Tribit first introduced the StormBox Mini in 2020. It’s essentially a less expensive version of Bose’s outstanding SoundLink Mini speaker and, considering its small size and affordable price, it produces surprisingly high-quality sound. The StormBox Mini 2 is now available, and it boasts enhanced audio quality, longer battery life, and a charge-out feature that transforms the speaker into a power bank for smartphones and tablets.
It has a $60 price tag, but if it’s anything like its predecessor, we can anticipate frequent discounts. Like the original, it’s an amazing value and easy to suggest if you’re seeking for a super compact portable wireless speaker.
The StormBox Mini 2 is similar in size to the original, but it is significantly bigger and heavier (315 versus 280 grams). The Micro 2 is IP67 dust-proof and water-resistant, much like its elder sibling, so it can withstand quick submersion in shallow water. At moderate volume levels, it has a battery life of up to 12 hours, compared to the Bose’s six hours and the original’s eight hours.
In addition to increasing the speaker’s power rating from 9 to 10 watts, Tribit also gave the second-generation StormBox Mini Bluetooth 5.3, giving it, in Tribit’s estimation, a range of 120 feet. In my tests at home, which included walls, I was able to get approximately twice as far away from the speaker as I can with other Bluetooth speakers—around 50 to 60 feet (15 to 18 meters). And as long as I didn’t veer too far from it, the connection was strong.
It has USB-C charging on the charging front. Also, as mentioned, you may charge other mobile devices via the USB-C port, however, it only supports conventional 5-watt charging and not rapid charging. Although there isn’t a charger included, a USB-C to USB-C cable is included. However, a USB-C to Lightning adapter is required to charge an iPhone. For stereo sound, you can alternatively connect two StormBox Mini 2 speakers.
The Tribit StormBox Micro 2 has an embedded rubber strap, similar to the original and the Bose SoundLink Micro, that enables you to attach the speaker to a variety of objects, including a backpack, poles, tree branches, your bike’s handlebars, or a belt loop on your pants. The speaker doesn’t appear to be as sturdy as the Bose due to its fabric covering, but it appears to be solidly constructed nonetheless. As long as your pants are not too tight, it ought to fit in the majority of pockets.
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In terms of appearance, the speaker’s buttons are now more pronounced and emphasized in white. The universal O button controls playback while the +/- buttons manage volume. You can see how much battery life is left by a set of Lights on the side, and there are dedicated buttons for power and Bluetooth connectivity.
There is an embedded microphone on the side, near to the power button, if you’re wondering if you can use this as a speakerphone. However, I wouldn’t say it’s the best speakerphone. Callers complained that I didn’t sound very clear when I was standing a good distance away from the speaker. Nevertheless, once I moved about a foot away from the speaker, things started to get better.
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The Micro 2 Should Be on Your Short List.
The SoundLink Mini is scheduled for an update by Bose in 2022, and last year the company unveiled the outstanding SoundLink Flex speaker (yes, it’s better than this speaker but more than twice as big and more than twice as expensive). When I reviewed the Flex, I referred to it as the greatest tiny Bluetooth speaker currently available.
Although the StormBox Mini 2 is undoubtedly the greatest Bluetooth tiny speaker for the money, that is still true. I predict that over time the price will gradually decrease and that it will eventually come in additional colors in addition to black. It’s still a wonderful value, though, even at full price.
