UE Roll 2 review: Waterproof Bluetooth speaker plays louder, has better range

The UE Roll was one of my favorite compact Bluetooth speakers of 2015 and now there's a sequel: the UE Roll 2, which offers a couple of modest improvements over the original. For starters, it plays louder. About 15 percent louder according to UE. More importantly, it has a longer wireless range of up to 30 meters or 98 feet. And it ships with a UE Floatie, so you can take it into the pool with you right out of the box.

That's right, this speaker is completely waterproof and can be submerged in water for up to 30 minutes. However, it doesn't float, which is why you need to the Floatie accessory to keep it above water.

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The speaker looks identical and weighs virtually the same (330 grams or 11.6 ounces) as the original Roll (332 grams or 11.7 ounces), with the same integrated bungie cord, which comes in handy, allowing you to hang the speaker from a hook or attach it to a backpack or even your belt clip. Battery life is the same at around 9 hours and the price is, too: $100, £79 or AU$149 (will be available in Australia later this year).