PC Gamer Hardware Awards: What is the best microphone of 2021?

Movo UM700 USB
The Movo UM700 is a nice chunk of simple, quality equipment for the $100 price tag. When I say chunk, I mean it in the bulky sense, too, as this is one of the more unwieldy of the lot. Still, it's a pretty darn versatile piece of kit, with multiple polar pattern choices. And although it may not come with any software, there's minimal setup for those just looking to plug and chat. It's certainly earned a place in the nominees for this years hardware awards.

Read our Movo UM700 USB review.

Roccat Torch
For a first entry into the microphone market, Roccat's done a pretty good job here. The Torch has heaps of features packed into a USB mic, all for around $100. It really holds it's own stacked against the oodles of competition at that price. The fact that controls like stereo, cardioid, and "whisper" patterns are all accessible by physical knob on the base of the mic, as well as much appreciated touch free muting, seems to make up for the lack of software and XLR.

Read our Roccat Torch review.

Epos B20 streaming mic
From it's sleek design down to its software, this one's a beauty. While it's a little more expensive than the other nominees, we feel the exceptional sound quality, four different pick-up patterns, and user-focused Epos Gaming suite software justify the price. There's a little background hiss at times, and it's not the greatest with shock absorption, but it's so easy to use, and even has a built in sidetone so you can check your own voice.

Read our Epos B20 review.