IDC: Shenzhen-based DJI and Insta360, accounting for 73% and 20% of global smart camera market in Q2, are vying for the top spot as GoPro's share drops to 3% (William Langley/Financial Times)

A smart camera is a connected camera that can do more than capture video. It may offer advanced stabilization, automatic tracking, panoramic recording, editing tools, wireless sharing, or other software-based features. A basic action camera usually emphasizes compact size, toughness, and straightforward recording. A smartphone camera is built into a multipurpose device with messaging, apps, and computing at its center. These distinctions use established camera technology, not details supplied in the article.

For example, a smart camera can automatically follow a moving subject while recording. It may also transfer clips quickly to an app for editing and sharing. A basic action camera can record the same activity, but generally leaves more of the control and editing to the user. A smartphone can film effectively, yet its design must serve many other functions too.

The article uses “smart camera” for the market in which DJI and Insta360 compete. IDC puts DJI at 73 percent and Insta360 at 20 percent in the second quarter. Their lead suggests buyers value specialized, software-rich camera products, although the article does not define the category technically.

IDC reported that Shenzhen-based DJI held 73 percent of the global smart camera market in the second quarter. Insta360 held 20 percent. GoPro, once the action-camera pioneer, held only 3 percent. These figures show an unusually concentrated market, with two Chinese companies far ahead of the best-known traditional action-camera brand.

The clearest comparison is the gap between the leaders and GoPro. DJI’s share was more than twenty times GoPro’s, while Insta360’s was several times larger. DJI and Insta360 were therefore not merely leading; they were competing for control of almost the entire market measured by IDC. Their combined share was 93 percent, calculated from the three reported figures.

The figures also explain the article’s “civil war” description. DJI and Insta360 are fighting for the top position between themselves, while GoPro’s 3 percent signals a sharply weakened position. Market shares describe the period, not necessarily future sales or profit.

DJI and Insta360 are Shenzhen-based companies identified in the article as the leading smart camera makers. Their direct competition matters because IDC gave them 73 percent and 20 percent of the global smart camera market in the second quarter. They are not simply chasing GoPro; they are also contesting the top position against each other.

The products making them direct competitors are their smart cameras. The source does not name particular models or describe individual features, so it is safest to compare them at the category level. Both companies sell products aimed at the same global market measured by IDC. Their large shares show that consumers are choosing these products in substantial numbers.

The rivalry is why the article calls their contest a “civil war.” DJI currently leads by a wide margin, but Insta360 has enough share to be a serious challenger. The competition is therefore changing the market’s center of gravity, with both Shenzhen companies ahead of GoPro’s 3 percent.

GoPro became the pioneer of action cameras by making compact, rugged video capture appealing for sports, travel, and other activities. This broader explanation comes from established industry history; the supplied article only labels GoPro an “action camera pioneer.” Its early identity centered on putting a camera close to the action rather than relying on traditional equipment.

The market later changed as smart-camera competitors grew. DJI held 73 percent and Insta360 held 20 percent globally in the second quarter, while GoPro held 3 percent. That comparison shows the mechanism behind GoPro’s decline in share: competitors captured a much larger portion of the market measured by IDC.

The article does not identify specific product failures, pricing decisions, or consumer changes as causes. It does show that GoPro’s former leadership has weakened sharply. Its pioneer status remains part of the background, but DJI and Insta360 now define the competitive picture and are vying for first place.

DJI and Insta360’s dominance means GoPro is no longer the central force in the smart camera market. IDC’s second-quarter figures put DJI at 73 percent, Insta360 at 20 percent, and GoPro at 3 percent. The numbers show a major redistribution of market power toward the two Shenzhen-based companies.

The competitive mechanism is scale within the measured category. DJI and Insta360 together held 93 percent, leaving all other companies, including GoPro, sharing the remaining 7 percent. This gives the two leaders much greater visibility in the market and makes their products the main alternatives for buyers seeking smart cameras.

GoPro now faces pressure from two directions. It must recover ground against companies with much larger shares, while DJI and Insta360 compete with each other for first place. The article does not predict GoPro’s next move or give future figures. It does show that the balance of competition has decisively changed.

Consumers do not have to buy a smart camera. A smartphone is convenient because it combines a camera, editing tools, communications, and internet access in one device. An interchangeable-lens camera, such as a mirrorless or DSLR model, offers greater control over lenses, focus, exposure, and depth of field. These comparisons use established camera knowledge, not details provided in the article.

A smartphone may be preferable for quick travel clips, family moments, and immediate sharing. An interchangeable-lens camera may suit a photographer who needs stronger control, specialized lenses, or high-quality still images. A smart camera may fit users who prioritize a small dedicated device, hands-free recording, stabilization, or automated tracking. The best choice depends on the activity and desired control.

The article focuses on the smart camera market, where DJI and Insta360 dominate with 93 percent combined in Q2. It does not compare these products with phones or interchangeable-lens cameras. Those alternatives remain relevant because market share in one category does not eliminate other ways to record images.

Market share measures how much of a market belongs to one company during a stated period. It is usually calculated by dividing a company’s sales by total market sales, then multiplying by 100. IDC’s second-quarter figures use this kind of percentage comparison, although the supplied article does not specify whether its measure is revenue, units, or another basis.

Suppose GoPro sold the same number of cameras as before. If DJI and Insta360 sold many more, total market sales would rise while GoPro’s portion would shrink. GoPro could therefore lose percentage share without selling fewer products. The same effect can occur when a market expands and a company grows more slowly than rivals.

The reported figures show this relative measure clearly. DJI held 73 percent, Insta360 20 percent, and GoPro 3 percent. The percentages describe each company’s position against the whole market in Q2. They do not, by themselves, reveal absolute sales, revenue, profits, or whether GoPro’s own sales increased or decreased.