We were pretty intrigued when Boombotix, a San Francisco-based purveyor of alternative-minded audio gear, dropped the Boombot REX in June of 2013. But while we found the little pentagon of sound to have a surprising amount of features and an impressive volume range, the limited battery life and not-so-hot frequency range left something to be desired. Now, just over a year since the device began shipping, the company has revamped its Rex line with more convenient and accessible connection ports, and a significantly longer battery life.
Detailed in a press release from Boombotix, the latest version of the Rex speaker can run 50 percent longer than before, which should come out to roughly 9 total hours of playback. The in/out ports, which were previously located on the bottom of the back panel underneath tiny protective flaps, are now side-mounted, making for a much easier connection process when rumbling down a mountainside. And lastly, Boombotix has added a new top-mounted button interface with improved ergonomics, including controls for power, volume, and multi-function “Command” button which controls play/pause, song skip functions, call control, and easy access to your smartphone’s voice assistant. Best of all, the price point has been knocked down from the speaker’s original $120 MSRP to 100 bones straight-up.
As was always the case, this strange little portable is rugged and water-resistant, designed to rock along with you wherever you roam. The latest revamp of the Boombot Rex is available now in five colors – Pitch Black, Arctic White, Pacific Blue, Spring Mint, and Rescue Orange – via Boombotix’s online store.