Friday, June 19, 2026

Insta360 Luna Ultra review: Let the gimbal camera wars begin

“Insta360 launched the Luna Ultra, a gimbal camera with dual cameras, 3x optical zoom, a 1-inch sensor, and 8K video. The Luna Ultra’s removable front panel, which transforms into a wireless display, is a standout feature. While the Luna Ultra is a strong contender in the gimbal camera market, its price and size may be a consideration for potential buyers.

The company's first gimbal camera is a high-powered Osmo Pocket rival that you can actually buy.

June 16, 2026 10:15 am EST

James Trew for Engadget

RATING : 8.7 / 10

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Insta360 recently launched the Luna Ultra gimbal camera, effectively ending DJI's monopoly on the category. The Luna Ultra combines dual cameras with 3x optical zoom, a 1-inch sensor and 8K video. The timing is hard to ignore.

Insta360's launch comes just ahead of DJI's own dual-lens Osmo Pocket 4P, which is speculated to have similar features — including optical zoom. Whether that's a coincidence or calculated timing (hint: it's never a coincidence), one thing is clear: DJI finally has some serious competition in the handheld vlogging space.

Camera

The Luna Ultra shoots up to 8K/30 fps video or up to 120 fps in 4K with support for Dolby Vision. It includes 47GB of internal storage, expandable via a microSD card, and a 1,550mAh battery that delivers roughly four hours of recording time. The dual camera setup comprises an f1.8, 20mm lens, with a 1-inch sensor alongside an f2.0, 60mm telephoto paired with a 1/1.3" sensor. This twin-lens setup provides 3x true optical zoom plus 6x "lossless" (in-sensor) zoom and 12x digital zoom.

The shooting modes available are the same as you'd find on any of the company's other cameras: regular video mode, PureVideo (low light), Timelapse, TimeShift ("hyperlapse") and Barrel Roll. Vertical shooting is supported, either through the menu or by rotating the 2-inch display 90-degrees. Sadly, portrait video is limited to 3K, the same as DJI's Pocket 4. Dolby Vision and I-Log color modes are available and even the "standard" color mode is 10-bit. Photos come in two flavors: "Standard" 9-megapixel or the beefier 37-megapixel "UltraPhoto" mode.

Detachable display

James Trew for Engadget

Easily, the most interesting hardware feature on the Luna Ultra is the removable front panel that transforms into a wireless display for remote control and framing. Even better, you can pan, tilt, zoom and navigate the onscreen menus over 60 feet away from the camera. My favorite part is that there's also a microphone nestled just above the screen so you can record stand-ups to camera without needing an external mic. You still might want to, though. While the audio the display provides is perfectly acceptable, it's not quite as robust as you'd get with a dedicated mic kit.

Much of the functionality of the wireless display is also available via the mobile app (minus the microphone), but it's much nicer to use the device's physical controls. I've also never really been a fan of camera companion apps. Insta360's is perfectly fine, but it's still prone to the occasional connection issue, and still requires bringing your phone into the mix. Insta360's display innovation here genuinely feels useful — with bonus points for being fun.

Optical Zoom

For gimbal camera fans, the optical zoom is likely the most interesting feature of the Luna Ultra. With the Osmo Pocket you have 2x in-sensor zoom which is helpful but limited. The 3x optical zoom on the Insta360 brings a lot more flexibility. I even think the 6x in-sensor zoom looks sharp enough in most cases that you won't see any visible artifacts. Once you hit the 12x digital zoom, you can definitely see things starting to get a bit fuzzier, but if the lighting is good, even that feels quite usable sometimes.

James Trew for Engadget

If you tap the zoom bar up or down quickly, it'll jump in whole stops (1x, 2x, 3x, 6x and 12x). If you prefer a smooth zoom, or want a more specific framing, you can do that by holding the slider down. You can sometimes notice when the primary lens hands over to the telephoto as objects in the foreground can move slightly or the tone of the sky can change color thanks to the different aperture and sensor size. It's mostly not an issue unless you specifically want to record while zooming between 2.9x and 3.1x, but it's something to be aware of.

The more I used the camera, the more I grew to love the zoom. With other vlogging cameras like the GoPro Mission 1 Pro or the Pocket 4, the lack of a zoom never really bothered me. After constantly testing the Luna Ultra, I found myself discovering shots or able to grab footage I haven't thought about before. So much so, I find myself forgiving the extra heft of the larger camera and reaching for the Luna Ultra over the Pocket 4. Of course, the real test will be once the Pocket 4P lands.

Insta360 Luna Ultra: Let the gimbal wars begin!

In-use

The whole experience with the Luna Ultra will feel very familiar if you've ever used an Osmo Pocket. From flicking the display 90-degrees to turn the camera on and the menu system, there are a lot of similarities. The Luna Ultra is noticeably bigger though. The body sections on both cameras are actually of similar size, but the gimbal head on the Luna Ultra is much wider (and thus taller when stowed), and this does make the camera feel just slightly less pocketable.

DJI's influence is also noticeable when things on the Luna Ultra didn't work the way I expected, just because that's how they are on the Osmo Pocket. For example, on DJI's gimbal camera, flicking the screen to the vertical position can either turn off the camera or switch it to portrait mode. On the Pocket, there's a hybrid mode where you are presented with the choice — let the camera shut down or press a button to keep it going in portrait mode. This is the one I favor and it's not present on the Luna Ultra.

James Trew for Engadget

After a couple of weeks carrying this thing around, I found the extra size generally isn't an issue — with one caveat. The camera comes with a protective case that covers the gimbal, and with that attached, we're stretching the definition of what you might call "pocketable." DJI's Pocket 4 has a smart gimbal lock that keeps things secure without adding any bulk, which keeps things very portable.

In terms of image quality, the Luna Ultra offers a bright, slightly saturated but pleasing image. It can easily be adjusted in "Pro" mode to make it flatter or more cinematic, depending on your needs. Dolby Vision support is a nice feature, but I personally find that it can introduce unexpectedly saturated zones in bright light. I found that the green leaves of a tree against a bright and sunny blue sky sometimes have fuzzy edges. Meanwhile, some street vlogging shots I took looked much more balanced, thanks to Dolby Vision. If you plan to use it, be prepared to experiment with it first.

Insta360's collaboration with Leica on the Luna Ultra includes a selection of color filters. These are quick and easy ways to add a specific vibe to your footage. If you prefer to grade your own shots, then the I-Log color mode is likely your best option for achieving the looks you want.

Wrap-up

James Trew for Engadget

We're at a weird point where the absolute direct rival for the Luna Ultra isn't released yet, but we know it's coming. We can compare it to the Osmo Pocket 4, but that's not apples to apples. DJI's Pocket 4 is smaller, more affordable and decidedly not available in the US (officially). It's unlikely that the Pocket 4P will be available in the States, either.

The good news is that the Luna Ultra is independently a great vlogging camera. Starting at $770, it's also a spendy one. But that's also roughly what GoPro's Mission 1 Pro costs and DJI's Pocket 4 will cost more than that for most Americans thanks to the extra costs incurred for gray imports. All to say, it seems that premium portable cameras are just expensive now. Insta360 made a great debut into the category and we're all just waiting to see how DJI responds.’

Wednesday, June 17, 2026

Apple Quietly Made the iPad So Much Better with iPadOS 27

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Monday, June 15, 2026

DJI Just Got GoPro’d by Insta360

DJI Just Got GoPro’d by Insta360 - YouTube

Saturday, June 13, 2026

Insta360 Luna Ultra | Camera Of The Year!?!?

Anthropic Blocks Foreigners From Using Mythos and Fable AI - The New York Times

U.S. Bars Foreigners From Using Anthropic’s Most Advanced A.I. Models

"The company said on Friday night that the federal government had ordered limits on its Mythos and Fable 5 A.I. systems, citing national security concerns.

June 12, 2026

Anthropic’s Mythos A.I. model has raised worries that it could be used to attack computer networks.Nicolas Tucat/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Anthropic said on Friday night that the U.S. government had ordered the company to suspend access for all foreign nationals to its Fable 5 and Mythos 5 artificial intelligence models, citing national security concerns.

The company revealed the order in a social media post, saying that it “must abruptly disable Fable 5 and Mythos 5 for all our customers to ensure compliance.” Foreign nationals who work for Anthropic are also affected by the suspension.

The order to limit access to the new A.I. models came from the Commerce Department, said a person familiar with it who spoke on the condition of anonymity. It was unclear how long the restrictions would last.

The limits on foreigners represent a new chapter in Anthropic’s often prickly relationship with the federal government and are a highly unusual example of federal authorities’ dictating how a technology company can operate.

It is also the second time the Trump administration has targeted the company, which is based in San Francisco. In March, after tense talks over how Anthropic’s A.I. could be used in military and intelligence settings, the Pentagon said it had deemed Anthropic an unacceptable supply chain risk, potentially limiting its use by federal agencies.

Government restrictions on selling key technologies such as computer chips to countries such as China are common. But the order limiting who can use Anthropic’s technology is unusually expansive, and could in theory block Anthropic employees who are citizens of allied nations like Canada or Britain from working on it.

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The order could also cause significant problems for technology development at Anthropic, which along with OpenAI is one of the most influential A.I. companies in the world. Though Mythos and Fable 5 are new, they were considered a significant improvement on earlier A.I. models.

Anthropic declined to comment beyond its post, and the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Anthropic unveiled Claude Mythos in April, but said it could not share the A.I. system with the public because it could become a powerful tool for hackers looking for ways to break into computer networks.

Mythos quickly became a security concern in Washington and Silicon Valley because it could represent what experts had worried about for several years: that A.I. represented a new and far more dangerous threat to computer networks.

Anthropic shared the Claude A.I. system with about 40 organizations that maintain critical computer infrastructure so they could use the system to patch security vulnerabilities before hackers exploited them.

Reactions from researchers who have had access to Mythos have varied. Some agreed that Mythos was a new and alarming threat. But others said that it was more evolutionary than revolutionary, and that they could use it to protect their networks just as hackers could use it to break into them.

In its brief statement on Friday, Anthropic seemed to indicate that it considered the government’s decision an overreaction. “We apologize for this disruption to our customers,” the company said. “We believe this is a misunderstanding and are working to restore access as soon as possible.”

After Anthropic unveiled Mythos, the White House started considering new oversight of A.I. systems. Last week, in a significant shift in policy for an administration that had taken a very hands-off approach to A.I., President Trump signed an executive order that asked companies to voluntarily give the government oversight of new systems before releasing them to the public.

Earlier this month, Anthropic said it would share the system with about 150 other organizations. Then, on Tuesday, the company unveiled a straitjacketed version of Mythos called Claude Fable 5.

The Fable system, the company said, included additional guardrails designed to block responses in areas like cybersecurity, biology and other sensitive topics. The guardrails may prevent malicious hackers from using the technology to attack computer networks. But the guardrails may also prevent companies and cybersecurity experts from using the system to defend against attacks.

Most queries that it deemed risky, Anthropic said, would instead be shuttled to an older A.I. system called Opus 4.8.

Anthropic’s Opus 4.8 and other older A.I. models were not affected by the government’s order on Friday, the company said.

Cybersecurity experts have disagreed on whether Anthropic was right to limit the release of Mythos, pointing out that this kind of system can be used to both attack and defend computer networks. Other companies, most notably the Anthropic rival OpenAI, offer similar technology.

Former U.S. cybersecurity and technology policy officials said they were surprised by the news, calling it highly unusual and out of step with other moves by the Trump administration, such as allowing some advanced A.I. chips to be sold to China.

“I have no words,” Dean Ball, a senior fellow at the Foundation for American Innovation and a former adviser for A.I. under Mr. Trump, said in a social media post. He added that the decision was “baffling.”

A week after Anthropic unveiled Mythos, OpenAI said that it would also limit the release of its latest system, called GPT-Cyber 5.4. But OpenAI shared its technology with a larger group, initially sharing the system with hundreds of experts before opening it up to thousands.

Cade Metz is a Times reporter who writes about artificial intelligence, driverless cars, robotics, virtual reality and other emerging areas of technology.

Dustin Volz writes about cybersecurity and intelligence for The Times. He is based in Washington."

Anthropic Blocks Foreigners From Using Mythos and Fable AI - The New York Times