Rode’s new Wireless Micro is the smallest wireless microphone kit yet, made specifically for smartphones
- Rode’s smallest and lightest microphone ever, only 12 grams
- Available in black or white version and for USB-C or Lightning connection
- Automatically adjusts audio levels for well-balanced sound
Rode has unveiled its smallest wireless microphone system ever: the Wireless Micro. Designed for content creation on smartphones, the Wireless Micro is the audio giant’s simplest wireless microphone yet. It offers next-level audio quality, while being wireless and discreet.
The dual microphone kit contains two microphones (known as transmitters) and one receiver, all housed in a charging case. The entire set, including the housing, weighs just 3.6oz/102g, with each microphone weighing just 0.42oz/12g and measuring 40 x 20 x 17mm. That’s pretty small.
To get started, simply connect the (also small) receiver to the charging port of your smartphone and it will be synchronized with the microphone(s). Depending on your smartphone, you may first need to manually select the external microphone option from your phone camera’s video menu (instead of the phone’s built-in microphone), as was the case for me when I used a Pixel phone. Otherwise, that’s it: you can get started in seconds, equipped with Rode’s Intelligent GainAssist technology for “perfect audio every time”.
The microphones can be clipped onto clothing or attached magnetically, and they are available in black or white. There are USB-C and Lightning versions of the Wireless Micro for full compatibility with both Android and all iPhone models.
Windshields are built in as part of Rode’s patent-pending acoustic chamber design, and there are additional furry windshields in the box that can be clipped around the receiver for clearer outdoor recording on windy days, although these extra windshields don’t fit in the charging case. .
The list price of the Wireless Micro is $149. We will update this article with UK and Australian pricing, as well as an on-sale date, as soon as we receive this information from Rode.
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The smart choice for smartphone content creators
We’ve had some hands-on experience with the Rode Wireless Micro and will share our thoughts in a full review soon. What we can say at this stage is that the Wireless Micro is easy to use: you can get up and running in seconds and record high-quality audio for your smartphone videos.
The Wireless Micro has a transmission range of over 100 meters and during testing we were able to connect reliably to an Android phone. Usage time for each microphone is a whopping seven hours, and you can charge the microphone’s battery via the charging case, which features a 490mAh battery, effectively extending total usage time to 21 hours. Impressive stuff.
You can record video with the Rode Wireless Micro audio through your phone’s camera app, and it also works with the free Rode Capture video recording app, which adds features like audio level monitoring. There are pros and cons to working with either of these options, so it’s good to have the choice between the two.
A note for audiophiles: the Wireless Micro has a frequency range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz, a maximum SPL of 135 dB, a signal-to-noise ratio of 73 dB, and an A-weighted equivalent noise of 21 dBA. These specifications roughly correspond to those of the Rode Wireless ME, a wireless microphone that also works with cameras.
Intelligent GainAssist automatically adjusts audio levels for well-balanced sound, so the user can focus on creating. While we’ll have to fully assess the audio quality in our review, the Wireless Micro looks like a great addition to Rode’s range of wireless microphones. I can see this being one of Rode’s most popular products to date.
