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Of course it depends on what you're filming. For videos in a quiet room, the built-in mic will do, but if you're doing interviews, tutorials, or anything outside - you definitely need an external one.
From my own experience, I've noticed that even a cheap lavalier mic makes such a difference in quality that you won't be embarrassed to show the video afterward.
Plus the built-in mic catches wind, noise - it amplifies all kinds of background sounds.
It depends on what you're filming. If it's just video for yourself or friends, the smartphone's built-in microphone will do the job. But if you want at least decent sound quality, it's better to get an external microphone. The built-in one picks up everything - wind noise, car sounds, random noises. For content on the internet, it looks unprofessional.
For vlogs, interviews, or educational videos, an external microphone is a must. There are cheap options - lavalier mics for a few hundred rubles or on-camera microphones that attach right to your smartphone. They noticeably improve sound thanks to directionality and background noise filtering.
Also remember that you need to connect a microphone to your smartphone through an adapter or use a wireless one - not all models have a built-in microphone jack. If you're filming rarely and sound isn't critical, you can get by with the built-in mic. But if you're serious about making videos, a microphone is the first thing worth spending money on after the smartphone itself.
I agree with the previous answer, but I want to add my own experience. When I started filming videos for my school projects on my smartphone, at first I thought the built-in microphone would be enough. But then I noticed that the videos often had background noise, wind turned into a low hum, and my voice sounded muffled and unclear. After that I bought a cheap lavalier microphone for around two thousand rubles, and the difference was just huge.
I'd suggest considering an external microphone if you're filming something serious: educational videos, vlogs, interviews, presentations. The microphone doesn't have to be expensive - even a budget lavalier or directional microphone will give you way better results than the built-in one. Plus modern microphones just plug into your phone's jack or work via Bluetooth, there's nothing complicated about it.
If it's just video for friends or a selfie, then yeah, the built-in microphone will do. But in 2026 good sound is already not a luxury, it's a necessity for content - viewers will tolerate not-so-clear picture, but bad audio will definitely annoy them. So I'd recommend not skimping on the microphone if you're planning to share your videos with anyone besides yourself.
I'd clarify that - it really depends on your surroundings and what the video is for. Your phone's built-in microphone picks up a ton of background noise (wind, traffic rumble), so if you're shooting outside or in a noisy place, an external mic really does save you, but in studio conditions you can get by with the built-in one - the main thing is positioning your phone close to your sound source.
I wouldn't recommend recording anything serious without an external microphone at all. I tried filming video at home in a quiet room - it seemed like perfect conditions, but when I watched it back, you could hear the fridge humming in the kitchen, clothes rustling, even breathing was noticeable. When I got a compact microphone, the sound became so much cleaner, and you can tell the difference even if you're just sending the video to friends. If you're not planning to show the video to anyone at all, then yeah, the built-in mic will do, but otherwise it's worth spending the money.
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