Skip to main content

The floating, waterproof Buoy is the speaker you need this summer

If there’s one cardinal tech rule we all hear grow up knowing, it’s “always keep your electronics away from water!” Still, accidents happen, so everything from bags of rice to detailed insurance plans have brought all sorts of devices, from phones and tablets to headphones and speakers, back to life after traumatic water-related experiences.

There’s no escaping it: water is everywhere. But why should you have to shape your life around your tech just because you’re around a little liquid?

The Buoy speaker by Magtunes is a waterproof speaker that doesn’t need a lifeguard at the pool. Rubberized and ready to go, this speaker packs sound in a water/dust proof shell that promises it remains impervious to the elements. But, come on, is it really waterproof? Can it take a prolonged dunk in the river or, heaven forbid, the fish tank? There’s only one way to know for sure. And since the Buoy is an Indiegogo project, you do want to know for sure before you spring for one.

In this video Joshua Smith goes hands on with a exclusive prototype of Magtunes’ latest product. See how the speaker works, how well it sounds, and plenty more before you decide whether or not to support their growing campaign.

In addition to the features covered in the video, the speaker offers a power bank feature for charging other devices, Bluetooth 4.0 LE (low energy), NFC, and personal settings memory.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Joshua Smith
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Just another not so ordinary kid living this thing we like to call life.
Bose SoundLink Flex is a waterproof speaker that knows what’s up
Bose SoundLink Flex Bluetooth speaker in blue.

Bose has introduced the latest member of its SoundLink family of Bluetooth speakers and headphones, the $149 SoundLink Flex. It's available starting October 13 at Bose.com and other retailers in three colors: Black, white, or blue.

The SoundLink Flex's IP67 rating for water and dust resistance makes it a pretty good pool and beach companion, and should it actually go for a kerplunk, it will float back to the surface of the water so you don't need to grab a mask and snorkel to retrieve it.

Read more
Sony wants you to play your summer soundtrack on its new wireless speakers
Sony xg500 wireless speaker

Every summer has a soundtrack, and Sony wants you to listen to yours on its newest series of portable Bluetooth speakers. The product line is available now and can help kick off a more active, less quarantined season. Here's our rundown of the offerings:
XB13 Extra Bass

The smallest and most portable of the bunch, the XB13 Extra Bass comes with an IP67 waterproof and dustproof designation -- that's enough protection for serious showers or splashes and sand, but don't let it go for a swim. The speaker is available in several vibrant colors befitting the summer season and, as its name would suggest, hangs its hat on its ability to handle bass-heavy tracks and produce a "deep, punchy sound."

Read more
The Sonos Roam just put all other portable speakers on notice
Sonos Roam

Sonos has just taken the wraps off its second portable speaker, the $169 Sonos Roam, which will be available in black or white when it hits retailers starting April 20, 2021. We had been expecting Sonos to deliver a mini version of its $399 Sonos Move, but thanks to better protection from the elements and wireless charging, the Roam is much more than a scaled-down Move. Here are all of the details.

Super small
We were impressed by the power and sound quality that Sonos had managed to pack into a rugged speaker like the Sonos Move, but our chief criticism was that despite being billed as portable, it was simply too big and heavy to be a true alternative to popular portable models like the UE Megaboom. The Sonos Roam, on the other hand, is ultraportable. At just under one pound and standing only 6.6 inches tall, the Roam is smaller and lighter than the $150 UE Boom 3.

Read more