Compare Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 Speaker 3rd Gen vs Tribit StormBox Micro 3

AirPlay compatibility was a clear omission in the Macworld review, which said the lack of Wi-Fi or AirPlay kept it from being perfect for Apple users.

The B&O app was repeatedly praised as responsive, simple, flexible, and among the best companion apps in the category.

The app experience was viewed positively overall, with instant connection and solid EQ control, though Soundcore was considered more feature-rich.

Backwards compatibility was a clear plus because multiple reviewers valued pairing the 3rd Gen with the older A1 2nd Gen.

Backwards compatibility is a clear weakness because reviewers complained it cannot pair with the Micro 2 or other Tribit models.

Battery life was a consistent strength, with reviewers calling the 24-hour figure credible, impressive, and in some tests conservative.

Battery life was one of the strongest points, with reviewers calling the 24-hour claim impressive and reporting strong real-world endurance.

Codec support was considered solid, with aptX Adaptive repeatedly framed as a welcome or high-quality advantage.

Codec support is a limitation: the review evidence specifically notes the lack of premium codecs such as LDAC or aptX Adaptive.

Connection stability was consistently positive, with reviewers reporting no pairing or dropout issues in normal testing.

Bluetooth stability was positively reviewed, with no-dropout testing and comments that the connection felt modern, reliable, and stable.

General Bluetooth connectivity was mostly positive for quick pairing, but one reviewer criticized the lack of Auracast as a missed futureproofing opportunity.

Bluetooth connectivity was viewed as quick and dependable, with reviewers emphasizing fast pairing and a smoother everyday experience.

Bluetooth range was workable but not exceptional, with one review keeping it near the same room and another noting dropouts only near the end of a garden test.

Bluetooth range drew positive comments for keeping music going across rooms, outdoors, or across a lake without needing the phone nearby.

Construction quality was repeatedly praised for premium materials, flawless finishing, and a substantial feel.

Build and cabinet quality were praised as dense, premium-feeling, resistant, and helpful for bass control.

Charging time was a weak spot because reviewers described the roughly three-hour charge as leisurely or on the long side.

Charging speed was consistently praised, especially the quick top-up performance and faster charging versus the prior model.

Cohesion was praised, with reviewers describing the presentation as unified, whole, and remarkably cohesive.

The overall presentation was praised as balanced, clear, full-bodied, and consistent rather than merely loud.

Physical controls were praised for positive, responsive, clicky action.

Controls were described as responsive, large, and premium-feeling, with one reviewer saying all touch controls worked perfectly.

Design and aesthetics were one of the strongest consensus points, with nearly every reviewer praising the premium, elegant, luxurious look and feel.

Design sentiment was mixed: the rounded look and logo were acceptable, but reviewers wanted better color options and subtler branding.

Detail retrieval was a major strength across reviews, with repeated praise for high detail, clarity, and track-level separation.

Detail retrieval is an area where the Micro 3 gives up ground to pricier speakers, despite otherwise good sound for its size.

High-volume behavior was praised for staying controlled, with reviewers reporting little distortion even when the speaker was pushed.

High-volume behavior is mixed: reviewers reported compression or clipping with demanding bass, but one reviewer praised the speaker for maintaining consistency.

Durability was mixed: reviewers liked the tough build and survival in bags, but several warned the metal finish can scuff and the speaker should not be thrown around like rugged JBL models.

Drop durability received strong praise, including no-damage drop experiences and repeated confidence that the speaker is built for outdoor use.

Dust resistance was treated as part of the Micro 3's practical ruggedness rather than a standalone test point.

Dynamic headroom was good but not class-leading: some reviews praised dynamism, while others wanted stronger quiet-to-loud swings.

Dynamic performance received positive evidence from one reviewer who heard finesse in instrument re-entry and solid dynamics.

Energy efficiency evidence was positive, with one reviewer noting the battery barely moves after hours at moderate indoor volume.

EQ customization was a standout, with reviewers praising the visual sound control as helpful, easy, and unusually gratifying.

EQ customization was one of the most consistently praised features, with reviewers valuing presets, nine-band control, and custom tuning.

Everyday usability was praised for simple operation and controls that were easy to use without friction.

Reviewers repeatedly described the Micro 3 as practical and easy to use in daily life, travel, outdoor, and desk scenarios.

The tonal balance was widely praised for rich, controlled bass, clear mids, and refined highs, with a few caveats around ultimate bass depth and one first-impression review finding it flat.

Most reviewers praised the tonal balance as fuller, punchier, and cleaner than expected from a tiny speaker, with only XBass/muffled tuning caveats.

The leather strap drew praise as expertly crafted and part of the speaker’s premium look.

The strap was praised as durable, secure, and useful for bikes, backpacks, and other non-magnetic mounting situations.

Inter-speaker connectivity was praised where tested, especially for quick stereo setup and pairing with another A1.

Inter-speaker connectivity was praised for fast TWS connection in testing.

Reviewers generally found the small speaker louder than expected for its size, but several cautioned that it is not built to fill bigger rooms or outmuscle larger rivals.

Reviewers found the Micro 3 loud for its size, with stronger output than expected, though one comparison noted it trails the Boom Go3i for sheer volume.

Low-volume performance was especially praised with XBass, where reviewers found it adds warmth and punch without overdriving the speaker.

Magnetic mounting was the most widely praised design upgrade, with reviewers repeatedly calling it strong, versatile, clutch, and genuinely useful.

The microphone system was tied to clearer, more transparent voice calls in review evidence.

Microphone usefulness was praised for calls and conference-call scenarios, making the Micro 3 more versatile than mic-less competitors.

One reviewer tested pairing across generations and found the stereo-pairing experience impressive and reliable.

The dedicated TWS button was viewed as a meaningful improvement that makes pairing a second Micro 3 simpler.

Multipoint was positively received, especially in hands-on switching tests where it worked easily and flawlessly.

Omnidirectional sound was generally positive, though one reviewer disputed true 360-degree behavior while still finding placement easy.

On-device controls were praised as nice and clicky in direct use.

On-device controls were praised for covering core playback, Bluetooth, XBass, and TWS functions without always needing the app.

Reverse charging was widely viewed as a useful backup feature, though one reviewer framed it as more emergency extra than main power bank.

Price opinion was split: many reviewers saw the speaker as expensive, but several argued its build, sound, and longevity justified the premium.

Price/value was strongly praised across reviews, especially at sale pricing, with multiple reviewers calling it competitive or a bargain.

Privacy/data sentiment was lightly positive because the removal of Alexa also means Amazon’s assistant is not always listening.

Setup was described as quick and issue-free in one review’s pairing experience.

Setup was considered very easy, with simple pairing and ready-in-seconds use mentioned in hands-on reviews.

Alexa and voice-assistant support were mixed-to-negative: some reviewers did not miss it, while others treated its removal as a lost useful feature.

Smart features were mixed: the app content and radio features impressed one reviewer, while another found the overall package simple rather than feature-packed.

Smart extras such as firmware updates, sleep timer, app controls, and practical additions were viewed as useful rather than gimmicky.

Speakerphone performance was praised, with reviewers describing calls as clear, successful, and even a ten-out-of-ten hands-free experience.

Speakerphone quality was a standout because reviewers found calls clear and useful, especially compared with small speakers that omit a mic.

Status indicators worked but drew mild criticism for size and viewing angle.

Status indicators are mixed: illuminated controls help at night, but one reviewer wished more top buttons were lit.

Imaging and spatial organization were praised for openness and instrument separation, though one review noted limited scale compared with larger rivals.

Stereo performance impressed reviewers when two units were paired, with both reviews describing the paired sound as strong and full-bodied.

Sustainability stood out through repairability, replaceable battery comments, and praise for longevity-focused design.

USB-C charging was praised when paired with simultaneous laptop playback, making the port more useful than simple charging.

USB-C charging was viewed as practical, with reviewers liking one-cable convenience and faster USB-C charging despite plug caveats.

Value-for-money sentiment was more divided than price alone, ranging from strong praise in one A1 review to doubts from What Hi-Fi and Expert Reviews at the current price.

Value-for-money sentiment was extremely strong, with reviewers calling it one of the best values or a major win at its price.

Vocal reproduction was a consistent strength, with reviewers praising intelligibility, definition, and natural-sounding voices in music.

Vocals and mids were consistently described as clear, weighted, and not harsh, helping the speaker avoid the thin sound common to small models.

Water resistance was strongly supported by outdoor-use praise and hands-on dunk or sink tests that reported no damage.

Water resistance inspired confidence, with reviewers saying the IP68 upgrade adds reassurance and makes rain, splashes, and sink drops low-stress.

Portability was strong overall: reviewers liked the bag-friendly size and balanced heft, though it is not the lightest compact speaker.

Reviewers liked the compact, lightweight feel, repeatedly noting that it is easy to hold, carry, or fit into everyday use.

Wi-Fi streaming was a drawback for Apple-focused users because the speaker lacks Wi-Fi and AirPlay support.

USB-C wired audio was praised as a meaningful bonus, especially because reviewers heard clearer, punchier performance through a cable.

The only wired-input evidence was negative: one reviewer flagged the lack of aux input as something some buyers will care about.