Design and sound-wise, Tribit speakers can go toe-to-toe with pricier alternatives from popular brands like JBL, Sony, Bose, etc. The StormBox 2 is a mid-range and budget-friendly speaker in Tribit’s “StormBox” product line. This review comprehensively assesses the speaker’s features and sound quality.
Tribit StormBox 2: The Under $70 Portable Speaker that Stands Out
Sodiq Olanrewaju
Summary
Compared to the $80 Anker Soundcore Flare 2, the Tribit Stormbom 2 has better sound and bass production. XBass does improve the thumpiness of the bass, but the effect might go unnoticeable outdoors or in big rooms, primarily due to the speaker’s size. However, the StormBox 2 is worth every penny of the $67.99 retail price. It’s a bargain portable speaker with splendid sound quality that supports wired and wireless connectivity.
Overview and Technical Specifications
The StormBox product line offers a diverse range of portable speakers, from chunky party-perfect speakers (see Tribit StormBox Blast ) to micro speakers that fit the tiniest pockets (see Tribit StormBox Micro ). The StormBox 2 succeeds the Tribit StormBox and ships with enhanced speakers, a battery, and Bluetooth capabilities.
Here are the key specifications of the Tribit StormBox 2:
Design and Build Quality (3.5/5)
The Tribit StormBox 2 ships in a bright yellow and black box that contains the following:
- StormBox 2 portable speaker
- USB-A to USB-C cable
- User manual
About 90% of the speaker’s body is wrapped in black and gray mesh fabric, which gives it a premium feel over other similarly-priced Bluetooth speakers. Above the TRIBIT logo on the front are the prominent multimedia controls. The plus (+) and minus (-) buttons increase and decrease playback volume, while the center circle (O) is the Play/Pause button.
As is typical with Bluetooth speakers (and headphones), double-pressing the Play/Pause icon skips to the next track, while a triple-press plays the previous track. Interestingly, the Play/Pause button also doubles as a Voice Control button. Holding it for two seconds activates voice input, allowing you to send voice commands to connected devices.
On my Android device (a Samsung phone), holding the Pause/Play for two seconds launched the Bixby virtual assistant. I expected the 2-second button press to activate Siri on my iPhone, but I got a “Voice Control” screen with supported actions.
On Android devices, you can use Voice commands to launch applications, make phone calls, send messages, or change system settings. However, the Tribit StormBox 2’s voice control functionalities are limited to cellular and FaceTime calls in iOS.
The Play/Pause button also works for hands-free call controls on Android and iOS devices. A single press accepts an incoming call or ends an active phone. To decline an incoming phone call, press and hold the button for 2-3 seconds.
The StormBox 2 houses the following buttons on the rear (from top to bottom):
- Power button: Press once to turn the speaker on or off.
- Bluetooth button: Press once to enter device pairing mode; long-press for 2-3 seconds to disconnect active Bluetooth device(s).
- EQ button: This button turns XBass on or off by default. XBass is Tribit’s bass enhancement technology, which boosts the speaker’s bass by 10 dB. You can customize the button (in the Tribit mobile app) to switch between other presets or customized EQs.
- TWS button: Press once to activate Stereo or Party modes when using two connected Tribit StormBox 2 speakers. Party mode plays the same audio on the connected speakers, while Stereo mode routes the left channel to one speaker and the right channel to the other, creating a 360º stereo surround sound effect.
These control buttons have backlights that indicate the speaker’s connectivity status, battery level, or EQ mode. For instance, the Power button turns red when charging, white when fully charged, and flashes a red light when the battery falls below 20%. In pairing mode, the Bluetooth button blinks a white light and stays white when connected to a device. The backlit buttons came in handy when testing the StormBox 2 in my dark room and outdoors at night.
Below the buttons are the input ports for charging the speaker and 3.5mm AUX input. The ports reside in a hollowed cutout covered by a durable rubber flap that provides a waterproof seal.
It’s worth noting that the Tribit StormBox 2 has an IPX7 waterproof rating, which makes it resistant to damage from accidental water splashes. That makes it suitable for use at the pool or in light rain. Remember to seal the rubber flap properly when not charging the speaker or using the AUX input.
The strap at the top of the speaker and rubber feet on the bottom are nifty additions. The strap is removable, allowing for easy carriage by hand or attachment to objects—bike handles, tree branches, etc. The rubber feet ensure the speaker stays put and doesn’t slip on surfaces.
Since the StormBox 2 is designed to stand vertically, the feet slightly elevate the speaker so your table doesn’t block or reduce bass from the bottom-facing radiator.
Overall, the Tribit StormBox 2’s build quality is sturdy and decent. The prominent playback buttons on the front and backlit control buttons earned the speaker some good design points, which would have been higher if it had dynamic RGB lighting like the Tribit StormBox Mini.
Connectivity (3.5 / 5)
Linking the Tribit StormBox 2 to our test devices and the Tribit app was a flawless experience. The speaker uses Bluetooth 5.3 and can connect to two devices simultaneously within 150 feet. However, despite supporting dual connectivity, it can only receive wireless audio input from one device at a time.
I connected my iPhone and Android smartphone to the Stormbox 2 and expected it to auto-switch audio output between both devices, but that didn’t happen. I had to manually pause/stop media playback on the first device so the speaker could play audio from the second device.
The Tribit Stormbox 2 is a wired and wireless speaker, thanks to the 3.5mm jack in the charging compartment. The input lets you hook the speaker to mobile devices or old-school TVs without Bluetooth connectivity.
Microphone Quality (3.0/5)
The Tribit StormBox 2 has a built-in microphone for audio input when using Voice Control or making phone calls. In Voice Control mode, it picked up my voice quickly and clearly without issues.
However, the microphone’s far-field voice capture isn’t the greatest. It occasionally failed to pick up my voice during phone calls, especially when placed at a distance.
Sound Quality (4.0/5)
One 48mm full-range 17W stereo speaker is on each side of the Tribit StormBox 2, bringing its total output to 34W. These speakers produced impressively loud and crystal audio, even at low volume levels. Turning on XBass added richness to the songs I played on the speaker. The increased punch and thump from the top and bottom radiators enhanced my listening experience.
The tonal balance of trebles, midrange, and bass for different songs was also generally smooth. However, I enjoyed bass-heavy songs more on the StormBox 2, especially with XBass on. It produced slightly deeper and better bass than portable speakers in similar price territory.
Overall, the Tribit StormBox 2 was loud enough to fill my room, but sound quality thinned out in larger spaces and outdoors. We recommend installing the Tribit app if you use the StormBox 2 on a mobile device. You can create custom EQs to personalize the speaker’s audio output to your preference.
Battery and Charging (4.0/5)
Two 2600mAh lithium batteries power the Tribit StormBox 2, bringing its total capacity to 5200mAh. Tribit says the speaker can provide up to 24 hours of playtime at 60% volume with XBass turned off. I didn’t test the speaker at this recommended setting because I wouldn’t play no-bass audio for 24 hours straight.
However, on a full charge at about 20-30% volume level with XBass on, the Tribit StormBox 2 provided over 40 hours of cumulative playtime. That’s the most playtime I’ve gotten from a speaker with a similar battery size. For context, I own the Anker Flare 2, and the speaker’s 5,200mAh battery is good for 15-18 hours max.
The Tribit StormBox 2 automatically shuts down after 15 minutes of inactivity—i.e., no input or button presses. This is a common power-saving feature you’ll find on many Bluetooth speakers. The Tribit app has an “Auto Shutdown” option that, when enabled, shuts down the speaker in five minutes if there’s no active connection or operation. A “Countdown to shutdown” function also automatically shuts down the speaker after a set period.
The speaker’s battery life is impressive, but the charging time was a downer. Using my MacBook’s 61W USB-C power adapter and cable, it took about four hours to charge the Tribit Stormbox 2 from 10% to 100%.
Additionally, I disliked that the Tribit app doesn’t show a charging indicator. Although the power button turns red when charging, you can’t check the StormBox 2’s charging status from the app.
Pro Tip: Charge the Tribit Stormbox 2 using a power adapter with a minimum output voltage of five volts (5V). That ensures the speaker charges at the fastest speed possible.
Price (4.0/5)
Overall Rating (3.7/5.0)
Compared to my $80 Anker Soundcore Flare 2, the Tribit Stormbom 2 has better sound and bass production and has since become my preferred portable speaker. As advertised, activating XBass does improve the thumpiness of the bass, but the effect might go unnoticeable outdoors or in big rooms, primarily due to the speaker’s size; the bass isn’t terrible for its size and price. However, everything you get with the StormBox 2 is worth every penny of the $67.99 retail price. It’s a bargain portable speaker with splendid sound quality and supports wired and wireless connectivity.
- ENGWE L20 2.0 Review: The Best Budget-Friendly Foldable E-Bike?
- TopDon TC004 – a Thermal Imaging Camera That Will Give You Predator Vision
- Newyes Portable Wireless Thermal A4 Printer Review
- Eskute Star Folding Fat Tire Electric Bike Review
- The 70mai Power Station Tera 1000 Review
If you don’t have a full-sized printing machine at home and often need to print a document on the go, check out the Newyes portable printer . This wireless printer is lightweight and small enough to fit in your bag. Not to mention it’s environmentally friendly, since it uses thermal paper instead of ink.
Follow our review of the Newyes portable wireless thermal printer to see if it suits your printing needs.
Newyes Portable Wireless Thermal A4 Printer: First Impressions & Specs
When I was a student, I remember my university always required hard copies of documents. Luckily, there was a print shop on campus where I could always pop in to print something.
Then I became a professional, and to my surprise many life spheres still required me to have printed versions of documents with me. Of course you can get your own full-sized machine to print things at home, but if like me you live in a small apartment, you value every extra bit of space and don’t want a massive printer to take it up.
One day, when I was looking for a neighbor with a printer to help me with my event tickets, they introduced me to the concept of a portable printer. Seeing how easy it is to use, I immediately wanted to get my hands on one of those. So here I am, reviewing one of the most useful gadgets I received recently – the Newyes portable thermal printer.
Before we continue with this review, here is the full list of specs of this printer.
- Model: Newyes LD0801
- Dimensions: 10.4 x 1.2 x 2.28 in (265 x 58 x 30.5 mm)
- Weight: 16.8oz (475g)
- Paper format: A4
- Paper width: 210mm or 218mm
- Printing Type: thermal paper
- Resolution: 203DPI
- Connectivity: Bluetooth
- Charging port: USB type-C port
- Input Voltage: DC 5V / 2A
- Battery: 1200mAh lithium battery
- Charging time: 75 min
- Automatic shut down: after 30 minutes
- Stand-by: about 30 days
- Extra features: LED light, reset, on / off switch button
- Color: white, black
- Warranty: limited one year warranty
- Price: $199 on the Newyes website
If you find yourself in need of hard copies of important documents while on the move, the Newyes portable wireless thermal printer will become your go-to gadget. Newyes calls it “the world’s smallest printer”, and with the weight of under 500g this seems plausible. This mini printer offers a handy solution for those moments when you need to quickly print an important document but don’t have access to an office setup.
Operating this printer is a breeze – a simple Bluetooth connection is all that’s required. Once connected, just fire up the app, choose the file you want to print, and send it over. Efficiency is at the forefront, and you can easily print multiple sheets by inserting new pages back to back.
The only limitation this printer has is that it can only print in black. So even if your original file is in color, the printed document will still come out in black and white. Other than that – you can print a variety of file types including Excel, Word, PDF, JPG, PNG, and web pages – and it only takes seconds.
The Newyes portable wireless printer combines convenience, portability, and efficiency – all the things I appreciate in a modern gadget.
Design and Unpacking
Let’s have a closer look at the design and build of this smart printer, as well as what you get included in the package when you purchase it.
What’s in the Box
Here’s everything you’ll find when unpacking your Newyes portable thermal printer:
- The Newyes portable wireless thermal printer
- Bracket
- USB type-C cable
- Storage/carrying pouch
- 100pcs thermal printing paper
- User manual
You can use the Newyes portable printer right out of the box, as you’re all set with essential accessories. Aside from the printer itself, the package includes a bracket which will make printing more than one page smoother, a convenient storage bag for carrying your printer with you, a USB-C cable for charging, and a supply of 100 pieces of thermal paper to get you started.
One important thing to remember is that this printer only works with thermal paper. While thermal paper is significantly more expensive than normal paper, this printer also uses inkless printing and works without a ribbon and toner. Since you don’t have to spend money on ink, carbon ribbons or toner cartridges, you ultimately end up saving money with thermal paper.
The Newyes LD0801 is a pocket-sized printer that features straightforward design. For the purpose of this review, I had a printer in white color. The printer looks like a small white brick with just two pressable buttons on top – one for switching it on and off, and another for opening the printer’s cover. You’ll also see the paper entry slot on top of the printer.
On the side of the printer, you’ll find a single charging port.
The printer is made of plastic, but the build feels sturdy. I never have to worry about throwing it into my bag or damaging it when traveling. Besides, you can use a nice carrying pouch included in the package for protection.
Performance & Features
According to Newyes, the portable printer has a “handheld size and two times the weight of an iPhone”. This can give you an idea of how portable and convenient this little gadget is. In a month of testing, I used it at home, in a store, and even in a car while on the road.
Using the printer is unbelievably easy. Connect it to your mobile phone via Bluetooth, press the button to turn the printer on and put a sheet of thermal paper into the paper entry slot. Make sure to use thermal paper and not standard paper, and put it with the black marks facing down. Bear in mind that the thermal printer can only print in black and white and only on one (marked) side of the thermal paper sheet.
Then open the iPrint app on your smartphone. If you’re printing an A4 document, you can select one of two options – Photo Printing and Document Printing . Then choose the document from your phone’s files and print it.
The printer is reliable and in the time that I used it the Newyes LD0801 never let me down. The printing quality will surprise you, as it’s sometimes better than what you get from a full-sized printer. The printer supports printing in various formats, and you can use it to print documents from your smartphone (Android and iPhone), iPad, and Android tablet.
When fully charged, the printer can support up to 90 pieces of paper continuously, which is very impressive for a gadget of such a small size.
Software
The Newyes portable printer requires an iPrint app to operate. The app is available for free on iOS and Android. You’ll need to download the app on your device from the App Store or Google Play before you begin printing your documents.
The app has a simple and user-friendly design. You’ll need to pair your device with the printer on the first use via Bluetooth.
Depending on the type of document you want to print, you can choose different options from the app. There’s photo printing, document printing, web printing, and banner printing.
The app also has Materials and Template sections, where you can find various pictures and templates for printing to-do lists, post-its and holiday cards. You can also use the Newyes LD0801 as a label printer using these templates.
Battery Life
The Newyes portable wireless thermal printer is equipped with a decent 1200mAh lithium battery. This high-capacity battery allows you to print on the go without constantly worrying about running out of charge. When I received the printer, I charged it fully once, and it still hasn’t run out of battery after one month of use (I use it to print something almost every other day).
Charging this printer is quick and takes just over an hour to charge the printer from zero to full. The type-C charging cable facilitates a rapid charging experience. And if you run out of battery while on the go, you can quickly charge the printer from a portable power station or a power bank to continue printing.
The printer doesn’t support wireless charging, so I’d recommend always bringing the usb-c cable with you just in case.
Should You Buy the Newyes Portable Wireless Thermal Printer?
The Newyes portable thermal printer ensures high-quality wireless printing while on the go and easy operation. It’s not the most budget-friendly option, but this purchase will save you money and nerves in the long run thanks to its versatility and portable nature.
Personally, I can say that this printer made my life easier. So much that it’s probably my favorite smart gadget of the year. If you’re looking for a portable printer that won’t take any space in your house, I’d certainly recommend considering the Newyes LD0801 model.
- Tribit StormBox 2: The Under $70 Portable Speaker that Stands Out
- ENGWE L20 2.0 Review: The Best Budget-Friendly Foldable E-Bike?
- TopDon TC004 – a Thermal Imaging Camera That Will Give You Predator Vision
- Eskute Star Folding Fat Tire Electric Bike Review
- The 70mai Power Station Tera 1000 Review
