Insta360 mic review: a mid-range mic kit that’s anything but boring

It’s been a transformational year for Insta360. The Luna Ultra and Luna Pro cameras, both launched over the summer, cemented its reputation as a capable camera maker that goes beyond 360 video. When it unveiled the Mic Pro, with its original e-ink display, the creative product portfolio was almost complete. Well, almost, because there was a bit of a gap between the $330 Mic Pro and the affordable Mic Air.

Insta360 is closing that gap today with the $250 Mic. Yes, a capital M because that is the full name of the product (let’s accept for now that this review may be confusing). The Mic is a stripped-down version of the Mic Pro, with a budget-friendly feature that might actually make it more appealing to many creators. Wireless microphone systems are numerous, but the Insta360 Mic is curious and endearing. The question is: will that be enough to earn it a place on your doorstep?

I loved the sound of Insta360’s Mic Pro and it seems the standard mic has inherited the same audio quality. My voice is not deep, but it is deeper and I tend to swallow my words. Recordings with the mic on default settings and voice mode all sound as clear as a mumbling Brit like me could hope for. Enabling the rich voice tone adds a pleasant presence when you speak and is, dare I say it, more podcast friendly. The Bright preset is better for outdoor recording when there’s more ambient noise and you want your voice to stand out more, or if you have a particularly deep voice, but the Standard recording mode is still my preference.

Insta360’s noise reduction works equally well in both indoor and outdoor environments, without any artifacts or noticeable impact on your voice as can sometimes be the case, especially with cheaper microphones. I prefer to leave any processing to the tools I have on my PC, but noise cancellation is useful if you’re recording in a noisy location and want to immediately share a recording from your phone.

I have a few Insta360 cameras – an Ace Pro 2, Luna Ultra, and Luna Pro – and direct mic connection is easy via the camera menus. The receiver dongle on the Mic and Mic Pro is quite bulky and looks good on a small camera or phone, so being able to ditch it completely is something I really appreciate.

One of the coolest features is the ability to connect four microphones to a single receiver. This is ideal for group interviews or even simple podcasts, especially since you can output each mic to its own audio channel for detailed editing in post-production. There’s also a multi-receiver option, and it’s a bit of a hidden gem. I often film with two cameras and having my voice recorded on both at the same time via two receivers saves me time in editing because I no longer have to worry about maintaining a main audio track and syncing the second camera – the audio I want is integrated from both angles. You can also get creative and use a second mic to record ambient sound or another sound source for added flexibility.

On the one hand, the lack of onboard storage is a trade-off for the lower price. But by introducing removable memory, Insta360 arguably gave the Mic an advantage over the Pro. For starters, you’re not limited to the amount of storage built into the device, so you can add a large SD card and get many more hours of onboard recording. This also means you can swap out a card if it fills up without having to transfer or delete files to free up space. Working with additional SD cards is often simpler than connecting the mic via USB to access files. If there are any negatives, it increases the risk of forgetting your SD card when you need it, and there is a small risk of dust ingress or mechanical failure. But honestly, I think it’s more of a professional-grade feature in disguise.

The Pro’s e-ink screen was Insta360’s biggest selling point, and it’s just as fun here on the classic mic. I’ve heard some people complain about the size of the Mic/Mic Pro transmitters, and they’re certainly larger than competitors like the Mic 3 or DJI’s GoPro. However, they are the perfect size to display your show logo or whatever you want to upload. It also opens up creative and even interactive options for engaging your audience if you’re making videos for YouTube and social media.

Take your pick: Rode, DJI, Hollyland and even GoPro. There are several options available to creators at different price points. Insta360 sells the complete kit (two transmitters, receiver, and case) for $250, which places it between Rode’s two most popular models: the Wireless Go III and the Wireless Pro. The former is popular, but it’s difficult to connect to phones, while the latter comes with two wired lav mics for a more complete “kit.”

DJI’s newer mic kits are harder to find in the United States, but the popular Mic 3 offers similar features to the Insta360 with smaller, more discreet transmitters for about the same price. However, neither Rode nor DJI have a customizable display. Hollyland’s Lark 2 kit remains an incredibly popular choice and features similarly sized emitters, and at $70, it’s a staggering value. If you opt for the $300 Lark Max 2, you get wireless monitoring and many other extras. Remember: the Insta360’s mic and SD card slot remain the main differentiator here.

Insta360 knew there was a lot of competition when it launched the Mic Pro. Functionally, it competes well with its competitors and the e-ink display was a smart addition to make it stand out. With the standard mic, the Pro’s best features remain in a more economical package. The move from onboard storage to SD card seems smart because it cuts costs while adding real practical benefits.

But this competition is real. If you just want two microphones and a receiver, there are better options. If you own an Insta360 camera, mic becomes an easier choice, especially since you can only buy a transmitter for $80. That e-ink display, however, is enough to make the mic feel truly unique in a world of boring, copycat microphones. If you’re looking for something that works well and adds a touch of color or personalization to your videos, the Insta360 Mic offers just that.