10 Best Voice Recorders UK 2024 | Sony, Philips and More

If you're looking for the most versatile recorder with the highest audio quality around, the Zoom H6 is the best on the market. It has 4 inputs for external microphones and can record 6 individual tracks simultaneously, making it perfect as a portable sound desk for podcasting.

The Zoom H6 also comes with free download licenses for Steinberg’s Cubase LE music production software and WaveLab LE audio editing software that allows you to professionally edit your recordings. There are even different types of additional microphone attachments available!

This voice recorder from Homder is best suited to easily record lectures or interviews as it features a voice-activated setting that automatically records while someone is speaking and pauses when it is silent. The rechargeable battery can be used for over twelve hours on a full charge, so you won't have to worry about it running out.

You won't have to worry about running out of space as the 8 GBs of internal storage is more than enough for taking notes at average quality settings, storing almost 600 hours' worth of recordings. If you're a student, this is well worth trying out, as you'll be surprised how useful it turns out to be.

Zoom is one of the best brands in the business when it comes to portable audio recorders, and the H2n Handy Recorder is one of our favourite products. The five built-in microphones allow for 360-degree recording, making it perfect for recording group dynamics.

It also offers four different recording modes, one of which allows for creating “Spatial Audio” files used for VR purposes. Whether you're recording audio for films, games, or podcasts, this is a fantastic option at a very reasonable price.

This Philips dictaphone is another mono option that is designed with the aim of recording speech with as little friction as possible. It features voice-activated recording as well as instant one-touch recording at the push of a button.

It is also compatible with Phillips' VoiceTracer voice recognition software, making it a fantastic choice for those who find typing difficult. You simply speak into the device and hook it up to a PC with the software, and your notes will be transcribed!

Sony's Lightweight and Ultra-Thin Digital Voice Recorder is something of a technical marvel, featuring an enormous 16 GBs of internal memory in a tiny, featherlight package. If you're looking to be discrete, this is the option for you.

It has both one-touch and voice-activated recording and comes with a small protective pouch. Although small, it is easy to navigate thanks to a clear OLED display and time jump functions.

Just narrowly missing out on our top five is the Olympus Digital Voice Recorder, which can hold up to an impressive 2080 hours of recording time. It also features an intelligent auto mode that tweaks the microphone sensitivity according to the volume of the speaker depending on the distance.

The two AAA batteries support 110 hours of life, and the screen is clear and easy to decipher, meaning that the Olympus is a pleasure to use. The only thing keeping it out of our top five is the weight and lack of higher recording quality for the price.

If you're a fan of Sony products, you'll know their reputation for quality and reliability is well earned, so if you're looking for a dictaphone that won't let you down when you need it, this is an appealing prospect. It also has a quick charge feature where you can get an hour of recording time on a three-minute charge.

The big drawback is the quality of recording for the price. While it is great having three recording options (wide, narrow focus, and normal), it's a little surprising to be locked to 128 kbps MP3 at this price point, but it is very lightweight and slim.

The EVISTR Digital Voice Recorder is one of the more budget-friendly options on our list. It features an impressive 16GBs of internal storage and a rechargeable USB battery that boasts 24 hours of recording time!

While it features useful voice-activated recording and standard kbps, many customers have been unimpressed by the recording quality on playback and find transferring their files onto a laptop difficult and the instructions confusing. If you're tech-savvy and looking for a bargain, this could be worth considering.

It's no surprise that Zoom make audio recorders aimed at the upper end of the market, prioritising a high recording quality and clarity of sound above all else, and the H1n is no different. This is one of their smaller and lighter options.

If you're looking for the best quality, lightweight, portable recorder and money is no object, then this is one of the best on the market, in our opinion. However, there are plenty of considerably cheaper, smaller and lighter options out there for those looking to be discrete.

There's a lot to like about Sony's Digital Voice Recorder; it's lightweight and has a built-in USB plug, meaning that you don't have to carry around additional cables when transferring your work. The simple display is also incredibly easy to use.

The big drawback of the Sony products is their price. While it may be worth it, in the long run, to opt for a reliable known brand over a more budget-friendly option, the fact you can find dictaphones with similar specifications for almost half the price can't be ignored.