DJI vs. Insta360: Patent War Erupts Over the Luna Ultra
Insta360 launched the Luna Ultra on June 10, 2026 — and DJI sued it the same day. Two days later, Insta360 fired back with five utility patents of its own.
Insta360 launched the Luna Ultra in the United States on June 10, 2026, entering the handheld gimbal camera market for the first time with a direct challenge to DJI's Osmo Pocket line. DJI filed two patent infringement lawsuits the same day. Two days later, on June 12, Insta360 countersued with two suits of its own, asserting five utility patents covering gimbal stabilization, directional control, camera smooth stabilization, telemetry overlay, and panoramic video. The Luna Ultra's continued availability in the US market now depends on how those cases unfold.
DJI's Lawsuits: Design and Utility, Filed Launch Day
DJI filed in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas — a court with a well-documented history of favoring patent plaintiffs. The timing was not incidental: DJI cited Insta360's own NAB Show demonstrations as evidence the company had been building its case since at least April 2026.
The first suit covers design patents on the ornamental appearance of DJI's Osmo Pocket cameras, including US Design Patent No. D1,072,023. DJI alleges the Luna Ultra and the upcoming Luna Pro reproduce its elongated handheld body, rotating display, scroll wheel, gimbal arm connection, accessory slot, and base port.
The second suit asserts four utility patents describing how the Osmo Pocket works: a single control that toggles gimbal follow and lock modes, a handheld gimbal with integrated subject tracking and live display, an image-driven motor control method, and a self-contained tracking system that requires no separate phone app. DJI is seeking a permanent injunction, damages, profit disgorgement, and willful infringement penalties.
From DJI's court filing: "According to Insta360's own promotional materials, product teasers, and demonstrations at the 2026 NAB Show, the Accused Products are handheld gimbal cameras with integrated optics — the same product architecture pioneered by the DJI Osmo Pocket — and Insta360 markets them expressly as competitors to DJI's Osmo Pocket line."
Insta360 Countersues: Five Utility Patents, Multiple DJI Product Lines
Insta360's two countersuits assert five utility patents the company claims DJI has infringed across several product lines, including the Osmo Pocket series, Ronin and RS series gimbals, Osmo Mobile series, and the Osmo 360. That last inclusion is notable — the Osmo 360 is DJI's first entry into panoramic cameras, a segment Insta360 has dominated for years.
PetaPixel had previously reported that Insta360 was preparing countersuits and was ready to assert multiple utility patents related to pocket gimbal cameras and 360-degree cameras. The filing on June 12 confirmed that reporting.
Insta360 founder and CEO JK Liu said in a statement: "At Insta360, we prefer to let our products do the talking. But we are not afraid of a legal battle when challenged." Liu also said development on the Luna Ultra began in 2020, with earlier Insta360 products including the ONE R, Link Series webcams, and Flow Series gimbals informing the design and technology direction.
The Luna Ultra: What the Camera Actually Is
The Luna Ultra is Insta360's first handheld gimbal camera and the first co-engineered with Leica Camera AG, whose headquarters in Wetzlar, Germany served as the unveil location. It ships with Leica-tuned color profiles — Natural, Vivid, and Chrome — and supports ACES color workflow for professional post-production pipelines.
The camera uses a dual-lens system. The primary lens pairs a 1-inch CMOS sensor with an f/1.8 aperture and 20mm equivalent focal length. A secondary telephoto lens uses a 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor, f/2.0 aperture, and 60mm equivalent focal length. The system supports up to 6x lossless optical zoom, with digital zoom extending to 12x.
Video tops out at 8K/30fps with Dolby Vision and 10-bit iLOG capture at approximately 14 stops of dynamic range. Slow-motion reaches 4K/120fps, and the camera also supports 4K/240fps. Still photography goes up to 37MP UltraPhotos and 200MP Scenic Panorama. The 2-inch OLED touchscreen display is detachable and functions as a remote monitor and controller from up to 66 feet away.
Competitive Context
The Osmo Pocket 3 — the product DJI says the Luna Ultra copies — currently retails for $519.99. The Luna Ultra launches at $769.99, a $250 premium. That gap will need to be justified by real-world performance, particularly in low light, tracking reliability, and the practical value of the Leica color science.
The Luna Pro, also named in DJI's suit, has not yet launched in the US. Its availability will depend on how the legal proceedings develop. If DJI secures a preliminary injunction, both cameras could be pulled from US sale before Luna Pro even ships.
Insta360's counterclaims targeting the Osmo 360 add a second front to this dispute. DJI entered the 360-degree camera market with that product, stepping directly into Insta360's core business. The inclusion of panoramic video stabilization patents in the countersuit reads as a pointed response to that move.
The Signal in the Noise
The product itself is credible. A 1-inch sensor, Leica optics, Dolby Vision, 8K capture, and a detachable OLED remote monitor represent a genuine spec upgrade over the Osmo Pocket 3. The Luna Ultra is not a spec-sheet bluff.
The legal situation is the variable. DJI filed in a plaintiff-friendly jurisdiction and cited Insta360's own marketing materials. Insta360 countered quickly and broadly, pulling in multiple DJI product lines. Neither company looks like it's angling for a quick settlement.
For buyers, the Luna Ultra is available now at $769.99. But a permanent injunction — if granted — could pull it from shelves mid-ownership cycle and affect firmware support and future accessory availability. That is a real consideration at this price point, and it's worth watching how courts respond to early injunction filings from DJI.
For the broader market, this fight is also about the Osmo 360 and Insta360's 360-degree camera IP. The outcome could define how much of the pocket camera and panoramic camera market either company can legally occupy in the US going forward.
Specs & Pricing
| Primary Sensor | 1-inch CMOS |
| Telephoto Sensor | 1/1.3-inch CMOS |
| Primary Lens | f/1.8, 20mm equivalent |
| Telephoto Lens | f/2.0, 60mm equivalent |
| Max Video Resolution | 8K/30fps |
| Slow Motion | 4K/120fps; 4K/240fps |
| Low-Light Mode | PureVideo, 4K/60fps |
| HDR | Dolby Vision |
| Color Profile | 10-bit iLOG, ~14 stops dynamic range |
| Leica Color Modes | Natural, Vivid, Chrome |
| Color Workflow | ACES supported |
| Optical Zoom | 6x lossless |
| Digital Zoom | Up to 12x |
| Photo Resolution | 37MP UltraPhoto; 200MP Scenic Panorama |
| Display | 2-inch OLED touchscreen, detachable |
| Remote Range | Up to 66 feet |
| Co-engineering Partner | Leica Camera AG |
The Insta360 Luna Ultra is priced at $769.99 and is available now at B&H Photo and other US retailers. The Luna Pro has been announced but does not yet have a US launch date, with its availability subject to the outcome of ongoing litigation.
