With two transmitters and a touchscreen receiver which come pre-paired in the charging case, the setup is intuitive.
USB-C, Lightning and 3.5mm connectivity is included, while mounting is simple via the built-in magnetic clips.
Features such as real-time monitoring and gain adjustment will also keep pro creators happy.
AnkerWork M650: one-minute review
The wireless microphone market is a crowded one.
Its into that busy fray that the AnkerWork M650 steps.
In the box come both Lightning and USB-C connectors for hooking the receiver up to your smartphone.
On paper, the AnkerWork M650 offers a feature-packed setup.
In practise, the AnkerWork M650 delivers on almost all fronts.
Pre-paired out of the charging case, the kit is foolproof to use.
Key controls can all be accessed with just a few swipes of the icon-based interface.
The transmitters are relatively weighty at 30g apiece, but they hold firm however you wear them.
Recording performance impressed me in testing.
Dialogue sounds clear and natural by default, with the option to adjust the EQ through the AnkerWork software.
Battery life is decent but not exceptional.
At a total of 15 hours, the AnkerWork M650 is outgunned by the DJI Mic 2.
That includes neat design touches, such as the twist-to-lock smartphone adapters.
There are cheaper, screen-free options available if you only want to record audio to a smartphone.
AnkerWork M650: price and release date
The AnkerWork M650 wireless mic launched in March 2023.
Its available now, priced at $199.99 / 249.99 / AU$199.98.
Luckily, its a complete one.
The kit includes a pair of transmitters, a receiver and a charging case.
The black kit comes with one gold and one green replacement back cover for the transmitters.
The white kit includes blue and purple shells.
You get a pair of transmitters, plus a receiver that connects to your camera or smartphone.
These all live inside a charging case.
Open it up and everything is automatically paired, ready to go.
There are a few design touches which set the AnkerWork M650 kit apart.
Its transmitters are unique among the wireless mics weve tested in being circular.
Measuring 45.5mm across, they are larger than most and relatively weighty at 30g.
Despite their size, the domed shells give them a good dose of subtlety.
They look less obviously like microphones than many transmitters.
They also have a party trick: the back covers can be swapped for different color shells.
There are two easy ways to attach the transmitters to your clothing.
The first is to simply latch them to a hem, collar or lapel using the built-in clip.
Each transmitter also has a port which can be used to connect a lavalier mic.
This is the same jack used to fix the optional wind shields in place.
The receiver is just as neat.
It also has just a single physical button, which is used to lock the touchscreen.
Everything else is controlled via the intuitive, icon-based interface.
Connecting the receiver is equally straightforward.
Your options here are plentiful.
From there, the receiver sticks directly into the port on the bottom of your phone.
The fit is firm and the position is a natural one for the receivers modest dimensions.
Youll need to monitor levels using the readout on the receiver and make any necessary gain adjustments manually.
Nor did I encounter any problems with pairing, syncing or storing recordings during testing.
Overall, I found results clean and natural.
WAV files saved directly to the receiver were particularly clear.
Thats also where you’re able to configure the low-pass filter.
Windy conditions are the biggest challenge for any wireless mic and the AnkerWork M650 is no exception.
It features two levels of VoiceShield noise reduction which can be enabled using the receivers touchscreen.
The feature is very effective at isolating vocals, even when theres a lot of background hubbub.
For most, its reliable 24-bit recording and decent noise-cancelling tech will make the M650 worth the money.
In reality, I never once encountered a dead battery.
Both the transmitters and the receiver are rated for six hours on a charge, which is plenty.
Plus most users are likely have the kit in and out of the case regularly.
Should I buy the Ankerwork M650?
You want premium audio recording
With dual-channel lossless pick-up, the M650 captures clean, natural voiceovers.
That pales in comparison to the DJI Mic 2s case (18 hours).
The high setting should only be used as a last resort.
Its a tiny, low-fuss option thats up and running in seconds.
It costs more, but includes support for 32-bit float recording.
I attached the receiver to my iPhone 12 via the Lightning adapter.
Throughout my tests, I interacted with the wireless mic kit as real users would.
That meant monitoring levels in real time on the receivers touchscreen and adjusting gain controls.
