Logitech UE Roll
An attractive and waterproof speaker designed for the great outdoors
£100 Manufacturer Logitech, ultimateears.com Frequency range 108Hz-20kHz Connectivity Bluetooth 4.0, 3.5mm audio input Dimensions 135x40mm Weight 330g
Waterproof speakers seem to be the in thing at the moment, and this latest addition to Logitech’s Ultimate Ears (UE) range is one of the best we’ve heard so far.
The UE Roll’s colourful, circular design immediately sets it apart from its rigidly rectangular rivals, and it’s available in a variety of different colours and patterns. It’s well suited to outdoor use, with a tough, washable cover, a rubber flap that protects the USB and audio ports, and a thick rubber carrying cable to help keep it safe. Its built-in Bluetooth has a range of up to 20m, and the rechargeable battery should last for 8-9 hours at a time. The chunky volume buttons are a nice touch too, as you can just stretch out an arm and adjust the volume from the comfort of your sunbed.
The UE Roll is also more rugged than many of its rivals, with an IPX7 rating that means it can survive in 1m of water for up to 30 minutes (and it turns out Ed Sheeran sounds better bubbling up from the bottom of a bucket of water, as Logitech demoed at its launch event).
You don’t have to submerge it to get good sound, though. The speaker provides quite respectable bass for such a compact little device, while higher frequencies sound light and clear – and surprisingly loud, too. Higher frequencies can get a little harsh at maximum volume.
However, these characteristics are forgivable in a speaker of this size and price, and the UE Roll will be an excellent choice if you’re looking for a sturdy speaker to take on holiday with you. Cliff Joseph The UE Roll gives good sound quality for such a compact speaker, wrapped in a sturdy, waterproof casing.
Good sound, plenty of volume
Sturdy, waterproof design
Slight distortion at max volume
No microphone/speakerphone