Insta360 Mic Pro review: A versatile microphone for content creators

It may not be immediately obvious when you're scrolling through Instagram Reels or YouTube Shorts, but a key characteristic of compelling video content is good, clear audio quality. And using a dedicated microphone can make all the difference.

I've been writing about gadgets for over a decade, but when I finally ventured into making videos about them, capturing good audio was a big hurdle. It's trickier than it seems, and especially deceptive because so many smartphones take amazing videos. So, it's always surprising when their microphone quality falls so short compared to their camera.

I've tried a few entry-level portable microphones, and even basic ones can provide a huge boost over a phone's built-in recording capabilities. But after buying the Insta360 Mic Pro, I'm more convinced than ever that I should have splurged sooner on a good, portable mic. Here's why it's been the single best addition to my content creation toolkit.

What I like most about the Insta360 Mic Pro

The Insta360 Mic Pro is a portable, wireless lavalier microphone that can pair with a phone or camera. You can purchase the Insta360 as a single microphone transmitter ($100), a package with a receiver ($200), or a bundle with a receiver, second transmitter, and charging case ($330).

The Mic Pro has 32GB of built-in storage for internal recording and supports up to 10 hours of battery life on its own or 30 with the charging case. There are many other niceties that make the Insta360 Mic Pro an excellent fit for content creation, but in my use, three features have really set this mic system apart: multiple pickup patterns, 32-bit float internal recording, and an E Ink display.

Multiple pickup patterns

There's a three-mic array on each Mic Pro transmitter — top, left, and right. Having multiple mics on each unit allows it to use different pickup patterns for different situations. You can select between omnidirectional for all-around pickup, super-directional for capturing voices right in front in noisy spaces, or figure-eight, which is ideal for interviews.

Even if the style of content you create doesn't vary, the different pickup patterns still allow for better audio in various locations or unique environments. The Mic Pro is even flexible enough to be used as a shotgun-style mic mounted on a hotshoe of a more advanced camera.

32-bit float recording

Whether you're using the Mic Pro with an iPhone or a mirrorless camera, the internal 32-bit float recording function is an important feature. Hitting the red (record) button on the transmitter will record your audio with wide frequency capture. It's kind of like the RAW equivalent for photography. You can then fix clipping and better adjust volume with the Mic Pro's internal recordings because they're captured with a wide frequency range.

E ink display

One of the first things you'll notice on the Mic Pro is its E Ink screen. This visual touch may not technically affect the Mic Pro's performance, but it is a cool feature. You can customize what's displayed to add a logo, a name or number for identification, or just a fun design.

I've had fun switching the display to different images, and after a couple of weeks of use, I've found myself happy using a few basic designs. Despite the novelty fading, I still like this aspect of the Mic Pro. Unlike a lot of other clip-on mics, I'm not stuck putting the brand's logo right on my chest.

It's also worth noting that because of the static nature of E Ink, the screen doesn't use any extra battery. So, it's not degrading the experience.

Downsides to consider

For the minimalists out there, the Mic Pro transmitter isn't the smallest portable microphone on the market. It's a decent size, and when clipped on, it can drag lightweight shirts down a bit. If you want something ultra-compact and light, this might not be the best option.

Though a single Mic Pro can connect wirelessly to various Insta360 cameras and to any smartphone via Bluetooth, there are limitations when pairing directly to a phone without a receiver. For one, audio quality is restricted to 16kHz. In some cases, you may also need to use a third-party camera app to enable audio capture, since some default camera apps don't support recording sound via a direct Bluetooth connection. This applies to any Bluetooth microphone, not just the Mic Pro.

With that in mind, the best way to pair a Mic Pro with a phone is with the Insta360 receiver that's included in the $200 and $330 bundles. The receiver plugs right into a phone's USB port and can wirelessly pair with up to four Mic Pro transmitters to capture multiple audio feeds.

While I appreciate the battery case included with the $330 bundle because it keeps everything fully charged, it has some quirks. I don't like that you need to remove the microphone's wind filter to close the hardshell case. That means the filter, along with some optional cables, needs to be carried in another case. And as nitpicky as it might seem, I have a hard time opening the case quickly. It has an interesting hinge that baffles me more than it should when I'm not paying attention.

Should you buy the Insta360 Mic Pro?

I know a good microphone can't make captivating tech videos for me, but I also now know that it's hard to make good videos without one. The Insta360 Mic Pro is my favorite option right now. For those getting started, the $200 package with a single transmitter and receiver is a great complement to a video recording workflow.

A dedicated portable mic should probably be the first purchase for any content creator. But it's also not a bad investment for casual users, either. It can offer a solid way to record audio for school projects or to get better family vacation videos. It makes a huge difference to any phone or camera, even those with "good" built-in mics.

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