When we talk about smartphones, we usually discuss cameras, processors, or storage capacity. But there’s one detail that almost no one thinks about — microphones. Yet it’s precisely they that are responsible for call quality, audio recording in videos, and the operation of voice assistants. Moreover, a modern smartphone has several microphones, and each one performs its own task. Sometimes users notice small holes on the body and don’t understand what they’re for. By the way, if people suddenly start hearing you worse during calls, it doesn’t always mean a malfunction — quite often the problem turns out to be simple. For example, when a microphone on a phone starts working worse due to dust or dirt.
A smartphone has several microphones
How Many Microphones Are Usually in a Smartphone
Most modern smartphones use two or three microphones, although sometimes there can be more. Manufacturers place them in different parts of the body so that the device can better record sound and separate the user’s voice from ambient noise. Usually the layout looks something like this:
- Main microphone — located on the bottom edge of the smartphone and used during calls.
- Noise-canceling microphone — located on the top part of the body and helps combat background noise.
- Additional microphone for video recording — sometimes installed near the cameras.
If you look closely at the smartphone body, you can notice several small holes. It’s behind them that the microphones are hidden.
Smartphone Call Microphone
The main microphone is usually located at the bottom of the smartphone, near the speaker or charging port. It is used during phone calls, recording voice messages, and dictating text.
The main microphone is located at the bottom
When you hold the smartphone near your ear, this microphone is closest to your mouth. Thanks to this, the person you’re talking to can hear your speech well. It is this microphone that plays the main role during regular calls.
If the sound during a call suddenly becomes quiet or muffled, the cause often turns out to be quite simple. For example, the hole can get clogged with dust or blocked by a case.
Noise-Canceling Microphone on a Smartphone
The second microphone is usually located on the top edge of the smartphone. Its main task is to pick up ambient noise. When you’re talking on the phone, one microphone records your voice, while the second captures sounds around you: wind, cars, or conversations nearby. After that, the system compares the signals and tries to remove unnecessary noise.
The noise-canceling microphone is located at the top
Thanks to this, the other person hears your voice much more clearly, even if you’re talking on the street or on public transport.
Video Microphone on a Smartphone
Some smartphones use a third microphone, which is usually located near the cameras. But it’s important to understand that not all models have this microphone — it is most commonly found in more expensive devices.
A microphone for video recording can be built into the camera module
This microphone helps record sound during video shooting. When the camera is pointed at a person or object, the system tries to capture sound specifically from that direction.
As a result, the voice in front of the camera is recorded more clearly, and ambient noise becomes less noticeable. Thanks to this, modern smartphones can record not only a good picture but also fairly high-quality sound.
