Ultimate Smartphone Audio Mic Showdown | DJI vs AnkerWork vs Rode vs Hollyland vs Deity

[@MikeSmale]

this was great, thanks! still think I'm going with the DJI

[@SmartphoneStorytellers]

DJI is a great option! As newcomers to the mic world, they knocked it out of the park.

[@markexploringnewstuff]

Well done. I have Rode Go II and DJI Wireless - prefer DJI Wireless for sound quality, ease of charging (case), stand alone record feature, plus ease in accessing saved files.

[@SmartphoneStorytellers]

I loved the DJI for all the same reasons! The unit in this video was lent to me by a friend, but I do have it high on my list of gear to get for some upcoming shoots!

[@AmericanEnglishBrent]

I just picked up the DJI about two days ago. So far, I’m a fan.

[@SmartphoneStorytellers]

It’s great! Very few, if any, downsides!

[@jduren]

Love this video! You give a great overview of each product and I really appreciate how you test them out so we can hear how each one sounds. Great work and keep them coming!

[@SmartphoneStorytellers]

Thanks! There’s more coming - just you wait!

[@richardlopez4563]

Found your channel and this video at exactly the right time. #Blessed. After a couple years of capturing baptisms and testimonies at my church I needed to up my audio quality. Plus I was just asked to shoot video at a brothers wedding. While I want the DJI, because of budget constraints I am confident that the Hollyland Lark will accomplish what's been the low light of the vidoes. Thanks for this great comparison.

[@SmartphoneStorytellers]

I'm glad you were able to find the channel - when I initially was creating it, my main audience I had in mind was churches, missionaries, and non-profits. So the type of content you're creating is exactly where I wanted the content to reach! The Hollyland is great. There are certain features that it's missing, but the price vs performance keeps it as a regular piece of my kit.

[@Metal_seer]

Thanks. There are dozens of reviews of the Ankerwork m650, but few comparing to other products. It's not perfect, but my choice at this point.

[@KnowItNation]

Great quality comparison. I went with the DJI since its a good investment for videography. No need to upgrade later.

[@SmartphoneStorytellers]

Great choice! I've used that one while filmmaking a few times and loved it. It's a great one to use with a Smartphone, but it definitely grows with your skills if you move into a dedicated camera.

[@WillNewcomb]

Thanks. For me the Hollyland, DJI & Deity were significantly better audio than the others. I have a Fulaim X5 which I'm very very with, using it with my iPhone 12pm.

[@Metal_seer]

Thanks for the review. I'm leaning toward the Ankerwork m650. I hope to print my company's logo on a sticker that looks untrashy on the transmitter. Hopefully Anker will add more cover options.

[@badseed12052]

Another Banger! Thanks for explaining and breaking down the differences on these mics!

[@SmartphoneStorytellers]

Glad you enjoyed it! I just got another mic in to test, so keep your eyes peeled for another one coming up soon!

[@badseed12052]

@@SmartphoneStorytellers Awesome I most certainly will!

[@heroicvision]

Now this is the type of channel I'm looking for! Subscribed!

[@SmartphoneStorytellers]

Glad to have you here!!

[@seanhenriques808]

M650 for me. Black Friday sale? yes please!

[@arthurw8054]

Excellent overview and comparison, thanks. Your opening assertion that sound is more important than video is sooooo true, yet clearly not universally understood, since there are about a gazillion content creators who ruin all their hard work by treating the audio as an afterthought.... Still saving pennies and websearching for portable solutions, but am leaning toward the full DJI kit. Subscribed, and good luck with your channel.

[@SmartphoneStorytellers]

Thanks! The DJI is definitely great! I think one of the biggest takeaways when it comes to this gear is that it's somewhat like shopping for a new TV in Best Buy. You'll have a wall of amazing TVs, but obviously there's going to be one that stands out. Once you get one of the TVs home, though, and you're not comparing it to every other TV, you'll find that it still has a great picture. I honestly think any of the options in this video could work great, it really just depends on what your needs are!

[@arthurw8054]

@@SmartphoneStorytellers Good analogy. What I REALLY want is a similar, affordable dual transmitter/receiver wireless setup that records 32-bit float internally (like Zoom F series or Sound Devices MixPre), but I don't know of anything like that in existence, at least not yet.

[@SmartphoneStorytellers]

@@arthurw8054 Looks like Deity was listening! They just announced some new mics with 32 bit float. Looking forward to checking them out!

[@arthurw8054]

@@SmartphoneStorytellers Really cool news! I actually have a Deity mic now, the little Mini D4, which is very inexpensive, but not a bad little mic at all. Not exactly a U47 LOL, but great bang for buck and it can sound great if recorded properly with a bit of post... Thanks! I'm going to wait now for this...

[@Isabel.N.Holistic.Coach.]

Loving my DJI Mic 😍 great video thank you

[@SmartphoneStorytellers]

It’s a great mic! Great features, my favorite body design, and top notch sound. Thanks for watching!

[@chrisjohnston964]

Great comparison! I'm curious why the AnkerWork M650 didn't make the cut for being a contender for your option #3 recommendations? What do the Rode and DJI systems have that the M650 is lacking?

[@SmartphoneStorytellers]

The biggest reason is that while using the M650, I had some minor audio hiccups that made the audio not as pristine as the other audio. You can ever so slightly hear one of them in the outdoor test in the video. It's not major enough to discount the mics entirely, but since it was the only mic that happened with it fell just below the Rode and DJI. That being said, as I noted those units were beta units, so it's possible that was fixed in the updated firmware. I'm expecting to get my mics back updated in the next two weeks, so I'll run some more tests and see if I should revise my recommendation!

[@CartyCantDance]

The Anker work mic sometimes stops recording randomly… not good

[@chrisjohnston964]

Wow, that would be a deal breaker. Are you running the latest firmware?

[@CartyCantDance]

@@chrisjohnston964 yeah

[@chrisjohnston964]

Ok, I guess the DJI Mic remains at the top of my wish list then. Thanks for the heads up!

[@Tom_Roberts]

Great review. For my use , with wireless mics , I would always want internal recording on a transmitter as backup for drop-outs or RF interference. So there's only really two options for myself.

[@SmartphoneStorytellers]

Thanks! I completely understand - I have certain shoots where I want to make sure I have that level of redundancy. Love that it's an option now!

[@sethfarrior1]

Awesome video! Shared this with a fellow youtuber who uses=just his iphone for shooting and audio. Thanks!

[@SmartphoneStorytellers]

Thanks for sharing!

[@BrandonCavittsChannel]

im hoping you do this again with the hollyland max

[@SmartphoneStorytellers]

I'm working to get ahold of one - hoping to review it in the future!

[@joshuacalebseldon2328]

This is incredibly helpful - awesome video bro!

[@SmartphoneStorytellers]

Thanks man! Glad it's able to help!

[@daMoMenTum]

Is it me or did the noise canceling perform the best with the DJI? I'm looking for a pair of these small form factor wireless microphones, but I would like to know which one offers the best sounding noise canceling.

[@SmartphoneStorytellers]

You definitely can't go wrong with the DJI - it honestly gives you some of the best bang for your buck, but the only downside is it takes quite a few of those bucks!

[@PavanRChawla]

Lovely guide, crisp, knowledgeable, insightful and very fair. Dug your attitude and approach, have liked the video and subscribed to your channel. I thought the DJI on features, ease, quality was the best, though on just the rawness of the sound quality and how crisply it showcased the cadences of your vocal range across your naturally 'trained' ability to throw your voice so well keeping a super-balanced naturalness across high and low, the Rode II has the edge over all others. BTW, the quality of your studio mic too is amazing. Which one do you use? I record and publish podcasts from MediaBrief (won't share a link as this isn't a surrogate comment to get some hits) and I use the Shure MV7. But do please share which mic you use for your studio recordings. Thanks again for the lovely walkthrough. The fun of doing a good thing is doing it really well, and if I may so without sounding patronizing, you excel at it.

[@SmartphoneStorytellers]

Thanks - appreciate the encouragement! In terms of my studio mic, I was using a Sennheiser Me66 K6 (in most of the channel's content,) but I recently switched to a Rode NTG3. Both are great mics, the NTG3 is just a bit warmer.

[@PavanRChawla]

@@SmartphoneStorytellers Thanks for sharing. Your audio and your speech are both excellent. Keep growing!

[@PavanRChawla]

@@SmartphoneStorytellers I'd also like your view on how good the DJI mic is for recording voice overs in a controlled and silent space. I know it might not be quite as good as a Shure or a sennheiser or Rode mic for the purpose, but need your view on a value for money basis.

[@StuffIKindaCareAbout]

ADAM!!! Holy crap dude I'm loving your channel, this is exactly the content ive been looking for, thanks so much! Great to see you creating, I miss you and hope youre doing well! Can't wait to binge all your videos this weekend

[@SmartphoneStorytellers]

Thanks man - glad you're enjoying the content! Miss seeing you around as well. Not sure if you'll be at Homecoming, but if so I'll see you again then!

[@MarquelCoaxum]

Great video! Lots of awesome knowledge drops right here.

[@SmartphoneStorytellers]

Thanks Marquel - There's more where that came from!

[@gamboagarciamx]

You missed Hollyland Lark 150 those are better than the M1s

[@SmartphoneStorytellers]

Those look great! I'll need to get my hands on some. I initially picked up the Lark M1 on a sale to try it out, and quickly fell in love with their low profile and ease of use. Not the best sounding mics available, but they sound great for the price. I can only imagine the 150s improve on it while adding on a few extra features!

[@StaticCamperVan]

Nice review. I like the Deity the best which is a real bummer, haha

[@SmartphoneStorytellers]

Deity has a really nice sound to it, and the ability to interlock your lapel mic is something everyone should offer. Deity has said that they have something new coming, so hopefully they replace this part of their line soon!

[@StaticCamperVan]

@@SmartphoneStorytellers hey, thanks for that info. I use a V-Mic D3 and like the idea of having an option to wirelessly boom it on occasion

[@nikkiboehm1]

Hi thank you for the great video☺️ I'm looking for a solid wireless microphone, mainly for KZbin vlogs and Instagram reels. My plan was to actually purchase the DJI Mic, but now I got a coupon from my company for a website which would allow me to purchase the anker m650 for only 30 dollars. Unfortunately this website doesn't offer the DJI Mic. My question is, is the sound quality that different between this 2 mics and would it be recommended to get the Anker m650 for cheap or invest the 300 dollars in the dji mic?

[@SmartphoneStorytellers]

$30 for the Anker is great, I have run into one issue with the Anker recently though. If you are recording directly to the transmitter and not connected to your phone or camera, I've found it will suddenly stop recording. It didn't do this for me during my initial tests, but it's now done it to me twice in recent weeks. I haven't been able to track down the issue yet, but it gives me pause recommending it unless you're connecting it to your camera. If you connect it directly, the only issue I've run into is occasional interference, but you'll find that with almost any wireless microphone. Otherwise the recordings all come through and I haven't lost anything when using the receiver on the phone. This could be a fluke with my unit, but it is something to be aware of!

[@prestoncarlton7802]

Crazy good production quality!

[@SmartphoneStorytellers]

Thanks Preston - thanks for watching!

[@TylerEdwards]

Great comparison and presentation!

[@SmartphoneStorytellers]

Thanks! Appreciate you taking the time to watch!

[@exirz3d]

do you have a review on the rode wireless me?

[@jorgevelasquez9955]

How does Anker mics connect to Android? The receiver for 2 mics.

[@_pixelchris]

Crazy that ur still a new channel! I subscribed! :) thanks for the help! Getting the Anker Work. Seems like a sweet spot!

[@SmartphoneStorytellers]

Thanks! Trying to start strong and provide helpful content. Loved the conversations it's started so far!

[@jacobstech]

Awesome video, very informative!

[@SmartphoneStorytellers]

Thanks for watching!

[@lukegkwd]

Liked, subscribed, AND hit the notification bell!

[@SmartphoneStorytellers]

The real MVP right here.

[@josepheuculano]

Thanks for the info. Very informative. What is your experience/thoughts of the Comica Boom X-D Pro? I like to be able to control the settings can do that with the Comica but the Hollyland Lark M1 doesn't have that feature. Thank you!

[@SmartphoneStorytellers]

I actually hadn't heard about the Comica until your comment. It looks pretty solid from what I've seen, but I can't speak to the audio quality firsthand since I haven't used it. Settings controls are definitely lacking on the Lark M1, so that one is better for being a "pickup and go" while something like the DJI and Rode are better if you want to dial in settings beyond gain controls. I'll add Comica to my list to take a look at in the future!

[@richardlopez4563]

One question. Is there a preferred place to buy, other then Amazon?

[@SmartphoneStorytellers]

I actually bought mine at B&H when they had them on a pretty big discount!

[@julianfarquhar]

This is great. For the life of me,I have had one for around a year and never been able to find the iPhone connector. Now through your link, I see them selling on Amazon. But not sending to New Zealand, damn it. But Also how do you find the mechanics of fitting and holding the receiver to the phone? Stable?

[@SmartphoneStorytellers]

It honestly depends on which receiver I'm using. When I use the Hollyland Lark, I honestly just let it dangle by the wire. It's light as a feather and I'm usually using it on a tripod, so it doesn't put too much tension on the port or the wire. If I'm using something like the Deity Pocket, I try to find a way to clip, gaffe tape, or wedge it somewhere on the rig. The ideal setup would be to have some sort of cage on the phone where you could attach it to a cold shoe or other connection, but that's not always possible!

[@julianfarquhar]

@@SmartphoneStorytellers Good comment. I would imagine in the future these companies will need to put some thought into how easily and practically these mics can be attached to smart phones. I guess we live for now with dangles

[@AChristLifeStyle]

How come you didn't pick Diety as one of the go to's?

[@SmartphoneStorytellers]

It's a GREAT mic, but it's been discontinued. So if you can still find one, then it's honestly the best sounding of the bunch! But, they're getting harder and harder to find, even since I made the video.

[@chrischoemortgage]

Content is 🔥. Can you make a video on recording a whole episode using a phone with one of these mics (almost run and gun MKBHD auto focus style)?

[@SmartphoneStorytellers]

Love that idea - I'll add it to the list!

[@MSRWorkshop]

Should have used the Lark Max

[@SmartphoneStorytellers]

I would have loved to! It was released after this was created though. I’m trying to get my hands on one to test out, though!

[@lawjames15]

I have a question. Did you connect your DEITY mic straight to your smartphone via USB-C to USB-C? I am trying to connect my DEITY to my DJI Action 4 or Samsung S9 phone via USB-C to USB-C but I can't seem to get them to connect.

[@SmartphoneStorytellers]

I use an iPhone, so I needed to connect it via a headphone adapter. 3.5mm to lighting adapter and it worked great!

[@trainspoted]

in audio comparision you there is sound from camera for rode and lark you don't connect reciever properly. or you do it with purpose

[@SmartphoneStorytellers]

The connection to the camera can definitely impact the sound quality, but for all of these I connected them directly to my phone via the same cables (unless the unit connected directly to the phone, like the DJI and AnkerWork.) I didn't notice any major differences in sound quality due to connections, it all really fell down to the quality of the mic. But I'll be honest - if I had no external mics, I'd happily take any of these and use them - they all sounded great overall! It just comes down to the features you're looking for.

[@trainspoted]

@@SmartphoneStorytellers it is NOT a matter of connection quality it is matter of connection is not existing. i can 100 percent say what larks and rodes samples are not the samples picked up from lavaliers. the compresion, the level of background, everything. if you behaved like an honest and thoughtful reviewer, you would give examples of recordings recorded in the microphones themselves, but this is not the case. on the contrary, there is a denial of the obvious, this is a cheating on the audience, which I point out

[@VeteranBiker]

I want to use my DJI wireless mic with my Iphone 14 pro. I dont like the connector that comes with the mic and want to know which cable connector would work best?

[@SmartphoneStorytellers]

For this video, I used the headphone cables with the Apple Lighting to audio adapter. Normally, I use the Hollyland Lighting to 3.5mm adapter to adapt my Hollyland mics. I haven't tested it with the other mics yet, but I don't see why it wouldn't work! I picked it up here: amzn.to/3zMLrXO

[@patmac47]

Why would you put the m1 up against the other ones instead of the max? It doesn't make any sense.

[@SmartphoneStorytellers]

The Max wasn't out when I made this video - it was just released recently. Hoping to get my hands on one, though!

[@patmac47]

@SmartphoneStorytellers thanks for the reply. I just went with the ankerwork m650, couldn't justify the extra $100 for the max.

[@walkwithyan]

i want to know your thoughts on the ulanzi j12 wireless mic.

[@SmartphoneStorytellers]

Let me see if I can get my hands on one!

[@christopherlynch6226]

So the dji miss don't have noise cancelation? And if not. Is there a possibility that they can introduce it thru firmware updates?

[@SmartphoneStorytellers]

DJI doesn't have any software noise cancelation. The big noise controlling feature on there is the ability to record a safety channel, but that just protects you against audio peaks and loud noises. I suspect they could add noise cancelation features in the future, but I'm not aware of any plans for that. These are really designed for situations where you'll be treating your audio in post. Even without onboard noise canceling, they are a VERY solid option. I find noise canceling onboard to really just be a failsafe, as the effect it has on the audio quality is more significant than when I run noise cancelation in post production.

[@AliColak]

We have the same JBL's 😂, I bought the DJI Mic and requested a refund and bought the Anker M650. Which would you say feels and sounds more premium? / Would the DJI Mic be work the extra $100 that I'd be paying?

[@SmartphoneStorytellers]

Personally, I preferred the DJIs for their form factor and overall features. The noise canceling on the M650 is very intriguing, though, and the fact that it's $100 less does sit in it's favor. I'm waiting for my units to be sent back to me (AnkerWork is updating the firmware since it's still the beta firmware), so when they come back I plan to do another deep dive into them to see where it landed. They were great overall, I just ran into a few small transmission glitches that I didn't have with other mics. That being said, I'd make sure to run whatever mic you get with the local record so that if you do have transmission issues then you have a safety fallback.

[@janaecarlee]

Ahhh, I still can't decide between RODE or DJI :/

[@SmartphoneStorytellers]

It's a hard decision! I will say that Rode made their mic much more tempting with their introductions at NAB - Rode Capture looks like a killer app when paired with a Rode Wireless setup, so if you're planning on filming with your Smartphone then it may be the killer setup.

[@janaecarlee]

​@@SmartphoneStorytellers I ended up getting HollyLand's Lark 150. Totally random. Thanks for your response.

[@SmartphoneStorytellers]

@@janaecarlee Great choice! The Larks are workhorses.

[@louiewishingtin578]

Thoughts on Comica Vimo C3?

[@SmartphoneStorytellers]

I haven't gotten my hands on a Comica yet, but it's on my list!

[@VladOnEarth]

isnt really an objective review, more of a product overview. Not what I was looking, but I guess it is useful for some.

[@SmartphoneStorytellers]

I tried to let the products speak for themselves and give a basic suggestion at the end, but I'd agree that I didn't really dig in deeply in my discussion on the sound of each device. Sorry it wasn't what you were looking for, but I hope you were able to at least get something out of it. Thanks for watching either way - I appreciate it and the feedback!

[@VladOnEarth]

@SmartphoneStorytellers i ended up warching other videos with side to side sound comparison and settled for DJI mic. I think when reviewing mic, its the most important to demo side to side samples and also separate video into chapters. Cheers

[@Moto_Blog]

Great. Thank you 👍

[@SmartphoneStorytellers]

Happy to share! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@Enoc63]

Mannn i didnt know DJI sold the single transmitter with receiver, that’s cool news for those that don’t want to spend the $330 for the full kit !

[@SmartphoneStorytellers]

Yep! Not a huge savings if you go for the single, but it's a great option. Biggest downside to me is the lack of charging case, but you can still charge them individually. Just need to wrangle a few extra USB-C cables (which, if you're anything like me, you already have dozens all over your house.)

[@Enoc63]

@@SmartphoneStorytellers yeah true charging case is a pretty big feature :/ . What’s your opinion on the 7Ryms iray DW30, think that’s more worth it than DJI on a budget ?

[@SmartphoneStorytellers]

@@Enoc63 I actually hadn't heard about the 7Ryms until your comment. Feature-wise it looks pretty solid, but when it comes to sound I couldn't judge it without using it. That DJI is pretty hard to beat, though. Sound, software, and hardware are all top-notch.

[@Enoc63]

@@SmartphoneStorytellers yeah i have DJI and love it too . Just ran into that other mic yesterday tho and from the looks of it, it seems like a good alternative, just not sure what makes it cheaper

[@lukaszklopotek]

You didn't compare self noise floor of these devices.

[@SmartphoneStorytellers]

I honestly didn't think to cover that - thanks for pointing that out! I'll make sure to work that into future tests - it obviously will vary from camera to camera and the various gain settings, but it's not a bad data point to have.

[@learningpsychologynet]

Thanks:)

[@SmartphoneStorytellers]

Happy to help! My desire is to equip others to tell their own stories, so evaluating the gear out there is only one part of the equation!

[@connectwithmayank]

Deity is best sounding

[@SmartphoneStorytellers]

Overall I'd agree with you! Honestly the biggest issue with the Deity was that it was discontinued and harder to find, but it still a VERY solid option. They did announce their new higher-end replacement mic at NAB, so here's to hoping they roll out an updated Pocket.

[@nolow_life]

Great overview

[@SmartphoneStorytellers]

Thanks! There's so much that could be covered with each of these mics and how to best utilize them, but I didn't want to make an hour long epic. I figured an overview of the features and downsides would help to evaluate which mic was best for each person's scenario!

[@nolow_life]

@@SmartphoneStorytellers did the ankers have internal recording built into each mic ?

[@SmartphoneStorytellers]

@@nolow_life Yep! Similar to the DJI and Rode, they do offer internal recording. It's advertised as uncompressed, so it should be similar to the uncompressed audio on the Rode.

[@nolow_life]

@@SmartphoneStorytellers But how do you get the audio from the microphone into a computer? I don't see any data transfer ports on the microphones themselves. I know the dji mics have ucbC on each mic

[@SmartphoneStorytellers]

@@nolow_life Good question - to transfer the audio, you actually need to place the mics in their charging case. Then connect the case to a computer via USBC and each mic will show up as an external hard drive. Then just grab what you need!

[@-123]

Спасибо за обзор, было интересно посмотреть 😊

[@SmartphoneStorytellers]

Рад, что смог помочь!

[@reedeema]

The M1 ist by far the best when it comes to price and was you get. Best Form Faktor easy out of any wireless mic ..

[@SmartphoneStorytellers]

The M1 is quite solid. Just used it on a shoot today - quick setup, great sound, and can't beat the price!

[@reedeema]

@@SmartphoneStorytellers exactly. I dont need all the fancy Extras 🙂

[@MsAnewZ]

too loud music comparing to your voice

[@SmartphoneStorytellers]

I'd agree - I adjusted the way I mastered my audio after making this video, but unfortunately there's no way to go back and re-upload on KZbin. Thanks for the feedback, though - always looking to make things better!

[@alonzojt]

Deity Pocket has been discontinued or will be soon. Again a failure from Deity in the audio wireless world. Pocket was not bad though.

[@SmartphoneStorytellers]

Pocket has indeed been discontinued - it's still a great option though! You can still pick it up from Amazon or B&H, so until Deity offers a new option then it's still a solid choice. The onboard mic of that has been a favorite of a few of the viewers, and the interlocking lapel connection is something I'd love to see other companies adopt.

[@alonzojt]

@@SmartphoneStorytellers agreed. Still thinking of buying one although the recording option of DJI and Rode can really save you from 2.4ghz weakness.Shot a video at IBC Amsterdam and got a micro interference on a DJi mic I had on loan. The internal rec saved the whole audio track

[@AdamC.Erickson]

@@alonzojt That internal recording is a lifesaver. Or sometimes you just want to grab some generic folly of a scene, so you can pull out the DJI and throw it on your talent and just let it roll. I recently did this while filming a food truck and got some great soundbites I'm going to throw into the final video.

[@alonzojt]

@@AdamC.Erickson 👍

[@card1_diy]

Who else thinks Ankerwork killed it

[@rumorscameras]

Big brand name over the whole unit is a big no for pros...it is stupid

[@SmartphoneStorytellers]

100% agree - I HATE that aspect of it. I’m considering just painting the cover to eliminate that, as they’re great otherwise.