A small wireless microphone is colorful and cheap

Recently, high-quality wireless microphone systems cost more than $500 and require a large transmitter and lav mic cable installed under the subject’s shirt. DJI’s Mic Mini showed how unnecessary all that was, combining a microphone and transmitter into a 0.35-ounce device that delivers high-quality audio for under $100.

Now, DJI has released the Mic Mini 2 (around $100) as a mild update to the original at a much lower price. It’s fashion forward thanks to new colored magnetic covers and offers sound enhancement with new voice tone presets. Those changes make it the best budget wireless microphone for new buyers, but it’s not worth the upgrade if you already have a Mic Mini — and DJI’s flagship Mic 3 is better if you can afford it. However, note that the Mic Mini 2 is not currently sold in the US as it has not yet been certified by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

Design and features

The Mic Mini 2 now comes in two packages for smartphone and camera users. One includes a receiver with a 3.5mm microphone output for mirrorless cameras, while the other offers a mobile receiver with a USB-C port for smartphones. Both kits include a charging case, one or two transmitters (mics) and a receiver. You also get a magnetic mount, a clip mount, black and white magnetic front covers and a front screen for each microphone. The camera kit includes a smartphone adapter as well.

The camera kit contains 10 mic covers in a rainbow of hues that look like they’re borrowed from ’90s Macs, allowing you to match someone’s outfit or add a pop of color. They all have a large, distracting DJI logo, however, many creators may want to cover it with a piece of tape. DJI also has ’90s-style designer front covers in several pastel shades, available for around $45.

DJI has changed the design of the transmitter slightly from the previous model’s curved shape to a flat design to better accommodate the new magnetic covers. The microphone section also weighs more at 0.39 ounces. Although small, each microphone is rated for up to 11.5 hours on a charge, and the receiver should go for about 10.5 hours with noise cancellation disabled. In my tests​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​continuous recording with video composite as an audio source, I even managed to slightly exceed these times, so you can use it for a full day of shooting. This is better than almost all competitors including the Rode Wireless Go III, which is rated at seven hours per charge. Another wireless microphone in this price range, the Hollyland Lark M2, has a claimed runtime of 10 hours between charges.

As before, the transmitter and receiver fit into a magnetic charging case. The portable charging case is small enough to slip into a pants pocket, while the larger camera version fits into a jacket pocket or bag. In addition to being a convenient way to store the transmitter and receiver, they can charge the microphone and receiver 3.6 times, giving you 48 hours of use even without a wall plug. It took me about two hours to charge all three devices in the camera case and about an hour to charge the small receiver and one transmitter in the cell phone case.

Mic Mini 2 transmitters can be paired directly with smartphones via Bluetooth or you can connect them to DJI cameras such as Osmo Action 6, Osmo 360 and Osmo Pocket 4 through DJI’s OsmoAudio system.

Sound quality

To use the Mic Mini 2, simply attach the microphone (transmitter) to your subject, with a clip or magnetic attachment, and turn it on. Then, tighten the receiver and connect it to your camera with a 3.5mm cable or plug it into the USB-C port of your smartphone. Everything is matched automatically, and the last step is to adjust the level between -12 db and +12 db using the dial on the side (camera receiver only). Noise reduction is set via a switch on the mobile receiver, or via the Mimo app on the camera receiver.

There is a big difference between DJI’s Mic Mini 2 and the more expensive flagship Mic 3 when it comes to audio details. The great thing is that the Mic 3 supports internal 32-bit float recording (with 32GB of storage) which eliminates clipping in most situations, even if your levels are very high. It also comes with a variable gain control to adjust the volume if your subject tends to lower or raise the voice too much.

In comparison, the Mic Mini 2 only offers automatic limiting, which prevents clipping but can degrade sound quality. It also offers no internal recording so you don’t have a backup if your camera or smartphone recording fails. The Mic Mini 2 also doesn’t have a sound level indicator like the Mic 3.

Despite those limitations, the 48Khz, 24-bit audio quality on the Mic Mini 2 is excellent. I recorded my voice using all three voice tone presets, and found that I could use the “rich” mode (which emphasizes low tones) without the need to do post-equalization. The “normal” setting provides a neutral and balanced sound, while the “bright” mode adds clarity to noisy situations. If you prefer to do the EQ yourself, the normal mode is best.

A good microphone test is to record your voice and extract the EQ levels over a narrow band of frequencies. An average microphone will distort the sound at more than one distance, reducing the sound quality. DJI’s Mic Mini 2 performed well here, showing little distortion of my voice at just one frequency. When I turned the gain down to that range, my vocals sounded clear and full.

Another key feature is noise cancellation. DJI’s Mic Mini 2 offers two levels of AI-powered noise cancellation depending on the amount of background noise. At low setting, it reduced background noise but introduced some distortion. However, high-level noise canceling is very distracting to the sound, so you should use it sparingly if the noise is loud. I also tested the Mic Mini 2’s wireless range and was able to record audio at 450 yards from the receiver as DJI claims, although the device disconnected once at that distance.

The Mic Mini 2 retains some functions from the original Mini such as automatic limiting to prevent clipping. It supports two microphones at the same time, and when used in Stereo mode, it allows you to capture each microphone on a different channel so you can mix them later. To set up those functions, you need to use DJI’s Mimo smartphone app.

Finish it

The Mic Mini 2 is now available in Europe and elsewhere but not in the US due to a lack of certification. It costs around half as much as the Mic Mini did at launch, just €89/£89 for a camera kit with two transmitters and a receiver, or €49/£54 for a mobile kit with one transmitter and receiver.

Considering the features and price, the Mic Mini 2 doesn’t have much competition. One of its biggest competitors is the Rode Wireless Go III, but that model is twice the price and lacks noise cancellation. It has better sound quality, though. Other options in the same price range from Hollyland, Boya and others sometimes can’t connect to both a camera and a smartphone or don’t stack up in terms of sound quality and features.

Overall the Mic Mini 2 offers a good combination of range, sound quality and noise cancellation. It’s not worth the upgrade from the Mic Mini, but if you’re buying your first wireless microphone and don’t want to spend a lot, it’s a great option.