The best wireless microphones can be a critical purchase in improving the quality of your video output. Audio matters – arguably even more than the picture. YouTubers and other vloggers have discovered to their cost that grew things make a viewer click away faster than bad-sounding audio.
In this guide, I’ve focused specifically on wireless mics that transmit our sound a receiver that’s plugged into a camera or smartphone. These types of mics are often used for interviews, as they can be clipped to the subject to ensure clean recording. As such, they are designed to be small and discreet, and offer a dependable, stable connection with no drop-out.
All the mics on this list are ones I’ve tested for my own video projects, and there are options for different budgets. These mics are designed to work with cameras and phones – if you are recording with an iPhone, I also have dedicated guide to the best microphones for iPhones.
George has been freelancing as a photo fixing and creative tutorial writer since 2002. He also produces regular and exclusive Photoshop CC tutorials for his YouTube channel – where he has mastered the art of great sound recording in a range of situations.
The Quick List
DJI might be better known for its drones, but it also makes an incredible mic kit, with powerful on-board recording and a trustworthy wireless connection, and although it isn't the cheapest, you are paying for reliable audio quality.
If you're new to using wireless mic kits then you’ll find that the Godox WEC Kit2 is easy to use, compatible with phones and cameras, and is great value.
If you are looking for a small microphone that's big on features, then this is a shrunk-down version of my top pick that is still compatible with both phones and cameras.
The Godox Magic XT1 produces excellent quality audio from a distance and its noise reduction features are impressive. But the star of the show is the innovative receiver design that keeps the whole kit together.
The RODE Wireless Pro costs more than most two-mic wireless kits but with 32-bit float onboard recording, timecode support, and bundled accessories such as lav mics it offers more to please the professional.
The combo version of this kit comes with a USB-C to Lighting cable adaptor and a receiver for a DSLR, but even the cheapest version has a smartphone-friendly USB-C receiver – and works well with app control.
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Built like a shotgun mic, desk mic and lavalier mic all in one, the Shure MoveMic 88+ is one of the most capable mics I've tested in terms of its ability to record fantastic sound in a host of different situations.
The best wireless microphones
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The best wireless microphone overall
Most of the wireless mic kit receivers in this buying guide are connected to a camera by a 3.5mm jack (with the requirement of an additional third-party adaptor if you need to connect a receiver to a smartphone.) This leaves the receiver dangling by a cable from your camera.
The DJI Mic 2 ships with small clip-on adaptors that enable you to plug the receiver neatly into your Android or Apple smartphone, thus avoiding dangling cables that can get snagged. However, we did find that you need to make sure that the adapter is pushed firmly into the DJI receiver or you won’t capture any audio. We also had to take our iPhone 15 Pro Max out of its protective case to ensure a connection between the receiver’s USB-C connector.
The DJI Mic 2 kit feels well-built and the transmitters are reassuringly solid without being too heavy. As with most of the wireless kits in this guide, the two DJI transmitters and receiver sit in a charging case which is transported in a rugged protective carry case. The receiver has a touch-sensitive screen that enables you to dig into sub-menus to adjust properties such as transmitter sound levels.
It may take you a while to explore these sub-menus but they do give you full control over properties such as sound levels. The transmitters also provide onboard recording that you can use to bridge the gap if there’s any signal dropout. We found that the transmitters produced rich clear audio that didn’t require any post-production enhancements. From a performance and price point of view, this is a similar kit to the Hollyland Lark Max.
Read more: DJI Mic 2 review
Best for anyone new to wireless mics
The Godox WEC Kit2 is a typical budget wireless mic kit. It consists of a charging case that contains two transmitter mics that you clip onto the lapels of a presenter and an interviewee. Also in the case is a receiver that you can plug via a 3.5mm jack into a DSLR or use a USB-C cable to connect it to a smartphone. We found the kit very quick and easy to use as transmitters and receivers come out of their case fully charged and paired.
The two lightweight plastic transmitters have basic gain control buttons that adjust the record levels in three increments and there’s also a button to activate a software noise reduction feature when recording in noisy locations. We found that this feature does reduce traffic noise very effectively and your voice is sharp and clear - though it can also sound flatter and tinnier than the more bassy voice that the mics capture in standard mode. If the presenter activates the noise reduction feature it is also activated on the interviewee’s mic, ensuring consistency of sound.
We also found that the Godox WEC Kit2 performed well at a distance, with no signal dropout even when we turned our back to the camera and the transmitter lost sight of the receiver.
Read more: Godox WEC review
Best wireless mic kit for size
If you’re looking for a compact, reliable wireless microphone system that delivers professional-grade audio, the DJI Mic Mini is worth considering. I’ve found its lightweight and portable design perfect for creators like vloggers, interviewers, and filmmakers who need high-quality audio without the bulk. The system includes a transmitter with a built-in mic and a receiver that easily connects to cameras, smartphones, or laptops using USB-C or Lightning adapters. It’s super versatile and works with a wide range of devices.
One thing I really appreciate about the DJI Mic Mini is its impressive range – up to 250 meters. That means I can move freely while recording and still get clear, uninterrupted audio, even in noisy or large spaces. The battery life is solid too, lasting about 5.5 hours, so I don’t have to worry about running out of power during longer shoots.
Setting it up is quick and easy, with intuitive controls that make it simple to start recording right away. Despite its small size, the audio quality is outstanding, capturing clear, professional sound every time. While it’s not the cheapest option out there, I think the DJI Mic Mini is worth the investment if you’re serious about creating high-quality content. It’s reliable, portable, and delivers exactly what I need for my projects.
If the DJI Mic Mini is too much for your budget, I also was impressed by the Boya Mini, a minuscule mic that is considerably cheaper. It doesn't offer the same operational range as DJI's mic, and it's mono only, the Boya Mini is still a solid option for content creators looking for something ultra-lightweight.
Read more: DJI Mic Mini review
Best wireless mic kit for portability
When reviewing the Godox Magic XT1 wireless mic kit it’s very easy to get side-tracked by its innovative design features and lose focus on other key elements. But let's get that unique design feature out of the way first. Unlike typical wireless mic kits, the Magic XT1 doesn’t have a charging case. Instead, you magnetically attach the two transmitters to the receiver to simultaneously store and charge them. Think of the receiver as a mini mothership to the two shuttlecraft transmitters. The transmitters stay docked to the receiver when in transit to a shoot. The transmitters then undock from the receiver and are clipped to your subject during the shoot. This compact combination of receiver and transmitters can be held in the palm of your hand, giving the kit a very small footprint in your kit bag.
Despite their small size, the transmitters broadcast excellent quality audio from up to 200 meters from the receiver (as long as you have a line of sight). This is thanks to the 48kHz/24bit Hi-Res audio technology packed into the kit’s tiny units, plus the 2.4GHz Frequency hopping system that keeps the transmitter and receiver continuously connected. The 48kHz/24bit audio spec is the same as the 7Artisans DMic-S kit featured in this guide, though the Magic X1 doesn’t suffer the dropout issues that hamper the DMic-S.
One challenge that all the mics in this buying guide face is to capture your voice without adding wind noise (or traffic) to the recording. The Magic X1 ships with easy-to-attach windshields, plus there’s a software low-cut filter to help reduce wind rumble. The transmitters have a little button that activates noise reduction software. With some mics, this can cause your voice to sound too thin and warbly, but the Godox Magic X1’s audio quality is negligibly impacted by the NR feature. Have a listen to the sound on our full review’s supporting video to hear the noise reduction feature for yourself. It’s a kind of magic!
Read more: Godox Magic XT1 review
Best wireless mic for pros
At first glance, the Rode Pro kit looks like many of the wireless mic sets featured in this buying guide. However, it has a few extra tricks up its sleeve that will appeal to professional video makers (and it has a price tag to reflect these features!) Unlike the other kits in this guide, the Rode Pro boasts the ability to record 32-bit float file formats directly onto its transmitters. This format contains so much information about recorded audio that you don’t need to worry about setting the sound levels. If the mic input levels are too loud you won’t get distorted (clipped) audio. You can also set the transmitters to use GainAssist to capture healthy sound levels (or take complete manual control if you prefer). As this kit is aimed at professional video makers it supports timecode, so you can sync audio and video assets together with precision.
As with all wireless mic kits, the Rode Pro’s transmitters are rather noticeable when clipped to a subject’s shirt or lapel. For more discrete audio recording you can clip a supplied lavalier mic onto your subject’s clothing and plug its cable into the transmitter that’s clipped discreetly onto the subject’s belt.
Read more: Rode Wireless Pro review
Best 'plug and play' wireless mic kit
The Hollyland Lark M2S wireless lavalier mic is a highly capable option, but also a simple one – it's got decent 'plug and play' operability, and this thereby ideal for anyone who's getting their head around the ins and outs of sound recording. Unlike the previous Lark M2, it doesn't attach by magnets, but instead uses a reworked design in which the tiny omnidirectional microphone is extended on a curved stalk that simultaneously acts as a hook to clip onto your subject's clothing. Simple and effective.
The actual performance of the mic is also first-rate. I used it in conjunction with my iPhone 16 and the LarkSound app, giving me complete control over the transmitter and receiver. I found the sound quality to be consistently excellent and the noise reduction feature worked well even when I tested it near a noisy fountain. The makers advertise a transmission of up to 300 metres (realistically much more than you'll ever need), though I did find that losing line of sight with the mic could easily cause drop-out – and there's no on-board recording to compensate.
Thanks to its high 24-bit depth and 48 kHz sample rate, the audio quality of the Lark M2S – it bears repeating – is excellent. It's an easy mic to use, and an affordable one too. If you're on a tight budget, then the older Lark M2 is cheaper, though the magnetic attachment is a lot more fiddly and less discreet,
Read more: Hollyland Lark M2S review
Most versatile wireless mic
Resembling a small shotgun mic in form factor, able to stand like a desk mic, and transmitting wirelessly over distance like a lav mic, the Shure MoveMic 88+ is many things at once! It's an ideal choice for any filmmaker or videographer who expects to find themselves in lots of different shooting situations. It can be bought with a receiver for a comprehensive shooting solution, or if you're on a budget, you can buy just the mic for considerably less money, and record straight to your smartphone.
One could easily worry that the Shure MoveMic 88+ could end up being a classic jack of all trades and master of none, but in my testing it held up well. The mic itself, constructed from solid die-cast zinc plated in black chrome, feels reassuringly premium, and the audio quality is excellent. If you did shell out for the receiver, you'll be able to take advantage of 24-bit audio quality (it's 16-bit for smartphones). You get a choice of four directional polar patterns to choose from, giving you flexibility in a range of scenarios.
There are limits to how well the Shure MoveMic 88+ performs in some of its guises – it's a little too big to really work as a lav mic, and its wireless range is substantially shorter than others on this list. Overall though, I came away from my time testing it feeling it deserved a place in my kit bag for its ability to capture great-sounding audio in such a broad variety of situations.
Read more: Shure MoveMic 88+ review
How to choose the best wireless microphone
Any of the wireless mic kits in this buying guide will enable you to improve the audio production values of your video programs, but it’s worth considering your specific needs as a filmmaker.
If you want to talk to camera without the constraints of a hard-wired mic then consider the cheaper option of buying a version that contains one transmitter mic and a receiver. Our buying guide features the more expensive duo version of each kit which enables you to clip a mic onto yourself and another onto your interviewee so that you both sound loud and clear.
You should also consider whether you want a simple kit that lets you start recording straight away (such as the Godox WEC), or whether you want the option of viewing and manually adjusting sound levels on the receiver with a kit such as the Saramonic Blink Me.
On the whole, the more you spend the more features you’ll get - such as onboard recording for example. But even the cheapest kit in our guide should sound better than your camera’s built-in mic, especially once you’ve moved a few feet away from your recording device.
How do I connect a receiver to a smartphone?
Most of the wireless mics that feature in this review ship with a 3.5mm TRS jack audio cable that connects the receiver to the 3.5mm socket on a DSLR or mirrorless camera. They also provide a 3.5mm TRS to TRRS cable for smartphones that have a jack input.
To connect this cable to a smartphone that doesn’t have a jack socket (such as an iPhone) you’ll need to buy an add adaptor cable. A 3.5mm to USB-C adaptor will let you connect the receiver to an Android smartphone (plus the iPhone 15 Pro line). If you have an older iPhone then you can buy a 3.5mm to Lightning connector.
The DJI Mic ships with connectors for both USB-C and Lightning so you can plug its receiver into your smartphone or iPhone without the need for a third-party adaptor. Adaptors are relatively cheap. Here’s the one I used to connect my mics to older iPhone models. When you plug the adaptor into an iPhone you’ll be asked if you’re connecting headphones or another device to the cable. Tap ‘other device’ or your iPhone won’t recognize the mic. You can also buy a 3.5mm to USB-C versions for iPhone 15 and Android phones.
How easy is it to attach windshields to transmitters?
Some mics (such as the Saramonic BlinkMe) have windshields with a push-and-twist connector. When I first encountered this design I didn’t know about the ‘twist’, so I struggled for ages to push the windshield onto the transmitter. Most mics in this review have a larger rubber mount that slots nicely and easily over the top of the transmitter.
How we test the best wireless mics
When choosing mic kits for this buying guide we tried to be topical, so the majority of our recommendations were released in 2023 with the exception of the DJI Mic from 2022. This wireless mic buying guide has been completely refreshed with new recommendations, and new models are added regularly.
We tend to get offered test units to play with before they are released which helps us keep up to speed with the latest technologies such as noise reduction and onboard recording. We’ve also aimed to include a range of different manufacturers and prices to suit a range of budgets.
I’ve been recording sound professionally since the late 1980s and the younger me would be astonished by the quality and range of modern wireless mic kits, especially as I’m no longer tethered by a lavalier clip mic’s cable which is hardwired to my camera! These digital days we’re all spoilt for choice when it comes to wireless mics as you can see from this buying guide’s candidates.
Testing is the fun bit. From the supporting videos in the full reviews, you’ll see that I like to test wireless mics in a wide range of locations, from wind-swept hills to noisy city centers. This enables me to discover how effective a kit’s physical windshields and the software noise cancellation features are. With wireless mics, I like to see how far I can get before the signal drops out, especially when the transmitter loses line of sight with the receiver. Because I test the mics with a top-of-the-range iPhone (the Godox WEC mic was recorded on an iPhone 15 Pro Max) I do get nervous when I’m around 60 meters away from the iPhone - especially when I’ve left it perched on a wall in a busy city location!
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