A built-in microphone is a small mic inside the speaker itself, used for taking phone calls hands-free and talking to a voice assistant. It has nothing to do with plugging in an external microphone or singing karaoke into one. Of the 305 ranked speakers where we’ve checked, 221 have one and 84 don’t.
Three different specs on this site all involve a microphone, and they’re not interchangeable.
Built-In Microphone vs Microphone Input vs Wireless Microphones
Built-in microphone: a mic mounted inside the speaker, wired to nothing you plug in. It’s there for speakerphone calls and voice assistant commands, picking up your voice from a few feet away.
Microphone input: a physical jack for plugging in your own external microphone, corded or a wireless receiver, so the speaker amplifies what you sing or speak into it. This is the karaoke-and-PA feature.
Wireless microphones: a speaker sold with (or built to pair with) a dedicated wireless handheld mic, no cable or separate receiver needed. See karaoke setups for how this fits together with a mic input.
A speaker can have any combination of the three, or none. Having a built-in microphone says nothing about whether it can amplify your voice for karaoke, and a mic input says nothing about whether the speaker can take a phone call.
What Is A Built-In Microphone Actually For?
Speakerphone calls. Bluetooth speakers that double as a conferencing device use the built-in mic to pick up your voice while the speaker plays the other end of the call. Quality varies a lot: some are fine for a quick call, others struggle with any background noise or distance.
Voice assistants. A built-in mic is what lets you say a wake word and talk to Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri through the speaker without touching your phone.
What it is not for. It is not sensitive or directional enough for singing or public speaking. That’s what a microphone input or a bundled wireless mic is for.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a built-in microphone on a Bluetooth speaker for? It’s used for hands-free speakerphone calls and talking to a voice assistant like Alexa or Google Assistant. It is not meant for singing or public speaking.
Is a built-in microphone the same as a microphone input? No. A built-in microphone is fixed inside the speaker and used for calls and voice assistants. A microphone input is a jack for plugging in your own external microphone, which is the feature that matters for karaoke or PA use.
Can I sing karaoke using a speaker’s built-in microphone? No. A built-in microphone picks up your voice to answer calls or talk to a voice assistant; it isn’t routed to the speaker’s own output. For karaoke, look for a microphone input or a speaker with a bundled wireless microphone instead.
How common is a built-in microphone on Bluetooth speakers? Common. Of the 305 ranked speakers where we’ve checked, 221 have one and 84 don’t.
Product prices and availability were last checked August 9, 2026 at 6:57 AM UTC and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.