review with features, price and specifications

At home, I have already mentioned on occasion that I have quite a few smart speakers distributed throughout different rooms. Therefore, when they asked me if I wanted to try a classic Bluetooth speakerI didn’t doubt it. After all, I use my speakers primarily for listen to musicand this model focuses precisely on that.

In this case, it is an LG speaker, specifically the xboom Rock. It is a small and compact model, ready to take anywhere during your vacation, as it is designed to resist bumps and splashes. I have not subjected it to military tests, but I have used it intensively these days to tell you what I thought.

✅ Buy it if…

• You want an affordable speaker that can accompany you to the pool or the beach (but without disturbing the towel-clad neighbors, eh?).
• You are looking for a speaker capable of withstanding bumps and splashes, and that you can also hang from your backpack or attach to your bicycle.
• You use Apple Music, they have integrated it very well.

❌ Don’t buy it if…

• You are looking for a lightweight Bluetooth speaker, because this one weighs more than usual.
• You want a speaker with a lot of sound power.

The essentials in 30 seconds

I am going to tell you in a few paragraphs what I thought of this speaker and clarify the main doubts. At first, its robust and resistant appearance draws attention. Even the cord makes it clear that it is designed to withstand intense use.

The sound quality is quite high if we take into account its price and size, although we cannot demand much more from it. If you have an Apple Music account, this model may be especially interesting for you, since includes a configurable smart button which allows one-touch access to Apple Music or its own alternative such as LG Radio+.

If you don’t want to complicate things, you can simply connect it via Bluetoothlike any other device, and send the music without further ado. However, to get the most out of it and take advantage of the equalizer functions or the artificial intelligence options to adjust the sound, you will have to download the corresponding application.

Our experience with Xboom Rock

A speaker that attracts attention. When you take it out of the box, the first thing that attracts you is its youthful appearance. With rubber edges and a lanyard (which LG calls the Magic Strap), you won’t be afraid of it slipping through all your friends’ hands at summer gatherings.

Accident proof. It complies with the MIL-STD-810H standard and offers resistance to impacts and splashes, so there is no fear of possible impacts or water. In my tests, it has withstood use in the pool, the shower and some falls without problems, although this robustness makes it heavier than other speakers of a similar size.

The interesting thing begins when you turn it on. When you turn it on, the simple sound of turning on already denotes a certain power, considering the size. And it’s not complicated to use: you can do it simply by connecting it via Bluetooth and, if you want to get more out of it, using the LG ThinQ app. From there we can control the sound effects and access more settings. Among them, there are three that stand out:

• The Party Link function, which allows you to connect several speakers that, of course, must be LG and compatible with Auracast.
• The My function, designed to play music quickly by simply pressing the Smart button on the speaker.
• The FYI.AI mode, which allows you to use voice commands from the app by holding down the Smart button on the speaker.

A nice sound. The first time I turned it on, I have to admit that the sound caught my attention: good bass and clear sound. Of course, don’t be willing to turn it to the maximum because it starts to sound a bit canned. For outdoors, the sound is relatively powerful, but if there is too much ambient noise you will have to increase the volume, and there you will lose quality. In this sense, being able to connect two speakers without cables is of great help.

For a whole day at the beach. The manufacturer claims that it has ten hours of autonomy and it has lasted almost nine for me: more than enough for a good day of music, without worrying about having to charge it. And if you run out of battery, charging it won’t be a problem because it’s USB-C compatible. LG advertises a charging time of three hours, but I have used a 100W charger and it took much less. It will depend on the charger you use.

LG xboom Rock technical sheet

LG xboom Rock, Xataka’s opinion

After a few days of testing, I have to admit that this little speaker has convinced me. Taking into account the limitations typical of its size and price, it offers quite good bass and also stands out for the clarity of the sound but as long as you do not abuse the power: from a high volume it sounds canned and that is when its older (and more expensive) brothers make more sense.

And all this without forgetting one of its strong points: the resistance. You can use it perfectly outdoors, where it will be more exposed to possible splashes and knocks, and even in the bathroom, near the shower, without that being a problem.

Do I recommend it to you?

If this summer you plan to take an excursion or simply go to the pool or the beach and you want to take music with you, this speaker can be a good option. It is not too expensive (it costs about 59 euros) and you won’t have to worry too much about possible bumps or splashes of water.

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This device has been provided for testing by LG. You can consult how we do reviews in Xataka and our relations policy with companies.