14 DAY TRIAL // When you call an item waterproof, that can mean a number of different things, from slight resistance to spills to the ability to survive being submerged underwater for extended periods of time. The new speaker from Creative is somewhere in the middle.
Called the Creative MUVO Mini, the audio device can't safely be dunked in the sea or bathtub, or any other body of water, natural or otherwise. However, you should be able to listen to music from it during rain, even heavy storms.
Such is the prerogative of the IP66 rating, which is stamped onto the label of the product and, of course, on the cardboard box that it ships in. As a side note, the device is reasonably resistant to dust as well.
The slight degree of ruggedness is just one asset though. Indeed, it would be wasted on a speaker that wasn't at least on the upper performance and sound quality ladder.
For one thing, the Creative MUVO mini has full-range micro drivers of 1.3 inches, allowing them to produce very loud sound for their size, which is small indeed: 190 x 37 x 59 mm / 7.4 x 1.4 x 1.7 inches.
Secondly, it has a rubberized grip, meaning that it won't slip through your fingers even when it's wet with rain or the spray of sew waves breaking upon the rocky shore.
Poetics aside, though, the newcomer is quite versatile, being capable of wireless playing music as well as taking phone calls on speaker if you so wish.
You see, the device communicates with PCs and mobile devices via Bluetooth 4.0 (10-meter range / 30 feet), and pairs with such things swiftly via NFC (near field communications). Thus, it can act as an audio extension for phones, meaning that you can take calls on it. To make it easy to do so, Creative included a dedicated button, essentially turning it into a Bluetooth speakerphone.
Speaking of which, there are several supported Bluetooth profiles: A2DP (Wireless Stereo Bluetooth), AVRCP (Bluetooth Remote Control) and HFP (Handsfree Profile).
Nonetheless, a 3.5mm Aux-in jack provides universal connectivity in case you have something that doesn't have Bluetooth (an analog Walkman, for example).
All in all, the Creative MUVO Mini Bluetooth NFC speaker has a weight of 288g / 10.2 oz. Buyers will have to pay $59.99 / €44.07 for the item, and will get to enjoy a 10-hour battery life (USB recharge) and select from black, white, blue and red colors.