognize faces and only track the person you want, while the DJI Osmo Mobile 6 can sometimes switch to a different person or object if they come into the frame.
The Insta360 Flow can also re-identify and re-track subjects if they go out of the frame and come back, while the DJI Osmo Mobile 6 can lose track of subjects if they go out of the frame and not recover them. The Insta360 Flow can also zoom in and out automatically to keep the subject in the frame, while the DJI Osmo Mobile 6 does not have this feature.
The Insta360 Flow also has some unique features that the DJI Osmo Mobile 6 does not have, such as slow-motion tracking, zoom tracking recovery, and 360-degree panoramic photo mode. These features allow you to create more dynamic and creative videos with your phone and gimbal.
The DJI Osmo Mobile 6 also has some features that the Insta360 Flow does not have, such as gesture control, story mode, dynamic zoom, and clone me panorama. These features allow you to control your gimbal with your hand gestures, create short videos with templates and music, create dolly zoom effects, and create multiple clones of yourself in one photo.
How Much They Cost
Both the Insta360 Flow and the DJI Osmo Mobile 6 have the same starting price around $159. However, they also have different bundles and accessories that you can buy separately or together.
The Insta360 Flow has a Creator Kit that costs $209 and includes a selfie stick, a bullet time cord, a lens guard, and a pouch. It also has a Pro Tripod Kit that costs $193 and includes a tripod adapter, a mini tripod, a lens guard, and a pouch.
The DJI Osmo Mobile 6 has a Combo Kit that costs $199 and includes a magnetic ring holder, a magnetic suction cup mount, a grip tripod, and a storage pouch.
It also has a Pro Combo Kit that costs $499 and includes a magnetic ring holder, a magnetic suction cup mount, a grip tripod, a storage pouch, a Rode Wireless Go II microphone system, an Osmo Mobile 6 microphone adapter, an Osmo Mobile 6 fill light phone clamp, and an Osmo Mobile 6 carrying case.
Both gimbals offer great value for money, but it depends on what you need and what you want to do with your gimbal.
If you want a more compact and versatile gimbal that has better tracking performance, longer battery life, power bank function, cold shoe mount, and AI-powered features, then the Insta360 Flow might be the better option for you.
If you want a more ergonomic and sturdier gimbal that has gesture control, story mode, dynamic zoom, clone me panorama, and more accessories options, then the DJI Osmo Mobile 6 might be the better option for you.
Ease of Use
Both Insta360 Flow and DJI OM 6 comes with a quick launch feature, making them easy to set up and start shooting in seconds. However, Insta360 Flow’s 1-step rapid deployment is a more convenient feature as it requires no untwisting or pressing the power button, and it’s ready to shoot instantly.
Additionally, Insta360 Flow’s SmartWheel provides quick and easy access to shooting controls, video replay, and other functions, making it easier to use than DJI OM 6.
Moreover, the Insta360 Flow is slightly heavier than the 340-gram DJI OM 6. Anyway, the Insta360 Flow supports compatible phones weighing up to 300 grams whereas the DJI OM 6 can hold up to 290 grams.
The Bottom Line
After extensive real-world testing, I can confidently say that the Insta360 Flow is the better smartphone gimbal compared to the DJI Osmo Mobile 6.
Here are the key reasons why:
- Smoother subject tracking with AI technology
- Significantly longer battery life
- More creative shooting modes
- Built-in tripod for added convenience
- Intuitive controls and navigation
For smartphone videography and vlogging on the go, the Flow really shines. I would only recommend the Osmo Mobile 6 for users who need the most basic gimbal features and don’t care about tracking capability.
I hope this detailed hands-on comparison helps you decide which gimbal is the right fit for your creative needs and budget! Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions.
