Jawbone Jambox

Bottom line

The Jawbone Jambox offers a pocket-sized audio option. What it lacks in audio excellence, it makes up for with impressive battery life and portability as well as a speakerphone option. The speaker is compatible with Jawbone's MyTalk apps, which include voice dialing. The Logitech UE Mobile Boombox (Est. $100) and G-Project G-Boom Wireless Bluetooth Boombox (Est. $100) are better-sounding alternatives.

Ease of use

Basic controls, no track navigation. The Jawbone Jambox is a very simple device, featuring two volume controls and a multi-purpose button that queues up voice dial, starts and ends calls and checks battery status. There is no button on the speaker to navigate your tracks, which means all music selection has to be done directly on your device.

Appearance

Slim, pocket-sized design; various color options. The Jawbone has a slim, small rectangular body that can easily fit in a handbag or backpack, making it a great option for travel or office use. It comes in four color variations: black, red, blue and gray. There's also an auxiliary input for connecting non-Bluetooth audio devices.

Performance

Mediocre sound quality; impressive battery life. Experts are divided over the Jawbone's audio performance. Some say it's impressive for its size and price range, others say there are better models out there. CNET's Donald Bell says that while the overall fidelity of the Jawbone isn't as stellar as some larger models, its dual functionality as a speakerphone makes it a valid choice. Sherri Smith from LaptopMag.com praises the Live Audio mode; in her tests, the Jawbone lasts an impressive eight hours. PCMag's Will Greenwald also had good results when trying the Jawbone out as a speakerphone, saying it wasn't necessarily perfect but "more than adequate".