This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchase.

I’ve tested a lot of AI gadgets recently, and if I’m honest, most of them promise the world but don’t really change anything in your day-to-day life. But then came the Plaud Note AI. I reviewed it earlier this year, and it quickly became one of those rare tools that actually stuck. I still use it constantly: for meetings, voice notes, quick ideas, even drafting parts of my blog posts. It’s genuinely useful, not gimmicky.

So when Insta360 ( the brand we all know for their brilliant action cameras and clever imaging tech ) reached out and asked if I wanted to review their brand-new Insta360 Wave, I was intrigued… and a bit surprised.

The Wave isn’t just another speakerphone. It’s an AI-powered meeting system designed for the way we actually work today: switching between home and office, joining hybrid meetings, collaborating with people spread across different time zones, sometimes from my desk here in Bristol with a cup of coffee and, occasionally, one of the kids walking in.

And that’s what made me curious:
Could the Insta360 Wave become the best AI-powered gadget for your home and office?
Is this the most advanced speakerphone out there right now?

After a couple of weeks using it — alone, in a room with others, and paired with the optional Insta360 Link 2 4K webcam — I’ve got a lot to say.

What Can You Actually Do With the Insta360 Wave?

Before going into my hands-on experience, let me quickly explain what the Wave is designed to do, and why it’s such an interesting device for anyone working from home or in an office.

At its core, the Insta360 Wave is an AI-powered speakerphone that can completely replace the messy setup we all know too well: laptops in the middle of the table, poor microphones, people leaning awkwardly toward the screen just to be heard… we’ve all been there.

But the Wave isn’t just about “hearing and being heard.” It goes much further.

• 8-Microphone Array That Captures Everyone in the Room

• AI Noise Reduction That Filters Out Everyday Chaos

• Automatic Transcripts and Smart AI Summaries

• Works With Zoom, Teams, Meet — All the Usual Platforms

Unboxing & Design

I’ve always believed that packaging tells you a lot about a brand’s personality — and Insta360 didn’t disappoint. The Wave arrives in a sleek, professional box that already feels a step above most speakerphones on the market. The layout is clean, everything is explained clearly, and there’s none of that cluttered marketing noise you sometimes get with AI gadgets trying too hard to impress. Inside, everything is packed neatly and thoughtfully, with every accessory and piece of information exactly where you expect it to be. It feels premium from the moment you lift the lid.

But the real moment is when you actually pick up the Wave.

The first thing you notice is the matte black design: honestly, it’s gorgeous. Minimalist, modern, and very much in line with the kind of clean, executive desk setup a lot of us aspire to have. It’s the kind of product you place on your desk and instantly feel like your whole workspace looks better for it.

And then comes the moment that genuinely impressed me.

When you press the power button for the very first time, the top section of the Wave rises smoothly ( almost like something from a high-end audiophile device) to reveal a stunning touchscreen display. It’s such a clever, elegant bit of design engineering, and it immediately tells you that this isn’t just a “speakerphone.” It’s a piece of modern tech that has personality.

The touchscreen itself is crisp, responsive, and beautifully integrated into the design. No awkward bezels, no cheap plasticky feel. It’s premium all the way through.

And then the sound hits you.

The Wave’s internal speaker is surprisingly loud and incredibly clear, much more than I expected from a device this size. Whether you're testing a meeting, playing back audio, or simply checking recordings, the quality is crisp, warm, and powerful. For a compact speakerphone, it’s impressive, one of those little surprises that make you smile.

This combination (beautiful matte black design, smooth mechanical lift, rich sound, and a seamless touchscreen) is exactly how I think tech should be designed today: minimalist, functional, and genuinely satisfying to use.

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.

There’s a level of craftsmanship here that feels far beyond the usual “office tech.” It feels like the beginning of something bigger.

Initial Setup

Setting up the Insta360 Wave is one of those experiences that immediately puts you at ease. There’s no drama, no complicated steps, no “engineer mode” moment where you question your life choices. It’s simply power on and follow along.

The first time you press the button, the Wave does its signature move: the top rises smoothly, revealing that bright, beautiful touchscreen. Even after using it multiple times, I still find that little motion extremely satisfying. From there, the setup is incredibly intuitive.
The Wave guides you through the basics:

Choose your country
Pick your language
Follow the on-screen instructions

It’s clean, modern, and very much in line with what you’d expect from a brand that knows how to build elegant user experiences.

Then you plug it into your laptop.
For me, that meant connecting it to my MacBook Air M1, which, by the way, still works beautifully even in 2025. You use the included USB-C cable.

Once connected, the Wave prompts you to download the Wave Controller Software. It’s quick to install and gives you access to all the deeper settings: audio modes, recording options, AI features, and more. Exactly what you need to get the most out of the device.

And here’s something a lot of people will appreciate:
You can also connect the Wave through Bluetooth, turning it into a surprisingly good standalone speaker. If your laptop speakers aren’t great (and let’s be honest, many aren’t), the Wave instantly upgrades your audio experience, whether you’re in a call, watching something, or just listening to music while working.

The whole setup, from the moment I opened the box to having the Wave ready, took me less than five minutes.
For a device packed with this much technology, that’s impressive. And it’s exactly the kind of simplicity I value these days.

How You Can Use the Insta360 Wave (And How I’m Using It Every Day)

One of the things I love about the Insta360 Wave is that it’s not just another office gadget you buy, use twice, and forget about. This is a tool that genuinely adapts to different work styles: whether you’re part of a big international team or, like me, a full-time blogger who works from home.

But before I became a blogger, I used to work for a company with offices in Japan and the US. And honestly… I wish we had the Insta360 Wave back then. It would have changed everything.

For Big Meetings at the Office (Game-Changer)

If you’re sitting in a meeting room with 6, 8, or even 10 people, you know how stressful it can be to remember everything. Someone speaks too softly, someone interrupts, someone asks for a recap… and by the time you finish, half the details are already gone. This is exactly where the Insta360 Wave shines.

It has 32GB of internal storage, so it records the entire meeting effortlessly: every voice, every comment, every discussion point. The audio quality is so clean that listening back feels like you’re in the room again. And then comes the magic.

AI Transcription That Actually Impresses

Once the meeting is over, the Wave can generate a full transcript. And the accuracy is honestly impressive, far better than I expected. You can also create an AI-generated summary, and this is where it becomes almost unbelievable. The summary is neat, structured, readable, and includes the names of the people speaking. For businesses that rely heavily on meetings, this is priceless. You can even share the transcript or summary instantly via a QR code, which is such a clever idea. No need to send huge files or long emails: someone scans the code and gets everything.

It’s actually hard to explain how great this is until you actually try it.
The Plaud Note AI is fantastic (and I genuinely love it) but for bigger teams or busy businesses, the Insta360 Wave is far superior. It's built for a different level of collaboration.

Add the Insta360 Link 2, and You’re in a New League

The real magic happens when you connect the optional Insta360 Link 2, the outstanding 4K webcam that magnetically mounts right on top of the Wave. Suddenly, your meetings become something else entirely.

The camera follows you naturally as you move
It can autofocus on a whiteboard or object
The image quality is crisp, cinematic, and unbelievably sharp

And of course: it’s Insta360. The same brand behind some of the world’s best action cameras… so you can imagine the level of quality you’re getting.

This turns your Wave from a simple audio tool into a full AI-powered meeting system.

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.

A Fantastic Tool for Content Creators Too

There’s another group who will absolutely love this: content creators.

I know a lot of small YouTubers who are already using the Wave + Link 2 combination for live streaming, and I completely understand why.

The camera follows you naturally
The microphone is outstanding
The whole setup looks clean and professional
And you can stream or record with almost zero effort

Right now, I’m filming a YouTube video using this exact setup, and I’m honestly super excited about the results. It gives you that “mini studio” feeling without needing a big room, complicated gear, or a full lighting rig.

Final Thoughts

AI is being advertised everywhere right now. Every brand claims to have “AI this” and “AI that”, and to be honest with you, until recently I found most AI-powered gadgets ( and even the AI features baked into modern phones) to be just… okay. Not bad, but not something that genuinely changed the way I work.

The Plaud Note AI was one of the first devices that made me stop and think, “Hang on, this is actually useful.” It proved that AI can enhance your workflow instead of complicating it. It set the tone.

But the Insta360 Wave takes that idea and pushes it to a completely different level.

We’re talking about top-tier design, top-tier sound quality, top-tier software, and genuinely helpful AI features. Not gimmicks. Not marketing fluff. Real tools that elevate the way you work every single day. The difference between the Wave and most AI gadgets out there is almost day and night. And personally? I’m genuinely excited about where this category is heading.

If you run a business ( big or small) and your work relies on meetings, especially those hybrid ones with people spread between home and the office, just go and buy one. You will honestly thank me later.

If you work from home like I do, or you’re building something on your own, or you’re a content creator, it’s also a fantastic investment. Pair the Wave with the Insta360 Link 2 camera, and you’ll look more professional, sound more professional, and present yourself with the confidence your work deserves.

Before I forget ( and this is important) always check the privacy and recording regulations in your country (and even your workplace). Some places require consent or a clear notice before recording a conversation or a meeting. It’s simple to do, but it matters. The Wave’s power is incredible; it just needs to be used responsibly and respectfully.

Right now, this is exactly where I see the future of AI heading:
not replacing us, but supporting us: helping us work smarter, communicate better, and simplify the messy parts of everyday business.

And Insta360 deserves a huge applause here.
They’ve done it. They’ve created what I genuinely consider to be the best tech device of the year.

Oh , and since Black Friday offers are in full swing, the Wave and the Link 2 currently have fantastic discounts on Insta360’s website. If you’ve been thinking about upgrading your setup, this is the perfect moment.

Just like the Plaud Note, the Wave includes 300 minutes of free monthly transcription, with optional paid plans depending on your needs. Their Pro plan starts at $8.33/month, which is incredibly affordable for what you get.

I’m honestly so pleased I had the chance to test this device. Sometimes a piece of tech comes along that just makes sense, and the Insta360 Wave is absolutely one of them. The Insta360 Wave is available at Insta360.com (here) Also available on Amazon.com (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.

Featured