Buying Guide
The Best Microphones Under $40
We weighed four microphones on connection and capsule, and the FDUCE M160 costs the least.
By The PC Journal editorial team
11 min read4 products evaluated
Under $40 a USB microphone is a simple plug-in condenser for calls and basic streams. Every pick cost 40 or less when we checked and lists its connection type.
We ranked these microphones on connection, capsule and polar pattern using manufacturer specifications; we did not test these microphones ourselves, and where a maker leaves a figure out, we say so.
Quick Picks
Our 4 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Lowest Price Here
FDUCE M160 USB Gaming Microphone
A lower price than the MRSDY and the rest when we checked.
Best for: Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the MRSDY.
Our take Check price for FDUCE M160 USB Gaming Microphone (opens in a new tab)
Stand In the Box
MRSDY USB Gaming Microphone
A stand in the box.
Best for: Buyers who want a stand in the box.
Our take Check price for MRSDY USB Gaming Microphone (opens in a new tab)
One-tap Mute Control
Amazon Basics USB Condenser Microphone
An one-tap mute control.
Best for: Buyers who want an one-tap mute control.
Our take Check price for Amazon Basics USB Condenser Microphone (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
FIFINE K669B USB Microphone
The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with a metal body.
Best for: Buyers who want a metal body and can spend more than the Amazon Basics mic costs.
Our take Check price for FIFINE K669B USB Microphone (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| A lower price than the MRSDY and the rest when we checked. | Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the MRSDY. | Check price for FDUCE M160 USB Gaming Microphone (opens in a new tab) |
| A stand in the box. | Buyers who want a stand in the box. | Check price for MRSDY USB Gaming Microphone (opens in a new tab) |
| An one-tap mute control. | Buyers who want an one-tap mute control. | Check price for Amazon Basics USB Condenser Microphone (opens in a new tab) |
| The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with a metal body. | Buyers who want a metal body and can spend more than the Amazon Basics mic costs. | Check price for FIFINE K669B USB Microphone (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 4
FDUCE M160 USB Gaming Microphone on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
FDUCE's M160 adds a headphone monitoring jack to a budget cardioid USB mic.
Best for
- Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the MRSDY.
Skip if
- Look at the other picks if you need a feature not covered above.
Why we like it
A USB-C adapter is in the box. You get a USB (USB-C adapter) connection here, which sets it apart from the MRSDY and its a USB connection. Like the MRSDY and FIFINE K669B, it has a condenser capsule, while the Amazon Basics mic uses a condenser (14mm) capsule.
Like the MRSDY, it has a button mute control, while the Amazon Basics mic uses an one-tap mute control. You also get RGB lighting. It plugs straight into a USB port and needs no interface.
It makes the most sense for buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the MRSDY, since it offers a lower price than the MRSDY and the rest when we checked. No other pick here cost less at our last price check, and the MRSDY was closest.
Key dimensions & specs
- Connection: USB (USB-C adapter)
- Capsule: Condenser
- Polar pattern: Cardioid
- Mute control: Button
- Headphone monitoring: Headphone jack
- In the box: Tripod
Pros
- Headphone monitoring jack
- Included USB-C adapter
- RGB lighting
- USB (USB-C adapter) connection, the only one here
Stand In the Box2 of 4
MRSDY USB Gaming Microphone on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
MRSDY's mic adds noise reduction, a gain control and a 3.5mm monitoring jack.
Best for
- Buyers who want a stand in the box.
Skip if
- If budget leads, the FDUCE M160 was cheaper at our last price check.
Why we like it
It has RGB lighting. A 3.5mm headphone output gives latency-free monitoring of your own voice. Noise cancelling cuts typing and clicks, and the RGB lighting can be switched off.
It shares a USB connection with the Amazon Basics mic; the FIFINE K669B goes with a USB (USB-A plug) connection. Like the FDUCE M160 and FIFINE K669B, it has a condenser capsule, while the Amazon Basics mic uses a condenser (14mm) capsule. Like the FDUCE M160, it has a button mute control, while the Amazon Basics mic uses an one-tap mute control.
It plugs straight into a USB port and needs no interface. It was priced above the FDUCE M160 and below the Amazon Basics mic at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & specs
- Connection: USB
- Capsule: Condenser
- Polar pattern: Cardioid
- Mute control: Button
- Headphone monitoring: 3.5mm jack
- In the box: Stand
Pros
- Noise reduction
- Gain control
- 3.5mm monitoring jack
- Stand in the box, the only one here
Cons
- Costs more than the FDUCE M160 at the time of writing
One-tap Mute Control3 of 4
Amazon Basics USB Condenser Microphone on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Amazon Basics's condenser mic has a 14mm diaphragm, one-tap mute and a shock absorber on its stand.
Best for
- Buyers who want an one-tap mute control.
Skip if
- Choose another pick if you can't accept this: no headphone jack listed.
Why we like it
It is a plain cardioid USB mic. Like the MRSDY, it has a USB connection, while the FDUCE M160 uses a USB (USB-C adapter) connection. A condenser (14mm) capsule is unique to it among these picks, while the MRSDY uses a condenser capsule.
You get an one-tap mute control here, which sets it apart from the MRSDY and its a button mute control. It plugs straight into a USB port and needs no interface. Before buying, weigh one limit: costs more than the FDUCE M160 at the time of writing. Its price falls between the MRSDY and the FIFINE K669B, based on our last check.
Key dimensions & specs
- Connection: USB
- Capsule: Condenser (14mm)
- Polar pattern: Cardioid
- Mute control: One-tap
- Headphone monitoring: None stated
- In the box: Stand with shock absorber
Pros
- 14mm diaphragm
- One-tap mute
- Shock absorber
- Condenser (14mm) capsule, the only one here
Cons
- No headphone jack listed
- Costs more than the FDUCE M160 at the time of writing
Premium Pick4 of 4
FIFINE K669B USB Microphone on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
FIFINE's K669B is a metal-bodied USB mic with a volume knob and a 5.9ft cable.
Best for
- Buyers who want a metal body and can spend more than the Amazon Basics mic costs.
Skip if
- Choose another pick if you can't accept this: no onboard mute.
Why we like it
It has no mute button. It is the only pick here with a USB (USB-A plug) connection; the MRSDY has a USB connection instead. It shares a condenser capsule with the FDUCE M160 and MRSDY; the Amazon Basics mic goes with a condenser (14mm) capsule.
Like the Amazon Basics mic, it has a none stated headphone monitoring, while the FDUCE M160 uses a headphone jack headphone monitoring. It plugs straight into a USB port and needs no interface. It makes the most sense for buyers who want a metal body and can spend more than the Amazon Basics mic costs, since it offers the highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with a metal body. It was the most expensive pick when we checked, so weigh what it adds over the Amazon Basics mic.
Key dimensions & specs
- Connection: USB (USB-A plug)
- Capsule: Condenser
- Polar pattern: Cardioid
- Mute control: None
- Headphone monitoring: None stated
- In the box: Tripod
Pros
- Metal body
- Volume knob
- 5.9ft cable
- USB (USB-A plug) connection, the only one here
Cons
- no onboard mute
- No headphone jack listed
- Costs more than the FDUCE M160 at the time of writing
How We Chose These Microphones Under $40
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- The figures behind the order
- We lined up four microphones on connection, capsule, polar pattern and mute control, using each maker's published specs. We did not test them in-house, and all 6 compared fields are stated for every pick.
- What every pick has in common
- All 4, from the FDUCE M160 to the FIFINE K669B, state connection, capsule and polar pattern and share Cardioid polar pattern.
- Who each pick suits
- The FDUCE M160 for a lower price than the MRSDY and the rest when we checked; the MRSDY for a stand in the box; the Amazon Basics mic for an one-tap mute control.
- Price range
- From the FDUCE M160 to the FIFINE K669B, all sat in the under $50 tier when we checked.
What to Look for in a Microphone Under $40
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Capsule
The FDUCE M160, the MRSDY and the FIFINE K669B list Condenser; the Amazon Basics mic lists Condenser (14mm).
Extras that separate them
The MRSDY: a gain control. The Amazon Basics mic: one-tap mute. The FIFINE K669B: a volume knob.
How much to spend
All 4 sat in the under $50 tier when we checked, from the FDUCE M160 at the low end to the FIFINE K669B at the top, so decide on features first.
Start from what matters most
Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the MRSDY: the FDUCE M160. Buyers who want a stand in the box: the MRSDY. Buyers who want an one-tap mute control: the Amazon Basics mic.
Dynamic or condenser
Dynamic mics pick up less room noise and keyboard clatter, which suits untreated rooms. Condensers capture more detail and more of the room.
How to Choose a Microphone Under $40
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the MRSDY | FDUCE M160 | A lower price than the MRSDY and the rest when we checked |
| Buyers who want a stand in the box | MRSDY | A stand in the box |
| Buyers who want an one-tap mute control | Amazon Basics mic | An one-tap mute control |
| Buyers who want a metal body and can spend more than the Amazon Basics mic costs | FIFINE K669B | The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with a metal body |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The FDUCE M160, the MRSDY and the rest, as their makers list them.
| Microphone | Connection | Capsule | Polar pattern | Mute control |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FDUCE M160 | USB (USB-C adapter) | Condenser | Cardioid | Button |
| MRSDY | USB | Condenser | Cardioid | Button |
| Amazon Basics mic | USB | Condenser (14mm) | Cardioid | One-tap |
| FIFINE K669B | USB (USB-A plug) | Condenser | Cardioid | None |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Amazon Basics mic our One-tap Mute Control pick?
It earns the label for an one-tap mute control. It suits anyone who wants an one-tap mute control.
Do the FDUCE M160 and the MRSDY differ on connection?
The FDUCE M160 uses USB (USB-C adapter); the MRSDY and the Amazon Basics mic use USB; the FIFINE K669B uses USB (USB-A plug).
What extras do the FDUCE M160 and the MRSDY include?
The FDUCE M160: a headphone monitoring jack. The MRSDY: noise reduction. The Amazon Basics mic: a 14mm diaphragm.
Who should choose the MRSDY?
The MRSDY carries our Stand In the Box label for a stand in the box. It ranks second of 4 here and sat in the under $50 tier at our last price check; it suits anyone who wants a stand in the box.
Should I pick the FDUCE M160 or the FIFINE K669B?
The FDUCE M160 suits buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the MRSDY; the FIFINE K669B suits buyers who want a metal body and can spend more than the Amazon Basics mic costs.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the FDUCE M160, chosen for a lower price than the MRSDY and the rest when we checked. Look at the MRSDY for a stand in the box, the Amazon Basics mic for an one-tap mute control and the FIFINE K669B for the highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with a metal body if those matter more to you.
Place the mic close to your mouth; position matters more than a few dollars of price.