Rode's Smallest, Most Affordable Wireless Microphone for Your Phone Is On Sale for Prime Day
If you need to capture better audio on your smartphone, whether it's for an interview, podcast or skit that you're shooting, look no farther than the new and ultracompact Rode Wireless Micro.
You can get the Wireless Micro, which includes a tiny receiver and two small transmitters, for as low as $125 right now. Prices range depending on color and what type of connector you need (lightning or USB-C).
I've written about Rode's wireless microphones before (you can check out my review of the Wireless Go II), and while all of their wireless mics can get you high-quality audio for your phone or camera, the prices range vastly, so it's good to know which is the best option for you, or for someone else, especially if you're thinking about giving the Wireless Micro as a gift.
For more, here are the best phone deals we've found and the best headphone deals for Black Friday.
Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.
The Wireless Micro, released just this year, is the smallest and most affordable option of the Rode wireless microphones. Inside the charging case you'll find a receiver and two transmitters. Unlike the other wireless microphones from Rode, you can plug this receiver straight into your phone using USB-C or Lightning, which covers pretty much all the new iPhone and Android models. No extra cables needed.
Once the receiver is plugged in to your phone, all you need to do is remove the transmitters and they'll automatically sync without you having to do anything. You'll know you're good when the blinking green lights stop.
Now any video that you record on your phone will use the audio from your transmitters instead of the audio recorded by your phone's built-in microphone.
You can hold the transmitters in your hand and speak into them directly, or you can do what I do, which is clip the Wireless Micro transmitter onto my shirt, jacket or sweater. The transmitters also come with two magnetic attachments in case you want to better hide them.
If you're worried about the audio being too soft or too loud, there's intelligent GainAssist technology that makes sure your audio sounds good in any environment, whether you're recording audio inside of a church filled with reverb or outside at the beach on a windy day. The Wireless Micro also comes with two furry windshields that you can attach to your transmitters to help mitigate wind noise.
And you're probably thinking about battery life. The charging case, when fully charged, can provide two additional charges to the transmitters, for up to 21 hours of battery life. That means that the wireless microphone can be used for 7 hours at a time before you need to charge it again. You'll know the battery life is low when the LED lights change to amber (10-20%) and then red (below 10%).
The Wireless Micro works with Rode's mobile apps, but you don't need them to capture better quality audio on your phone.
Now, why should you get the Wireless Micro over something like the Wireless ME or the Wireless Go II? As someone who has used all of Rode's other microphones, here's why:
It's the most affordable wireless microphone you can get from Rode. The Wireless ME is usually $150, which is essentially the same price as the Micro, but the ME only comes with one transmitter, so you get more bang for your buck with the Wireless Micro.
It's incredibly small and lightweight. You barely notice the receiver attached to your phone, and the two transmitters are a fraction the size of Rode's other transmitters, so it's less noticeable when clipped to someone else.
You don't need professional audio features. The Wireless Micro doesn't have some of the pro features you would see on the more expensive models, like an LCD display or timecode, but if you don't need those things, you're good with the WM.
You don't want to deal with cables. The receiver just plugs into your phone, becoming a tiny and unobtrusive extension.
For more, check out the best bluetooth speaker and the best soundbar of 2025.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Snack On Crunchyroll Anime On Your Next Delta Flight
In-flight entertainment has improved by leaps and bounds over the years. We've come a long way from everyone having to watch the same bad movie to individual touchscreens with Bluetooth integration and viewing options from numerous streaming services. CNET reports that in addition to popular options like Spotify and Paramount Plus, Delta will soon bring anime to the skies, courtesy of Crunchyroll. Anime fans already know about Crunchyroll, but for everyone else, it's an all-anime streaming service, featuring everything from classics like "Akira" and "Initial D" to original content of inconsistent quality. It's essentially the Netflix of anime. With over 50,000 movies and TV shows available according to Polygon, there's bound to be something for everybody in Crunchyroll's vast collection. Only a portion of this vast library will be available through Delta. Neither Delta nor Crunchyroll has announced exactly what feast of anime specials you'll be able to dine on at 35,000 feet, but Anime News Network says it will be a selection of 50,000 episodes from 2,000 titles. We'll find out more later this year. Read more: Save Your Engine: 5 Tips For Preventing And Cleaning Carbon Buildup Anime In The Air This partnership will bring anime to 169,000 seatback screens across Delta's fleet. If you connect your device to in-flight Wi-Fi, a 24-hour Crunchyroll trial will also be available. CNET says this option will only be available to SkyMiles members, while other sites report no such limitation. Either way, no membership is necessary to enjoy Crunchyroll on the in-flight entertainment system. Flying on Delta just became a whole lot more fun. It could be an opportunity to binge-watch "Wangan Midnight" to see if it's as good as everyone thinks it is. Perhaps you could solve the mystery of exactly which dual-sport motorcycle keeps popping up in everything from "Kill la Kill" to "Final Fantasy VII Remake." Or maybe you could see just how closely "éX-Driver" predicted the reality of driverless cars running amok. Whatever your preferences in the vast genre of anime, it will be great to pass the hours of your flight catching up with or rewatching some of your favorites. It sure beats in-flight gambling. Want more like this? Join the Jalopnik newsletter to get the latest auto news sent straight to your inbox... Read the original article on Jalopnik.
CNET
9 hours ago
- CNET
This Threshold-Climbing Robot Vacuum Overcame Every Obstacle in My Home
CNET's key takeaways No robot vacuum has truly solved the challenge of multilevel cleaning without requiring you to physically move it between floors. This robo-vac can do it, for the high-end price of $1,700. You won't find another robot vacuum with its features for less than $1,000 right now. The whole point of owning a robot vacuum is so you don't have to do the cleaning yourself. But that was never the case at my house -- partly because of what I call my "Ikea chair challenge." I've seen many robo-vacs get stuck at the bottom of one of my chairs, which has an unusually shaped base. It's just one obstacle among many in my home, which is also filled with pet hair, paw prints and three teenage sons who leave things lying around everywhere. Luckily I'm the product development design engineer who oversees operations at CNET's testing lab, and after the Dreame X50 robot vacuum was named CNET's best for obstacles and pets, I got to see how it performed in real-world conditions at my place. Well, it conquered the Ikea chair. It was actually pretty entertaining to watch as the Dreame X50 struggled, regrouped and then used its auxiliary climbing arms to get over the chair's base, and that was just one of the tools in its arsenal. Now Playing: Follow These Tips for Buying a Robot Vacuum in 2025 03:18 My experience with the Dreame X50 Ultra robot vacuum Performance-wise, the Dreame X50 Ultra was generally solid. It started with a full deep clean, then vacuumed and mopped on its second run. During the app setup, I told it I had pets, so it emptied its dustbin a bunch during the first run. I found it to be pretty smart about lifting its mops while vacuuming the carpet. It took 123 minutes to complete its work around my home. The mopping function was surprisingly effective, tackling muddy paw prints on my vinyl plank flooring as well as I could myself with a stick mop. And I was particularly impressed with its object avoidance; it navigated around shoes, cords and even my two dogs without issue. Setting it up was a breeze: The app was intuitive and the quality of the machine's build felt robust, although with so many moving parts -- like its auxiliary climbing arms and lowering turret -- I question its long-term durability. The Dreame X50 also did a great job at identifying cords, and it knew to avoid them. Jared Hannah/CNET One key feature that really stood out was the tangle-free roller. In my home test, comparing the Dreame X50 to my older Roborock Q5 after cleaning a large area rug, the difference was striking. The Roborock was clogged with hair, while the Dreame's roller was completely clean. This is a massive advantage over competitors, which often struggle with pet hair. This is another one of my big tests -- I call it my "Great Pyrenees challenge" -- and the Dreame X50 passed with flying colors. My family quickly grew accustomed to it zipping around, and it became almost like another member of the household -- quirky and sometimes a little confused, but overall very helpful. In the end, watching it conquer obstacles like the base of my Ikea chair, where other robots get stuck, was not just effective. It was actually fun to watch. A closer look at the Dreame X50 brush roller. It can be removed easily if you ever need to clear anything that might get caught between the dual rollers. Jared Hannah/CNET The specs Price: Approximately $1,700 (at full price) Approximately $1,700 (at full price) Features: Tangle-free roller, climbing arms, navigation turret, mopping with base cleaning, object avoidance. Tangle-free roller, climbing arms, navigation turret, mopping with base cleaning, object avoidance. Connectivity: Wi-Fi Wi-Fi Mapping: Quick mapping, room and flooring detection. Quick mapping, room and flooring detection. Navigation: Camera and lidar. Camera and lidar. App: Live view, customizable settings, pet photos. Live view, customizable settings, pet photos. Cleaning: Vacuum and mop combo. Vacuum and mop combo. Base Station: Mop cleaning and drying, tanks, cleaning solution spot. Mop cleaning and drying, tanks, cleaning solution spot. Cleaning Time: Slower than some. CNET's buying advice The Dreame X50 will take photos of your pets if you enable that setting. You can click on the pet icon on the cleaning map to see the photos after a cleaning cycle. Jared Hannah/CNET The Dreame X50 Ultra is feature-rich, ideal for pets, obstacles and object avoidance. It's best if you want advanced navigation and mopping, and are willing to pay extra for features like the climbing arms and lowering turret. However, it's not the absolute best at pure vacuuming, especially on carpets, and the software can be a bit quirky. At its full price of around $1,700, the Dreame X50 Ultra is a very expensive robot vacuum. If you highly value its unique features like the climbing ability and advanced furniture navigation, then it could be worth the investment. However, if you're primarily concerned with raw vacuuming power or are on a tighter budget, there are more cost-effective options. It's a luxury product, and the value aligns with its premium features. For better carpet vacuuming performance and a lower price point, the Ecovacs Deebot T30Sor the iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus both performed better on carpet and pet hair tests during CNET's lab testing. While all three have vacuum and mopping functionality, the Ecovacs Deebot T30S ($1,400 with a stick vac included) or the iRobot Roomba Combo J7 ($600) are both cheaper than the Dreame X50 Ultra ($1,699). It's worth pointing out though, that the Dreame X50 Ultra is one of the few robot vacuums we've tested at CNET with the ability to climb over objects, surmount spaces and lower itself under furniture. This is the live view mode in the app so that you can see what the robot sees in real time from its front facing camera. It's a neat way to check on your house when you're not home. Jared Hannah/CNET To see how the Dreame X50 compares with other models, check out our list of the best robot vacuums available now.
CNET
10 hours ago
- CNET
Dreame Just Unveiled Affordable Robot Vacuums That Can Climb Over the Threshold Between Rooms. I Saw Them First
Dreame is well known for its robot vacuums, with the Dreame X50 Ultra being one of CNET's top picks due to its ability to cross obstacles with its lift system and advanced mapping and navigation. This feature, first unveiled at CES 2025, is great if you have thresholds in your home, but it's also costly, running around $1,700 at full price. Dreame's new L40s lineup aims to make this handy feature more affordable, bringing the lift system to the L40s Ultra and premium navigation and multifloor mapping to the rest of the lineup. I spent a few hours with Dreame's new robot vacuums to see how they perform. I also looked at Dreame's more premium Aqua 10 Series, which incorporated the threshold-crossing feature and made it even better. Here's what impressed me most. Watch this: Follow These Tips for Buying a Robot Vacuum in 2025 03:18 Premium features across the L40s lineup The L40s lineup brings more premium features from the X50 Ultra to more affordable vacuums. Ajay Kumar/CNET The new Dreame L40s shares a couple of premium features across the lineup. The main feature is on the sensor and software side, with all three new models getting the Pathfinder smart navigation and 3DAdapt obstacle avoidance. These give them smarter mapping and route planning for cleaning sessions and more advanced sensors to detect and navigate around obstacles. In the app, you'll be able to set customizable cleaning zones and virtual boundaries if there's somewhere you don't want the robots to go. There's also support for multifloor mapping, making it easier for a single robot to tackle multiple levels, though you'll still need to move them since they can't climb stairs quite yet. Naturally, you get smart home integration with support for third-party voice assistants, including Alexa and Google Assistant. On the hardware side, all three vacuums have a 5,200-mAh extended battery, which should provide more cleaning time. They also all get the Vormax suction, which should provide stronger suction that can adjust to your flooring type. All the new robots also come with self-empty and auto-refilling docking stations. Dreame Aqua 10 Roller and Ultra Roller The Aqua 10 at the docking station. Ajay Kumar/CNET The Aqua 10 Ultra Roller is the robot vacuum I spent the most time with in Dreame's demo area. It's a much more advanced robot than the L40s. Dreame's showcase was similar to the demo we first saw at CES for the X50 Ultra, where we watched it scoot over a pair of thresholds. The regular Aqua 10 Roller supports obstacles crossing up to 2.36 inches as long as they're a double-layer step with a 3-centimeter or more gap between them, while the Ultra 10 Roller can do even better with support for obstacles up to 3.15 inches high. That's notably better than the X50 Ultra, which only manages 2.36 inches. The robot did a fairly impressive job of recognizing when the thresholding was approaching and deploying its lift system with plenty of time to leverage itself over the barrier. The Aqua 10 climbed the barriers like a champ. Ajay Kumar/CNET I noticed that, unlike the X50 Ultra, which often took multiple tries to approach a barrier and needed to frequently back up and try again, the Aqua 10 Ultra Roller could cross each threshold on the first try. I also liked that when it approached a plastic barrier intended to replicate low furniture, it immediately lowered its sensor module on top, letting it pass under it without getting caught. It's an underrated feature and one I've had issues with on other robot vacuums I've tested, where the sensors can't retract. This is something of a perfect test environment compared to using the robot vacuum in my home, but the results seem promising. It looks like Dreame may have refined the ability of the robot to recognize the threshold, but also identify when exactly it needs to deploy its legs to get itself over the barrier. Whether this still holds in a more challenging environment, such as my apartment with three cats and larger thresholds of 2 inches and higher, remains to be seen. But I'm aiming to test it. The Aqua 10 knew when to boost itself up for maximum leverage. Ajay Kumar/CNET Other capabilities are impressive. Both models come with 30,000 pascals of suction, which should translate into strong pickup performance on hard flooring and carpet. You also get a rolling mop brush roller that constantly cleans itself with fresh water in real time. The vacuum also self-cleans in its docking station with temperatures up to 212 degrees Fahrenheit. The robot uses an interesting method to avoid getting the carpet wet by mopping. Rather than lifting up the mopping pads like many robots, it covers the mop with a rubber guard when carpets are detected, presumably saving you from errant drips and accidental contact with more plush carpets. The Aqua 10 sensor is retractable, letting it fit under low furniture. Ajay Kumar/CNET The Aqua 10 series should be available in October 2025, with pricing to be determined. Dreame L40s Ultra The L40s Ultra next to its siblings. Ajay Kumar/CNET The L40s Ultra supports obstacle crossing for a double-layer threshold up to 40 millimeters (1.5 inches), which isn't quite as high as either of the Aqua Rollers or Dreame X50 Ultra. For a single-layer threshold, the maximum height is 22 millimeters. I didn't get a chance to evaluate cleaning performance, but it comes with 19,000 pascals of suction, which should translate to fairly good pickup on hard flooring, though carpet is usually the real challenge in our testing. Regarding other features, the L40s Ultra has a dual-brush system with SideReach for vacuuming and MopExtend for mopping. Jargon aside, all you need to know is that the brushes and mops will pop up to tackle corners and edges. There's also an 8-in-1 docking station called the PowerDocket, which offers four-temperature mop washing, auto-emptying for up to 100 days, and 30% faster charging. In terms of price, the L40s Ultra will run you $1,400, making it a few hundred dollars cheaper than the X50 Ultra while offering similar flagship features. However, it's available on sale with a code DML40S600, which gives it to you for significantly less until Aug. 31. Dreame L40s Ultra AE The L40s Ultra AE is a robot vacuum designed for pets and families. Like the Ultra, it has 19,000 pascals of suction and a liftable rubber brush designed to prevent hair tangles (TriCut Brush 3.0). You also get corner cleaning with MopExtend and 167-degree Farenheight hot water mop cleaning. Like all the other models, it comes with a self-cleaning and self-emptying base station. The AE will cost $1,100 at full price, but it's similarly on sale for $400 until Aug. 31 with the code DML40SAE400. Dreame L40s Ultra CE L40s Ultra CE in the middle, next to the D20 Plus (left) and L40s Ultra (right). Ajay Kumar/CNET The CE is Dreame's entry-level model. It comes with 13,000 pascales of suction, but it still has higher-end features like being able to detect flooring types and automatically boost suction for carpet (a vital feature if you have three cats). It has rotating mops capable of pressurized scrubbing. The base station supports auto-emptying like other models and has a 3.2-liter dust bag capacity lasting 100 days. The CE has the most affordable price of the lineup, running $900, though you can get it for $350 off with the code DML40SCE350. Check out our list of the best robot vacuums available now to see how the Dreame Aqua Roller 10 series and L40s Ultra series compare with other models.
