There are not many tech product with a boxy design as radical as the OB-4. While every other design team would have added at least a little radius or chamfered edges, Teenage Engineering kept the box shape pure. This alone is almost enough for me to choose it over any other portable Bluetooth speaker.

But there's more: The sound quality is on a different level compared to most other portable Bluetooth speakers. If you get the chance, give it a listen. And it pumps out enough volume to fill a small apartment with rich, immersive sound.

70-hour battery life, the music keeps going and going.

It automatically records the last two hours of whatever you've been listening to, whether it's the NTS breakfast show or your Spotify 90s disco mix. That means you can always rewind to catch that banger you loved. It's got a tiny scratch wheel on top!

It features a motorized volume button – when you adjust the volume on your phone, the knob on the OB-4 magically turns to match it. It's these playful details that really make using the OB-4 a joy. Props to Teenage Engineering for keeping these features in the final product instead of cutting them out during development. It's what sets them apart.The OB-4 isn't the most rugged speaker out there. It’s more suited for a frisbee session in the park than an outdoor adventure. For those kayak trips, I'd suggest to bring along the Beoplay. That's why I've got both in the collection.

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