I replaced my JBL speaker with this surprise alternative. Here's why it's my new top pick

The weather is getting warmer, which means it’s imperative to have a Bluetooth speaker on hand for cookouts, days by the pool, or any of your indoor and outdoor summer gatherings. Over the last few weeks, I’ve consistently reached for my JBL Charge 6, but one thing I can’t get past is its bold design: it doesn’t exactly complement the vibe in my house.

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LG isn’t often in the Bluetooth speaker conversation, but I’ve always respected its commitment to making portable and rugged Bluetooth speakers that can better blend with your interior decor. The new LG Xboom Bounce is one of its latest portable speakers, and it may be my new favorite indoor/outdoor speaker. Here’s why.

Ambient lighting

LG often incorporates ambient lighting into its Bluetooth speakers, with a range of options either fit for a party or for cozying up on the couch with my Kindle. I liked the LG Xboom 360 XO2 because it resembled a lantern, and the lighting features match my calm, relaxing indoor vibe.

The Xboom Bounce offers higher intensity and colorful lighting settings and calmer, more neutral settings for a relaxed vibe, but it debuts with a new AI-powered lighting setting that I’m very fond of. Its AI lighting setting analyzes the content you’re playing to set the lighting vibe. 

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I tested this feature while listening to The 1975’s self-titled album, which is full of songs inspired by different genres. Songs like “The City” with strong synths, a heavy alternative drum beat, and grungy guitar riffs prompted flickering orange and purple lights during the bridge and chorus. 

The slinky bassline and groovy riffs in a more laid-back song like “Pressure” generated white and blue, slow-pulsing lights that slid across the speaker. This feature doesn’t just display stock party lighting; it also displays lighting you can tailor to your mood.

An improved companion app

LG’s previous Xboom speakers lived in the LG Xboom app, which had an antiquated user interface. The new speakers use the LG ThinQ app, which houses your controls for all of your LG home products, which is much easier to use. 

You can access radio stations based on your music preferences, connect your Apple Music account, tap into meditation sessions, and join Auracast broadcasts from the app. You can also customize the “heart” button on the speaker to play your favorite Apple Music playlist and display your preferred lighting setting when pressed. 

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The Xboom Bounce can use AI to calibrate the speaker’s sound based on your space, and you can create sleep timers if you use the mood lighting and meditation sounds for relaxation.

Rugged and home features in one speaker

Many speakers fall into two categories: rugged and home. Either they are brightly-colored for easy visibility when outside, making them less suited for indoor use, like the JBL Charge 6, or they look great in your house but lack the durability features to take outside, like the Bose SoundLink Home.

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The Xboom Bounce tries to mix the two categories, featuring smart lighting and sound calibration features while promising an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance. Although it’s not as unassuming as the Sonos Roam 2, it has double the battery life at 29 hours and has reverse charging capabilities for only $10 more. 

ZDNET’s buying advice

The LG Xboom Bounce offers big, boomy bass, AI-powered sound and lighting calibration features. Its good battery life and strong durability make it a solid versatile speaker that can transition from the living room to the patio. It’s also a worthy choice for people who own LG TVs, soundbars, or appliances, who want a portable speaker that integrates with their existing home devices.

However, if you’re looking for a more portable indoor/outdoor speaker that will complement your interior decor, consider the Sonos Roam 2.