Insta360 Mic Air review: I tested it on the X6 against the DJI Mic 2

Verdict: BUY, with one condition. If you shoot on an Insta360 camera, the Mic Air pairs instantly, weighs almost nothing, and has the strongest magnet of any wireless mic I own. If you shoot on DJI or iPhone, the DJI Mic 2 is the better buy because the ecosystem does the same trick for you. The full test is in the video below, where you hear both mics back to back.

I paid for this mic myself. Insta360 did not send it and had no say in this review. Links to the products are affiliate links, which cost you nothing and help fund the next test.

Why I bought it

I have the Insta360 X6 and I like recording on it, but the on-camera audio falls apart the moment I walk away from the lens. The Mic Air exists for exactly that. It is a tiny puck you clip to your chest and it connects to the X6 over Bluetooth with no receiver at all.

What is in the box

The transmitter, a charging case, a magnetic clip, a magnetic necklace strap, a fuzzy wind muffler, and a magnetic charging cable shaped like a hockey puck. No receiver, because the X6 and the other Insta360 cameras are the receiver.

Pairing with the Insta360 X6

Turn on the camera, turn on the mic, open audio settings, tap the Bluetooth icon in the top right, and it appears. Mine showed "firmware version too low" the first time, and the update is hidden in a place you would not guess: in the Insta360 app, go to your profile, then accessory settings, pick the Mic Air, and start the update. After that the mic connected on its own every time I turned the camera on.

What I like

The magnet. It is the strongest magnet of any mic I have used, stronger than the DJI Mic 2 clip. It snaps on through a shirt and stays there.

The size. It is smaller than the DJI Mic Mini and it disappears on a white tee. This is my favourite form factor of any wireless mic so far.

The necklace strap. A magnetic lanyard you can hang the mic from, hide under a collar, adjust to any height, or wear on a wrist. DJI ships nothing like it.

The case. Small, seamless, the mic slides in and every accessory fits. DJI's case is bigger and harder to find things in.

The power button. One press starts and stops the recording on the camera. Handy when the camera is out of reach.

What I do not like

The charging cable. It is a magnetic puck instead of USB-C. DJI does the same thing with its newer mics. It works, it lives in the case so you will not lose it, but it is one more cable to carry when everything else in the bag charges on USB-C.

The wind muffler. It is hard to get on, you have to line it up with the power button, and it looks bad on camera. The DJI one clips on and off in a second and is smaller. If I had to shoot in wind every day this would bother me more.

Insta360 Mic Air vs DJI Mic 2

Both sit in a similar price range and both sound good, so the decision is the ecosystem, not the spec sheet.

In the video the same sentences are recorded on both mics so you can judge the sound for yourself.

Who should buy it

• Insta360 X6, X5 or Ace Pro owners: buy it. It connects the moment you turn the camera on and it fixes the one weak spot of those cameras, the audio at a distance.
• DJI Osmo Pocket 4P or DJI camera owners: get the DJI Mic 2. Same convenience, on your side of the fence.
• iPhone shooters: DJI Mic 2, because the receiver plugs straight into the phone.
• If you own both ecosystems: this is the mic I reach for, because the form factor and the magnet are better, and the trade is the wind muffler.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Insta360 Mic Air work with the Insta360 X6? Yes. It pairs over Bluetooth from the camera's audio settings with no receiver. You may need to update the mic's firmware in the Insta360 app first.

Does the Insta360 Mic Air need a receiver? Not with Insta360 cameras. The camera receives the signal directly.

Is the Insta360 Mic Air better than the DJI Mic 2? It has the stronger magnet, the smaller body, the better case and a necklace strap. The DJI Mic 2 has the better wind muffler and works with more cameras through its receiver. Pick by the camera you shoot on.

How does the Insta360 Mic Air charge? With a magnetic puck cable that stores in the case, not USB-C.

Did Insta360 sponsor this review? No. I bought the mic with my own money.