Ultimate Ears Miniroll Review

Retailing at around $130 for a portable speaker, Ultimate Ears Miniroll is a bit of an ask, given there are similar devices on the market that offer perhaps a little more for the package.

But to say it's basic is to dismiss it perhaps unfairly in some ways.

Lacking a charging cord in the package (the fact you'll need to get your own USB-C charging cord is nothing short of criminal) and missing a companion app as well, it seems like the odds are particularly against the speaker early on. 

But taking it out of the package and getting it going almost allays some of those initial disappointments. 

Quick to pair across Bluetooth, this light speaker, that fits inside the palm of your hand, packs a veritable oomph given its compact nature. 

Yet that comes with its downsides too - while the Miniroll is good on the bass levels, its circular nature means it vibrates repeatedly to the beat being pumped out. That led to it toppling a few times during the opening of New Order's Blue Monday thanks to the fact that outside of the strap attached to it, there's no way for it to support itself.

Measuring only around 4.83 inches and weighing just shy of 10 ounces, this speaker works on the compact scale - and does certainly support some of the beefier sound when it's turned up higher. But having to control everything through a phone can be a bit of a burden at times. 

While the external design has little to no bells and whistles (a USB port and a pairing and power button on the side are all), this speaker feels pretty nice to handle and can easily blend in around an event or an outside party. Placing at one end of the house and turning it up from the other works a treat too - with the sound pouring out. Though that comes with the caveat of needing the speaker to be hung from its plastic strap to ensure it doesn't fall over.

A lack of an app means purists won't get the thrill of tweaking things to perfection - but if you're after a decent sound for around 12 hours of battery life that doesn't bring much else to the party, then you can't really go wrong with the Ultimate Ears Miniroll.

It's one of those portable speakers that really does just what it says on the tin. Maybe a few more bells and whistles would make it a little more essential, but it's impressive enough for what it is.