Why This Cheap Wireless Speaker Surprised Me

I’m what you might call a “jaded tech journalist,” having been in the biz for over 35 years, meaning it’s rare that I’m both surprised and impressed by a product. But recently I encountered my first rechargeable wireless-induction speaker, and you know what? I’m surprised. And impressed.

Not because it’s the best speaker out there, but because it solves a problem and sells for peanuts.

The problem: My decidedly not-tech-savvy wife likes to listen to music when she’s in the kitchen, but doesn’t like the “hassle” (her word) of connecting her phone to our Sonos speaker system. Consequently, she just listens through her phone’s speaker, which is a horrific (my word) alternative.

Just set your phone on the stand and presto, amplified sound. It’s the easiest speaker on the planet. (Credit: Rick Broida/DealSeek)

With the wireless-induction speaker, you just turn it on, place your phone in its holder, and presto: It amplifies the audio that comes from your phone, using a process I like to call “indistinguishable from magic.” (Because, seriously, no plugs, no Bluetooth pairing, no Wi-Fi. What devilry is this?)

OK, if you want the technical explanation, your phone’s speaker contains a magnetic coil that generates a field when audio comes through it. The induction speaker picks up that field and boosts it. This is pretty cool to see (and hear) in action: You literally just place set your phone down and the larger, louder speaker kicks in. No monkeying with pairing or the like.

What happens if your phone is in a case? Doesn’t really matter; it just needs to be thin enough that it can still rest on the stand. My wife has a pretty thick wallet case, but if she opens out the bi-fold part, the stand works — and, therefore, so does the speaker.

The controls are simple, and you can even use the USB port (either one) to charge your phone — though not by much; the internal battery is fairly small, good for only about 5-8 hours of listening. (Credit: Rick Broida/DealSeek)

Meanwhile, Bluetooth is available here as well, just in case you want to turn your phone sideways (induction works only in portrait mode) for watching movies and such. This also eliminates the occasional bits of static that can result from induction signal interference. (In my tests, with two iPhones and the TCL Nxtpaper 70 Pro Android phone, this was barely noticeable, especially when music is playing at a decent volume. Your mileage may vary.)

The speaker also has the obligatory ring of colored LEDs, which add a nice touch. (You can turn these off or toggle them to white or blue — but no other colors, don’t ask me why.)

So, how does it actually sound? Given the price and the technology, pretty good. Will you mistake it for a Bose, Sony, or Sonos? Of course not. But for the kitchen, and for my wife who was previously content to listen to her phone’s tiny speaker? It’s more than good enough. And to be honest, it sounds even better in Bluetooth mode.

The phone stand can fold flat when not in use, making this a little more travel-friendly. (Credit: Rick Broida/DealSeek)

But that’s less fun somehow. In induction mode, literally anyone can drop their phone on the speaker, no pairing, un-pairing, or re-pairing required.

Although I reviewed the Jorest speaker listed below, these are total commodity items: There are loads of similar ones on Amazon, many similarly priced. I’ll also note that this one says “frequently returned item,” though I can’t point to exactly why. (The majority of these things have user ratings in the 4.3-4.5-star range, this one included.)

This isn’t for everyone — there are plenty of straight-up Bluetooth speakers in the same price range that sound as good or better — but I do think there’s an audience for it: people who just want an easy speaker. This is that, and it’s a measly $20.

Jorest Wireless Induction Speaker

PROS:

Very inexpensive
Greatly improves your phone’s audio output
Works even if your phone is in a case
Super-easy to use, no Bluetooth or Wi-Fi pairing required
Doubles as an adjustable phone stand
Triples as an emergency phone charger
Nice LED accent lighting

CONS:

Sometimes produces a little static
So-so battery life
Overall sound is just okay

💡 VERDICT: This magical little speaker works surprisingly well, requiring no plug or pairing to give your phone some nice audio amplification. And it’s a straight-up bargain, a great buy for yourself or as a gift.