Small but (almost) perfectly formed -- Inateck MercuryBox BP2101 [Review]

A technology writer's world can often seem full of Bluetooth speakers, they have successfully colonized a corner of my office, so it takes something special to stand out from the crowd. In terms of build quality the latest from Inateck makes an immediate impression but does it live up in other areas?

The whole package has a premium feel to it, even the cardboard box is nice. The speaker itself is a neat design with an aluminum chassis that feels solid and weighty. There are rubber end caps, one of which has a fold-down flap covering the USB and Aux ports, and a rubber panel on top with buttons for power, pause, +/- and Bluetooth calls. It comes with braided USB and 3.5 mm jack cables both of which have Velcro ties to keep them tidy when not on use, another quality touch, a wrist strap and a soft pouch to carry the speaker around in. There's a well-produced instruction leaflet too.

Inside are two 5w speakers and a polymer lithium-ion battery. The design is compliant with the IPX5 standard for waterproofing, this means it's protected against dust and 'low pressure' water jetting. So while you won't want to drop it in the bath it should be fine to take to the beach or use in the rain.

When you switch it on the speaker goes into pairing mode automatically, making it easy to link it to your phone. The +/- buttons have a dual function, a short press will skip tracks while a longer press adjusts the volume. The need for a long press does make it tricky to set the volume accurately though. It has a built-in microphone so you can make calls or use it with the likes of Cortana and Siri.

For such a compact unit (165 x 58 x 27mm, small enough to slip into a pocket) the MercuryBox produces a surprisingly good sound. There's decent bass and although it won't fill a big room it's perfectly adequate for everyday listening. There's decent battery life too, you should be able to get about 15 hours of playback on a full charge.

At $54.99 on Amazon or £49.99 in the UK the MercuryBox isn't the cheapest Bluetooth speaker around. It does, however, feel like a quality item -- an impression reinforced by the accessories -- is easy to use, though the volume control lets it down a little, and produces acceptable sound quality.

You can find out more about the MercuryBox on the Inateck site.