RØDE Wireless Micro Ultra-compact Wireless Microphone
design
Launched alongside the 3rd Gen RODE Wireless GO, as the name suggests, size is the key change for the RODE Wireless Micro and it’s impressive just how small the entire setup is. At 72mm long and 58mm wide the Wireless Micro’s all encompassing charging case is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand and definitely pocketable. It houses a matching pair of lapel microphones and a new receiver system that follows in the footsteps of other brands like the AnkerWork M650 with a direct connection design.
Disappointingly however, where similar options like the M650 or DJI Mic offer both USB-C and Lightning connectors in the box, RODE makes you choose between them. On one hand, this feels like a shame and makes the RODE Wireless Micro a more shortsighted option. The lightning connector is a dying beast and even if you’re currently using an iPhone with that connector, an upgrade path or cross-device compatibility is non-existent. On the other hand the permanently integrated connector allows the Wireless Micro’s received to be considerably smaller than both of the other options and it’s one less little part to lose. That said, Apple hasn’t sold an iPhone with a lightning connector since 2022 so this is a short-lived dilemma.
Build quality is as high as you’d expect from a brand with RODE’s reputation, everything feels premium and solid, with subtle styling thanks to the Wireless Micro’s smooth rounded edges. Like a lot of RODE’s range you’re offered two colour choices, plain black or plain white. I’ve been testing the black version, though whichever you choose you’ll find a largely matte covering with some glossy accents on both the microphones themselves and the receiver.
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Each of the two included microphones are equally as small and sleek, measuring just 4cm long and 2cm wide, they’re half the size of what’s included with the Wireless GO. The integrated clip offers plenty of nip strength but I’m personally a fan of the strong magnetic connector which allows for neater mounting away from the edge of clothing. It’s the same concept as you’ll find on the AnkerWork M650, I loved it there and I love it here too.
The included furry windshields hug the entire mic body, a good improvement over past Wireless GO systems but strangely these fluffy friends don’t have a home in the charging case. I understand space is at a premium on a micro device but it means carrying a second bag or risking throwing them loose in a pocket. For the sake of an extra few millimeters on the RODE Wireless Micro case dimensions I’d have much preferred a little slot to stow them in.
performance
I’ve used the RODE Wireless Micro’s older brother, the RODE Wireless Go II, extensively in the past, it’s a superb system that captures great audio but the receiver meant it was always a little awkward to work with. Needing to remember to pack an extra cable was bad enough, but then needing an adapter for that cable too? Urgh. Worst of all once it was finally connected the receiver would flail around underneath my phone, throwing my gimbal off balance and generally being a nuisance. I appreciate how first world problems this scenario may seem, but for creators on the move or looking to capture candid content it quickly becomes a genuine issue.
The RODE Wireless Micro solves those headaches entirely and I can’t stress how simple it is to get started. Flick the case open, plug the receiver directly into your device, clip a mic on and you’re away. Across my iPhone 15 Pro, iPad Pro and MacBook Air, each device instantly recognised the RODE Wireless Micro and I was able to record in the app of my choosing flawlessly. None of RODE’s own apps were ever my app of choice mind you, they’re lacking in features and do nothing to offer an improved experience over a stock app – a surprising and disappointing discovery.
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Strangely however while my devices were always happy to start talking to the receiver, the RODE Wireless Micro mics weren’t always so keen to talk to their counterpart. Admittedly this was an intermittent issue but on a couple of occasions during testing the receiver didn’t pick up the mic I was trying to use first time. It was always resolved by chucking it back in the case for a second but for such a closed ecosystem I didn’t expect to have this kind of problem. Fingers crossed it’s an early firmware issue and something that can be shored up over time.
With everything up and running I was impressed by what the RODE Wireless Micro was capable of for such a little unit. My voice came through clean and natural with plenty of oomph behind it, both in terms of depth of sound and overall gain. I did find it susceptible to coming across a little ‘roomy’ at times, particularly in more open or harder-surfaced spaces but it was never to the detriment of my voice as the main event. It’s not a fussy mic either, I tried clipping it to a range of positions across the front of my shirt, using both the clip and the magnet, and couldn’t pickup a major difference from one to the next.
In more controlled environments I went from impressed to amazed at what the RODE Wireless Micro could deliver when given the chance. Recording a podcast episode in a quiet, carpeted room with plenty of soft furnishings and window treatments the Wireless Micro offered near studio-quality vocals. It’s obviously not as good as my full setup running a Shure MV7+ but for a wireless of mic of this size it gives it a damn good go and is a more than acceptable substitute for times where you’re caught short.
It’s clear simplicity is the goal for RODE with the Wireless Micro, I can’t fault the job it does in this regard, however it can also come across as little thin on the feature front for more experienced creators. RODE’s GainAssist technology performed well at keeping my voice at a consistent level though I’d have liked to have seen some level of noise reduction included given it’s likely use case. This is achievable on the software side in plenty of other ways so it’s not a disaster, but for these kinds of basic post-processing options to be missing both onboard and via RODE’s own apps is a shame.
summed up
There’s no denying the RODE Wireless Micro punches above its size class. It delivers wonderful audio in a tiny form factor while solving the connectivity quirks that were one of my biggest annoyances with the Wireless GO range.
In the right situation the Wireless Micro delivers unbelievable results, in less than ideal situations it still delivers superb results and it does it while being as close to plug-and-play as possible.
