Insta360 Wave Review: My Honest Take on This AI-Powered Speakerphone

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Post updated: 20th of December 2025

I’ve tested a lot of so-called “AI gadgets” over the past year, and if I’m honest, many of them promise far more than they actually deliver. They look impressive on paper, but once the novelty fades, they don’t really change the way you work day to day.

Then came the Plaud Note AI. I reviewed it earlier this year, and it quickly became one of those rare devices that genuinely stuck. I still use it constantly for meetings, voice notes, quick ideas, and even drafting parts of my blog posts. It proved something important to me: when AI is done properly, it can enhance your workflow instead of complicating it.

So when Insta360 ( a brand I’ve followed for years for their action cameras and imaging tech) reached out and asked if I wanted to review their brand-new Insta360 Wave, I was genuinely intrigued… and a little surprised.

The Wave isn’t just another speakerphone. It’s an AI-powered meeting system designed for the way we actually work today: hybrid meetings, remote calls, and people joining from different time zones, sometimes from a home office like mine here in Bristol, with a coffee on the desk and the occasional child wandering in.

After a couple of weeks using it (alone, in group meetings, and paired with the optional Insta360 Link 2 4K webcam ) here’s my honest experience.

Insta360 Wave : Quick Overview

Category	Score (out of 10)
Design & Build Quality	9.5 / 10
Sound Quality	9.5 / 10
AI Features & Transcription	9.5 / 10
Ease of Setup & Daily Use	9 / 10
Software & Ecosystem	9 / 10
Portability & Travel Use	5 / 10
Value for Money	9 / 10

Why You Can Trust My Tech Reviews

I launched this blog over 12 years ago, and technology was one of its original core topics. I’ve reviewed laptops, smartphones, accessories, and everyday tech for years, always focusing on real-world use rather than specs alone.I’m a long-time tech enthusiast and now spend a lot of time testing AI-powered tools that genuinely improve the way we work. That’s why products like the Plaud Note AI and the Insta360 Wave stand out to me, they make AI practical, not gimmicky.

What Is the Insta360 Wave?

At its core, the Insta360 Wave is an AI-powered speakerphone designed to replace the messy meeting setups many of us still deal with: laptops in the middle of the table, poor microphones, background noise, and people leaning forward just to be heard. It goes well beyond basic audio.

The Wave offers:

• An 8-microphone array that captures voices clearly from around the room

• AI noise reduction that filters out everyday distractions

• Automatic AI transcription and smart meeting summaries

• Compatibility with Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, and other platforms

It’s clearly built for modern, hybrid work: whether that’s a meeting room or a home office.

Unboxing & Design: A Premium First Impression

I’ve always believed that packaging says a lot about a brand, and the Insta360 Wave immediately sets the tone. The box is clean, professional, and uncluttered. Everything is neatly laid out and exactly where you expect it to be. The device itself looks fantastic. The matte black finish is minimalist and modern, and it fits perfectly into a clean desk setup.

Then there’s the moment that really impressed me.

When you press the power button for the first time, the top section of the Wave rises smoothly to reveal a built-in touchscreen display. It’s elegant, quiet, and genuinely satisfying. Instantly, you realise this isn’t just a basic speakerphone.

The touchscreen is crisp and responsive, and the internal speaker delivers loud, warm, and very clear sound for a device of this size. And honestly, it made me think of something:
if Insta360 ever decided to design a smartphone powered by AI, with the kind of cameras they put in their action cameras… it would be incredible.

Initial Setup: Refreshingly Simple

Setting up the Insta360 Wave is one of those experiences that immediately puts you at ease. No complicated steps, no technical headaches. You power it on, the top rises, and the Wave guides you through the basics on its touchscreen. The interface is clean, modern, and intuitive: exactly what you’d expect from a brand with strong design DNA.

I connected it to my MacBook Air M1(which, by the way, is still going strong even in 2025) using the included USB-C cable. Once connected, you’re prompted to download the Wave Controller software, which gives you access to deeper settings, recording options, and AI features. You can also connect the Wave via Bluetooth, turning it into a surprisingly good standalone speaker. If your laptop speakers aren’t great, this is a noticeable upgrade.

From opening the box to being fully set up took me less than five minutes. For a device packed with this much technology, that’s exactly how it should be.

How I’m Using the Insta360 Wave in Real Life

One of the things I really appreciate about the Insta360 Wave is that it adapts to different work styles.

Before becoming a full-time blogger, I worked for a company with offices in Japan and the US. Looking back, I genuinely wish we’d had something like this back then it would have changed the way we ran meetings entirely.

For Office Meetings and Team Calls

In meetings with several people, the Wave really shines. It records everything clearly thanks to its 32GB of internal storage, capturing voices from around the room without anyone needing to lean in or repeat themselves. Listening back to recordings feels natural, and the AI transcription is impressively accurate. But the real highlight is the AI-generated summary. It’s structured, readable, and even identifies who said what.

You can share transcripts or summaries instantly via a QR code: a genuinely clever feature that avoids endless email chains.

Compared to the Plaud Note AI (which I still love), the Insta360 Wave is built for bigger teams and more complex collaboration. They serve different purposes, and the Wave operates at a higher, more professional level.

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Pairing the Insta360 Wave With the Link 2 Camera

When you add the optional Insta360 Link 2 4K webcam, the Wave becomes a full AI-powered meeting system.

The camera magnetically mounts on top of the Wave and instantly elevates your setup. Video quality is excellent, framing is smart, and the whole experience feels far more professional.

From my home office in Bristol, this combination has noticeably improved how my online meetings feel — both in terms of confidence and presentation.

A Great Option for Content Creators

This setup isn’t just for meetings.

I know several content creators already using the Wave and Link 2 combination for live streaming and video calls, and I completely understand why. I’m currently filming content with this setup myself, and it creates a “mini studio” feel without complicated gear or a dedicated space.

If You Work From Home, This Is a Massive Upgrade

From my desk here in Bristol, with kids occasionally walking around, the Wave + Link 2 combo has completely transformed how my online meetings feel.

• The audio is clear

• The camera keeps me perfectly framed

• The transcription helps me stay organised

• And everything works seamlessly every single time

Whether you’re self-employed, running a business, freelancing, or hosting calls with brands ,this setup helps you step up your game instantly. You look better. You sound better. And you appear far more professional.

Final Thoughts

AI is everywhere right now, and much of it still feels like marketing noise. Very few AI-powered devices genuinely change how you work. The Plaud Note AI was one of the first that made me think, this actually makes sense.

The Insta360 Wave builds on that idea and takes it further.

You get thoughtful design, excellent sound quality, reliable software, and AI features that genuinely save time instead of adding complexity. It’s not a travel gadget(and it doesn’t pretend to be ) but as a desk-based AI meeting system, it’s one of the most impressive I’ve tested so far.

Just remember to always respect local privacy and recording regulations when using recording features.

This is exactly where I see the future of AI heading: not replacing us, but supporting us: helping us communicate better, work smarter, and simplify the messy parts of modern work.

Sometimes, a piece of tech just makes sense.The Insta360 Wave is absolutely one of them.

• Get the Insta360 Wave at Insta360.com (here)

• The Insta360 Wave is available on Amazon (click here)

• The Insta360 Wave bundle with the Link 2 Camera is on Amazon (here)

Jerome

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through them , at no extra cost to you. I received the Insta360 Wave and the Insta360 Link 2 for free for review purposes, but all opinions are entirely my own. Insta360 has not reviewed, edited, or approved this article before publishing.