I tested and reviewed the StormBox Blast portable Bluetooth speaker to make it easier for you to decide whether or not you should buy this biggest and most powerful speaker yet by Tribit.
Tribit StormBox Blast: First Impressions & Specs
One of the first things you’ll notice about the StormBox Blast speaker is its size. Even though it’s a portable speaker, it weighs 11.6 pounds (or 5.4 kg) and is massive compared to other portable speakers that we reviewed, like the Soundcore Motion Boom Plus by Anker.
However, with great size comes greater sound. While the StormBox Blast probably won’t beat a standard subwoofer + soundbar combo, it’s more powerful than the above-mentioned Motion Boom Plus and JBL Charge 5 (both in the same price category as the StormBox Blast), on par with JBL Xtreme 3 (which is significantly more expensive).
Together with this wireless speaker, you also get 32 blazing LED lights. By default, the lights turn on whenever you turn on the speaker. You can control them using the lights button on the control panel on top of the speaker or via the Tribit app. While some people may find such an excessive amount of LEDs annoying, I found the lights rather useful, especially if you’re planning an after-dark party or a late-night BBQ outdoors.
Speaking of outdoor use, StormBox Blast is IPX67 water-resistant, meaning it’s fully waterproof. You can submerge the speaker at depths of up to 3.3 ft (1m), and it’ll withstand it for 30 minutes without getting damaged. This doesn’t mean you should try and dunk it into the nearest body of water as soon as you buy the speaker. However, you can safely leave your StormBox Blast near a pool without worrying about the splashes.
Here’s the full list of specifications of the Tribit StormBox Blast :
- Dimensions: 8.9 x 16 x 6.4in (22.6 x 40.6 x 16cm)
- Weight: 11.6 pounds or 5.4kg
- Connectivity: Wireless distance – 40M, Bluetooth 5.3, USB-C port, 3.5mm AUX input
- Water & dust resistance rating: IPX7
- Output: 90W (2 x 30W Woofer & 2 x 15W Tweeter)
- Frequency range: 50Hz to 20kHz
- Channels: Stereo
- Protocol: A2DP, AVRCP
- Drivers: 4.2-inch bass driver, 1.2-inch treble driver
- Battery: 18650 (3.6V*9 2200mAh)
- Extra features: XBass boost function
- Price: from $199.99 on the Tribit website or from $155.98 on Amazon
Design and Unpacking
Okay, I’ll admit that the design and the overall look aren’t this speaker’s strong suits. I guess they were going for a nostalgic retro look with the boombox shape and size. But in the end, it sort of looks like a big black plastic brick.
What’s in the Box
Before we continue dissecting the speaker’s appearance, here’s everything you’ll find in the box when unpacking your Tribit StormBox Blast:
- StormBox Blast portable speaker
- Charging cable
- User manual
The flashing LED lights don’t help at all during the day. The speaker lights up like a Christmas tree when you turn it on, and the LEDs mirror every beat, which I found annoying sometimes. However, it leaves a completely different impression when using the StormBox speaker after dark. The lights can help create a playful atmosphere and serve as party lights. Plus, you can switch the lights off completely if you’re tired of them.
One last downside is the speaker’s size. Sure, you can still take it with you, chuck it into your car and bring it on a picnic outdoors. The speaker’s body has a handle on the top, but if you have to carry it by hand, the 11.6 pounds is a pretty significant weight that will tire you out quickly, especially if it’s not the only thing you have to carry.
I found that the best use for this speaker is to find a place for it in your house and leave it there permanently or semi-permanently. The bottom of the StormBox Blast is finished with two rubber feet that keep it in place.
The central grille is framed by two arrays of LED light in the front. Behind the protective grille, you’ll find two drivers lit up by two more LEDs.
On top of the speaker, you’ll find the central control panel. There’s the main multifunction button for playback and track navigation in the middle, a power button, a pairing button, LED, and an XBass button.
On the back of the speaker, you’ll find a connection panel hidden behind a protective rubber cover. There you’ll see the main port for charging your speaker, a 3.5mm AUX input, and a USB-C port for charging your external devices using the speaker’s battery.
Sound Quality & Features
Tribit StormBox Blast features Bluetooth 5.3 for dual connection. That means you can pair two devices to your speaker at the same time. Thanks to the Bluetooth range of 40m, two people can play and control the playlist at once, even from two different rooms. You don’t get aptX or AAC codec support but are only limited to the A2DP and AVRCP protocols here (both of which are basic Bluetooth streaming standards).
The speaker has two 1.2-inch tweeters and two 4.20-inch woofers. The impressive 90W of output combines with a frequency range of 50Hz to 20kHz. On the sides of the speaker, you’ll find dual passive radiators that help enhance the bass response.
StormBox Blast delivers not just good sound but superb sound. Expect textured vocals, robust and powerful lows, clear mids and highs, enough to balance the heavy bass floor.
Bass and volume are two areas where this speaker truly shines. The added XBass feature can be controlled via the button on the top panel of the speaker or via the app. As the name suggests, this feature pumps up the bass on your tracks. I wouldn’t recommend using this feature indoors unless you’re having a party – the enhanced bass can make a lot of difference on higher volume levels and cause problems with your neighbors.
When it comes to the speaker’s functionality, the biggest issue is the lack of a speakerphone (which is present on a cheaper Soundcore Motion Boom Plus, for example). You can’t use your StormBox Blast to conduct calls or use your mobile device’s voice assistant. Using it as a portable speaker and a party starter is where the StormBox Blast’s functions end.
The Tribit App
The Tribit app is available for both Apple iPhone and Android devices, and I recommend downloading it straight away after you get your StormBox Blast unpacked.
Tribit has one app for connecting multiple devices. So if you own Tribit earbuds or another speaker, you probably already know your way around the app.
The mobile app offers a lot of useful features. You can perform your standard firmware updates, enable or disable the auto-shutdown and auto-hibernate functions, perform a factory reset, as well as use one of the EQ presets or create your own.
In the app, you can switch between the LED light show modes: one mode is beat-drives, and the other is more random. Mode 1 cycles through various colors on both side panels and the speaker LEDs, while Mode 2 keeps the speaker LEDs the same color while creating a rainbow effect on the side panels. The toggle switch on top of the screen allows you to switch the speaker lights off for an audio-only experience.
The app also allows you to see the remaining battery of the speaker, which is helpful when you’re throwing a party and need to keep everything (including the music) under control without being physically close to the speaker.
Battery Life
The StormBox Blast comes with nine 3.6V 2200mAh lithium batteries. Depending on the volume level and whether you have the XBass feature switched on, the speaker’s battery life varies from 20 to an incredible 40 hours. This means that when you’re not throwing long parties, you’ll barely need to charge it at all.
The speaker needs about 3.5 hours to charge fully from zero and comes with the charger included in the package.
While that’s already impressive, the best part about the StormBox Blast’s charging capabilities for me was the ability to use its USB-C port to charge your other devices. Basically, you get a 2-in-1 deal here: a portable speaker and a power bank for external devices.
Price & Competition
As for competition, the strongest one in the price category is still the Anker Soundcore Motion Boom Plus. If you’re after a speaker with similar output, you can also check out the JBL Xtreme and Sony SRS-XB43, although you’ll have to pay more for these two.
Should You Buy the Tribit StormBox Blast?
Tribit StormBox Blast is one of the best party speakers you can find that are also portable and available for an affordable price. However, if you can’t imagine getting such a massive speaker, a good party alternative setup would be getting 2 of the Tribit StormBox Micro 2 (or even Tribit StormBox Micro ). You can connect these two little speakers together via the stereo pair feature and create a stereo sound suitable for your house party.
If you enjoyed this speaker review, keep your eyes peeled for our review of the latest earbuds by Tribit – the FlyBuds C1 Pro.
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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.
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