DJI sues Insta360 in Texas as dual-lens gimbal camera rivalry escalates

This litigation marks a critical flashpoint as DJI attempts to defend its dominant market position while facing significant regulatory hurdles in the U.S. While DJI’s upcoming dual-lens Osmo Pocket 4P faces a likely sales block due to pending FCC equipment authorization issues, Insta360’s Luna series has successfully entered the market. The immediate implication is a high-stakes legal battle that could result in a permanent injunction against the Luna line, potentially clearing the path for DJI’s 'grey market' imports. For the broader industry, this signal indicates that technical differentiation—particularly in AI subject tracking and modular gimbal design—is becoming the primary battlefield for hardware manufacturers. Expect a protracted legal cycle ending in a cross-licensing agreement mid-2027.

The Texas litigation represents DJI’s second major legal offensive against Insta360 in 2026. Per PRIP and Asia IP Law, DJI previously filed a patent-ownership lawsuit in the Shenzhen Intermediate People's Court in March 2026. That case specifically accused former DJI engineers—now at Insta360—of misappropriating technologies related to drone flight control and image processing within a year of their departure. This strategy of multi-regional litigation mirrors DJI's 2025 global counterattack against security firm Irdeto, which involved simultaneous filings in both Germany and the U.S. federal court system.

The competitive landscape for gimbal cameras is shifting rapidly as both companies move into each other’s established domains. While DJI traditionally dominated the pocket gimbal space since the 2018 launch of the original Osmo Pocket, Insta360 has transitioned from 360-degree cameras to direct gimbal competition. According to Trusted Reviews (June 2020), the new Insta360 Luna Ultra features a 1-inch 8K sensor and a detachable 2-inch OLED screen, a modular configuration DJI has yet to match. Conversely, DJI successfully moved into Insta360's territory in 2025 with the launch of the Osmo 360.

Adding pressure to the rivalry are the restrictive FCC 'Covered List' rules adopted in late 2025. Per DroneXL and NoFilmSchool (June 2026), the FCC has granted 'conditional approvals' to 11 foreign drone manufacturers but continues to exclude DJI. This regulatory barrier prevents DJI from officially authorizing and selling new hardware in the U.S., leaving a market vacuum that Insta360 is actively filling. Recent reports from PetaPixel suggest DJI's dual-lens Pocket 4P may launch under the sub-brand 'Xtra' to navigate these restrictions, further complicating the commercial and legal stand-off between the two imaging giants.