Ultimate Ears' Miniroll Bluetooth speaker is small, sweet and built to go anywhere

Ultimate Ears Miniroll on a shower unit
(Image credit: Ultimate Ears)

Before you start thinking about biscuits and snack rolls, the Ultimate Ears Miniroll has nothing to do with chocolate-covered sponge cakes. Delicious as those are, the US brand's latest offering is actually a palm-sized portable speaker that it hopes will toe-to-toe with class-leading rivals such as the JBL Clip 5 (around £50 / $80) or the ever-likeable Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 (roughly £60 / $60). 

Conceived as a go-anywhere update on 2015's original UE Roll and promising plenty of sonic firepower, the lightweight Miniroll has been created to accompany you on every adventure.

The new Bluetooth speaker weighs just 279g and, thanks to its IP67 water and dustproof rating, you should feel confident taking it anywhere from a sandy beach to, if you feel so inclined, a murky swamp. Sporting similar dimensions to a standard ice hockey puck, the new unit sports a bookable strap for securing it to, say, your bicycle frame or your favourite outdoor jacket.

Ultimate Ears Miniroll held in a pool

(Image credit: Ultimate Ears)

The UE Miniroll offers up to 12 hours on a single charge. That is a solid number, matching the battery life offered by the five-star Tribit Stormbox Micro 2, albeit falling just short of the 14 hours offered by Ultimate Ears' handsome and portable Wonderboom 3 stablemate. The Miniroll has a handy quick recharge facility for juicing up on the go, too.

What its Tribit rival doesn't have, though, is Auracast compatibility, which gives owners the ability to connect an unlimited number of Minirolls. It's the same future-proof tech we've recently seen implemented with the JBL Xtreme 3 and the JBL Go 4, and is baked in and ready with the new Miniroll.

“The Miniroll started with a consumer ask: they wanted a speaker that could strap in and go anywhere to keep up with their active lifestyles," says Jonah Staw, UE's general manager. "This led our design and engineering teams to build our most portable speaker, showing how passionate consumers can drive innovation.”

Coming in black, blue, grey and pink colourways, the Ultimate Ears Miniroll is available now for £70 / $80 / €80 / AU$120.

MORE:

Read our recent Ultimate Ears Everboom review 

Like small (Bluetooth) speakers? The JBL Go 4 is wired for sound 

These are the best budget Bluetooth speakers

TOPICS
Harry McKerrell
Senior staff writer

Harry McKerrell is a senior staff writer at What Hi-Fi?. During his time at the publication, he has written countless news stories alongside features, advice and reviews of products ranging from floorstanding speakers and music streamers to over-ear headphones, wireless earbuds and portable DACs. He has covered launches from hi-fi and consumer tech brands, and major industry events including IFA, High End Munich and, of course, the Bristol Hi-Fi Show. When not at work he can be found playing hockey, practising the piano or trying to pet strangers' dogs.

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