OontZ Angle3 IPX5 Splashproof Portable Bluetooth Speaker

OontZ Angle3 Enhanced Stereo Edition, IPX5 Splashproof Portable Bluetooth Speaker with Volume Booster, AMP 10 Watts Power, Custom Bass Radiator, 100′ Wireless Range, Bluetooth 4.2

Each of the speakers is compatible with IOS and any other Bluetooth-capable smartphone, so no matter what kind of phone you have, rest assured it’ll work with the OontZ Angle 3. And if you have an Echo Dot or a Kindle, the OontZ Angle3 IPX5 Portable Bluetooth Speaker will work with those devices as well.

Pairing can sometimes be a bit of a hassle if there are multiple phones connected to the speaker. The OontZ Angle 3 tends to automatically pair with the last phone that used it, and unpairing that phone/pairing a new one can get a bit frustrating at times. That said, that seems to be a pretty common issue among most Bluetooth speakers. The OontZ Angle 3 also doesn’t have the option to change tracks or adjust the volume on the unit itself. All it has is a Play/Pause button. So if you’re the kind of person who leaves their phone in another room and wants to control the music from the unit itself, you’ll probably need the PLUS version or the 3XL version (both of which also offer track-back/track forward options on the unit).

The OontZ Angle3 has a maximum volume output of 10 Watts, which is plenty for small to medium get-togethers. And though you would expect the quality of the bass to diminish in proportion to the volume, the Passive Bass Radiator in the OontZ Angle 3 offers better bass quality without sacrificing the necessary clarity to fully enjoy your music. If you have a massive house party, you might find it a little hard to hear the lyrics or higher-end frequencies over the din, but having used it firsthand at my own parties, I can attest that you’ll still be able to hear the powerful bass tones over the noise.

Like many other Bluetooth speakers, the OontZ Angle3 can also be used as an auxiliary speaker for phone calls, and it performs admirably in this regard as well. Phone calls are about as clear as they are with headphones or your phone’s handset function, but I’d advise not straying too far from the speaker when you’re on phone calls: it makes a better speaker than a microphone.

As I noted above, one of the key selling points of any Bluetooth speaker is portability. We’re past the days of the D-battery-powered boombox on your shoulder; a good Bluetooth speaker should have enough heft to it that you know the materials used in its construction are high-quality, but shouldn’t be so cumbersome that you feel weighted down by it if you’re carrying it in a backpack. Frankly, the amount of punch this speaker packs is remarkable given its unobtrusive size.

The OontZ Angle 3 is quite compact: it measures 5.3 x 2.6 x 2.8 inches and weighs only 10 ounces, making it slightly heavier than an iPhone 7 Plus. Cambridge SoundWorks does offer a carrying case for the OontZ Angle 3, but for the budget-conscious, it’s probably an unnecessary expense. If you wanted, you could easily fit the OontZ Angle 3 in your pocket for easy transportation, no shoulder-mounting required.

The battery life on the OontZ Angle3 is good, but not great: it offers up to 12 hours of continuous use, which is solidly in the middle of the pack in terms of its competitors. If you’re planning a weekend away, you’ll want to keep an eye on the battery and be sure to bring the micro USB charging cable with you to ensure the battery doesn’t die during use. Unfortunately, the OontZ Angle 3 does not offer a replaceable battery so you’re stuck with the one you have.

The OontZ Angle 3 features an IPX5 rating. It’s not designed to go in the water, and I wouldn’t recommend leaving it outdoors overnight, but you won’t have to worry about a little rain or sand ruining the unit. That IPX5 rating means the OontZ Angle 3 is splashproof, rainproof, dustproof and sand proof, which is about as high a rating as you can expect from a speaker that’s not specifically designed to go in the water. And from experience, those waterproof speakers are more concerned about durability than they are about sound quality, so while it’s nice to have a speaker that can float in the pool with you, it’s not worth the trade-off of the inferior sound.

The OontZ Angle 3 is also built to withstand some minor dropping and mishandling, the rubber wrapping on the ends helps cushion the speaker from any unexpected falls, which is a great added benefit. If you’re looking to spend as little money as possible, there are cheaper options out there. But for the price, I haven’t found a speaker that strikes the balance of quality, durability and affordability that the OontZ Angle 3 provides.