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RODE VS RODE
If you have decided you want a Rode USB microphone, you are almost certainly choosing between the Rode NT-USB+ at around £179 and the Rode NT-USB Mini at around £99. Both are studio-quality cardioid USB condensers from the same brand, with the same recording resolution, the same brand reputation and a lot of the same DNA. The difference is about £80 and a series of features that may or may not matter to you depending on what you are actually doing.
I use the NT-USB+ daily for voice recording. I have used the NT-USB Mini for travel work. Here is the honest breakdown of which one you should buy and why.
The Quick Answer
Buy the Rode NT-USB+ (£179) if you record voice for any kind of professional output (podcast, voiceover, demo vocals, streaming with care for audio quality), if you want a built-in pop filter, if you want the APHEX processors in Rode Central, and if desk space is not a concern.
Buy the Rode NT-USB Mini (£99) if you travel with your mic, if desk space is tight, if you want excellent Rode quality for less money, or if you mostly use a boom arm and want the magnetic detachable base. The audio is genuinely close to the bigger sibling and the price is meaningfully lower.
Rode NT-USB+ — The Big Picture
The NT-USB+ is the flagship USB microphone in the Rode lineup. It is a side-address cardioid condenser with a large capsule, the Revolution Preamp for low-noise gain, and the full Rode Central software ecosystem including APHEX Aural Exciter and Big Bottom processors that have been used on professional recordings for decades.
What you get in the box: the microphone itself, a desktop tripod stand, a detachable pop filter that magnetically clicks onto the front of the mic, a USB-C cable, and access to the Rode Central app for processing and configuration.
The sound is full, warm, and present. Voices have body and air. The cardioid pattern is wide enough to flatter most voices without picking up too much room. The built-in headphone amp with zero-latency monitoring is genuinely useful: you plug headphones directly into the mic and hear yourself in real time, blended with computer audio. For recording vocals or any voice work where you need to hear how you sound as you record, this matters a lot.
Rode NT-USB Mini — The Small Picture
The NT-USB Mini is essentially the small-form-factor version of the NT-USB. Same brand DNA, same studio-grade cardioid capsule (slightly smaller), same Rode Central software support, in a much more compact body. It is about half the size and half the weight of the NT-USB+.
What you get in the box: the microphone, a desk stand with a clever magnetic detachable base (which lets you swap between the desk stand and a boom arm without unscrewing anything), a USB-C cable, and access to the Rode Central app.
The sound is excellent for the price. Slightly less warm than the NT-USB+ (the larger capsule gives the bigger mic more body), but still clearly studio-quality. For most voice work, the difference is small enough that only critical listening on good headphones makes it obvious. The headphone monitoring is built in, the recording is 24-bit / 48 kHz, and at £99 it is genuinely good value.
Side By Side
| NT-USB+ | NT-USB Mini | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 9.0 | 8.0 |
| Capsule size | Large | Smaller |
| Pattern | Cardioid | Cardioid |
| Resolution | 24-bit / 48 kHz | 24-bit / 48 kHz |
| Connector | USB-C | USB-C |
| Headphone monitoring | Yes, zero-latency | Yes, zero-latency |
| Pop filter | Detachable, included | Not included |
| Stand | Desktop tripod | Desktop with magnetic detachable base |
| APHEX processors | Yes (Aural Exciter, Big Bottom) | Limited Rode Central support |
| Onboard controls | Mix, volume, mute | None |
| Footprint | Larger | Compact |
| Weight | ~565g | ~280g |
| Price | ~£179 | ~£99 |
The Honest Differences That Matter
The included pop filter
The NT-USB+ has a magnetically detachable pop filter included. The NT-USB Mini does not. For voice recording, a pop filter is not optional, it is essential for handling plosives. If you buy the Mini you will need to spend another £10 to £20 on a pop filter to get the same usability. That narrows the price gap and is worth factoring in.
Onboard controls
The NT-USB+ has physical controls on the body for headphone volume, mix balance between mic input and computer audio, and mute. The Mini does not. If you record podcasts or use the mic for live voice work, having physical controls within reach is genuinely useful. If you are mostly recording voiceover into a DAW where you control everything in software, you will not miss them.
Sound character
The NT-USB+ sounds fuller and slightly warmer due to the larger capsule. The Mini is slightly more neutral, less coloured, but also less rich. Neither sounds bad. The difference is the kind of thing audio nerds will notice and most listeners will not. For voiceover that needs body and warmth, the bigger mic wins. For clean transcription-grade voice recording where neutrality matters, the Mini is arguably better suited.
The APHEX processors
Rode Central on the NT-USB+ gives you APHEX Aural Exciter and Big Bottom processing, applied to the input signal in real time. These are legendary studio processors that add presence and low-end weight. They genuinely make voice recordings sound more polished. The Mini has more limited processing options. If you do not plan to use these, it does not matter. If you do, the NT-USB+ adds real value.
Form factor
The Mini is dramatically smaller. If you have a tight desk, work from a laptop, travel with your mic, or want to keep your setup minimal, the Mini disappears in a way the bigger NT-USB+ cannot. The magnetic detachable stand on the Mini is also genuinely clever for moving between a desk and a boom arm.
Who Should Buy Each One
Buy the NT-USB+ if you are…
- Recording voiceover or demo vocals where audio quality is the product
- Hosting a podcast and want broadcast-quality voice
- Streaming and want studio sound without separate audio interface and mixer
- Setting up a permanent home studio desk and want the most complete USB mic available under £200
- Going to use the APHEX processors and onboard controls
Buy the NT-USB Mini if you are…
- Working from a laptop or tight desk where space matters
- Travelling regularly with your mic
- On a tighter budget but still want Rode quality
- Already using a boom arm and want the magnetic mounting flexibility
- Recording mostly into a DAW where in-software controls replace physical ones
The Real Recommendation
If you can afford the £80 difference and you have the desk space, the NT-USB+ is the better buy. The included pop filter, the APHEX processors, the onboard controls and the warmer sound all add up to a meaningfully better daily-driver microphone. It is what I record on, and after using both I would not go back.
If the budget or the desk space is tight, the Mini is genuinely excellent. You are giving up some features and a small amount of warmth, but you are still getting Rode quality at a price most USB mics struggle to match.
For the wider context, read my full home studio mic setup or the best USB microphones under £200 in 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Rode NT-USB+ worth £80 more than the NT-USB Mini?
For voice work where audio quality matters, yes. The included pop filter, the APHEX processors and onboard controls genuinely add value. If you are using the mic mostly for calls or casual recording, the Mini is enough and the £80 saved goes further elsewhere.
Does the Rode NT-USB Mini sound as good as the NT-USB+?
Close, but not quite. The NT-USB+ has a larger capsule which produces a fuller, warmer sound. The Mini is slightly more neutral. Neither sounds bad. The difference is most noticeable on voiceover and demo vocals, less noticeable on podcasts and calls.
Can I use the same boom arm for both?
Yes. Both mics use standard 5/8″ mic threads (with the typical 3/8″ adapter included). Any standard microphone boom arm will fit either. The Mini has a clever magnetic detachable base that lets you snap it on and off the desk stand, which the NT-USB+ does not.
Do both mics work with iPhone and iPad?
Yes. Both are USB-C class-compliant audio devices. Plug directly into iPhone 15+ or any USB-C iPad and they work natively. For older iPhones with Lightning, a USB-C to Lightning adapter or Camera Connection Kit bridges the gap.
Is the NT-USB+ better than the original NT-USB?
Yes. The plus is the newer model. USB-C instead of Mini-USB, the new Revolution Preamp for lower noise, support for the APHEX processors in Rode Central, and 24-bit / 48 kHz recording. If buying new, get the plus.
