Speaking of cheap microphones, I think it is fair to say that we have been quite spoiled in the past few years with the emergence of many high-quality microphones under $100. All the major microphone manufacturers are trying to develop cheap microphones. Now, NZXT has miniaturized its flagship Capsule microphone into a great looking mini-microphone.

The Capsule Mini is a small USB microphone that will make your voice sound crisp and clear for as little as $70. The beauty of the Capsule Mini is that it sounds as good as more expensive microphones, but costs a fraction of the price. Given that it is targeted at budget users, it is not surprising that some features have been trimmed to keep costs down. Thankfully, what it lacks is solid recording quality, and NZXT continues my recent streak of great-sounding budget mics (opens in new tab).

I really like the black and white color scheme of the NZXT Capsule (opens in new tab) on the Capsule Mini; with no RGB, it's a nice way to add some personality, and I'm sure the NZXT Capsule Mini will be a great addition to my collection.

The Mini is simple, with just a volume knob on the front (press to mute), a 3.5mm jack on the bottom, and a USB-Type C port. It is mostly a plug-and-play solution, so if you want to tinker with microphone settings such as gain or mix, you will have to rely on third-party or proprietary NZXT Cam software. you would be better off using OBS or XSplit. HyperX Solocast (opens in new tab), Razer Seiren Mini (opens in new tab), or Audio Technica AT2020+ (opens in new tab). The sound is clear and crisp, providing solid midrange vocals that are ideal for use as a microphone for podcasting or video calls. Interestingly, the Capsule Mini sounds as good as the Solocast and Seiren Mini, and all three have fairly similar specs (c)ed(.) So it makes sense, but the Capsule Mini has a slightly wider frequency range.

In the test audio, you can hear a fairly pronounced prose, so it's a really good idea to invest in a pop filter or windscreen to avoid this problem. When I test microphones, I usually speak into them from about 15 cm away.

My biggest complaint about the Capsule is that its all-plastic body is unlikely to last. It's a shame, because I really like the overall look of the microphone. And frankly, I'm surprised, given the sturdiness of the included metal desk stand. Usually, the opposite is true: an explosion-proof microphone comes with a comically meek and wobbly stand.

I also noticed that when removing it from the desk stand to mount it on the boom arm, the desk stand scratched the side of the microphone, leaving ugly black scratches on the side of the Capsule Mini. There is no worse feeling than having your new equipment scratched within the first hour of use

For $70, we were expecting something more durable like Audio-Technica's At2020+; the At2020+ has a sturdy enclosure with a metal grille that can withstand shocks, and the At2020+ has a built-in microphone stand that can be mounted on a boom arm. Our favorite budget microphone, the Solocast, which occasionally appears on sale for as low as $35, has a much sturdier frame for travel. All of these products sound about the same, if not better.

NZXT also sent me a Boom Arm Mini which sells for $70 (opens in new tab). Installation was easy and the arm is well made. I love the boom arm, which keeps the cable in place and doesn't look like a microphone attached to the end of a bent piece of metal. And if you're the type who likes to move the mic around as you talk, it will be able to handle the chaos. More importantly, it's small enough that it won't take up too much room on your desk.

The NZXT Capsule Mini is a good little mic that takes everything I like about the Capsule mic and puts a shrink ray on it. But even as a budget mic, the $70 price still seems high, and its not-so-great build quality doesn't help its case.