Insta360 Link 2: A Game-Changing Webcam for Content Creators and Professionals

Insta360 Link 2 review: A great 4K webcam made cheaper -- and with excellent audio, too

When I first reviewed the Insta360 Link, it became was one of the best webcams at the time, but it was soon overshadowed by some competitors in this field. Ever since, I've been excited to see what Insta360 would bring to the table next. The Insta360 Link 2 is an interesting update. It improves some things, cuts back on others, and significantly reduces the price. What we have in the end is a very good webcam that's now better than ever for meetings. The image quality is as good as it always was, but it's now backed by excellent audio as well, blowing the competition out of the water for a fairly low price. The video quality is also excellent, and the only place where I feel like the camera falters a bit is tracking. About this review: Insta360 sent me the Link 2 and Link 2C for the purposes of this review. The company had no input in its content. Great webcam Insta360 Link 2 Excellent video and audio, with tracking capabilities 9/ 10 The Insta360 Link 2 is a great webcam for meetings and video calls, with a 4K sensor, HDR support, and a tracking gimbal that can follow you around. It also has some of the best microphone audio I've seen on a webcam, making it one of the best options around. Pros4K image quality is some of the best you can getAudio recording is fantasticCheaper than a lot of the competition ConsIt's a pretty big webcamTracking is still a little too prone to losing sight of you $200 at Amazon$200 at Insta360 Insta360 Link 2 pricing and availability Insta360 launched the Link 2 and Link 2C webcams simultaneously on September 24th, 2024, both on its own website and Amazon, where you can buy them right now. Pricing for the standard Link 2 comes in at $199.99, while the Link 2C costs $149.99. Specifications Resolution 3840x2160 Rotation Integrated gimbal Wide Angle Lens 79.5 degrees Connection USB-C to USB-C (Type-A adaper included) Integrated Lighting No Aperture f/1.8 Frames per second 60FPS (1080p) or 30FPS (4K) Mounting Magnetic mount included Compatibility Windows, macOS Sensor size 1/2" Additional features AI tracking, AI noise reduction, Whiteboard mode, Deskview mode, Pause-Track Areas Ports USB-C Microphone AI noise cancelling microphones Expand What I like Image quality is still great The thing that matters most with a webcam is obviously the quality of the camera itself, and Insta360 delivered here. Realistically, this is just a cheaper version of the original Link, featuring the same sensor size, resolution, and aperture as that model. What that means is that this is one of the best webcams you can get quality-wise. I compared it to the Obsbot Tiny 2 Lite since it's the closest in price, though I did also try the original Obsbot Tiny 2. Related Obsbot Tiny 2 review: The best webcam I've ever used The Obsbot Tiny 2 offers some of the best image quality you can get in a webcam, and the tracking capabilities make it versatile, too. Here are some samples with daylight coming in through a window, some indoor lighting, and no lighting aside from the monitor in front of me. In each pair of samples, the Insta360 Link 2 is shown first, followed by the Obsbot Tiny 2 Lite. Close As you can see, the Insta360 Link 2 and Obsbot Tiny 2 Lite stand toe-to-toe quality wise. The Insta360 Link has a fairly wide aperture and a stronger bokeh effect, so things in the background have less detail, but you might prefer that. I feel like that's mostly up to personal preference. Colors in some of the shots appear to be a bit punchier in the Insta360 Link 2, too, though I don't find the difference that biog most of the time. Where you see a bigger advantage for the Link 2 is in extremely low lighting conditions, where the Obsbot Tiny 2 Lite falls a bit behind. That said, I doubt anyone will ever be using a webcam in these conditions anyway. This is one of the best webcams you can get I did try HDR mode, but I honestly found the differences to be minimal, and in some cases, I preferred pictures without HDR. That's been the case with most webcams I've tried, so it's not super surprising to me. Built-in noise cancellation makes for excellent audio One of the big selling points of the Insta360 Link 2 is the improved audio quality, which is a huge deal here. Whenever I review webcams, the audio quality isn't a huge focus for me because it's always fine, but not really impressive. But with the Insta360 Link 2, the difference is very big when compared to the Obsbot Tiny 2 Lite. Related Obsbot Tiny 2 Lite review: Almost all the quality for a fraction of the cost The Obsbot Tiny 2 Lite is an excellent solution if you can't spend $300 on a webcam The Link 2 uses AI noise cancellation when recording, and it works very well. My voice sounds much cleaner and clearer compared to the competition, even as I move around and make other noises. If you install the Link Controller app, you can also change the noise cancellation behavior to filter out other voices (voice suppression), or enhance music quality. I tried the voice suppression feature, and it also did a really good job at removing a YouTube video I was playing in the background while I spoke, it was pretty impressive. My voice sounds much cleaner and clearer It's much cheaper than its predecessor Close Of course, it's also worth mentioning the price here. The Insta360 Link was one of the most expensive webcams I've reviewed, but for this sequel, the company took a step back and focused on reducing the price. Now, the Insta360 Link 2 costs just $199.99, which is a whopping $100 less than the original model. And if you don't need AI tracking, the Link 2C is just $149.99. I love PTZ webcams, though, and it's great to see them become more accessible. Between this and the Obsbot Tiny 2 Lite, it's great to see this kind of feature become available to more people. What I don't like It's a big webcam I've always felt that many of these PTZ webcams are a little too big, but that was one area where the original Link was actually pretty good. It was a tony camera that was still very versatile. Unfortunately, the Link 2 takes not one, but multiple steps back here. This is the largest PTZ webcam I've used. The gimbal itself naturally leads to a larger size, but the main camera housing is also just way too wide, and thick. It's not overly heavy, thankfully, maybe because the construction is mostly plastic. But the sheer size looks a little funny. The Link 2C is smaller due to not having the gimbal, but it's still pretty wide na dbig compared to other non-gimbal webcams like the Obsbot Meet 2. Tracking is still not the best Unfortunately, Insta360 doesn't seem to have done much to improve the tracking capabilities of the Link 2 compared to its predecessor. I had some issues with the camera losing track of me too easily in the previous iteration, and that seems to still be the case here. As I crouched behind my chair, the Insta360 Link 2 lost track of me, and it was unable to get back up when I did, while the Obsbot Tiny 2 Lite handled it impressively well. Look at this clip: Similarly, tracking in extreme low light is not as reliable with the Link 2 compared to Obsbot's cameras. The Obsbot Tiny 2 Lite follows me more smoothly and consistently as I move around, even as my face becomes nearly invisible. By comparison, the Insta360 Link 2 seems to get stuck in some positions where it loses track of me, and then suddenly tries to make up for it. The Pause-Track Areas feature is interesting, though. It locks targetting when you get in a specific area, which prevents the camera from moving past that point. It can be useful to prevent showing more than you want to, for example. The Insta360 Link 2C doesn't have AI tracking, but it does have auto framing, and it works alright. It's definitely better than the tracking some laptop webcams have, and it's much more responsive. But that's almost not a good thing, because the camera perspective can change a lot and it feels a little wonky as a result. We lost portrait mode In making the Insta360 Link 2 cheaper than its predecessor, one of the big things that was sacrificed was portrait mode. The original Link had a unique gimbal that allowed the sensor itself to rotate into portrait mode, but that's been removed now. Related Insta360 Link review: The best webcam, with some drawbacks The Insta360 Link is an AI-powered 4K webcam made for presenters and it has the best image quality around, though AI tracking is finicky. Portrait mode is still supported, but now, you have to buy the official tripod to enable it. It can't just be any tripod, either, because there's no screw mount on the webcam. It needs to be a magnetic tripod, which INsta360 is happy to sell to you for an added cost. Should you buy the Insta360 Link 2? It's very easy to recommend the Insta360 Link 2. While the tracking capabilities aren't the best I've seen, image quality is top-notch, and the audio quality is the best I've ever seen (or heard) from a webcam's built-in microphone. It absolutely makes this the best option for engaging in online meetings and calls if you don't want to use a dedicated headset. That's especially true when you consider the price. If you compare this to the Obsbot Tiny 2 Lite, you're only paying about $30 more, and you get better low-light performance and far better audio. The tracking isn't as good and the design is not as sleek, but the Link 2 wins where it matters most. You should buy the Insta360 Link 2 if: You want to be able to record or stream in 4K You want clear audio without needing a microphone or headset You don't want to spend $300 on a webcam You should NOT buy the Insta360 Link if: You want a webcam that's relatively compact You want the best tracking capabilities possible Insta360 Link 2 9/ 10 With great video quality and some of the best audio quality you can get, the Insta360 Link 2 is a great choice for meetings and video calls, while also being more affordable than a lot of the competition. $200 at Amazon$200 at Insta360

Insta360 Link 2 Webcam review: Premium features at a reasonable price

Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate. Insta360 webcams are consistently among some of the best webcams we test -- but how does the Link 2 webcam hold up? Well, it's got some pretty impressive specs: 4K video, AI noise canceling mics, and top-of-the-range AI tracking capabilities. With an innovative, easy-to-use companion app, and a snazzy PTZ rotating gimbal, the $199/£199 Insta360 Link 2 webcam could be our best premium option yet. In testing, the Link 2 particularly excelled at picture quality and head tracking. The range of modes is unparalleled: portrait, whiteboard, desktop, and privacy modes, so you'll be able to use the Link 2 for anything you need. Speaking of what you need, the Link 2 is made for content creators, so the incredible AI tracking and autofocus means the webcam will be able to keep up with your face no matter what. If you're a content creator, educator, professional, or streamer, keep reading to find out my complete thoughts on this premium webcam in my Insta360 Link 2 webcam review. There's a lot to like with the Insta360 Link 2, whether it's the pristine picture quality or the range of features in the well-designed companion app, Insta360 Link Controller. While not technically 'AI' in the sense of generative content, the body tracking capabilities on the Insta360 Link 2 are impressive. Check out these videos to see the AI tracking in action. You can choose from single or group tracking, although it's most effective with no more than two people, and you can choose between 'head', 'upper body', or 'full body' tracking. And the tracking is strong. I tried to lose the Link 2, but no matter where I went in my room, the webcam followed me. This would be perfect for gaming streamers or even online exercise classes. As you'd expect with a $200 4K camera, the picture and video quality on the Link 2 is phenomenal. The clarity is so good that you can see all of my freckles, which often get overlooked by lower-quality webcams like the Logitech C270 ($29). This picture was taken in natural daylight, in 'portrait mode', and with the 'daylight' Insta360 built-in filter. It shoots 4K video at 30 fps, which would be more than enough for streamers and content creators. This picture of my hand was taken in almost complete darkness and has not been brightened at all. As you can see from this picture, the Insta360 Link 2 performs well even in low light settings. In the Insta360 Link Controller app, you can choose from a wide array of virtual backgrounds. Instead of having to rely on the less advanced backgrounds in your video calling app, you can select plain background, portrait mode, and even studio lighting for that professional effect. Also in the Insta360 Link Controller app, you can enable a seemingly endless variety of modes. That may sound a little hyperbolic, but there are still more than enough modes for the $200 price tag. You can select 'portrait mode', which blurs your background to focus on just your face, ideal for business calls. 'Portrait' mode's blur is extremely effective and only blurs your background, even when you move quickly. There's also 'smart whiteboard mode' perfect for online educators, which automatically recognizes whiteboards. 'Smart whiteboard mode' is upgraded from the previous 'whiteboard mode', which required the user to stick special tags on each corner of the whiteboard. If you're an online teacher, you can enable 'desktop mode', which lowers the camera to your desk so you can automatically show what you're writing. There are also options to flip the screen if you need to mirror text for whatever reason. Then, when you're done broadcasting, you can switch on 'privacy mode' which mutes the mic (assuming you've turned that feature on, it's really straightforward in the app) and angles the camera down. In testing, I found these modes seamless to switch between, although 'desktop mode' did skew my hands a little and made them look really long. As with the Obsbot Tiny 2 ($299), the Link 2 has gesture controls. Also like the Tiny 2, they're a little finicky, and require some practice before you whip them out during important calls. You can turn on AI tracking by putting your palm straight up. In testing I was surprised to see my waving to the camera sometimes enabled AI tracking, so be sure not to wave if you intend to use this feature. You can also zoom in and out by putting your thumb and forefinger in an L shape. It took me a few minutes to get accustomed with these gesture controls, but once I got them, they were really useful. The Insta360 Link 2 is compatible with all major video calling software like Zoom and Google Meet. I was also able to get it working with Open Broadcaster Software with just the click of a button. If you're a streamer or content creator, this is such a pain-free setup, and I would recommend the Insta360 Link 2 wholeheartedly. While you're not going to get the crystal-clear vocal clarity of, say, the Shure MV7+ ($279) with a built-in mic, the Link 2's microphone is good for everyday use. In testing I recorded a gaming stream with the Link 2's built in mic and found that it was great at picking up my voice, but did pick up some keyboard noise and street noise. If you're a serious content creator, I'd recommend the MV7+ -- which has a real-time denoiser -- but if you're a remote worker, then the Link 2's built-in mic is enough. While there are loads of things I love about this webcam, there are also a few limitations. As this 4K AI webcam is $100 cheaper than other similar spec-ed webcams I've tried, it can't have all of the same features, though. Unlike the Obsbot Tiny 2, which you can configure to track hands, the Insta360 Link 2 can only track your head, upper body and full body. While the Tiny 2 is $100 pricier, it has more options for AI body tracking. If you're an online teacher or business professional presenting digital calls, you might want to be able to track hands if you rely on gestures. But like the Tiny 2, the Link 2 has smart whiteboard tracking so you could always just draw on a whiteboard in lieu of the Link 2's lack of hand tracking. Considering there's only one downside to a myriad of upsides, the Insta360 Link 2 webcam is a great option if you need a high-quality webcam with a range of features. It's not the priciest 4K webcam I've seen but it does lack the more specific body tracking features you'll get on the Obsbot Tiny 2. However, for $200, this is a phenomenal webcam, and is more than enough for the average remote worker and online teacher.