The Boya BY-WM3 is a wireless microphone system for your smartphone. It lets you capture your speaking voice more clearly when vlogging or streaming. It comes with either a USB-C (BY-WM3U) or Lightning (BY-WM3D) adaptor, as well as 3.5mm audio connectors for use with cameras, too.
Quick specs
- 2.4GHz wireless
- Charging case with USB-C input
- Compatible with USB-C (BY-WM3U) or Lightning (BY-WM3D) phones
- 3.5mm connectors included for use with compatible devices
The BY-WM3 comes in a charging case, which has its own battery to recharge the receiver (marked RX) and transmitter (the mic, marked TX) twice. According to the manufacturer, the receiver and transmitter will work continuously for 8 and 4.5 hours, respectively, when fully charged. The case also stores a smartphone, two 3.5mm adaptors, and a foam windscreen for the mic. The entire package is very compact, and well-thought-out. However, the case's cover feels flimsy, so take care not to snap it off accidentally.
(Credit: John Chan/Can Buy or Not)
Using this wireless mic setup is dead simple. Open the case, attach the correct adaptor to the receiver (USB-C or Lightning), power on both the receiver and mic, connect receiver to phone, and you're done. Your phone detects that a headset has been connected, so it's like you have a wired headset with mic connected. This will work with any video/voice recording or livestreaming app on your phone, such as TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook. The transmitter (mic) has a clip you can attach to your collar.
Now, you may ask, why not just use a Bluetooth headset like AirPods? Unfortunately, iOS and most Android smartphones use the audio from wireless headsets mainly for telephony apps. There are exceptions like the Voice Memo app in iOS and some third-party paid video-recording apps. But in general, even with AirPods connected, your default camera app, as well as apps like Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, will use the phone's built-in microphone instead. So if you are recording or livestreaming yourself from a distance, voice pickup will suffer.
(Credit: John Chan/Can Buy or Not)
I recorded myself using the Boya BY-WM3, paired with an Apple iPhone 11 Pro, then repeated the test using the phone's built-in mic. This was done in a relatively quiet environment, and the improvement in voice quality is quite remarkable. This improvement should be even more pronounced when used outdoors. I also bought the USB-C adaptor and tested it with an Android smartphone, and got similar results. I've attached the audio recordings below.
Whether you are livestreaming lectures, recording podcasts/interviews or starting your career as a YouTube creator, the Boya BY-WM3 is a solid choice for better audio. I found it on Shopee at S$180, a reasonable price for the convenience, simplicity and quality it offers.
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