Best Smartphone Microphones of 2020: Mics and Kits for Mobile Vlogs

Phone cameras keep getting better, but built-in phone audio rarely keeps up, and that gap is what this 2020 roundup sets out to close. Its author framed the buying decision around three questions every mobile vlogger tends to ask: will the mic work with my phone, is the sound good enough, and can I carry it around easily? Drawing on hands-on testing, buyer feedback and budget, this roundup picks ten options that range from cheap clip-on mics to a full wireless system.

Ten picks for phone audio

• PoP voice Lavalier Microphone – ranked first in the list as a budget lapel mic. The review liked its sturdy build, long cord, omnidirectional pickup and a 4-to-3 pin adapter that lets it work with PCs, laptops and Android phones; iPhones and iPads need a Lightning-to-3.5mm adapter. Its weak spot was that it does not tame popping sounds.
• Rode VideoMic Me – a pocket-sized shotgun mic with a 3.5mm TRRS plug and directional pickup. The author tested it outdoors in wind and was satisfied, calling it a fit for professional mobile vloggers. There is no cord, and it needs careful handling.
• Movo Smartphone Video Rig – a beginner bundle combining a handgrip clamp with a directional mic on top. It worked with both Android and iOS in testing, but it does not fit the iPhone 7, and customer response was poor.
• PowerDeWise Lavalier Microphone – the author's long-term personal mic, used since 2018. It offers a pop filter, a durable long cord, a lapel clip and a TRRS jack, with Lightning adapters needed for Apple devices. The clip mic itself was described as not very durable.
• Comica CVM-WS50(C) – a wireless lavalier system aimed at Android users, with LCD screens on transmitter and receiver, six channels, real-time monitoring and a range of 197 feet. It was called expensive, more complex to set up and not meant for beginners.
• Shure MV88 – a compact mic that plugs straight into the Lightning port of iPhones and iPads and can be tilted, flipped or rotated, with two companion apps for editing sound. Very costly and iOS-only.
• Rode SmartLav+ – a lapel mic with a TRRS jack and a tough cord, suited to interviews, mobile vlogs and podcasts on Android and iOS. The cord can get messy, and support drew criticism.
• Comica CVM-VM10II – an inexpensive shotgun-style mic with an aluminium body and a clamp, designed to resist interference and focus on one direction. Recommended for newcomers rather than professionals.
• Lenton Smartphone Kit – a phone holder that converts into a handgrip or mini tripod, bundled with a microphone. Good value for beginners, though the holder was not suited to iOS devices.
• EACHSHOT Smartphone Microphone Kit – a phone handle with an attached mic built for iPhone 7 through iPhone 11. Durable and portable, but not for Android phones, and support was weak.

Matching the mic to your phone and style

Reading through the verdicts, a few clear buying rules emerge:

• Check the connector first. TRRS lavaliers like the PowerDeWise, PoP voice and Rode SmartLav+ work widely but need an adapter for newer Apple devices, while the Shure MV88 skips the adapter by using Lightning directly.
• Decide between corded and wireless. A wired clip mic is cheap and simple, while the Comica wireless kit trades cost and setup effort for freedom of movement and monitoring.
• Consider a full kit if you are starting out. The Movo, Lenton and EACHSHOT bundles combine a grip and a mic so you do not need to buy them separately, but each has phone compatibility limits.
• Think about conditions. For outdoor filming, the review credited the Rode VideoMic Me with handling wind well.

In its final recommendations, this roundup names the PowerDeWise lavalier as the best smartphone microphone of the year, the Shure MV88 as the portable choice for iPhone owners, and the Comica CVM-WS50(C) as the wireless pick for Android users. The overall message was to choose the option that fits your phone and budget and then focus on making your vlogs sound clean.