The StormBox Mini+ outperforms its $39 price tag, but its battery life could be better.
Key Takeaways:
- Compact and travel-friendly but nearly as heavy as the full-sized StormBox.
- Delivers solid waterproofing with an IPX7 rating for rain and splash protection.
- Custom EQ tuning dramatically improves sound balance and clarity.
- Battery life averages 10 hours. Shorter than similar-sized competitors.
- Outstanding value at $39.99, ideal for casual or on-the-go use.
The Final Verdict
The Tribit StormBox Mini+ delivers impressive performance for its compact size and low price. While its out-of-the-box sound leans slightly uneven, the 9-band EQ in the Tribit app easily transforms it into a far more balanced, enjoyable speaker. Its waterproof design, solid build, and travel-friendly dimensions make it ideal for everyday use, though battery life could be stronger. Overall, it’s a highly versatile, affordable choice for casual listeners and travelers seeking reliable sound on the go.
What I Like:
- Easy to carry and highly portable.
- 9-Band custom EQ for dialing in the sound.
- Decent bass for a small speaker.
- Controls are easy to use and the back buttons are backlit.
What I Don’t Like:
- Some niggles when using the app.
- Battery life is a bit low compared to competitors.
- Out of the box, higher pitched vocals can sound a little drowned out.
- No dust resistance rating specified.
Sound Profile – “Balanced, warm, punchy”
Note: Wondering what this sound profile means? Here’s how we rate speaker sound and why it matters.
What’s In The Box?
- Tribit StormBox Mini+
- Type C USB Cable
- User manual
Introducing The Tribit Stormbox Mini+
The StormBox Mini+ is a smaller version of the extremely popular Tribit StormBox, a speaker that’s lauded across the internet for its value proposition. Although it’s smaller, it weighs roughly the same as the StormBox, making it better suited for hiking or traveling, where carry space may be limited.
I took this speaker half way around the country with me on vacation in order to give you some honest feedback directly from the field. We used it around the fireplace with friends when the drinks were flowing, took it on extended hiking trails and regularly used it for our birding adventures.
I may have pushed its boundaries a little, as it’s not sold as a rugged outdoor speaker. But instead, it’s made to adapt to your daily life. Think playing music around the house, hanging with friends by the pool etc. Still, I was ultimately impressed by how it handled a weekend in the bush.
Design & Build Quality
Compact yet sturdy, the Stormbox Mini+ feels premium for its price. Its fabric wrap adds grip and protection, while the waterproofing inspires confidence outdoors. It’s small enough to toss in a bag, but solidly built, handling everyday knocks and dust without issue.
At 4.68” tall the StormBox Mini+ is shorter than a soda can, meaning it’s easy to fit in a backpack, without sacrificing important carry space. Although it’s small, it isn’t exactly a very light speaker, weighing almost the same as the larger traditional StormBox.
The buttons are all easy to access with the main playback controls seated vertically on the front of the speaker, with power, lighting and Bluetooth buttons being located on the back of the speaker.
A passive bass radiator sits at the top of the speaker, moving low frequencies upward. This area also lights up when the LEDs are enabled and while not super bright, they give the area a little bit of ambience, especially in a dark room. However, I found it useful to turn the lights off and preserve the battery when there aren’t any charging ports nearby.
In order to prevent damage to the plastic, it has a large fabric wrap that extends across much of the speaker, which can also be washed off when dirty.
Water and Dust Resistant – But No Dust Protection Rating Given
Like a lot of other portable Bluetooth speakers released in recent years that are made for the outdoors, the StormBox Mini+ doesn’t look particularly rugged, but looks can be deceiving as it’s waterproof and can be used in rain without any concerns.
The waterproofing is a solid boon for the speaker, especially an IPX7 rating which is one the strongest one finds on electronics. However, I was initially concerned about potential dust intrusion, as the speaker doesn’t carry an IP67 rating like most other new releases in this size. Tribit has listed on their website that the speaker is actually dustproof, but it doesn’t provide a specific rating on it.
Lighting Effects
The addition of lights adds some ambiance.
Controls & Connectivity
Button placement is logical and tactile, offering quick control even in low light. Bluetooth pairing is seamless, connections stay stable, and the inclusion of an aux port is a rare bonus in this size category. Everything feels well thought out and intuitive.
The buttons are split into two sections with the main playback controls on the front and less frequently used controls located on the back (power, pairing and lighting).
The power, pairing and lighting buttons also have their own backlighting, which makes them easy to see in the dark. The front buttons are so large they don’t really need any kind of backlighting, as it’s quite easy to feel which is which.
Both the front and rear buttons have a rather appealing sound when pressed, reminiscent at times of a “thocky” custom keyboard (think deeper toned clicks with a buttery sound). It’s interesting that the front buttons provide a slightly different tactile sound than the rear, which are more clicky than the front controls.
The controls are split into two areas, pictured above are the rear buttons, which are backlit.
To skip tracks, one can use the large circle button on the front of the speaker. Twice for forward and three times for backwards. When pressed just once, the button acts as a play/pause control.
If you’re one of the few remaining people to use wired connections over Bluetooth, you’ll appreciate the aux input, a feature that’s become hard to find on many small speakers. This port, along with the charging port are sealed on the rear of the speaker behind a rubber flap. Make sure this flap is always closed when using the speaker around water.
Bluetooth
The Tribit StormBox Mini+ uses Bluetooth 5.4, offering a stable and responsive connection across a variety of devices. During testing, pairing was nearly instantaneous, with reconnections happening automatically after powering the unit back on. Range was solid too, with music staying consistent even when moving two rooms away or around mild obstructions like walls or furniture. Latency was minimal for casual video watching, though gamers might still notice a touch of delay. Overall, it’s a dependable performer for daily streaming and outdoor use.
Does The StormBox Mini+ Support Stereo Pairing?
Tribit’s wireless stereo pairing mode allows two StormBox Mini+ units to connect together for a left and right channel setup. This feature noticeably improves spatial separation and low-end depth, transforming what’s otherwise a modest portable into a small but capable stereo system. Pairing the two speakers is straightforward via the app or button controls, and once linked, they maintain excellent synchronization. For users wanting a portable setup with a genuine stereo field, this feature alone makes the Mini+ a strong contender.
Sound Quality
Out of the box, the sound leans warm with slightly recessed highs, but a quick EQ tweak completely transforms it. Boosted bass and crisp treble give it far more balance and clarity, creating a lively, surprisingly rich soundstage for such a small speaker.
Frequency Response Chart
In the first image below, is the standard tuning out of the box. The second image is the frequency response test done when using the recommended EQ specified below.
How to Read a Frequency Response Chart
Out of the box, with the standard “Music” EQ set in the Tribit app, the StormBox Mini+ sounds decent, but lacks some detail in the highs and its midrange is somewhat inconsistent, with the mids (where most vocals and instruments are) being more elevated towards the low end than the upper end.
As a result, female vocals sometimes fall too deep into the mix, overtaken by guitar riffs, particularly in metal and rock.
The bass is also decent, but has room for improvement. I strongly recommend using a custom EQ for this speaker, as a few quick tweaks can completely change the sound. The goal here is to bring some of the deeper lows up, increasing upper midrange vocals and create a more balanced sound.
In the accordion below are the custom EQ settings I used to get this speaker sounding more to my liking, and also looking much more impressive when plotted onto a frequency response chart. Below is a measurement I took after making adjustments, you’ll see it’s got more bass, more balance and a slightly brighter profile. You may want to drop the 13k range down to +2 if you’re sensitive to elevated treble.
Soundstage & Dynamics
Despite its compact size, the StormBox Mini+ delivers a surprisingly wide soundstage, especially when positioned on a reflective surface. It doesn’t quite achieve full room-filling immersion, but stereo imaging is distinct enough to give instruments and vocals their own space. Dynamics are decent, with the speaker handling volume swings and layered tracks without obvious distortion. It’s best suited to acoustic, pop, and electronic genres, where its mid-bass punch and vocal presence feel most engaging.
Volume: How Many Decibels Does The StormBox Mini+ Produce?
In terms of volume capabilities, I ran some measured tests and got 84 to 85 decibels at one meter, enough to cover a small room or outdoor patio area, but not enough to cover bigger gatherings of people. Still, it performed well for its size, in line with other speakers of this format.
Sound Characteristic Scores (Scale: 1–10)
| Characteristic | Score | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Warmth | 6 | The StormBox Mini+ inherently has a warm sound profile with prominent lower midrange. |
| Bass Depth | 5 | For a small speaker, it does decently – but you’re not going to get any deep, low rumbles. |
| Dynamic Range / Punch | 6 | Dynamic range is decent, but some degradation in quality can be heard as one pushes the volume high. |
| Balance | 7 | Its a relatively balanced speaker, but the differences in upper and lower midrange make custom EQ tuning important in achieving a great sound. |
| Clarity | 7 | Good clarity, which can be further enhanced by increasing the upper midrange frequencies. |
| Treble Smoothness | 5 | Treble is a little dull out of the box. |
| Soundstage / Imaging | 6 | Although it’s a mono speaker, its broad sound design achieves pretty good soundstage. |
Battery Performance & Charging
Battery life averages around ten hours, which is fair but not class-leading. Fortunately, recharging is quick (under three hours for a full charge). It’s enough to get through a day’s use or a quiet night playing ambient sounds without needing to plug in.
How Long Does The StormBox Mini+ Battery Last?
Smaller speakers often mean smaller batteries, and there’s a fairly substantial 8 hour playtime difference between the StormBox Mini+ (Up to 12 hours) and the StormBox (Up to 20 hours).
We got around 10 hours of playtime before recharging, and that included periods of louder music (80%), about 2 hours of lighting effects and then longer periods of moderate (50%) volume use.
How Long Does It Take To Charge The StormBox Mini+?
Charging is really quick though, in under 3 hours the StormBox Mini+ was fully recharged and ready to go.
During my vacation with the speaker there was a night where we were struggling to sleep from how quiet the environment was, so we threw this speaker on with a white noise video and it lasted throughout the night without needing to recharge until morning.
App Support
The Tribit app adds serious value here, especially with its responsive 9-band EQ. While navigation can be a little clunky at times with a few bugs, it’s worth the minor hassle for the customization options and lighting controls it unlocks, elevating the overall experience.
The Tribit app is available on both Apple and Android, allowing owners of the StormBox Mini+ to toggle between EQ profiles, set their own or adjust the lighting effects.
The app itself is good, but I had a few small annoyances when using it. My phone’s lower menu remained open when the app was active, instead of disappearing. And at times I had to close and reopen it to be able to navigate properly.
These hiccups aren’t too common though and something I’m willing to deal with for the impressive 9-band EQ, giving a lot of control over the difference sound ranges. I strongly recommend using it to find your ideal sound.
Who Is the Tribit StormBox Mini+ For?
Some speakers are made with very specific purposes, but the Tribit StormBox Mini+ is suitable for a broad range of people. After testing it out, I’d say the best uses are a general home speaker that one can move between rooms when cleaning, studying or working.
But it’s not limited to indoor use either, and hiking enthusiasts, travellers can all benefit from having a StormBox Mini+ that they can grab and pack up in a matter of seconds.
Honestly, while this speaker is suited to all ages, it’s pretty ideal for children and teens who want a simple solution to their audio needs. My niece absolutely loved using it by the pool, but with somewhat modest volume, the coverage can be limited outdoors.
How The StormBox Mini+ Compares With Similar Speakers
There’s absolutely no shortage of speakers like this on the market. The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 and Treblab HD Mini come to mind.
Tribit StormBox Mini+ vs UE Wonderboom 4
The StormBox Mini+ is a more balanced speaker than the Wonderboom 4 (available on Amazon), but the Wonderboom has more bass straight out of the box. The caveat here is that the Wonderboom 4 costs twice as much, making the StormBox Mini+ the obvious pick for budget-conscious shoppers.
Tribit StormBox Mini+ vs Treblab HD Mini
Compared to the Treblab HD Mini (see our review of the HD Mini here), the StormBox Mini+ is slightly better sounding out of the box, with both speakers achieving similar volume levels. However, the Treblab HD Mini has substantially more battery life, giving more than 5 hours additional playtime.
Conclusion
Overall, the Tribit StormBox Mini+ is an impressive speaker for its price point of just $39.99. Its sound isn’t ideal out of the box, but the 9-band EQ makes it easy to dial in. Its compact size made it extremely pleasant to take away on holiday and it is a great option for an everyday speaker. The battery performance could be better though.
Frequently Asked Questions
Summary
Tribit StormBox Mini+
The Tribit StormBox Mini+ delivers impressive performance for its compact size and low price. While its out-of-the-box sound leans slightly uneven, the 9-band EQ in the Tribit app easily transforms it into a far more balanced, enjoyable speaker. Its waterproof design, solid build, and travel-friendly dimensions make it ideal for everyday use, though battery life could be stronger. Overall, it’s a highly versatile, affordable choice for casual listeners and travelers seeking reliable sound on the go.
Product Brand: Tribit
4.1
Pros
- Easy to carry and highly portable.
- 9-Band custom EQ for dialing in the sound.
- Decent bass for a small speaker.
- Controls are easy to use and the back buttons are backlit.
Cons
- Some niggles when using the app.
- Battery life is a bit low compared to competitors.
- Out of the box, higher pitched vocals can sound a little drowned out.
- No dust resistance rating specified.
