BlitzWolf is a brand I came across not long ago, but so far, I’m sold. They don’t have a lot of products in their kitty as yet, but additions keep coming every now and then; mostly from the accessories category.
A few days back, we reviewed the BlitzWolf VR headset, which I thought is quite a nifty gadget that every tech enthusiast should own. After all, we’re now even having phone launches in VR!
Coming back to BlitzWolf, this time round, I spent a few days with their new BlitzWolf F1 Bluetooth Speaker. As you’d have guessed, this gadget goes head-on with the new and improved Xiaomi Bluetooth Speaker.
Both gadgets sport an extremely similar form factor; the F1 is however cheaper for international buyers at $34.99 shipped (purchase link at the bottom of this review) compared to the ~$45 asking price of the Xiaomi speaker at reseller stores.
Let’s take a quick look at the specifications of the BlitzWolf F1:
- Bluetooth 4.0
- Aux in support
- 2 x 45mm, 5W drivers
- 1800mAh battery
- Aluminium body
Inside the box, you get an aux cable, a micro USB cable, a wrist strap and the user’s manual besides the speaker itself.
Here’s a video from the factory demonstrating the speaker:
BlitzWolf F1 Bluetooth Speaker Review
Right out of the box, the F1 feels like something legit. It doesn’t feel like a product developed just for the sake of it; and that’s exactly what I’m liking about BlitzWolf so far.
The metal-plus-rubber duo takes it far. It leaves you with a satisfactory feeling when you use the F1, although the flap that covers the micro USB and aux ports can be a little fidgety sometimes.
The buttons have a very satisfying click to them, but yet it takes a while to get used to exact pressure that you need to apply to press the buttons — there’s a fair bit of travel to them.
The speaker comes in three versions — full black, grey and black/red. The unit that was sent out to us is the black/red one, MKBHD style.
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I managed to test the F1 in a very in-depth manner. My old Sony LCD TV was dying, so I thought of watching the ongoing T20 World Cup on my 23″ monitor. A bit (never thought I could be this euphemistic) small, but it was worth it considering the fresh LED panel had ‘young’ pixels. Then the audio — what better time to test the speakers!
On a single charge, I managed to watch 2 full 3 hour matches. I’m not sure if the F1 has subwoofer at the back, but it managed some superb audio with precisely the right amount of bass. I couldn’t risk running out of battery mid-match, so I let it charge before the next match started.
The product page claims life of 10 to 12 hours, which is very impressive. As you just read, I tested it for 6-7 hours and had no issues whatsoever.
The F1 also features an IPX5 body, which means it is splash-, shock- and dust-proof.
For a $34 gadget, I think the F1 hits the sweet spot. But then there’s something that’ll be a ‘no issue’ for some, but a deal breaker for many: the lack of an SD card slot. BlitzWolf probably want to be looked upon as a ‘premium’ lifestyle brand, which perhaps explains the lack of flexibility here.
BlitzWolf F1 Bluetooth Speaker Review: Picture Gallery
BlitzWolf F1 Bluetooth Speaker Review: Spec Comparison with the Xiaomi Bluetooth Speaker
| BlitzWolf F1 | Xiaomi Bluetooth Speaker | |
| Driver Size | 45mm x 2 | 36mm x 2 |
| Speaker Wattage | 5W x 2 | 3W x 2 |
| Battery (Life) | 1800mAh (10-12 hours) | 1500mAh (8 hours) |
That said, you’re been warned: there’s no microSD slot on the speaker. I don’t store my music on my phone, so a microSD slot is of utmost importance to me and others who like to keep their phones organised like me. And that is a shame… because I’d take the F1’s sound over the Xiaomi’s any day, but the latter (Chinese version thereof) has a microSD slot that gives it a huge advantage.
also on Amazon
If that isn’t an issue for you, you can head over to Banggood.com to buy the F1 for $34.99 shipped by clicking the button above.
Watching the world T20, good choice ;-). I been wanting to say for a while that I think Ben Stokes looks a bit like the pictures I have seen of Andi 🙂
Think so too, it’s a shame Andi has no idea who Stokes is 😛
Guess we can’t all be cricket fans 🙂
Watching the world T20, good choice ;-). I been wanting to say for a while that I think Ben Stokes looks a bit like the pictures I have seen of Andi 🙂
Think so too, it’s a shame Andi has no idea who Stokes is 😛
Guess we can’t all be cricket fans 🙂
Possibly Gsou re-brand. They make them for around $12 -22.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkdNUGClE98
I hope it wont be long before the prices come down on the likes of eBay as Sellers are currently profiteering form the honeymoon of these new products in the market place.
Nice find. Pretty sure what I got here is the same thing. The $21 price would apply to, I believe, at least 1000 MOQ, so $35 shipped retail is still a win. In other news, I remember watching the video some months back, haha.
The Xiaomi Bluetooth speaker with SD slot costs around the same price, so I believe it wouldbee the better buy.
Indeed, if SD slot is important to you (it is to me). It’s a shame the F1 doesnt have one.
Putting SD card with music into phone => problem solved?
Nah, that’s not really a solution IMO…
I think they after something that can do without the phone or any other devices making a proper stand alone device itself when asking for an SD-card reader.
Possibly Gsou re-brand. They make them for around $12 -22.
I hope it wont be long before the prices come down on the likes of eBay as Sellers are currently profiteering form the honeymoon of these new products in the market place.
I guess $30-$40 isn’t so bad.
Nice find. Pretty sure what I got here is the same thing. The $21 price would apply to, I believe, at least 1000 MOQ, so $35 shipped retail is still a win. In other news, I remember watching the video some months back, haha.
The Xiaomi Bluetooth speaker with SD slot costs around the same price, so I believe it wouldbee the better buy.
Indeed, if SD slot is important to you (it is to me). It’s a shame the F1 doesnt have one.
Putting SD card with music into phone => problem solved?
Nah, that’s not really a solution IMO…
I think they after something that can do without the phone or any other devices making a proper stand alone device itself when asking for an SD-card reader.
i’d like to have one of these kind of speakers, but I’m rather skeptical about the bass.
It’s pretty decent. I’ll compare it to the Xiaomi next time I use them.
Great, looking forward to it.
i’d like to have one of these kind of speakers, but I’m rather skeptical about the bass.
It’s pretty decent. I’ll compare it to the Xiaomi next time I use them.
Great, looking forward to it.
When reviewing audio equipment you can’t say that a $34 speaker has “95% audio quality”. This review is meaningless.
When reviewing audio equipment you can’t say that a $34 speaker has “95% audio quality”. This review is meaningless.