I tested the Insta 360 Mic Pro and its noise cancelling is best in class — but its two headline features are more niche than they sound | Tech Radar

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I tested the Insta 360 Mic Pro and its noise cancelling is best in class — but its two headline features are more niche than they sound

A customizable display and selectable polar patterns make the Mic Pro stand out from the pack, but they aren't its best assets

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The Insta 360 Mic Pro strides into a crowded marketplace touting two industry-first features: a customisable E-ink display and a DSP-driven 3-mic array with selectable polar patterns. It backs them up with solid all-round performance, plus superb noise cancelling that clearly outperforms the DJI Mic 3. It's a polished and ambitious product, but a price that puts it firmly in premium territory mean it's best suited to creators for whom those headline features truly matter. A worthy rival to the DJI Mic 3 at the premium end of the wireless mic market.

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The Insta 360 Mic Pro is Insta 360's flagship wireless microphone system, and it enters the crowded small wireless mic sector with two features that its rivals (most notably DJI) simply can't match: a customisable E-ink display on each transmitter, and a three-microphone array that uses digital signal processing (DSP) to simulate different polar pickup patterns.

The E-ink screen is the more immediately striking of the two. Via the Insta 360 app, you can push any image you like to the circular 1.22-inch, 6-colour display and it'll stay there persistently, even when the transmitter is powered off. And unlike an OLED display, E-ink consumes power only when refreshing the image, not while showing it, which means it adds almost nothing to battery drain. It's a clever and well-executed idea.

The selectable polar patterns are perhaps more interesting in theory than they proved in practice during my testing. The Mic Pro's three-microphone array uses DSP to synthesise four distinct modes: omnidirectional, super-directional, cardioid and figure-8. These are not true multi-capsule configurations (they're digitally constructed from omnidirectional inputs) but the differences are real. In everyday use, though, I found myself leaving the mic in omnidirectional mode most of the time. Where the polar patterns become more useful is when you mount the Mic Pro on a camera's cold shoe and switch to cardioid or super-directional mode, turning it into a passable on-camera directional mic — something DJI's Mic series doesn't allow for.

This design isn't printed on — it's an image displayed on a circular E-ink screen. (Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

Elsewhere, the Mic Pro's spec sheet impresses: there's 32-bit float internal recording, 32GB of onboard storage, NPU-powered AI noise cancellation, timecode sync, up to 400m wireless range, and impressive multi-channel flexibility with 4-to-1 and 2-to-4 configurations. That last one — distributing two transmitters to four receivers simultaneously — may be particularly valuable for multi-camera productions.

In my testing, the feature that impressed most was the noise cancellation. Tested against a running fan in my office, the Mic Pro's Strong noise cancelling setting completely eliminated the background drone, easily outperforming the DJI Mic 3 in the same conditions. There are some minor design caveats worth noting, but the Mic Pro's core audio credentials are excellent.

Priced from

The Insta 360 Mic Pro is available now in three configurations. The entry-level option (£89 /

For context, the DJI Mic 3, the Mic Pro's closest competitor, currently retails at £269 for the 2 TX + 1 RX bundle, making the Insta 360 £10 more for broadly comparable headline specs, though with genuinely different feature sets.

All of the above is included in the priciest Insta 360 Mic Pro bundle. (Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

10 hours (transmitter), 11 hours (receiver), up to 30 hours with fully charged case

10 hours (transmitter), 11 hours (receiver), up to 30 hours with fully charged case

The transmitter's USB-C port allows wired charging, plus data transfer from its 32GB of onboard storage space. (Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

The Mic Pro transmitter is a small cylindrical puck 38mm in diameter and just 12.2mm tall with the E-ink display taking up one face entirely. It weighs 19.7g without its clip or button magnet attached, making it light enough to clip to a lapel without dragging on clothing.

That E-ink display is the first thing anyone will notice about the Mic Pro, and rightly so. At 1.22 inches with a 197 PPI resolution, it's sharp enough to render logos and text cleanly, and its six-color capability means branded graphics translate well. The persistent display could be a practical boon for multi-mic setups where visual identification of TX units matters – and because E-ink draws power only during refresh, it barely contributes to battery use. It's a well-thought-through implementation of a novel idea.

For mounting, the Mic Pro follows the now-familiar dual-approach used by DJI and others: a small clip for collars, caps and lapels, and a button magnet for direct attachment to thinner fabrics. The Mic Pro clip doubles as a cold shoe adapter that lets you mount the transmitter directly onto your mirrorless camera — effectively transforming it into an on-camera directional microphone when paired with the cardioid or super-directional pickup mode. As far as I'm aware, this isn't something DJI's Mic series supports, and it expands the Mic Pro's versatility for run-and-gun filmmakers.

The receiver is a conventional rectangular unit with a cold shoe clip, USB-C and 3.5mm outputs, and a small display for monitoring levels and settings. It's not especially compact by current standards (it will feel a little awkward when plugged into your smartphone, for instance), but it does the job.

The charging case is where things get a little more mixed. It looks smart, with a transparent front panel that shows you what's inside — two TX units, one RX, plus dedicated spaces for clips and magnets, and two smartphone adapters. My concern is a practical one: that transparent panel will attract fingerprints and may scuff with regular use. The hinged opening also took some getting used to; it's not quite as smooth or intuitive as DJI's case designs.

Both the receiver and transmitter can fit on top of camera cold shoes.(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

There are two other niggles worth mentioning. First, there's no dedicated space in the charging case for the 3.5mm audio cable — a small but irritating omission. Second, the Mic Pro's included windshields don't fit inside the charging case either, which means they (like the audio cable) will need to go in the carrying pouch instead. DJI's windshields fit neatly inside the Mic 3 and Mic Mini 2 cases, which is a design touch that makes a difference if you're packing light.

On the subject of what's in the box: as mentioned, a soft zip-up carry pouch is included, big enough to fit the charging case plus cables and windshields. It's a welcome inclusion. Less welcome, for those like myself using older i Phones, is the absence of a Lightning adapter as standard — though with Apple's transition to USB-C, it's hard to be too surprised that Insta 360 has made the Lightning plug an optional extra.

10 hours battery life (transmitter), 11 hours battery life (receiver)

The Mic Pro's audio quality is superb. Recordings are clean and clear, with a 48k Hz sampling frequency and 24-bit wireless transmission that's standard for the class. 32-bit float recording is also supported but as always with these kind of mics, it applies only to internal onboard recordings, not to the live wireless signal.

That said, those internal recordings — stored on the transmitter's 32GB onboard memory — could come in very useful for demanding content creators. 32-bit float means you can recover audio from unexpectedly loud events in post without clipping or distortion, and the available recording durations are generous: up to 44.8 hours of 32-bit mono, or 22.2 hours of 32-bit stereo. The stereo internal recording capability (available due to the transmitter's three-mic array) is also a nice touch for recording ambient soundscapes and ASMR-style captures, and unique to the Mic Pro in this category.

The four selectable polar patterns — omnidirectional, super-directional, cardioid and figure-8 — are generated by combining the inputs from three microphone capsules using DSP rather than using discrete capsules for each mode, and I found the results to be good but not transformative. The differences between modes are audible, but in most recording scenarios omnidirectional will serve you perfectly well. Where pattern selection becomes most valuable is in cold shoe mounting: in super-directional or cardioid mode, the Mic Pro functions as a credible on-camera directional mic, giving you a single piece of hardware that covers both lavalier and shotgun mic duties. It could be very handy for solo creators looking to reduce the amount of kit they have to carry around.

The Mic Pro can pair directly with several Insta 360 cameras, including the Ace Pro 2 pictured here. (Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

The noise cancellation is where the Mic Pro most clearly distinguishes itself from the competition on audio quality, however. The system offers two levels — Weak and Strong — driven by an onboard NPU. In my testing with a fan running continuously in my office, the Strong setting completely eliminated the noise, with no audible trace remaining in the recording. I tested the DJI Mic 3 in the same conditions and found it less effective; the Mic Pro's Strong mode outperformed it clearly. Weak mode also did a solid job, which is important because there are real-world situations in which Strong mode can't be activated (such as when you're recording without a receiver).

The Mic Pro can pair directly with Insta 360 cameras including the X5, X4 Air, Ace Pro 2 and Go Ultra via Bluetooth, delivering 48k Hz audio without a receiver. In theory, it's a good way to cut down on complexity for anyone who owns a recent Insta 360 camera. In practice, however, I found that when testing with an Ace Pro 2, I couldn't access noise cancellation or adjust the Mic Pro's settings (apart from gain) through the camera menu. It's possible this will be addressed through firmware updates but at the time of writing, DJI's Osmo Audio ecosystem integration feels considerably more complete and polished.

The maximum range from transmitter to receiver is quoted at 400m in open conditions, matching the DJI Mic 3, and the battery life of 10 hours for the transmitter and 11 hours for the receiver should see through a full shooting day with ease. A five-minute fast charge delivers 1.5 hours of additional use, too.

You need the best noise cancellation available The Mic Pro's Strong noise cancelling outperforms the DJI Mic 3 by a clear margin. If clean audio in noisy environments is your priority, this is the wireless mic to beat.

You want one mic that covers both lavalier and on-camera duties The ability to mount the Mic Pro on a cold shoe and switch to a directional polar pattern gives it a multi-role capability DJI can't match.

You're not sure you'll use the headline features If you don't need the E-ink display or polar patterns, the DJI Mic 3 offers comparable core performance at a similar price — and its ecosystem is more mature too.

Your windshields need to live in the charging case A small but real inconvenience: the Mic Pro's windshields don't fit in the charging case, unlike DJI's equivalents.

Still the benchmark compact wireless mic for most creators, the Mic 3 offers comparable audio quality, 32-bit float internal recording and a more mature wireless ecosystem. At a similar price to the Mic Pro's 2 TX + 1 RX kit, it's the natural alternative if the Insta 360's headline features don't appeal.

If you don't need 32-bit float, multi-pattern recording or on-camera mounting, the Mic Mini 2 is a far more affordable entry point into quality wireless audio. At £89 / $199 for the full kit, it's exceptional value.

Connected to Panasonic Lumix GH6 and Insta 360 Ace Pro 2

I've had plenty of time to test the Mic Pro in a range of scenarios and configurations: indoors and outdoors, in noisy and quiet environments and paired with the Panasonic Lumix GH6 mirrorless camera and the Insta 360 Ace Pro 2 action camera. I've been able to test it clipped it to my clothes as well as mounted on the GH6 like a shotgun mic, and I was also able to compare its performance and noise cancelling capabilities directly with those of the DJI Mic 3.

Sam has been writing about tech and digital culture for over 20 years, starting off in video games journalism before branching out into the wonderful worlds of consumer electronics, streaming entertainment and photography. Over the years he has written for Wired, Stuff, GQ, T3, Trusted Reviews and PC Zone, and now lives on the Kent coast in the UK – the ideal place for a camera reviewer to ply their trade.

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Key Takeaways

• News, deals, reviews, guides and more on the newest computing gadgets

• Start exploring exclusive deals, expert advice and more

• Unlock and manage exclusive Techradar member rewards

• I tested the Insta 360 Mic Pro and its noise cancelling is best in class — but its two headline features are more niche than they sound

• A customizable display and selectable polar patterns make the Mic Pro stand out from the pack, but they aren't its best assets