I always use my phone to record interviews and it works quite well. Just make sure you have enough battery when you start recording. 

Also, test how your phone records in various environments (quiet empty room is not the same as noisy pub). There are also usually some settings to adjust regarding how much ambient noise you want the mic to record.

Ignore incoming calls during the recording as you might inadvertently stop the recording (this happened to me once). Maybe best to put the phone in airplane mode beforehand.

Hey I would recommend a professional voice recorder. We can borrow them from our university maybe you can do the same. Otherwise, a phone should be fine. 

Another hint I found very helpful: Don't put your phone directly on the table. When you listen to the record and someone put something on the table it is very loud and annoying when you transliterate it.  

I don't see any problem with using your phone for an individual interview in a reasonably quiet setting. I have tried that alongside digital recorders and did not hear any difference.

You can use your mobile for recording of the interviews. However, you must ensure about the anonymity and confidentiality of information. You must do the verbatim transcript and delete the data from your phone as soon as possible.

Good luck

I used my smartphone for recording interview data for my masters dissertation. Be sure to includ it in consent form that you will audio tape.

Use interview mode for recording 

Keep ur battery fully charged and if possible keep a power bank with u.

Use flight mode to avoid incoming calls, mails other social network updates.

Good Luck

I would just like to add that you could consider how the participants might feel about you using a personal device and be prepared to defend your choice.

Personally, I do not see any other issue with using your phone other than those addressed by others above.

good luck

One point: Ethics approval : i believe you need to cite in the form that you gonna use your personal mobile to record your interviews. Record and storing data need to be well protected and i do believe university should have this policy. 

Thanks 

Shahadat, PhD

To the other answers given, I would also add that it might depend on the ethics policy of your University/department.  Some may not be happy with the use of a personal device such as a mobile, or have a policy that you must record interviews using an encrypted device.  So I would recommend checking about that.

Hi

It may not have to do with University/Dept. ethics to record or not (I have not encountered such a policy before although could exist), it has to do with the consent of the interviewees first to be recorded. The instrument used is ok as discussed above. What makes the difference after recording is that you need to be comfortable in transcribing the info. clearly and diligently.

I always record using smart phone. strongly i recommend the device. but make sure you have additional battery backup