Insta360 Flow Pro launches with Apple DockKit to challenge DJI dominance

The Flow Pro represents a significant shift in production hardware by removing the requirement for proprietary software to access advanced AI tracking. For professional streamers and mobile journalists, the ability to use native iOS camera features—including ProRes and Cinematic mode—while maintaining motorized stabilization provides a higher-quality alternative to traditional locked-in ecosystems. Furthermore, as DJI continues to navigate potential U.S. regulatory restrictions under the Countering CCP Drones Act, Insta360 is positioning itself as a lower-risk hardware alternative for North American creators. Monitor whether competitors like Zhiyun adopt DockKit to stay relevant in the high-end iPhone production market.

The release of the Flow Pro arrives as DJI’s market position in the U.S. remains under intense legislative scrutiny. Per UAV Coach in May 2026, while the Countering CCP Drones Act initially sought an outright ban, the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) led to DJI being added to the FCC Covered List. This move effectively blocks the authorization of new DJI equipment for import and sale in the United States, creating a market vacuum that competitors like Insta360 and Hohem are aggressively moving to fill with hardware that avoids these specific regulatory hurdles.

Insta360 has recently expanded its product line to compete directly with DJI’s most successful categories. Beyond smartphone gimbals, the company launched the Luna Ultra in June 2026, a dual-lens handheld gimbal camera designed to challenge the DJI Osmo Pocket 3. According to reporting from Forbes in June 2026, the Luna Ultra features a 1-inch sensor and a 3X zoom lens developed in partnership with Leica, marking Insta360’s most direct effort to capture the professional vlogging segment. This hardware rivalry is intensifying as both firms move toward higher-resolution 8K sensors and integrated AI tracking modules that function independently of smartphone processors.

The adoption of Apple’s DockKit API is a pivotal technical differentiator in this sector. Introduced at WWDC 2024 and expanded in iOS 18, DockKit allows accessories like the Flow Pro to communicate directly with the iPhone’s Camera app and third-party video applications. As noted by 9to5Mac in July 2024, this integration allows creators to bypass the limitations of third-party apps—such as the inability to use high-bitrate recording or specific Apple-exclusive video modes. This capability has quickly become a standard requirement for prosumer mobile production tools aimed at the social commerce and live-streaming markets.