Even if you have one of the latest and greatest Android devices available, there’s always room for improvement. Whether you’re taking pictures, shooting video, or capturing audio; there’s an add-on available that can help improve your experience and results. At nothing but face value, that sounds great, but what exactly qualifies as an add-on anyway? An add-on is any device or peripheral that you add to your phone to improve performance. This could be something as small as a clip that attaches to the side of your Android, or even a box that completely encloses it. There are plenty of different add-ons out there, but today I’m going to shine a light on add-ons that help you record better audio and video. Most of these add-ons won’t break the bank, but remember that you always get what you pay for when you’re dealing with tech. Warning: Because of the nature of these add-ons, some of them are not compatible with the Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge.
5 of the Best Android Phone Audio Add-ons Available
I’m far from an audiophile, but I like my recordings free of static and background noise whenever possible. I’m the guy who constantly worries if his Skype audio is scratchy, so I’m always in the market for a better mic than the one I have now. If you use your Android phone for recording, or just want calls to sound more professional, adding a microphone into the mix is a must. I’ve got five of them to talk about, and all of them will work with most Android phones.
1. The Deluxe Eaxer Mobile Microphone
This first microphone is a lapel, so you can easily clip it to a shirt, or any other similar surface while recording or just talking. Lapel mics are great for recording while mobile, and during video content since they don’t largely stand out.
Don’t mistake this microphone’s size for a poor sign of quality, it packs a punch, even with its relatively small price tag. The Deluxe Eaxer isn’t going to beat out a high end microphone, but for the money, you’ll get decent sound quality in a portable package that will always be in its proper range.
2. Neewer Mini Condenser Microphone
At first glance, this microphone looks like it would be unwieldy on an Android phone, but once you see a shot for scale, you can see why it’s a mini condenser.
This microphones first major selling point is the price. I’ve said that “You get what you pay for!” before, but at $5.99, you don’t have much to lose by giving this microphone a shot. The cheap package includes a stand, a pair of earphones, and two different sets of cables for a pretty crazy value.
If you don’t want to spend much, but want to see if this microphone is any better than your phone’s built-in one, this is worth a shot. If the Neewer isn’t what you’re looking for, you’ll at least get a nice looking, tiny prop for future use.
3. The TONOR Dual Audio Output Condenser Microphone
Next on the list is the TONOR, this mic doesn’t come with a stand, but it can stand on its own two feet for the modest price of $29.99.
The TONOR is battery powered, but is rechargeable, and even comes with its own cable for this if you don’t have one handy. The mic doesn’t have any earphones for convenient playback, but does have a built in speaker that gets the same job done.
Like most of the microphones on this list, the TONOR is a condenser mic, so you can expect a level of quality that fits the asking price. If you want a microphone with decent quality, at a decent price, for multiple purposes; this might just be the mic for you.
4. The Rode VideoMic Me Directional Microphone
If you’re looking for a professional Android Audio add-on, this is a great entry level microphone for the price. The Rode VideoMic is a directional microphone, so that means you’re only going to pick up high quality sound in one specific direction, and generally only from close up.
The microphone comes with a clamp so you can easily attach it to your Android, and a wind guard that’ll help cut out any background hissing after you slip it onto the mic. The Rode VideoMic isn’t cheap, sitting at $59.00, but you’re getting rewarded for every dollar you put into it.
If you’ve never used a directional microphone before, I recommend you look up how to use one effectively to get the best sound possible from your device. This microphone isn’t for everyone, but for the price, it’s sound quality is tough to find elsewhere.
5. The VXi BlueParrott B250XT
For the last microphone on the list, I’d like to actually talk about a headset. This is the most expensive mic on the list, but if you’re looking for crystal clear audio, Bluetooth functionality, and a comfy headset; this is one of the best out there.
This headset is marketed to professional truckers, but you don’t have to drive a semi to get use out of it. One of the headset’s promoted features is noise cancellation, which is especially useful for calls in busy environments.
This isn’t a microphone that will work well with video content, but it will for calls, recordings, and even Skype. If you need a headset that can perform well in a loud environment, work over Bluetooth, and comfortably rest overtop of an ear; this is the headset for you.
3 of the Best Video Add-ons Available
Whether it’s for taking pictures, or recording videos, a good lens is a must. Depending on your Android phone, your lens could already rival a starter DSLR Camera, but what if you could make it even better? If you’re serious about using your phone as a camera, or just want to take a good picture every now and then, you need a good video add-on. I’ve got three different ones here that will fit most Android phones, if not all. These all vary in price, quality, and purpose, but each one has the potential to make your photos and videos look even better than before.
6. Toogou Professional HD Camera Lens
This lens doesn’t have a common name to most people, but it will increase camera quality and options for most people. The Toogou Professional is one of many video add-ons that works as a clip that goes over your existing camera lens.
This means it might be difficult to use if you have a bulky case, but installation is quick and painless. If you aren’t familiar with photography, a good lens is everything, so if a $20 clip can improve your shots; it’s well worth it.
With that said, the Toogou Professional adds wide-angle, and macro capabilities to your standard camera with just a single clip. This isn’t going to magically transform your Android into a DSLR, but for the price, it can’t be beat.
7. XENVO Premium Camera Lens Kit with LED Light
If you look at the product page for the XENVO Premium, it doesn’t look especially different from the Toogou Professional. Well, that’s because it isn’t. Both products strive to bring you the same results, but the XENVO comes with a few extras, and a slightly increased price.
Like the Toogou Professional, this lens is another clip on. However, it comes with a LED light to help provide even lighting to your subjects without using flash photography. If you want the perks of the Toogou Professional, but are willing to part with a little extra cash; I recommend the XENVO Premium for just $10 more.
Aside from the added light, and helpful carrying case; the XENVO and Toogou are strikingly similar as far as lens clip-ons are concerned. If you’re looking for some added features, and don’t mind spending the extra money, the XEVNO is worth the increases price.
8. Sony DSC-QX10/B
This video add-on has the shortest title, but the largest price point. The Sony DSC-QX10/B is a lens attachment that brings the power of DSLR to your smartphone, but not without bringing the DSLR price along with it.
This lens is effectively still a clip on, but it’s in a whole league of its own. With an impressive 20 MP (18.9 effective), 10x effective zoom, and Wi-Fi capability to easily connect to your Android; this lens is a pocket sized beast.
The Sony DSC-QX10/B is by far the best Android video add-on you can buy, but its power comes with a hefty $200+ price tag. If you’re serious about turning your Android into a portable, picture shooting powerhouse; this is the absolute best lens you can buy for your phone.
Conclusion
While these are only a few audio and video add-ons for Android devices, any one of the add-ons above can improve your audio and videos as much as tenfold. And after you’re done recording your newly improved audio and videos, you can still touch them up with some professional editing, right on your Android device. If you’re serious about your audio and video quality on Android, you’re only a few investments away from improving your experience. There are a number of different reasons to buy an Android add-on, but what’s your reason for buying one? You can leave your reason, and any questions you have, in the comments below. Featured Image Credit
