BOYA Mini Vs Rode Wireless Micro: Smartphone Audio Made Easy

Till not too long ago, in-person smartphone interview kits revolved round this or that cable, splitter, or hack. Don’t get me mistaken, there have been a couple of first rate choices on the market, however nothing in comparison with now.

A number of weeks in the past, I reviewed the Rode Wireless Micro. Accessible for both iPhone or Android, this tiny package was so spectacular that it was exhausting to see us recommending anything for in-person smartphone recording.

The Wi-fi Micro prices about $140, which is superb worth for its options, high quality, and value. Nonetheless, there are even cheaper options, a kind of being the BOYA Mini. At solely $55, it isn’t honest to anticipate the BOYA Mini to be the Wi-fi Micro’s higher, and even, its equal. However how shut does it get? Let’s have a look.

A fast heads up earlier than we dive in to say that we use affiliate hyperlinks on this evaluate, which assist assist all of our free content material. Concern not, although; associates by no means cloud our judgment in terms of giving our trustworthy opinions.

Use Circumstances: Who Would Need One?

The BOYA Mini, just like the Rode Wi-fi Micro, is designed for people who wish to file immediately into their telephones.

Each kits are perfect for video podcasters, or creators who love to do on-location or on-the-go interviews and co-hosted chats.

This isn’t the type of setup you’d sometimes use when you plan to do distant recordings in your laptop. I imply, you may, however I’d go for something a bit more suited as an alternative.

BOYA Mini Vs Rode Wi-fi Micro

Key Similarities

• Each kits have two transmitters (mics) and one receiver
• Each can be found for iOS (Lightning) and Android (USB-C)
• Each have useful little storage/charging circumstances
• Each have a transmission vary of as much as 100 metres
• Each have a Frequency Vary of 20 Hz – 20 kHz

Key Variations

• $140 (Rode) Vs $55 (BOYA)
• Sign-to-Noise: 73dB (Rode) Vs 80dB (BOYA)
• The Wi-fi Micro receivers connect to clothes with magnets
• The BOYA Mini has built-in Noise Discount buttons
• The BOYA Mini has ‘AI Voice Altering’ options
• The BOYA Mini case is smaller and lighter
• The BOYA Mini transmitters are smaller and lighter
• The BOYA Mini transmitters have a battery lifetime of 6 hours (30 hours by way of charging case)
• The Wi-fi Micro transmitters have a battery life of seven hours (21 hours by way of charging case)

Does the BOYA BY-V2 Win Out Anyplace?

Truly, sure. At the least based on the tech specs of each bits of package.

The BOYA Mini is claimed to have a Sign-to-noise ratio of 80 dB, higher than the Wi-fi Micro’s 73 dB. SNR measures how loud the sign (voice) is in comparison with a system’s background noise stage. It additionally has noise discount settings built-in.

The BOYA Mini charging case and mics are additionally smaller and lighter. The transmitters (weighing solely 5g!) can be much more discreet on clothes, for anybody recording video content material.

Any Downsides of the BOYA Mini?

On the flip aspect, there are a couple of potential pitfalls price highlighting.

Unclear (& Unhelpful) Settings

Each transmitters and the receiver have “NR” (Noise Discount) buttons on them. I don’t know why all three have to have them, however they’re used for every part the package does, together with pairing and including voice change results.

Let’s cowl that first, as a result of that is, frankly, a daft characteristic so as to add to an in any other case promising package. For those who press the NR button twice, you start to toggle by way of vocal results that can make you sound like a chipmunk or Barry White. Simply what you’ve at all times needed to your subsequent podcast recording, eh?

There doesn’t appear to be a lot or any indication that you simply’ve modified your voice, and the one option to discover out for positive is to hear again to your recording. I don’t know the way straightforward it will be to unintentionally press the NR button twice and activate chipmunk mode, however I’ll exit on a limb and say it wouldn’t be unimaginable.

There appear to be two completely different LED gentle colors, however as there are three settings, that gained’t let you know a lot. And, as a hopelessly colour-blind particular person, I despair when gear corporations attempt to give me important info by way of tiny dots of color.

Noise Discount

The above points affect the Noise Discount options. Three settings (Weak, Medium, and Sturdy) could be toggled by urgent the NR button as soon as. Once more, I don’t actually know which setting I’m utilizing, and I’m now fearful that I’ve utilized a “humorous” voice impact to my visitor, however gained’t discover out till afterward.

Sadly, it’s tough to guage the standard of the Noise Discount settings, as a result of it’s exhausting to know which is which.

Potential Connection Points

I couldn’t join the receiver to my battered previous iPhone with out eradicating the protecting case. This is able to be a little bit of a ache if I had been utilizing the package recurrently.

I’ve no points connecting the Wi-fi Micro with the cellphone case on. That is bizarre as a result of, after I take a look at each Lightning connectors, there isn’t a noticeable distinction, so far as I can see. However, it’s what it’s, I suppose.

Conclusion: BOYA Mini as a Rode Wi-fi Micro Different

The BOYA Mini makes wi-fi smartphone audio accessible for anybody trying to do on-the-go recordings or video podcasts.

The audio high quality is stable, particularly for aspiring, new, and hobbyist creators – you simply should be very cautious to not activate the (pointless) voice change settings, which may break a complete recording session.

Having to take the cellphone’s protecting case off to get the receiver to work is an actual draw back. I had a fast look on Amazon, and it appears I wasn’t the one one who had this difficulty. Possibly the USB-C model is simpler to attach than its Lightning counterpart?

In all, the BOYA Mini isn’t the equal of the Rode Wireless Micro, however at method lower than half the worth, it has an excellent stab at it. For those who plan to file video or on-the-go, on-location recordings, then that is undoubtedly a worthy possibility to think about!