You’re going to get higher-quality audio out of a wired microphone, but whenever you can’t afford to be attached to your computer or recorder, there are Bluetooth microphones. For hands-free presentations, streaming without dealing with mic arms, or just a great night of karaoke without constant cable management, Bluetooth makes going wireless incredibly easy.
If you’re willing to put up with an extra dongle, some microphonescan even add wireless audioto older hardware you already own. An XLR microphone orUSB microphonewill provide better-sounding audio, but Bluetooth microphones offer convenience that’s hard to beat, typically letting you connect a lightweight microphone to your smartphone, tablet, computer, or speaker right out of the box.
Razer Seiren Bluetooth
SabineTek SmartMike+
Mackie OnyxGo Wireless Clip-on Mic
Bonaok Karaoke Microphone
Antilon Audio ModMic Wireless
AnkerWork PowerConf S3 Bluetooth Speakerphone
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Whether you know exactly what kind of microphone you’re looking for and what price you’re willing to pay, or all you’ve got is a simple desire to be wire-free, we’ve got you covered with a selection of the best Bluetooth microphones below.
Best Bluetooth microphone: Our top picks
Light and capable
Razer’s Bluetooth microphone might be designed for streaming, but its sleek, lightweight design and multipurpose omnidirectional microphone make it a great pick for anyone.
The Razer Siren Bluetooth microphone is one of several products Razer introduced in the last few yearstargeted at streamers. In the case of this Bluetooth microphone, specifically mobile streamers. The Seiren BT microphone is lightweight and compact, weighing in at 16.4g, with a design and built-in clip reminiscent ofthe third-generation iPod Shuffle. Just the right size for clipping on your shirt while still being small enough not to be too obtrusive while streaming or shooting video.
The Seiren’s omnidirectional mic offers a sample rate of 48kHz and a latency of 20ms. Connected to Razer’s companion app, it also has adjustable noise suppression to keep annoying background noises out of your recordings or stream. Unfortunately, the microphone isn’t compatible with the default camera apps on Android or iOS, but it should work with the wealth of third-party A/V applications available for your phone or computer. If you’re looking for an attractive, capable microphone that’s simple to use, this Bluetooth microphone is by far the best option.
A mic that doubles as a receiver
SabineTek’s SmartMike+ is a small mic with a six-hour battery life, the ability to act as a receiver for a second microphone, and a companion app that can sync recorded audio with video footage.
It’s worth it spending the extra money and get two of SabineTek’s SmartMike+ microphones because the slim, Bluetooth device has a useful extra skill. Connected to your smartphone over Bluetooth, its companion app lets you sync your audio with video you shoot in-app,transcribe texton the fly, and read from a built-in teleprompter.
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But with that extra SmartMike+, you may also use one microphone as a receiver and the other as a transmitter, letting you get wireless audio even on cameras that don’t have built-in Bluetooth. Even with just one, the Bluetooth microphone offers an aspiring YouTuber (or anyone trying torecord audio and videoat the same time) 48kHz stereo audio and a commendable 50-foot range before you have to worry about getting disconnected.
Bluetooth mic with great app integration
Mackie’s OnyxGo Wireless Clip-on Mic is larger than other Bluetooth microphones, but it makes up for it with a companion app that lets you record phone calls and mic audio at the same time.
The Mackie OnyxGo Wireless Clip-on Mic has an average six hours of battery life and a 33-foot range like most Bluetooth microphones, but it still houses a pretty unique set of features in its companion app. Especially if you’re a journalist looking for a straightforward way to record interviews with sources and transcribe text, OnyxGo’s companion app can seamlessly record calls and your voice at the same time and mix them in the same recording.
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It’s worth noting that the mic is bigger than your average Bluetooth mic, which might be trickier to subtly hide if you’re filming. However, given its feature-rich suite and easy-to-use app integration at a wallet-friendly price point, it’s still worth considering.
With built-in speakers to put your voice on blast
Bonaok’s Karaoke Microphone is perfect for parties, with 33 feet of range and built-in speakers to magnify your best singing voice.
There’s little that’s discrete about the Bonaok Karaoke Microphone, what with its boxy built-instereo speakers, but they’re also the feature that makes it perfect for a mobile karaoke party. With only two to three hours of battery life, Bonaok’s Bluetooth mic may limit how long you sing, but its unique ability to connect to your smartphone for a backing track or another microphone for duets makes for a fun few hours.
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And technically, even if holding it might make you look like a pop star, the mic should work outside of karaoke too. The Bonaok Karaoke Microphone is an audio input like any other, and you use it just as easily for your next presentation as you do at your birthday party.
Add a mic to any pair of headphones
Antilon Audio’s ModMic Wireless can add a Bluetooth microphone to any pair of headphones. It offers over 12 hours of battery life, 32-feet of range, and supports aptX low latency.
We’ve covered Antilon’s Audio ModMic Wireless in the past as a simple way to add a mic to any headset, and it remains an excellent Bluetooth microphone pick for gamers thanks to its long battery life (at least 12 hours) and respectable 32-foot range.
You’ll have to use a receiver dongle if you’re playing on a console or your PC, but theaptX low latency protocolit uses means you’ll get better than average Bluetooth performance without audio delay, assuming the device you’re using supportsQualcomm’s audio protocol.
A Bluetooth speakerphone for conference calls
AnkerWork’s PowerConf S3 Speakerphone will help you power through meetings with up to 24 hours of battery life, a six-microphone array, and built-in background noise reduction.
The AnkerWork PowerConf S3 Bluetooth Speakerphone is the ideal microphone for anyone in the office orworking at home. With up to 24 hours of battery life and the ability to charge a smartphone over a wired connection, it’ll last through long meetings and calls.
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Thanks to its circular array of six microphones, you’ll be heard wherever you sit. Anker also promises the speaker’s built-in background noise reduction keeps incoming and outgoing noise crisp and clear while you’re talking to colleagues.
The best Bluetooth Microphone: The bottom line
Taking into account all the different elements that make a good Bluetooth microphone, the best options are going to specialize. There are bare minimums to hit in battery life, range, and design — that overall balance is the main reason Razer’s Serein BT Microphone is our top pick — but for anything else, they tend to have a special skill.
The SmartMike+ shines because of its flexibility. It doesn’t blend in like Razer’s mic, but its ability to act as both transmitter and receiver for other mics is a huge plus, even if it means you have another app to deal with. The Mackie OnyxGo Wireless Clip-on Mic makes the best of its companion app, finding workarounds for recording calls, offering the ability to transcribe text, and shooting video. Finding the best Bluetooth microphone is really a matter of knowing what you’re looking for.
How we choose the best Bluetooth microphones
Pocket-lint has primarily covered wired microphones for remote work and video production, but has extensive experience dealing with Bluetooth speakers and headphones. We consider what features produce good audio quality on a wired connection and combined that with the criteria we looked for in a Bluetooth connection.
Our picks balanced range with excellent audio recording, and have helpful hardware and software features like built-in clips and companion apps for more control. Ultimately, whatever mic works best for you will depend on what you plan on using it for, but we range, audio quality, and additional features to be a good list to consider when you decide what Bluetooth microphone to purchase.
What type of Bluetooth should my microphone use?
There are multiple versions of the Bluetooth standard at this point, each with improvements to range, battery drain (affecting the battery life of your devices), and support for new features and types of devices. At this point, you’d be hard-pressed to find a Bluetooth gadget that doesn’t useBluetooth 5, which introduced major breakthroughs in battery efficiency and data transfer speeds that should make your experience better overall. If your microphone supports Bluetooth 5, you should be good to go – but Bluetooth 5.3 will be even more efficient.
What type of microphone should I buy?
Microphones can come in all shapes and sizes. That being said, a good rule of thumb is if you’re looking to record speaking voices or dialogue, a microphone that can be clipped to your body will work best. For a performance or conference call, a handheld microphone you can pass around, or a microphone that can be placed in the middle of people will be a better choice.
