Review on Saramonic SmartMic Mini Condenser Flexible Microphone: High-quality Audio for Smartphones, iPhones, and Androids - Perfect for Vlogging, YouTube Videos, and More! by Dan Sturm

My phone is a pixel, so the headphone jack is in the same corner of the phone as the front camera. When this mic is tilted towards me for a selfie, the mic is in the frame. When I tilt the mic out of sight, the mic is aimed over my shoulder, but the audio is still better than my phone's internal mic. If I replace the foam windsock with a fluffy windsock on a very windy day, the microphone needs to be tilted even further so that it's not pointing directly at me when recording from the front. I don't know how much that affects the sound quality. This is obviously not a problem with the rear camera. Molding on the plug itself is minimal, allowing it to be used with some not-so-bulky housings, unlike other similar mics I've tried. I want to keep my case on the phone as it's a bit awkward when the phone gets caught in a gable or selfie stick and can fall off. I find it best to insert the mic after the phone is placed in the cradle. I imagine this mic will break right on the phone if you drop it. This requires a little more balancing with my gable, but I'd rather do that than pry out a broken connector with tweezers. The microphone itself is (sort of) isolated from the rotating arm with a vibration-dampening rubber ring. When inserting or tilting the microphone, be sure to hold it by the hinge and not the microphone itself. I think prolonged twisting and turning of the mic will eventually damage it. I wouldn't call that a design flaw, more like a design sacrifice. It's a great design for isolating the mic from the pops and vibrations of the phone itself, but it comes at the expense of sensitivity. However, I plan to hold it at an angle to minimize twisting and flexing at the pivot point of the mount. The last problem I have and it's not the fault of this device, it's when it's plugged in. , the phone speaker is muted as the phone assumes a headset is now connected. I often review a video before moving on to the next frame, and to make sure I have good sound and picture, I unplug and plug this mic back in every time I want to review a video. The default camera app on my phone asks me to "swipe right for external microphone" every time I take a picture. It's always on when I swipe right, it just seems like a waste of time. I would give it five stars but I think it's too delicate for normal phone use. Maybe using it on a DSLR on a tripod would make me feel different. In order to keep the microphone out of the front camera's field of view and still point it directly at the subject, the rotating end of the connector should be about 13 mm (1/2 inch) longer. protrude further and lose balance in the suspension, also it is more prone to twisting and possibly twisting. Compared to other similar devices, this is more than double the price. According to the description, the characteristics of this microphone are: 35 Hz 18 kHz; Signal/Noise: 74dB SPL. However, the packaging that listed this microphone stated the following specifications: from 50 Hz to 18 kHz; Signal/Noise: 58dB SPL; Sensitivity: -30dB±3dB (0dB=1V/Pa 1kHz). for another for less than 1/2 Cost: 100 Hz - 18 kHz Sensitivity: -25 dB ± 3 dB (0 dB = 1 V / Pa 1 kHz) Equivalent noise level: > 60 dB at 1 kHz The sound quality seems similar to be, so maybe that rubber grommet is worth the price difference with less noise Finally, the first selfie test video I shot played back with a black screen. The audio was great just no video. I'm not sure if it was just an accident or what. I can't imagine what that has to do with the mic, but thought it was worth mentioning. I restarted my phone and couldn't reproduce the problem.