A Feature-Rich Bluetooth Speaker That Punches Above Its Price Point
When you buy a Bluetooth speaker for under $50, expectations need to be realistic. You don’t expect premium clarity, flawless build quality, or room-filling bass. But every now and then, a budget model comes along that does just enough of those things to make you pause. The Ortizan X8 Pro is one of them.
With 40W output, flashing RGB lights, an IPX7 waterproof rating, and support for stereo pairing, it almost seems like Ortizan tried to cram everything into this tube-shaped speaker. And—surprisingly—it mostly works.
Key Takeaways
- 40W of output makes this one of the louder budget Bluetooth speakers
- IPX7 waterproof and submersible (briefly)
- Three EQ modes including Bass Boost and Vocal
- RGB lighting can be disabled (thankfully)
- Excellent value when found under $40
Ortizan X8 Pro
Specifications
What I Like:
- Balanced sound with good bass for its size
- Long battery life and fast USB-C charging
- Lights-off mode for low-key environments
- Waterproof enough for real-world abuse
- Three EQ modes add flexibility
What I Don’t Like:
- Slight lag when switching EQs
- Lights can’t be customized—only toggled
- Cylindrical shape makes it roll if dropped
- Vocal mode lacks midrange body
- Plastic buttons don’t feel premium
Design: Flashy Looks With a Hint of Practicality
Visually, the Ortizan X8 Pro follows the now-familiar cylindrical speaker format used by models like the JBL Flip series. A tightly woven mesh grille wraps the body, with rugged plastic caps on each end and a row of rubberized control buttons lining the top spine.
Ortizan leans into flash here—literally. A ring of RGB lighting circles each end, pulsing and cycling to the beat of your music by default. Thankfully, one long press on the “M” button turns them off entirely. The design is a crowd-pleaser at parties, but still functional enough to work at a campsite or during casual listening.
It feels solid in hand. No creaks or loose parts. The mesh fabric is tight and offers a good grip, and while the plastic isn’t premium, it’s perfectly acceptable for this price range.
Durability: Built to Survive a Splash
The Ortizan X8 Pro is IPX7-rated, which means it can be submerged in water up to 1 meter for 30 minutes. We tested this claim by dunking the speaker in a shallow pool and letting it sit underwater for a minute—no issues. Water rolled off the mesh like a wetsuit, and the speaker resumed playback without any distortion.
That said, there’s no official drop rating. We accidentally dropped it from about waist height onto tile, and while it rolled a bit awkwardly, there was no apparent damage. The cylindrical design makes it a little prone to rolling off ledges, so set it down with care.
Keep in mind that while the speaker is waterproof, the rear flap covering the charging port and TF slot must be sealed tightly. If left open, water could still cause damage.
Portability: Just Toss It In Your Bag
At just under 1.3 pounds and a little over 7 inches long, the Ortizan X8 Pro is highly portable. It fits comfortably in one hand and slides into a backpack or tote without much fuss. There’s no built-in carry strap, which is a missed opportunity, but a carabiner loop would’ve been awkward on this design anyway.
It sits well in most water bottle holders, and we even tucked it into a bicycle bottle cage without issues. If you’re after a speaker that can go with you from the backyard to the hiking trail to the beach, this form factor is hard to beat.
Controls: All the Basics + a Little Extra
The X8 Pro includes six physical buttons, each raised and rubberized for easy identification. You get:
- Power
- Volume Up
- Volume Down
- Play/Pause
- Mode (EQ switch and light control)
- Bluetooth/TWS pairing
Holding the Mode button toggles the lighting, while a short press cycles through three preset EQs: Balanced, Bass Boost, and Vocal. Track skipping requires long-pressing the volume buttons—functional, but a bit of a hassle.
Call handling is available via the built-in mic, but as with most speakers in this price range, the quality is passable at best. Your voice sounds slightly hollow and distant—fine for quick calls, but not for extended chats.
Connectivity: Easy Pairing, Great Range
Bluetooth 5.3 is a nice surprise here, offering better range and efficiency than older protocols. Initial pairing was fast and stable, and the speaker reconnects to known devices automatically when powered on.
We tested its range outdoors in clear conditions and managed about 65 feet before the signal started to degrade. Indoors, we were able to walk through two rooms before any noticeable drops.
There’s also an AUX port for wired connections and a TF card slot for standalone playback, though most users will likely stick with Bluetooth.
Sound Quality: Surprisingly Balanced with Punch
Let’s be clear: this is still a budget speaker. But within that category, the Ortizan X8 Pro punches well above its weight.
In Balanced mode, you get an even mix of highs, mids, and bass. It’s not audiophile-grade, but vocals come through cleanly, guitars have sparkle, and the low end is tight enough to add weight without bloating.
Bass Boost mode adds extra low-end presence, which works well for hip-hop, pop, and EDM tracks. The sound does get a bit wooly at very high volumes, but distortion is relatively controlled.
Vocal mode cuts some bass and lifts the highs, making podcasts and audiobooks easier to follow—but it also thins out the warmth of male voices and acoustic instruments.
360° Sound? Not Exactly
Ortizan markets this as a 360-degree speaker, and while the cylindrical shape does help with dispersion, it’s not true omni-directional audio. There’s a definite “front” to the soundstage—if you rotate the speaker away from you, the clarity drops.
Still, the sweet spot is fairly wide, and unless you’re walking around a room, the difference won’t be jarring. For outdoor listening or placing it on a central table, the design works just fine.
Volume: Loud Enough for a Backyard Party
With 40 watts of output, the X8 Pro can get plenty loud. We measured a peak output of around 87 dB at one meter—enough to fill a living room or cover a patio gathering. It’s not quite loud enough for a full-blown beach party, but impressive for a speaker that often sells for under $40.
It performs best up to about 80% volume. Beyond that, the dynamics start to flatten, and the clarity of high-end frequencies begins to suffer. Bass also loses some tightness at max output, though it doesn’t fully collapse.
Battery: Long-Lasting, Quick to Recharge
Ortizan claims up to 30 hours of playtime at moderate volume—and in our testing, that claim holds up. At 50% volume, we got 28 hours and 17 minutes of mixed playback before the speaker powered down.
Charging is handled via USB-C and takes around 3 hours from empty to full. The inclusion of a USB-C port is a welcome change from older budget models that still use micro-USB.
We especially appreciated the small LED battery indicator near the port—a simple touch that takes the guesswork out of charging.
Multispeaker Pairing: Dual Is Better Than One
You can pair two Ortizan X8 Pro speakers for stereo sound using the TWS (True Wireless Stereo) button. The process is simple: turn on both speakers, hold the TWS button on one until they link, and then pair your device to the master.
In stereo mode, you get left-right separation that noticeably improves immersion, especially for music with strong panning effects or layered instruments.
If you’re looking for a simple, inexpensive way to build a backyard stereo setup, grabbing two of these speakers is an excellent budget solution.
Value & Alternatives
At full retail, the X8 Pro is still a decent deal. But when it drops below $40 (as it frequently does), it becomes a steal.
If you want more refined sound, the Soundcore Motion 300 (usually around $80) is a worthwhile upgrade. The JBL Flip 6 also offers a more polished experience, but at twice the price. Neither of those come close to matching the feature set of the Ortizan at this price.
Final Verdict
The Ortizan X8 Pro doesn’t try to pretend it’s a premium speaker. It knows its place—budget-friendly, feature-packed, and just plain fun.
If you need a rugged speaker for your backyard, kitchen, beach trips, or even daily bike rides, this model will surprise you with how much it delivers. There are more accurate speakers out there, and certainly more elegant ones—but few that offer this combination of power, versatility, and affordability.
