I’ll admit it. I’m a reformed audio purist. When I was in my mid-20’s, I was on a never ending quest for the perfect sound. I had pre-amps for my pre-amps, limiters for my amplifiers and headphones that were tuned by the engineers at Abby Road. In the years since, I’ve relaxed on my electronics obsession. I’ve come to believe that one product can do multiple things well, especially when space and convenience are in play.
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A few months ago, I received the EcoXGear EcoPebble Powerbank and Speaker to review. Immediately, I flashed back to VCR / TV combinations of days past. But, something was different with the EcoXGear EcoPebble Powerbank. It was built with not only function, but purpose. At the heart of the EcoXGear EcoPebble Powerbank, is a 10400 mAh battery. Definitely large enough to juice up your devices a few times. Although external powerbanks are pretty common these days, to find one that is not only IP67 rated – but one that also floats is a pretty rare find. The EcoXGear EcoPebble Powerbank is fitted with both.
On one end of the EcoXGear EcoPebble Powerbank sits the internal Bluetooth enabled speaker. Sure, it’s not huge. It’s definitely directional, meaning that you’ve got to “point” it where you want the sound to go – however it’s built in. This is a theme that runs throughout this EcoXGear product. It’s all built-in. On the opposite end of the case, you’ll find a ultra-bright LED flashlight with multiple modes and settings. The entire case is covered in a soft rubber, which not only protects unit from drops and impact, but also provides a grippy footing when placed on surfaces.
The top of the case features all of the controls for both the speaker, as well as the flashlight. In addition, a series of LED lights gives quick-glance status of the remaining battery life. The buttons are also coated in the soft rubber, making them easy to touch and control. Flip the unit over, the EcoXGear has incorporated a universal mount into the underside – making for a perfect spot to mount either the flashlight or speaker. We’ve used this mount for both, actually providing a great “spotlight” on a tripod, or raising the speaker up to the perfect height for listening.
If you’re in the market for just a speaker, or only a powerbank – this probably isn’t the right product for you. However, if you’ve grown used to carrying both separately – this is a great combo. Overall, the EcoXGear EcoPebble Powerbank is worth the $99 price tag.
