Why does the A21s have two microphones?

[fade2gray]

The A21s has a mic on both the top and bottom edges, but I can't find any information in the documentation for the functionality/purpose of the top mic.

Any advice please?

[CrazyTom2k2 · Accepted solution]

Hey there fade2gray!

Since the Galaxy S6 (and possibly earlier), Samsung's handsets have been fitted with dual mics. The top mic is used alongside the bottom mic when the handset is in loudspeaker mode, and the top mic's also used if you turn on Stereo recording in the voice recorder app. I believe it's also used when recording video.

Hope this helps,

Tom 🙂

[fade2gray]

Thanks Tom, but the A21s user manual makes no mention of stereo recording and the voice recorder v21.2.22.07 has no option for stereo mode in settings - neither can I find any mention of stereo recording in video recording mode. 🤔

[SirStottalot]

Or maybe Samsung clocked on to all the Dummies that used to speak in to the Speaker when on loudspeaker 🤣

[JAMES4578]

Possibly the A21 does not have the Stereo option but the General Guide for Voice Recording is here https://www.samsung.com/uk/support/mobile-devices/how-do-i-use-the-voice-recorder/     Sound quality though is likely to be average.   A bit more here https://www.sammobile.com/samsung/galaxy-a21s/review 

[fade2gray]

So, in a nutshell, the top mic is redundant.

[Pugs1957]

No, read CrazyTom's post.

[fade2gray]

Yep, I missed the point about the top mic used during hands-free/speakerphone mode - tested and proved - thanks for making me re-read, but, as stated, no stereo recording option in the voice recorder or video recorder.

[fade2gray]

I find the the voice recorder quite adequate as dictaphone. I also use it for recording and reporting noise-nuisance from a persistently noisy neighbour - the only drawback being that it performs best when the bottom mic is aimed at the source, so an option to toggle between mics, or the ability for the screen to flip 180 vertically (the same as it can flip 180 horizontally) would have been great. 😁

[UwU1]

the reason the samsung galaxy a21s has 2 microphones is because it is to get better sound clarity to the video or the person you are talking to