'JBL-beating': our favorite 5-star cheap Bluetooth speaker just got a new model with double the battery life | Tech Radar
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'JBL-beating': our favorite 5-star cheap Bluetooth speaker just got a new model with double the battery life
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The new compact speaker is the sequel to the 5-star Micro 2
Upgrades include a more rounded design and (big) battery life upgrades
With summer around the corner, it's time for a series of new compact party speakers to emerge from the ether. Time to start adding a cheap little speaker to your barbecue, vacation or picnic shopping list.
Just days after the JBL Go 5 was unveiled, we've been shown Tribit's new alternative — and while it's small in size, it's a big deal. This is the Storm Box Micro 3, which is on sale right now for
We gave the Storm Box Micro 2 a glowing five-star review, and it seems as though Tribit has stuck close to its past winning formula for this new model... but with a few upgrades over that 2022 option.
JBL just upgraded two of our top Bluetooth speakers — one big, one small
Tribit Pocket Go review: an ultra-compact yet flawed Bluetooth speaker
Bose Sound Link Micro Gen 2 review: a solid little performer, but with a hefty price-tag
The draw of these compact speakers is the scale: they're palm-sized, and like its older siblings, the Micro 3 comes with a mounting system that you can use to strap it to bags, bike handlebars and chair backs. But what's actually new?
The Micro 3 has a more rounded design than its past-generation alternative, and a battery life that's twice as long: 24 hours. Your adventures can be doubly long, and your neighbors can be kept up much (much) longer.
You're getting a slightly louder speaker too, with the 13W output power a step up from the 10W of the Micro 2, to make it the sound of your summer. I haven't been able to find information on the driver in past models, but here there's a 48mm one with dual coax radiators.
The Micro 3 is also protected, with an IP68 rating and military-grade drop resistance, so it's perfect for rough-and-tumble adventures outdoors. The previous model only had IP67, so the third-generation Micro can withstand even deeper immersion in water (for a limited amount of time).
You won't find a new killer feature on the Tribit Storm Box Micro 3; instead, there's a selection of slight spec upgrades and tweaks to make it a slightly better model. That for a price hike which is small enough to be negligible.
This could end up being a nice little JLab, LG Xboom and JBL-beater if you're looking for something lovely and portable. But we'll have to see what else comes out before the summer is truly here — and give it a full review in due course.
But our Audio Editor Becky Scarrott has always loved the Stormbox Micro lineup, telling me: "I have used these since the first-gen. 2020 option and the sound is zealous, crisp and louder than you'd think from such a small palm-sized speaker. Also, the stretchy rubber strap on the back makes it super-easy to carry and use — I lash mine over my bike handlebars, tent poles, rucksack and the like. Honestly, I love these little speakers, and that really is JBL-beating stamina."
➡️ Read our full guide to the best Bluetooth speakers
- Best overall: JBL Flip 7
- Best cheap: JBL Clip 5
- Best high-end option: Bang & Olufsen A1 3rd Gen
- Best party speaker: Tribit Stormbox Blast 2
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Tom Bedford is a freelance contributor covering tech, entertainment and gaming. Beyond Tech Radar, he has bylines on sites including Games Radar, Digital Trends, Android Police, Tech Advisor, Whatto Watch and BGR. From 2019 to 2022 he was on the Tech Radar team as the staff writer and then deputy editor for the mobile team.
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'JBL-beating': our favorite 5-star cheap Bluetooth speaker just got a new model with double the battery life
