DJI Mic Mini: one-minute review
You’re hardly short of options if you’re looking for a new wireless mic. My recent favorite is the DJI Mic 2, which is one of the best wireless mics on the market, boasting pro-quality features such as 32-bit float audio. However, for many content creators, especially those who shoot mostly with a smartphone, the Mic 2 is overkill. That’s where the Bluetooth-equipped DJI Mic Mini steps in: it’s a smaller, simpler and cheaper alternative, with the same DJI reliability that I’ve come to appreciate over years of using its devices.
The Mic Mini is positively tiny, weighing just 0.35oz / 10g (without magnet), and it pairs easily with smartphones and cameras for better quality audio on the fly. Oh, and it’s half the price of the Mic 2.
Its natural rival is the recently announced Rode Wireless Micro; however Rode’s new wireless mic is only for smartphones, whereas the Mic Mini can be used with cameras too, via its 3.5mm jack, which means it’s more versatile. It’s not a sweeping victory for the Mic Mini, though – if you’re only going to shoot with a smartphone, the Rode Wireless Micro might be the better pick because its receiver is tiny and sits flush along the underside of your phone, whereas the Mic Mini’s receiver sticks out awkwardly.
Audiophiles will probably prefer the Mic 2 over the Mic Mini too, not just for its pro audio quality with forgiving 32-bit float capability, but because the transmitters feature built-in storage and can be used independently, while you can monitor levels on the receiver’s LCD touch display for peace of mind.
Having used all three of the above mics extensively, I would personally go for the Mic Mini. The audio quality from all three is fantastic, but for outright ease of use, value, reliability, and versatility for phones and cameras, it’s the one that ticks all the boxes. DJI has created another trustworthy wireless mic; and trust me, reliability is an unsung attribute. I’ve ditched many other wireless mics for letting me down at crucial moments, leaving me without proper audio. I would have no such concerns with the Mic Mini, and it earns my five-star seal of approval.
DJI Mic Mini: price and release date
- $169 / £145 / AU$245 for the compete kit with 2x mics, receiver and charging case
- Components available individually
- Available now
DJI sells the Mic Mini components individually but also as a complete kit, whereas the Rode Wireless Micro is a complete kit only, and you need to select the USB-C or Lightning receiver version.
The Mic Mini transmitters (mics) are available in Infinity Black or Arctic White. One transmitter costs $59 / £49 / AU$69, a transmitter with receiver costs $89 / £79 / $AU125, while the complete kit, which includes two transmitters, a receiver and a charging case, costs $169 / £145 / AU$245. The complete kit is probably your best bet if you’re starting from scratch.
The receiver is attached to a phone using a USB-C connector, but if you’re using an iPhone with Lightning port you’ll need to purchase the adapter separately for $19 / £19 / AU$39. When connecting to a camera, you use a 3.5mm jack instead.
The list price for the kit is similar to that of the Rode Wireless Micro, despite the Mic Mini’s greater versatility – it’s roughly $15 / £10 / AU$20 more than Rode’s offering – while it’s around half the price of DJI’s Mic 2. I think it’s excellent value.
DJI Mic Mini: specs
| Dimensions | 26.55 x 26.06 x 15.96mm (L x W x H) |
| Weight | 10g (transmitter, without magnet) |
| Range | 400m |
| Connectivity | Receiver: USB-C / Lightning, 3.5mm jack |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Battery | 11.5 hours (transmitter), 10.5 hours (receiver), up to 48 hours with fully charged case |
| Noise cancelling | Two-level, auto |
DJI Mic Mini: Design
- Tiny, discreet and available in black or white
- Easy clip or magnetic attachment
- Receiver with manual audio levels gain, but no monitoring
The neat thing about DJI’s Mic Mini is that there are several ways you can connect to your phone or camera, and several ways to buy; individual components, a mic and receiver kit, or the complete kit which contains two mics (with magnets), one receiver, a charging case, plus wind muffs for the mics.
I had the complete kit for this review with USB-C connector, though technically you only need a single mic to get going with the Mic Mini because it can connect to your phone via Bluetooth. For manual control of audio levels, plus the added stability and richer audio quality, I prefer connecting a phone to the mic through the Mic Mini receiver, rather than relying on Bluetooth.
The mics, also called transmitters, are tiny and easily droppable, but they attach easily to clothing using the built-in clip, or the magnetic mount, one half of which fixes to the back of the clip, with the other half going inside your jacket or similar – DJI knows how to make a powerful magnet with a reliable hold. If you want a discreet mic in your shots, you’ll struggle to find a smaller alternative, plus you can buy the mics in black or white to blend in with clothing.
When using a camera, you can slot the receiver into the camera’s hotshoe / coldshoe and then connect it using a 3.5mm jack (the cable is provided). The receiver is a good fit for cameras, but it is a little awkward with a phone when attached via the phone’s USB-C / Lightning port, because it sticks out a lot and the connection feels a little loose (see image below).
The receiver is a simpler offering compared to the one you get with the Mic 2. It features a power button, pairing button, 3.5mm jack and a ±12db audio level dial. That’s it. The Mic 2 receiver features a basic LCD touch display through which you can monitor audio levels for both mics and make more advanced audio adjustments. The bulkier Mic 2 transmitters also feature built-in storage, and can be used independently of your camera of choice, or used as a backup device.
DJI Mic Mini: Performance
- Two-level noise reduction, and Automatic Limiting to prevent audio clipping
- 11.5 hours battery life (transmitter), 10.5 hours battery life (receiver)
- Omnidirectional audio and up to 400m range
Where DJI’s wireless mics differ here is that the pricier Mic 2 features 32-bit float audio that can more effectively avoid clipping when your audio suddenly gets loud, and internal storage for direct recording so that you can use it independently of a camera or as a backup, while its receiver features a display to let you monitor audio levels.
The Mic Mini is a much simpler device, with its receiver offering basic manual ±12db audio level control, but otherwise it’s really for those who want the mic to capture excellent quality audio with minimal fuss.
I used the Mic Mini complete kit over several weeks and found it to be completely reliable and glitch-free, whatever phone or camera I paired it with. It’s transmission range is rated up to 400m (with clear line of sight), which is plenty enough for any conceivable scenario – I’ve never been even close to that distance from my camera when recording audio wirelessly.
As for audio quality, I’ve recorded clips using a Bluetooth connection and the receiver in the quiet indoors, outside in the wind, and in noisy environments, and in general the Mic Mini captures clear audio in any of those scenarios. Vocals aren’t quite as rich as with the Mic 2, but for 99% of people the difference won’t be noticeable. You should also note that audio drops from 24-bit to 16-bit if you connect via Bluetooth, so there’s not quite the same richness in vocal quality.
Having such relatively limited control over audio settings was a little disconcerting at first, especially compared to using the Mic 2, but the real plus to the Mic Mini is its sheer simplicity – you can rely on its connectivity and two-level noise reduction to do the job, including the one-touch denoise control when in particularly loud environments.
What I didn’t do for this test was pair the Mic Mini kit with a DJI camera, such as the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 – a top-rated vlogging camera – or the Osmo Action 5 Pro. Doing so affords additional benefits courtesy of the DJI ecosystem – for one, the cameras have a built-in receiver, so you only need a transmitter from the Mic Mini kit. I’ve previously paired the Mic 2 with the Osmo Pocket 3 and found the experience completely seamless, so if you’re using a DJI camera it makes sense to opt for a DJI mic over rivals.
Should I buy the DJI Mic Mini?
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
DJI Mic Mini: also consider
| Header Cell – Column 0 | DJI Mic Mini | Rode Wireless Micro | DJI Mic 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimension | Transmitter: 26.6 x 26.1 x 16mm (L x W x H)Receiver: 46.5 x 29.6 x 19.3mm (L x W x H) | Transmitter: 40 x 27 x 17mm (L x W x H)Receiver: 44 x 24 x 9mm (L x W x H) | Transmitter: 46.1 x 31 x 21.8mm (L x W x H)Receiver: 54.2 x 28.4 x 22.5mm (L x W x H) |
| Weight | 10g (transmitter, without magnet) | 12g (transmitter, without magnet), 102g for the whole kit | 28g (transmitter, without magnet) |
| Transmission range | 400m | 100m | 250m |
| Connectivity | Receiver: USB-C or Lightning, 3.5mm jack | Receiver: USB-C or Lightning | Receiver: USB-C, 3.5mm jack |
| Battery | 11.5 hours (transmitter), 10.5 hours (receiver), up to 48 hours with fully charged case | 7 hours, plus two additional charges from the fully charged case for a total of 21 hours | 6 hours, plus two additional charges from the fully charged case for a total of 18 hours |
| Audio | 24-bit (drops to 16-bit via Bluetooth) | 24-bit | 32-bit float, 24-bit |
| Noise cancelling | Two-level, auto | No | AI |
| Bluetooth | Yes | No | Yes |
How I tested the DJI Mic Mini
- Used for several months
- Paired with cameras and smartphones
- Used Bluetooth and receiver connection methods
I’ve been using the DJI Mic Mini on and off for months, both with mirrorless cameras like the Panasonic Lumix GH5 and smartphones such as the Google Pixel 6. I’ve paired the Mic Mini to a phone using Bluetooth and via the receiver attached to my phone. I haven’t used the Mic Mini with DJI cameras such as the Osmo Pocket 3 and Osmo Action 5 Pro (though I have used the Mic 2 with them), for which the compatibility is even easier given they both feature a built-in receiver.
I’ve made sure to test the mic in a range of environments: the quiet of indoors, in still outdoor conditions and in wind, and in noisy places too, with and without denoise applied. I’ve also been able to compare it directly to the Rode Wireless Micro which I was testing at the same time.