Built-in vs external microphone: which should you use?
Every laptop and most webcams have a microphone built in, so it's tempting to just use what's already there. Whether that's good enough depends entirely on what you're using it for.
When your built-in mic is genuinely fine
For quick, occasional video calls — a family chat, a one-off meeting — a modern laptop's built-in microphone is usually acceptable. Most built-in mics include basic noise suppression, and call apps like Zoom and Teams apply additional processing on top of that. If you're not on calls often, spending money on a separate microphone probably isn't worth it.
When it's worth upgrading
- You're on calls daily for work. Built-in mics pick up keyboard typing, fan noise, and room echo far more than a dedicated microphone. Over many hours a week, this adds up to real friction for the people listening to you.
- You record video, podcasts, or voiceovers. Built-in mics are typically optimized for "good enough for a call," not for content that needs to sound clean when played back or edited. An external USB microphone makes a noticeable difference here.
- You sit far from your laptop. Built-in mics are designed for someone sitting directly in front of the screen. If you move around, use an external monitor with your laptop closed, or sit further back, audio quality drops sharply.
- Your room has an echo or a lot of background noise. A directional external microphone rejects room noise and reverb far better than the omnidirectional mics built into most laptops.
USB microphone vs XLR microphone
If you decide to upgrade, most people should start with a USB microphone — it plugs directly into a computer with no extra equipment, and modern USB mics (in the $30–$100 range) sound dramatically better than a laptop's built-in mic. XLR microphones need an audio interface or mixer to work and are generally only worth it for serious podcasting, music recording, or streaming setups.
How to know if it's actually an upgrade
Once you have a candidate microphone, compare it directly rather than guessing. Use our Mic Tester tool with your built-in mic, note how the level meter responds to normal speaking volume, then switch to the external mic in your browser's site settings and test again — a good external mic should hit a strong, steady level without you needing to speak unusually loudly or lean in close.