The Mpow AquaPro Bluetooth Speaker is a waterproof, dustproof and shockproof speaker that is perfect for outdoor activities. The speaker is extremely portable, has decent sound quality, support hands-free calling and includes an SOS feature should you find yourself in an emergency situation.
Mpow has become a dependable source for Windows Phone and PC accessories and the AquaPro is a quality addition to the company's product lineup. Available through Amazon.com, the AquaPro is also budget friendly, coming in just under $28.
The design of the Mpow AquaPro is compact and simple in nature. Measuring 80mm x 80mm x 35mm (approximately 3 x 3 x 1.5 inches) and coming in at 182 grams (6.4 ounces) the AquaPro is very portable, taking up a small pocket of a backpack or jacket pocket.
AquaPro's control buttons — power and pairing, volume, and playback — line the top of the speaker with a Micro-USB port, 3.5mm jack and the SOS button running down the right side of the speaker. The AquaPro also has a small blue LED light in the upper right corner of the speaker's face to indicate power-on and pairing status. For carrying convenience, the AquaPro is fitted with a small lanyard.
The Micro-USB port is for charging the AquaPro, the 3.5mm serves as a line-in port and the SOS button will blast an alarm when pressed/held for two seconds. The alarm would make any car alarm jealous and is rather annoying. It's perfect for getting someone's attention if you have an emergency.
The AquaPro is rated at IPX7 and provides 100% protection against rainfall, splashing and submergence up to 3 feet for 30 minutes. The speaker is also dustproof and shockproof. In the time that we've been reviewing the speaker it didn't rain, so we took it into the bathroom shower and it held up just fine.
While only weighing 182 grams, the speaker does have a little heft to it likely due to the solid construction. The AquaPro comes packaged with an audio cable, USB cable and instruction booklet.
Performance
With regards to performance, I was pleasantly surprised at the sound quality and volume of the AquaPro. I did think the sound quality could use a little more bass, but not to the point of sounding terrible.
When you first turn on the AquaPro, the speaker will automatically go into pairing mode. If you need to pair the speaker with additional devices, just press and hold the circle button for about two seconds until the blue LED lights up and then press the play button for a few seconds until you hear an indication tone.
Mpow's AquaPro is fitted with an 800mAH battery that provides approximately 6-8 hours of playing time and has a recharge time of 2-3 hours. The speaker is fitted with a low battery alert to remind you to put the AquaPro on a charger.
Hands-free calling is very basic with the AquaPro in that the only support is to answer and end calls. Audio playback is automatically paused on calls and calls came in loud and clear. The microphone (guessing it is behind the speaker grill) picks up my voice, using a normal tone, without issues.
Overall Impression
The more I used the Mpow AquaPro, the more the tiny speaker grew on me. The size is very travel friendly and I can see it being a strong option for poolside, on the beach, in the boat or while out camping. It also does nicely in the shower.
While the hands-free support is minimal, the speaker could be a great option to have around when your phone isn't readily accessible. For example, I enjoy lake kayaking and my Windows Phone is kept in a waterproof bag under my seat while on the water. I can keep the AquaPro sitting on the deck of the kayak to answer calls without having to worry about finding my phone.
Sound quality isn't the best I've heard from a Bluetooth speaker, but it is not too shabby either. I would have liked a little more bass in the sound, but at this size it's hard to get real booming bass. Overall, though, the AquaPro was adequately loud and projected in the outdoors. Battery life was respectable and I was able to get almost seven hours of play before I started searching for a charging cable.
The AquaPro is currently priced at $27.99 at Amazon and with temperatures warming up, the AquaPro is an attractive speaker to consider for your outdoor activities.
