You may not think about or interact with your webcam as much as your keyboard or mouse, but it’s still a vital part of many people’s PC setups, whether for work, school, or creation.
One of the most popular high-end webcams in recent years is the original Insta360 Link, a capable 4K webcam with AI-powered gimbal tracking. Now, Insta360 is back with the official successor, debuting a brand-new design, an expanded feature set, and even a lower initial retail price. It’s a compelling package with a lot to love, even if the software and AI features feel a little rough around the edges right now.
There’s one webcam that’s better than the Insta360 Link 2 in almost every way, but it also costs 50% more. That more attractive price point is what really sells the new Link 2 webcam, and it’s why I can recommend it to anyone who truly wants a gimbal-equipped webcam for advanced, smooth, and effortless tracking.
This review was made possible thanks to a review sample provided by Insta360. The company had no input nor saw the contents of this review prior to publication.
Insta360 Link 2 review: Pricing and specifications
Pricing highlights
- The Insta360 Link 2 webcam retails for $199.99, or $100 less than the original price of the Insta360 Link.
- There’s also the new Insta360 Link 2C, which utilizes the same sensor and hardware but without the 2-axis gimbal tracking.
- Finally, the first Link webcam is still available for a reduced $179.99 if you don’t mind giving up features and image quality.
The original Insta360 Link webcam debuted at $299.99, making it a luxury product for those who needed the best webcam they could find without sacrificing portability or ease-of-use.
Insta360 Link 2
• Price: $199.99 at Amazon | Best Buy
• Camera sensor: 1/2-inch sensor, F1.8 aperture, 26mm focal length, 10cm minimum autofocus distance
• Camera features: Up to 4K @ 30 FPS or 1080p @ 60 FPS, MJPEG & H.264 (not supported in 4K or 1080p @ 60 FPS) codecs, HDR support
• Other features: 2-axis gimbal, AI-powered tracking, built-in microphone w/ AI noise canceling, auto focus, white balance, & exposure, whiteboard & desk views, USB Type-C 2.0 connectivity, magnetic mount, 1/4-inch mounting point
• Dimensions: 71.3 x 58.9 x 38mm (2.8 x 2.3 x 1.5in)
• Weight: 101.5g (w/o magnetic mount), 166.5g (w/ magnetic mount)
The Insta360 Link 2 is still a premium webcam, but Insta360 actually dropped the retail price by a full $100 and simultaneously released a more affordable alternative.
The Insta360 Link 2 is available for $199.99 at Best Buy, and those who are interested in the camera capabilities but not the gimbal tracking can save even more with the Insta360 Link 2C, available for $149.99 at Best Buy. You can also consider the original Insta360 Link for a reduced $179.99 at Amazon if you don’t mind trading some features and image quality in exchange for gimbal tracking at a lower price.
In the box, you’ll find the Insta360 Link 2, the magnetic mount attachment, and a basic USB Type-C 2.0 to USB Type-A 2.0 connecting cable; there’s no travel case or other add-ons included in the box. Everything is covered by a standard 1-year warranty.
At this price, the Insta360 Link 2 is now competing with potent alternatives like the Logitech MX Brio I reviewed — and it makes a compelling argument for itself with crisp image quality, an above-average webcam microphone, and gimbal tracking. That $200 price point also makes it an excellent challenger for the OBSBOT Tiny 2 4K I reviewed, an incredible gimbal tracking webcam that’s honestly better than the Link 2 in practically every category… But also costs $100 more.
Finally, it’s worth mentioning the Insta360 Mini 2-in-1 Tripod you can get for $29.99 at Amazon, which gives you more flexibility in how you can use the Insta360 Link 2 or Link 2C (and could be particularly useful for streamers and mobile content creators).
Insta360 Link 2 review: The good
The pros highlights
- The Insta360 Link 2 debuts a sleek new design with premium construction and a convenient magnetic mount.
- The new 1/2-inch 4K sensor also provides excellent overall image and video quality with auto exposure, white balance, and focus.
- The Insta360 Link Controller is a fast, easy-to-use app that provides a decent amount of customization and enables support for almost any streaming or video conference app.
The first Insta360 Link was a premium enough webcam, but it didn’t quite reflect its opulent price tag. The new and improved Link 2, on the other hand, feels every bit like the high-end webcam it is, with a fresh, compact, and sleek design. This design is also practical, though.
Premium materials and excellent build quality help provide confidence in the Link 2, and the included magnetic mount is dead simple to set up on any monitor (or flat surface, honestly). The 2-axis gimbal for smart tracking is front and center with this design, but the elongated lens housing results in the more affordable Insta360 Link 2C looking remarkably consistent alongside its gimbal-equipped sibling.
There’s also a standard 1/4-inch mounting point that should work with most tripods and mic/webcam arms, but Insta360 would obviously prefer you use its own Mini 2-in-1 Tripod. It’s a solid accessory if you desire a little more flexibility with where you place and use your Link 2 (or most other Insta360 cameras).
Now, onto image quality. The Insta360 Link 2 boasts a sizeable 1/2-inch 4K sensor with a wide F1.8 aperture. HDR support, autofocus, and a suite of AI-backed features and optimizations complete the camera experience, and it’s a good one. The Link 2 performs well in a wide variety of situations, including when lighting may be sparse, and does a good job retaining detail, accurately reproducing colors, and avoiding unwanted noise or artifacts.
That 2-axis gimbal also means the Insta360 Link 2 is more capable than most with tracking, as it can adjust itself to follow you across a room or automatically shift focus to help you present on your desk or even a whiteboard. Tracking is smooth and accurate, although it’s not without its issues (more on that later). What’s important, though, is that the Link 2 doesn’t have to sacrifice resolution and crop in to track your face, body, or presentation — you’re always getting the full might of this 1/2-inch sensor, and it’s mighty indeed.
When you need to make adjustments, the Insta360 Link Controller app is a dependable piece of software. You can manage your Link 2’s AI adjustments and tracking, customize background effects or filters, manually control the gimbal, and more. It’s clean, smooth, and incredibly simple to use. This app is also what enables you to take full advantage of the Link 2’s features in almost any streaming or video conference app, thanks to the new virtual camera debuting with this webcam.
There’s a high probability that many of the people investing in a premium webcam already have a suitably premium dedicated microphone or headset to accompany it, but the Insta360 Link 2 does boast a built-in microphone of its own, complete with AI-powered noise canceling.
I have to admit, the Link 2’s mic surprised me. It has limited range and constrained depth, but it does a good job of ensuring your voice sounds clear and detailed. More impressively, the AI noise cancelation really does make a noticeable difference, filtering out unwanted background sounds without affecting what you really want to record. A good microphone or headset will still be better, but the Link 2’s mic is great for when you’re in a pinch.
Insta360 Link 2 review: The bad
The cons highlights
- The Insta360 Link 2’s AI tracking, auto adjustments, and background detections can all be wildly inconsistent at times.
- Tracking can cause erratic shifts and movements, the exposure and white balance can swing to extremes, and background blur often clips too far into the foreground.
- You’re also missing some luxuries, like an included travel case or Windows Hello facial recognition support.
The Insta360 Link 2 would be an impressive webcam all on its own but is particularly so when viewed as the sequel to the original Link. It’s hard to find fault with such an obvious improvement over an already acclaimed product, but the faults are there.
Namely, the Link 2 webcam suffers from a number of inconsistencies. The AI-powered gimbal tracking can shift back and forth, zoom in and out, and change focus targets in an erratic and jarring fashion; the auto white balance and exposure adjustments can fluctuate from extreme to extreme, resulting in blown-out highlights, crushed shadows, and strange colors; the background detection can aggressively cut too far into the foreground, causing background effects and filters to look disconcertingly unnatural.
You can see the Link 2’s brilliance through the cracks of these inconsistencies, but they’re there, and they do affect the experience. Fortunately, all of these issues seem software or firmware-related, and during my review period, the gimbal tracking, at least, has noticeably improved following a handful of firmware updates. Still, you should always buy a product for what it is now, not what it could be in the future.
The Link 2 isn’t the most generous when it comes to added luxuries or features, though. There is no IR sensor for Windows Hello facial recognition, for example. Despite the Insta360 Link 2 advertising its mobile design, you won’t find a protective travel case in the box. Both of these are likely a product of the Link 2’s reduced retail price, but they’re worth noting nonetheless.
Insta360 Link review: Final thoughts
You should buy this if …
✅You want a high-quality webcam with 2-axis gimbal tracking
There are plenty of great webcams with comparable image quality, but the Insta360 Link 2 is a little unique in this price range thanks to its 2-axis gimbal hardware tracking, which is versatile and buttery smooth.
✅You don’t want to pay more than $200 for the best webcam
The Insta360 Link 2 isn’t the best webcam money can buy, but it certainly makes a fair case for being the best webcam $200 can buy. If that’s your budget, you’re looking in the right place.
You should not buy this if …
❌You’re willing to spend more to get more
One webcam, in particular, stands out as a potent competitor to the Insta360 Link 2, and that’s the OBSBOT Tiny 2 4K. That gimbal webcam may cost $100 more, but it’s smaller and more portable, boasts superior software and more features, enjoys a healthier accessory ecosystem, and includes a quality hard-shell travel case in the box.
When we reviewed the original Insta360 Link webcam, we called it “the best webcam you can buy today.” The new Insta360 Link 2 is the perfect successor and is undeniably better than what came before, but it not being the absolute best webcam you can buy today is more indicative of how good webcams have become.
More features, including a virtual camera that lets you take full advantage of the Link 2’s capabilities in almost any app, an improved and more premium design, and superior image quality, make the Link 2 an excellent addition to any streaming or video conferencing setup. It costing a full $100 less than its predecessor did at launch is just icing on the cake.
I’ll still choose the OBSBOT Tiny 2 4K in almost every scenario, but a 50% upcharge is hardly negligible. For $199.99 at Best Buy, it’s hard to beat the Insta360 Link 2, especially if what you’re seeking is a versatile webcam with best-in-class tracking (gimbal hardware makes that a cinch). If you don’t need that headlining feature, though, you can still get the same fantastic core webcam in the Insta360 Link 2C for $149.99 at Best Buy.
The Insta360 Link 2 is an amazing follow-up to the original and one of the best webcams you can buy for $200 or less. Its image quality is impressive and its 2-axis gimbal tracking is a genuinely useful feature. Some inconsistencies in AI features put a small dent in the Link 2’s reputation, but not enough to deter my recommendation.
