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Ditch your old toothbrush and upgrade to the Philips Sonicare 4100 rechargeable electric toothbrush while it's at an all-time low of just $25.

Inflation rose as expected, the second month in a row it inched up.

Today's inflation data opens the door for another Fed rate cut this month. Here's what that means for mortgage rates.

• Resaearchers uncover large database during routine analysis of available indexes
• Database held sensitive data on more than 1.6 million Kapital customers
• Company is still yet to close the archive

A Mexican fintech startup has been found holding a large database full of sensitive customer data wide open on the internet, available for anyone who knows where to look.

Security researchers from Cybernews found the database in early September 2024 after a routine investigation of publicly available indexes.

The database, belonging to a company called Kapital, contained sensitive data on 1.6 million Mexicans, including voter IDs and selfies.

Database still available online

Mexico City-based Kapital specializes in serving small and medium-sized businesses (SMB) with limited access to bank credit, providing different financial services, such as credit cards, or loans, and counts roughly 80,000 customers in the region, according to Fintech Nexus.

“The documents are integral to voting, identity verification, and accessing various services. Their exposure compromises individuals' immediate safety and privacy and can have negative financial consequences," the Cybernews team noted in its writeup.

When it comes to financial consequences, it was explained that the data can be used in wire fraud, identity theft, and similar money-related crime: “Threat actors can easily obtain and misuse sensitive information for identity theft. Criminals might attempt to create fraudulent accounts or gain unauthorized access to existing ones,” the researchers warned. “Financial fraud could lead to substantial monetary loss and damaged credit scores.”

To make matters worse, Kapital doesn’t seem to care much. Cybernews claims to have reached out “dozens” of times, to no avail. The country’s Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) was also notified. However, by the time the researchers published their report, which was on November 6, the database was still up and running, three months after initial discovery.

Misconfigured cloud databases continue being one of the key causes of data breaches and leaks, exposing millions of customer records every month.

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• The new Audio Immerse aren't earbuds or plugs; they're ear reshapers
• Some music pros say they're amazing
• We… want to believe

Imagine a technology so amazing that it changed the way you hear the world. A technology so widely compatible that it upgrades not just headphones but hi-fi speakers and concert sound systems too. A technology so clever it makes the whole world sound better.

Imagine it costs about sixty bucks.

That's what Flare Audio is promising with its new Immerse product. Immerse looks like fancy earplugs or earbuds, but the product is neither of those things. It's "ear technology" that according to the firm changes the way your ears work.

Immerse comes with impressive endorsements. U2, Killers and NiN producer Flood says he's "finally heard the true sound of music", and he doesn't mean the movie.

Kiss and Eagles of Death Metal tour manager Steve Toth says the difference "is as subtle as a flying mallet". And Manic Street Preachers producer Dave Eringa says that your jaw will "hit the floor".

The sound of science? What's new?

(Image credit: Flare Audio)

Flare Audio's Immerse look like earbuds, but don't contain any electronics – instead, they apparently use "high-precision acoustic reflectors" to change the geometry of your ear canal and improve sound quality. But we've yet to try them to see if they live up to those claims.

So what does Immerse actually do? According to its creators, the enemy of sound quality is your ear. Because the insides of our ears are kinda shell-shaped, Flare says that they distort sound by at least 20 percent. That's due to something called HRTF, short for Head Related Transfer Function.

HRTF is a real thing, and it varies from person to person: it describes how multiple factors in your head – not just the shape of your ears but the size and shape of your sinuses, the density of your head and the shape of your oral cavity – affect the sound you hear. It's astonishingly complex, but Flare says it's got a one size fits all solution to that near-infinite variety.

According to the firm:

"the patented technology uses high-precision acoustic reflectors that ensure sound waves don’t distort as they enter our ears. Using Flare’s high precision, Mirror Image Sound™ technology, the result is the most detailed and immersive sound you can imagine, from any source."

I want to believe. I really do. But Flare has a bit of a track record with grand audio claims. As the Earjobs blog wrote about its high frequency-suppressing Calmer earplugs in 2021, "Flare Calmer is the most hyped personal hearing product ever. In the months leading up to release, there were rumors that it would cure tinnitus, solve sound sensitivity, and upgrade your ears a few thousand years ahead of evolution... Online, a lot of noise has been made about its potential as a cure for tinnitus, a solution for sensory processing or hypersensitivity, as well as a stress-mitigation device."

Flare is very careful not to claim that Calmer helps tinnitus on its website. But the marketing I, and others, saw on social media included testimonials saying exactly that: as Hearing Health Matters' Ben Thompson wrote, "In a sponsored Facebook ad from Flare Audio, the company that makes this product, they say that Calmer is an 'in-ear tech device to help some people reduce tinnitus and sound sensitivities.' They describe Calmer as a 'soft silicone in-ear waveguide that removes resonance from inside of our ears.'" Both Soundly.com and Hearing Health Matters concluded that for some people, Calmer could make tinnitus symptoms worse.

I don't doubt that Immerse will adjust the way music and other audio sounds; the same firm's Calmer product does that too. And I don't doubt that some people will like the results. But I'm taking the marketing with a very big pinch of salt, and you might want to see what the people on Audio Science Review's forum are saying about it.

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Murder suspect Luigi Mangione's digital footprint could provide clues to his ideology and possible motive. And, what's next for Kroger and Albertsons after courts halt megamerger.

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T-Mobile is changing things up by introducing new plans and new perks. Could this 5G Home Internet Provider meet your broadband needs? CNET has the details.

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• Microsoft is set to pilot a new closed-loop data center cooling system
• It will cool on a tighter chip level for improved efficiency
• By 2030 it wants to replenish more water than it consumes

Microsoft is aiming to reduce its reliance on natural resources by eliminating the need for water to cool its power- and resource-hungry AI data centers in a major leap forward for sustainability.

The company plans to employ chip-level cooling technology on a much tighter scale, enabling it to use a closed-loop system to recycle water and therefore stop wasting the resource.

Microsoft has already reported a 39% improvement in its Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE) since 2021, and by 80% since its first-generation data centers in the early 2000 - and it hopes transitioning to a closed-loop system where the water is reused could see it improve this figure even more.

Microsoft closed-loop cooling for data centers

Comparing the new system to its performance this financial year, Steve Solomon, VP for Data Center Infrastructure Engineering, confirmed: “This design will avoid the need for more than 125 million liters of water per year per datacenter.”

Solomon explained how the system, which was introduced in August 2024, works: “Once the system is filled during construction, it will continually circulate water between the servers and chillers to dissipate heat without requiring a fresh water supply.”

This year, Microsoft reported using 0.30 liters of water per kWh of consumption for IT equipment for the purpose of humidification and cooling, down from 0.49L/kWh in 2021. It has also been sourcing reclaimed and recycled water for data centers in Texas, Washington, California and Singapore in order to reduce its impact on the natural water course.

Solomon added that existing data centers will continue to use their current mix of air-cooled and water-cooled systems, suggesting that they won’t be upgraded over time, however when they retire they will likely be replaced by closed-loop cooling systems. New projects in Phoenix, Arizona, and Mt. Pleasant, Wisconsin are set to pilot the new closed-loop cooling system in 2026 before they’re taken online in 2027.

Moreover, Noelle Walsh, CVP for Cloud Operations and Innovation at Microsoft, said earlier in 2024 the company plans to replenish more water than it consumed locally for data centers by the end of the decade.

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• iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2 and macOS 15.2 are now available
• They have new Apple Intelligence features including Genmoji and Image Playground
• The new update also adds ChatGPT integration to Siri

iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2 are now available adding new Apple Intelligence features such as ChatGPT in Siri, Genmoji, and Image Playground to your Apple devices.

These new upgrades are some of the biggest mid-cycle updates we've ever seen, they almost feel more significant than the initial Apple Intelligence-less iOS 18 launch in September. The headline features are Genmoji, generative emojis that have the potential to be a massive success, Image Playground which is Apple's answer to the best AI image generators, and smarter Siri thanks to ChatGPT integration. Each feature in itself is big enough to be a headline update, so to get all three wrapped into one package is the perfect early holiday gift. Both Genmoji and Image Playground will arrive on Mac at a later date.

iPhone 16 owners also get their hands on Visual Intelligence, the exclusive Apple Intelligence feature that takes advantage of the best iPhone's Camera Control. Visual Intelligence lets you search for anything you take a photo of using Google or ChatGPT, so it's similar to Google Lens.

The updates also add new language support to Apple Intelligence, with the AI now working in English (Australia), English (Canada), English (New Zealand), English (South Africa), and English (UK).

The new languages mean you can now use Apple Intelligence without changing your device settings to US English.

Siri is better, thanks to ChatGPT

(Image credit: Apple)

ChatGPT's seamless integration into Siri is a sight to behold in these latest updates, allowing you to ask Siri complex questions and actually get answers for the first time since the voice assistant's inception over 10 years ago.

ChatGPT can be accessed via voice or Type to Siri and lets you ask the incredibly smart OpenAI model complex questions that Siri can't answer. The new update to Siri is a big step forward and while it's impressive, is only just a taster of what's to come once Siri has on-screen awareness and the ability to understand personal context next year.

These new upgrades show Apple is delivering on its promise to vastly improve Apple Intelligence with every update and the best is still yet to come.

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• Nintendo Alarmo's latest firmware update is live now
• It features a handful of scenes from Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
• Alarmo owners can download the update now if they've connected the device to the internet

The Nintendo Sound Clock: Alarmo might just be the most bizarre piece of gaming hardware released this year, yet as promised by Nintendo at launch, it's just received another sizeable update.

This latest Nintendo Alarmo update brings Mario Kart 8 Deluxe scenes to the alarm clock device. As shared by the Nintendo of America X / Twitter account, Alarmo owners can now update their clock to the latest version (should they have painstakingly entered their Wi-Fi password via the clunky dial on top of the device) to receive the new scenes.

The Nintendo Alarmo update adds seven unique Mario Kart 8 Deluxe scenes all featuring music and imagery from the Nintendo Switch's best-selling game. Honestly, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is a pretty great choice for the Alarmo, with its upbeat jazz soundtrack certainly having the potential to make me into more of a morning person.

Otherwise, not much has changed with the Nintendo Sound Clock: Alarmo. It's still a very expensive alarm clock that undoubtedly has that Nintendo-esque polish and quirkiness. But ultimately, it's still just a very extravagant way of waking you up at the crack of dawn when - perhaps rather cynically - you could just get your phone to do that instead.

Hopefully, Alarmo will get some more meaningful updates in the future to make a purchase more enticing. Perhaps integration with the recently-launched Nintendo Music mobile app, or even some kind of Nintendo Switch 2 support once that console arrives sometime next year.

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• GPU sales for Q3 are down almost 8% year-on-year
• This is normally a strong period for sales of discrete graphics cards
• It seems that gamers are holding off for RTX 5000 and RDNA 4 GPUs

Normally, this time of year would witness strong sales in the desktop GPU market, but one analyst firm observes that Q3 2024 has seen a distinct drop in buying activity.

This comes from Jon Peddie Research (JPR), which has compiled figures for Q3 sales of ‘graphics add-in boards’ (meaning standalone GPUs that slot into desktop PCs) finding that 8.1 million units were shifted in the quarter.

That’s down 7.9% on the same quarter in 2023, a fairly hefty drop, and it’s also down compared to Q2 2024, with an even larger decrease of 14.5%.

AMD lost a bit more ground here, too, as Nvidia now has 90% of the discrete graphics card market (up from 88% in Q2), with Team Red holding the remaining 10% (down from 12%). Intel Arc products don’t register on the scales for standalone GPUs, sadly for Team Blue - though unsurprisingly it still holds the majority share when it comes to CPU-integrated graphics.

The future also looks gloomy, JPR forecasts, as discrete GPUs are forecast to have a negative compound annual growth rate of -6%, with the market set to shrink further through to 2028.

(Image credit: Nvidia) Analysis: Buyers are playing a waiting game

Obviously, this isn’t great news for any of the GPU giants, but AMD will be particularly displeased to see more market share slip away from it – the company is only just clinging onto double digits at this point.

A year ago, Team Red had a 17% share of the market. So, despite some notably successful Radeon GPU launches in recent times – namely the RX 7900 GRE, which in fact tops our list of the best graphics cards, and the RX 7800 XT, a strong mid-range offering that headed up that list when it came out last year – AMD is floundering, at least according to these stats.

Why are overall GPU sales down in a reversal of the normal picture for the third quarter? That’s surely due to the proximity of next-gen graphics cards from AMD and Nvidia, which are about to launch, in theory, at CES 2025 in both cases.

Gamers are likely holding off for those RTX 5000 GPUs and RDNA 4 GPUs – I know I am, as it just makes sense at this stage of the launch timeframe. Indeed, sales may have been affected earlier this year, too, as would-be buyers may have still been hopeful that these next-gen graphics cards could turn up late in 2024 – along with Intel’s Battlemage desktop GPUs (2nd-gen models that were recently revealed). We're also likely to see some potential RTX 4000 and RX 7000 price drops when the new cards are revealed, which cash-strapped PC gamers could be waiting for.

A further issue that Jon Peddie points out is that the attach rate of discrete GPUs relative to CPUs in desktop PCs has dropped, meaning that more PCs are shipping with no discrete graphics card, relying on integrated graphics instead. That attach rate fell by 26.9% in Q3 compared to the previous quarter, which again is a shaky sign for GPU makers.

Finally, the reason for the prediction of negative growth through to 2028 is Trump coming into office in the US and imposing import tariffs (particularly on China) that are potentially going to push up the price of PCs and components by a hefty amount.

So those who are waiting for next-gen GPUs in the US might need to move pretty swiftly when these models (hopefully) go on sale early next year, before potentially major price hikes start kicking in for all manner of consumer electronics.

Via Tom’s Hardware

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Rode Wireless Micro: one-minute review

Rode's Wireless Micro is its smallest-ever wireless mic system, designed squarely for smartphone content creators, especially vloggers. It's the audio giant's simplest wireless mic yet: you can be up and running within seconds and recording smartphone-beating audio quality, all the while being cable-free and discreet.

It's a complete kit that includes two mics (also called transmitters) with magnetic attachments, plus one receiver, all of which are stored in a charging case – these components are available in black or white finishes. Additionally, you get two windshields plus a charging cable, though neither of those fit in the case.

Collectively, the mics, receiver and charging case are a featherweight 3.6oz / 102g, with each mic weighing just 0.42oz / 12g and measuring 40 x 20 x 17mm. It's a properly tiny kit, and even though the mic units are physically larger than the rival DJI Mic Mini's, the whole kit is much smaller, and purpose-built for smartphones.

If you're looking for a compact, dedicated wireless mic that'll deliver excellent audio for your smartphone vlogs, the Rode Wireless Micro is hard to beat.

The Rode Wireless Micro kit is tiny and weighs just 102g all told. (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman) Rode Wireless Micro: price and release date

• $149 / £134 / AU$259 for the compete kit with 2x mics, receiver and charging case
• Receiver available in USB-C and Lightning versions
• Available now, in black or white finishes

The Rode Wireless Micro's list price is $149 / £134 / AU$259, and for that you get a compact charging case with two transmitters (mics, with magnetic attachments), plus one receiver, all in black or white. Also in the box are two wind shields and the necessary charging cable. You'll need to select which version of the receiver you need, USB-C or Lightning, because the connector is built-in.

Unlike the rival DJI Mic Mini, the components are not available separately, and I think Rode is missing a trick here, because not every user needs two mics. However, probably nine out of 10 users will want the complete kit, and for those the Rode Wireless Micro is excellent value.

The transmitters (mics) are tiny and pack Rode's patent-pending acoustic chamber, though they don't have internal storage or Bluetooth connectivity (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman) Rode Wireless Micro: specs

The Rode Wireless Micro is available as a complete kit only, with charging case, one receiver, two mics, charging cable and windshields (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman) Rode Wireless Micro: Design

• The whole kit weighs just 102g and fits in a tiny charging case
• Components are available in black or white finishes
• Receiver has a USB-C or Lightning adapter built in

Rode has designed the Wireless Micro to be the most straightforward user experience possible for smartphone content creators, and it's done an excellent job of it – you couldn't hope for an easier-to-use and more reliable wireless mic.

The mics and receiver are automatically paired by virtue of living in the same charging hub. You simply plug the receiver into your phone and then follow the message that flashes up on your phone's screen.

If you have Rode's free app installed (available for iOS and Android) you'll be taken to the app, where you can pair the mics and receiver, and choose to how route the receiver input: split for left and right channels, or merge audio into one channel. You can also update the mic's firmware through the app and check sound levels.

For me, using a Google Pixel 6, I needed to select the wired mic option in my phone's video menu in the camera app (it otherwise automatically selects the phone's built-in mic). But once those options are all sorted, setup is complete and away you go.

You can be up and running in seconds after plugging the receiver into your smartphone's charging port, and armed with a wireless mic system that takes care of all the audio levels for you – Rode says its Intelligent GainAssist technology gets "perfect audio every time".

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

The mics can clip onto clothing, or attach magnetically with a strong hold through thin clothing, and they're available in black or white, so you can choose the finish that's likely to blend in with your clothing better.

The connection type is built in to the receiver, so you need to select the USB-C or Lightning version at the time or purchase, and there's full compatibility with both Android and iPhone models. The DJI Mic Mini, on the other hand, has a slot to fix the USB-C or Lightning connector into place, so you only need one receiver even if you use both connection types (though the Lightning adapter is a separate purchase).

The DJI Mic Mini also features Bluetooth connectivity, and you can therefore bypass the receiver altogether for 16-bit audio (although a receiver provides a stabler connection and, in the Mic Mini's case, 24-bit audio), whereas the Wireless Micro relies on its receiver.

Wind shields are built into the mics as part of Rode's patent-pending acoustic chamber design, plus there are additional furry windshields in the box that clip around the receiver for clearer outdoor recording on breezy days, although these additional windshields won't fit into the charging case.

It's been a couple of decades since my hair looked like this (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman) Rode Wireless Micro: Performance

• Transmission range is over 100m
• 7 hours operating time, charging case can provide another two charges
• No noise reduction, but Intelligent Gain Assist gets you clear vocals

My experience with the Rode Wireless Micro has been as headache-free as I could hope for. Once I had the Rode app installed (though you don't have to use the app to use the mic), I was up and running and capturing high-quality 24-bit audio with my Google Pixel 6 phone in a matter of seconds.

Rode says the Wireless Micro's transmission range is over 100m, which is harder than you might think to fully test in the real world; how often – and indeed, why – would you need to record audio onto a phone camera from over 100m away?

The upshot is that for vlogging, the Wireless Micro provides a stable and reliable connection, with an operating time for each mic being around seven hours.

That operating time can be extended through the charging case, which features a 490mAh battery and can charge a transmitter an additional two times, effectively delivering an overall operating time of 21 hours. In short, with a charged case you'll have enough juice for a weekend of vlogging.

The Rode Wireless Micro has a patent-pending acoustic chamber design (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

If you want to know a few of the technicals, the Wireless Micro features 24-bit audio, a 20Hz to 20kHz frequency range, a maximum 135db SPL, a 73db signal-to-noise ratio and an A-Weighted equivalent noise of 21dBA. For reference, those specs are roughly similar to those of the Rode Wireless ME, a pricier wireless mic that also works with cameras.

Rode's 'Intelligent GainAssist' tech automatically controls audio levels for well-balanced sound, enhancing vocals, and freeing you to focus on creating. You miss out on noise reduction, but unless you're in particularly loud environments it's not a problem – I've been able to get clear recordings of my voice in a noisy soccer stadium, even if the animated crowd added to the video's feel.

I've recorded vlogs in a range of scenarios; indoors, outdoors, and in noisy environments, and I've been very happy with how crisp my voice sounds. Put simply, if you want better audio without the fuss, this Rode mic is sure to delight.

Should I buy the Rode Wireless Micro? Buy it if…

You’re looking to up your the audio quality of your smartphone videos
The latest smartphones are delivering better and better audio quality, especially with features such as speech enhancement, but the Wireless Micro will give you next-level audio quality. If you vlog, you need a mic like this.

You want a simple wireless mic for smartphones

The Wireless Micro is as simple as it gets: plug in the receiver, which is auto synced to the mics from the charging case, select the wired mic option, and you're connected. It's a matter of seconds.

You want a discreet wireless mic system

The receiver sits flush against the profile of your phone, completely out of the way, while the mics themselves are small and discreet, and available in two colors to blend in with clothing.

Don’t buy it if…

You need a mic for cameras too

The Wireless Micro is for phones only. If you think you might also use cameras to create content then the DJI Mic Mini, or alternatives, are probably the better bet.

You want some degree of manual control and audio-level monitoring

With its simplicity come restrictions – there's no real way to manually adjust audio levels, while you can't easily monitor levels while recording, as you can with larger receivers that feature an LCD display.

You want to buy components separately

At the time of writing, the Wireless Micro is only available as a kit. If you lose or break one of the mics, or switch between Lightning and USB-C connections, you'll need to buy the whole package again.

Rode Wireless Micro: also consider

DJI Mic Mini
The Wireless Micro's obvious rival is the Mic Mini, which is a more versatile tool in that you can use it with cameras as well as phones, plus it features Bluetooth connectivity, and you you can dial in audio levels manually using the receiver. However, the Mic Mini's receiver is bulkier, and more awkward to keep connected to a phone. The Mic Mini could have more staying power, but the Wireless Micro is superb for those only using their phones.

Read our DJI Mic Mini review

DJI Mic 2

If you're operating at a pro level and want audio quality a cut above the Wireless Micro's, and are prepared to do a little work in the editing suite, then the pricier Mic 2 is the better bet, especially if you're shooting with cameras as much as you are phones. However, if you shoot exclusively with a phone and want a simple option that's ready in seconds, you'll appreciate the simplicity that comes with the Rode Wireless Micro.

Read our DJI Mic 2 in-depth review

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman) How I tested the Rode Wireless Micro

• Used regularly for over a month in quiet and noisy environments
• Tested alongside the rival DJI Mic Mini
• Paired primarily with a Google Pixel 6

There aren't a lot of ways in which you can test the Rode Wireless Micro: it handles audio levels, clipping and vocal enhancement automatically, and that's it appeal for most users. The mics and transmitter are auto-synced through the charging case, you plug the receiver into your phone, and away you go.

I did however make sure to test the audio quality of the Wireless Micro in mixed environments – the quiet indoors, the still outdoors, in wind, and in noisy environments. I was also reviewing the DJI Mic Mini at the same time, and so was able to run comparison tests to see which came out on top.

Almost all tests were done by pairing the Wireless Micro to my Google Pixel 6.

• First reviewed: December 2024
• Read more about how we test

DJI Mic Mini: one-minute review

You're hardly short of options if you're looking for a new wireless mic. My recent favorite is the DJI Mic 2, which is one of the best wireless mics on the market, boasting pro-quality features such as 32-bit float audio. However, for many content creators, especially those who shoot mostly with a smartphone, the Mic 2 is overkill. That's where the Bluetooth-equipped DJI Mic Mini steps in: it's a smaller, simpler and cheaper alternative, with the same DJI reliability that I've come to appreciate over years of using its devices.

The Mic Mini is positively tiny, weighing just 0.35oz / 10g (without magnet), and it pairs easily with smartphones and cameras for better quality audio on the fly. Oh, and it's half the price of the Mic 2.

Its natural rival is the recently announced Rode Wireless Micro; however Rode's new wireless mic is only for smartphones, whereas the Mic Mini can be used with cameras too, via its 3.5mm jack, which means it's more versatile. It's not a sweeping victory for the Mic Mini, though – if you're only going to shoot with a smartphone, the Rode Wireless Micro might be the better pick because its receiver is tiny and sits flush along the underside of your phone, whereas the Mic Mini's receiver sticks out awkwardly.

Audiophiles will probably prefer the Mic 2 over the Mic Mini too, not just for its pro audio quality with forgiving 32-bit float capability, but because the transmitters feature built-in storage and can be used independently, while you can monitor levels on the receiver's LCD touch display for peace of mind.

Having used all three of the above mics extensively, I would personally go for the Mic Mini. The audio quality from all three is fantastic, but for outright ease of use, value, reliability, and versatility for phones and cameras, it's the one that ticks all the boxes. DJI has created another trustworthy wireless mic; and trust me, reliability is an unsung attribute. I've ditched many other wireless mics for letting me down at crucial moments, leaving me without proper audio. I would have no such concerns with the Mic Mini, and it earns my five-star seal of approval.

The Mic Mini transmitters are tiny and discreet, much more so than the DJI Mic 2's. It's also available in white. (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman) DJI Mic Mini: price and release date

• $169 / £145 / AU$245 for the compete kit with 2x mics, receiver and charging case
• Components available individually
• Available now

DJI sells the Mic Mini components individually but also as a complete kit, whereas the Rode Wireless Micro is a complete kit only, and you need to select the USB-C or Lightning receiver version.

The Mic Mini transmitters (mics) are available in Infinity Black or Arctic White. One transmitter costs $59 / £49 / AU$69, a transmitter with receiver costs $89 / £79 / $AU125, while the complete kit, which includes two transmitters, a receiver and a charging case, costs $169 / £145 / AU$245. The complete kit is probably your best bet if you're starting from scratch.

The receiver is attached to a phone using a USB-C connector, but if you're using an iPhone with Lightning port you'll need to purchase the adapter separately for $19 / £19 / AU$39. When connecting to a camera, you use a 3.5mm jack instead.

The list price for the kit is similar to that of the Rode Wireless Micro, despite the Mic Mini's greater versatility – it's roughly $15 / £10 / AU$20 more than Rode's offering – while it's around half the price of DJI's Mic 2. I think it's excellent value.

The complete kit includes the charging case, two transmitters, one receiver and a USB-C connector for the receiver. There are also windshields and USB-C cable in the box. (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman) DJI Mic Mini: specs

Components can be bought separately; the transmitters by themselves, or a single transmitter with receiver (a small charging doc is included in absence of the charging case). (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman) DJI Mic Mini: Design

• Tiny, discreet and available in black or white
• Easy clip or magnetic attachment
• Receiver with manual audio levels gain, but no monitoring

The neat thing about DJI's Mic Mini is that there are several ways you can connect to your phone or camera, and several ways to buy; individual components, a mic and receiver kit, or the complete kit which contains two mics (with magnets), one receiver, a charging case, plus wind muffs for the mics.

I had the complete kit for this review with USB-C connector, though technically you only need a single mic to get going with the Mic Mini because it can connect to your phone via Bluetooth. For manual control of audio levels, plus the added stability and richer audio quality, I prefer connecting a phone to the mic through the Mic Mini receiver, rather than relying on Bluetooth.

The mics, also called transmitters, are tiny and easily droppable, but they attach easily to clothing using the built-in clip, or the magnetic mount, one half of which fixes to the back of the clip, with the other half going inside your jacket or similar – DJI knows how to make a powerful magnet with a reliable hold. If you want a discreet mic in your shots, you'll struggle to find a smaller alternative, plus you can buy the mics in black or white to blend in with clothing.

When using a camera, you can slot the receiver into the camera's hotshoe / coldshoe and then connect it using a 3.5mm jack (the cable is provided). The receiver is a good fit for cameras, but it is a little awkward with a phone when attached via the phone's USB-C / Lightning port, because it sticks out a lot and the connection feels a little loose (see image below).

The receiver is a simpler offering compared to the one you get with the Mic 2. It features a power button, pairing button, 3.5mm jack and a ±12db audio level dial. That's it. The Mic 2 receiver features a basic LCD touch display through which you can monitor audio levels for both mics and make more advanced audio adjustments. The bulkier Mic 2 transmitters also feature built-in storage, and can be used independently of your camera of choice, or used as a backup device.

The receiver is a little clunky when attached to a phone. It's a better fit slotting into the hotshoe / coldshoe of a camera (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman) DJI Mic Mini: Performance

• Two-level noise reduction, and Automatic Limiting to prevent audio clipping
• 11.5 hours battery life (transmitter), 10.5 hours battery life (receiver)
• Omnidirectional audio and up to 400m range

Where DJI's wireless mics differ here is that the pricier Mic 2 features 32-bit float audio that can more effectively avoid clipping when your audio suddenly gets loud, and internal storage for direct recording so that you can use it independently of a camera or as a backup, while its receiver features a display to let you monitor audio levels.

The Mic Mini is a much simpler device, with its receiver offering basic manual ±12db audio level control, but otherwise it's really for those who want the mic to capture excellent quality audio with minimal fuss.

I used the Mic Mini complete kit over several weeks and found it to be completely reliable and glitch-free, whatever phone or camera I paired it with. It's transmission range is rated up to 400m (with clear line of sight), which is plenty enough for any conceivable scenario – I've never been even close to that distance from my camera when recording audio wirelessly.

As for audio quality, I've recorded clips using a Bluetooth connection and the receiver in the quiet indoors, outside in the wind, and in noisy environments, and in general the Mic Mini captures clear audio in any of those scenarios. Vocals aren't quite as rich as with the Mic 2, but for 99% of people the difference won't be noticeable. You should also note that audio drops from 24-bit to 16-bit if you connect via Bluetooth, so there's not quite the same richness in vocal quality.

Having such relatively limited control over audio settings was a little disconcerting at first, especially compared to using the Mic 2, but the real plus to the Mic Mini is its sheer simplicity – you can rely on its connectivity and two-level noise reduction to do the job, including the one-touch denoise control when in particularly loud environments.

What I didn't do for this test was pair the Mic Mini kit with a DJI camera, such as the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 – a top-rated vlogging camera – or the Osmo Action 5 Pro. Doing so affords additional benefits courtesy of the DJI ecosystem – for one, the cameras have a built-in receiver, so you only need a transmitter from the Mic Mini kit. I've previously paired the Mic 2 with the Osmo Pocket 3 and found the experience completely seamless, so if you're using a DJI camera it makes sense to opt for a DJI mic over rivals.

The transmitters have just a power and a pair buttons, while the receiver also includes a ±12db audio level control (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman) Should I buy the DJI Mic Mini? Buy it if…

You want a simple wireless mic for phones and cameras

DJI has stripped back the design and audio modes from its pro Mic 2 to create a simple wireless mic for phones and cameras that you'll trust, and can generally keep in auto.

You want a discreet mic

I find the DJI Mic 2 mics a little bulky and cumbersome; the Mic Mini mics, which are available in black or white, are much more discreet.

You want flexible buying choice

DJI offers the Mic Mini as a complete kit, a half kit, or the components individually, meaning you don't need to overspend for what you won't use, or if you need to replace just a single item in the future.

Don’t buy it if…

You only shoot with a phone

The Rode Wireless Micro is even simpler and its receiver is purpose-made for use with smartphones, whereas the Mic Mini's receiver is a little bulkier.

You want some form of manual control

The Mic Mini is for those who want an automated mic with minimal fuss, and are happy to rely on its quality without needing peace of mind from features such as audio-level monitoring.

You want the absolute best audio quality

The pricier Mic 2 offers richer sound with more depth, and fully avoids clipping in particularly challenging environments.

DJI Mic Mini: also consider

Rode Wireless Micro

If you're hoping for a fuss-free mic and only shoot with a smartphone, the Rode Wireless Micro is the sensible choice. However, if you might branch out to vlogging with a camera, or want more flexible buying choice, then the Mic Mini is the clear way to go.

Read our Rode Wireless Micro review

DJI Mic 2

If you want audio quality a cut above the Mic Mini's, and are prepared to do a little work in the editing suite, the the pricier Mic 2 is the better bet, especially if you're mainly shooting with pro mirrorless cameras. However, if you shoot more often with a phone, you'll appreciate the simplicity that comes with the Mic Mini.

Read our DJI Mic 2 in-depth review

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman) How I tested the DJI Mic Mini

• Used for several months
• Paired with cameras and smartphones
• Used Bluetooth and receiver connection methods

I've been using the DJI Mic Mini on and off for months, both with mirrorless cameras like the Panasonic Lumix GH5 and smartphones such as the Google Pixel 6. I've paired the Mic Mini to a phone using Bluetooth and via the receiver attached to my phone. I haven't used the Mic Mini with DJI cameras such as the Osmo Pocket 3 and Osmo Action 5 Pro (though I have used the Mic 2 with them), for which the compatibility is even easier given they both feature a built-in receiver.

I've made sure to test the mic in a range of environments: the quiet of indoors, in still outdoor conditions and in wind, and in noisy places too, with and without denoise applied. I've also been able to compare it directly to the Rode Wireless Micro which I was testing at the same time.

• First reviewed: December 2024
• Read more about how we test

• Popular language learning app Duolingo has teamed up with Netflix to help people learn Korean
• Duolingo’s app features over 40 keywords and phrases from the show
• Duolingo hopes it will "enrich learning" by connecting lessons to the Netflix hit through its "Learn Korean or Else" campaign

TV fans all over the world are hyped for Squid Game season 2, where one of the best Netflix shows will return for a highly anticipated follow-up. But while many global viewers will no doubt choose to watch the series with subtitles or dubbed audio, language learning app Duolingo wants to change that by helping you learn Korean..."or else", the companies warned.

That warning is quite literally the name of the marketing campaign that Duolingo and Netflix have used to bring the world of Squid Game to the language learning app. If that green bird wasn't scary enough, he's already started donning the iconic Squid Game jumpsuit and is encouraging users to learn Korean by immersing himself in that terrifying world, which is pretty on-brand for him, admittedly.

Magno Herran, vice president of partner and brand marketing at Netflix, said of the collaboration: "We discovered there were a lot of shared traits between Duo the Owl and the Pink Guards – both very determined and menacing. So we made it official and gave Duo a Pink Guard uniform and ultimately created something we know fans will love and talk about, cheering A-ssa! in celebration."

What can we expect from the 'Learn Korean or Else' campaign?

Duo, the green owl mascot, will be everywhere in the run-up to Squid Game season 2's debut, being his usual menacing self to encourage people to take Korean lessons. As well as wearing the Pink Guard uniform in the app, fans will also start to see Duolingo ads on Netflix's ad-supported tier, so if you thought you could escape him, you're wrong!

A Duolingo press release also teased that: "Whether [he's] chasing down users in videos or appearing at fan events and on billboards, Duo reminds fans to learn Korean or “face the consequences”.

If you're up for the challenge, you'll start seeing these lessons in-app, featuring over 40 keywords and phrases from the show like 'dolgana', 'Trust no one', 'Let’s play a game', and 'You’ve been eliminated'.

(Image credit: Duolingo)

The Squid Game-specific phrases will be integrated with regular Korean lessons, so the experience won't be too threatening. Then again, it's Duo, so I'd make sure you don't lose your streak. You know he doesn't like that.

This news comes after Netflix's improved dubbing strategy which aims to make non-English language movies and shows even better. So if you are eliminated from your Duolingo lessons, you can always turn on dubbing. You tried your best!

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