The iFrogz Tadpole Bluetooth mini speaker does not put out big, bold, quality sound. It doesn’t get great battery life, it’s not waterproof, and it doesn’t double as a speakerphone. It doesn’t have Bluetooth 4.0 or NFC. So the tadpole isn’t worth your time or money, right? Actually no, in the right situation it’s a rather compelling device. Here’s why.
The Tadpole is a tiny Bluetooth speaker with an attached carabiner clip. Just over 2 1/2 inches long it is designed to be clipped onto your bag, backpack or belt loop and be taken on the go.
Controls are simple. On one side there is a microUSB port for charging. On the other side there is the power button and a power indicator light. The power button doubles as the pairing button and allows you to connect the speaker to pretty much any device that has Bluetooth audio streaming.
Inside the speaker is a 200mAh lithium polymer battery that gives 2 to 3 hours of audio per charge. That’s rather anemic compared to other Bluetooth speakers, but when you consider the size of the speaker it makes perfect sense that they would only use a battery with this capacity.
The company describes the product this way.
The iFrogz Tadpole is the ultra-small, super-portable solution to mobile music. It delivers big sound from a tiny package; and with its ability to clip onto keys, purses, belts, and more, the Tadpole brings the party where no other speaker has gone before. Its lithium-ion battery can power over two hours of continuous play and a simple micro-USB charging port makes recharging a snap. And with a variety of fresh colors to choose from, there’s a Tadpole that’s perfect for every style.
Features:
- Convenient: Ultra-small and powerful, the Tadpole delivers big sound everywhere you go.
- Long-Lasting: Its rechargeable lithium-ion battery powers over two hours of continuous play.
- Versatile: The Tadpole is compatible with all Bluetooth 3.0 devices.
Specs:
- Two+ hours of music per charge
- 1 Watt slim profile speaker
- Battery: 200mAh lithium polymer battery
- Dimensions: 2.67″ x 0.43″ x 1.38″ (68mm x 11mm x 35mm)
- Weight: 0.7 ounces
As one might expect, the iFrogz Tadpole puts out rather anemic, tinny sound. It is a small speaker, and the audio reflects that fact by pushing out sound that isn’t particularly full or rich. This is, in fact, the type of speaker that will likely give you a headache if you listen to it for an extended period of time at a high volume.
So why would anyone think about getting this product? There are a few reasons.
First there is the price. The speaker comes in five different colors and is under $20. It makes a great inexpensive gift for the gadget lover in your life, and it is perfect for somebody who is going to be taking hikes the summer and wants some tunes along with them.
Second there is the carabiner clip. The ability to clip the speaker to your bag means that you can keep your phone or tablet hidden away and protected and still have music on the go. It is a “clip it and forget it” gadget.
Finally there is the volume. While the sound isn’t much better than that put out by the iPhone or my Samsung Galaxy S5 – it may actually be a little bit worse than the iPhone’s sound – the Temple does get loud. That means you’re able to have the speaker at high volume and you will need to be too terribly close to it in order to listen. Elana, for example, listens to a lot of podcasts while she’s cooking. She usually feed the audio from her iPhone through the Libratone speaker that’s in the kitchen. But if she’s in someone else’s kitchen or she’s out and about this might be a good way for her to be able to listen to her podcasts without having to push the iPhone’s speaker to maximum volume and potentially blow it out over a period of time.
So while the iFrogz Tadpole isn’t for anyone who cares about quality audio, it is for the person who wants to listen to music on the go and doesn’t want to spend a fortune. It’s small and light enough that it won’t wear you down, and it’s convenient enough to keep with you pretty much anywhere you go. Check out all the colors here.
iFrogz Tadpole Fun Colors
What I Like: Small; Ships with carabiner; Easy to pair and use; Under $20
What Needs Improvement: Sounds like it is under $20; Meh battery life; Not waterproof
Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample of the iFrogz Tadpole