Zoom
Zoom F3
$329.99Cheaper
Released 2022
Best Field Recorders · head-to-head
Zoom F3 vs Sound Devices MixPre-6 II
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Zoom F3 is cheaper at $329.99. Every spec and price links to its source.
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Sound Devices
Sound Devices MixPre-6 II
$1150
Which is better: the Zoom F3 or Sound Devices MixPre-6 II?
On the specs we track, they're closely matched. The Zoom F3 is the cheaper at $329.99.
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Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | Zoom F3 | Sound Devices MixPre-6 II |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $329.99 | $1150 |
| Brand | Zoom | Sound Devices |
| Released | 2022 | — |
| Xlr inputs | 2 | 4 |
| Max tracks | 2 | 8 |
| Max bit depth bits | 32 | 32 |
| Max sample rate (kHz) | 192 | 192 |
| Thirty two bit float | Yes | Yes |
| Phantom power | Yes | Yes |
| Built in mics | No | No |
| Storage type | microSD | SD |
| Display type | mono-LCD | color-touch |
| Power source | AA | AA |
| Battery life hrs | 8 | — |
| Weight grams | — | — |
Sources — Zoom F3: zoomcorp.com (verified 2026-07-11). Sound Devices MixPre-6 II: web.archive.org (verified 2026-07-11).
What's the difference between the Zoom F3 and Sound Devices MixPre-6 II?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (4 of 12). Matching specs are omitted.
- Xlr inputs: Zoom F3 2 vs Sound Devices MixPre-6 II 4
- Max tracks: Zoom F3 2 vs Sound Devices MixPre-6 II 8
- Storage type: Zoom F3 microSD vs Sound Devices MixPre-6 II SD
- Display type: Zoom F3 mono-LCD vs Sound Devices MixPre-6 II color-touch
What reviewers say
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
Zoom F3
Only one whitelisted hands-on tester, Sound on Sound (Matt Houghton, Nov 2022), reviewed this exact model. It highly recommends the Zoom F3 as a tiny, low-noise 32-bit two-channel recorder that is exceptionally easy to operate, faulting only its playback navigation. No whitelisted source published lab-measured figures for this model. (1 sourced review.)
Praised: Clean, low-noise, detailed recordings; Extremely small, lightweight and ruggedly built; Gain-free 32-bit operation makes it fast and simple to use.
Flagged: No fast-forward/rewind for playback navigation; Navigation buttons small and closely spaced (fiddly with thumbs); Audio-interface mode capped at 96kHz vs 192kHz standalone.
Sound Devices MixPre-6 II
No sourced tester review yet.