Cute, however not for audiophiles

In case you interact with a variety of gaming and gaming-adjacent content material on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, there is a good probability you’ve got seen some unboxing movies of the Divoom Ditoo. It has been described as the whole lot from an important to an important non-essential, with its capabilities as a clock, a toy, and a Bluetooth speaker on show.

However my query is: is it any good? No matter what an influencer asserts, I’ll have some questions in relation to a $130 speaker that appears to be extra of an aesthetic object than a chunk of audio tech. So I attempted out the Divoom Ditoo and put it to the check to see the way it holds up as a speaker, a pixel artwork show, and all the remainder.

Value, specs, and availability

What’s up with this tiny retro computer-shaped speaker?

The Divoom Ditoo is a conveyable Bluetooth speaker formed like a retro laptop with a CRT monitor, full with six mechanical keys as management buttons. The speaker has a little bit of heft to it by advantage of its design, weighing 533 grams. It is available in 5 colours: pink, black, blue, inexperienced, and white. It is not waterproof, so do not take it exterior or spill any water on it.

The speaker connects utilizing Bluetooth 5.0, and it could additionally hook up with gadgets utilizing USB-C. It has a 5000mAh lithium polymer battery, with a battery lifetime of round eight hours, and it fees utilizing USB-C.

To make use of the customized pixel artwork options on the Ditoo, it’s worthwhile to obtain the Divoom app, which is offered on Android and iOS.

The Divoom Ditoo is offered on Divoom’s web site, in addition to Amazon, for $130, although it’s usually on sale for $100.

What I appreciated in regards to the Divoom Ditoo

It is actually an lovely speaker, there is not any denying that

One of many essential appeals of the Divoom Ditoo is that it is lovely. It appears like a tiny CRT monitor with a mechanical keyboard, what’s to not adore about it? I had it sitting on my desk whereas I used it, and it was like having a cute knickknack on my desk that additionally has a perform. Everybody who got here into my condominium whereas I reviewed it picked it up and marveled at it. But it surely’s actually an attention-grabbing little speaker.

The pixel artwork facet was fascinating. To customise the artwork on the speaker, I needed to obtain the Divoom app, which has quite a lot of sections to look by way of. The touchdown web page for the app is the gallery, the place you may flick through different peoples’ pixel artwork creations that you just’re free to make use of in your Divoom Ditoo. There’s additionally a tab referred to as “knowledgeable” filled with very elaborate pixel artwork made by individuals who have tens of 1000’s of followers and have numerous ranges. Subsequent is the album tab, which has artwork categorized by tags.

Creating my very own pixel artwork was very simple, which I appreciated. The very last thing I would need is for the speaker to have a studying curve. I made just a few designs with numerous frames, so I used to be principally making pixelated animations to show on the speaker whereas I listened to music or podcasts. The default pixel artwork choices that react to the sound enter have been additionally actually enjoyable.

I actually loved the mechanical keys, as a mechanical keyboard fanatic. After doing a little bit of digging, I discovered that the switches on the keys are Outemu Blue switches, that are similar to Cherry MX Blue switches, a extremely popular mechanical key change amongst keyboard nerds. The switches on the Divoom Ditoo really feel extraordinarily satisfying to press down, and I discovered myself fiddling with the speaker quite a bit when it was turned off as a result of the keys have been so enjoyable to press.

Lastly, I respect that I can play video games on it. They’re easy arcade video games primarily based on video games like Snake and Flappy Hen, however they’re entertaining nonetheless.

What I didn’t like in regards to the Divoom Ditoo

As a speaker, it is middling at finest

Past the pixel artwork facet and the truth that the speaker appears like a cute knickknack to have in your desk, there’s, arguably, the important thing characteristic of the speaker: the speaker itself. I am not notably impressed with the sound high quality from the speaker. It does get fairly loud, however I discovered that the bass begins to sound a bit distorted. I additionally often heard crackles or pops when listening to music that I do know would not have any added within the manufacturing, which whereas not an enormous deal, is not splendid for a speaker. The upper treble frequencies, like snares and cymbals, may very well be fairly tinny at occasions, too.

I believe that at this worth, the speaker ought to not less than sound a bit higher. This appears like a sub-$50 Bluetooth speaker, and I do know that the primary promoting level of the speaker is the aesthetic attraction of it, however I believe in case you’re shopping for a speaker, it ought to sound good, proportional to how a lot it prices not less than. This isn’t a speaker for audiophiles, and whereas a variety of the advertising is towards players as properly, Bluetooth audio is just not good for gaming due to latency. This speaker is for informal listening, not something that may endure from a little bit of lag.

I additionally was not an enormous fan of the accompanying Divoom app. The consumer interface is a bit clunky and gradual, and I discovered myself a bit confused by numerous elements of it. What makes somebody an “knowledgeable” in accordance with the app? What are these ranges related to numerous accounts? Why would I need to discuss to somebody over an app I needed to obtain to make use of a speaker? It additionally requested for lots of permissions, together with my location, which I declined. I do not respect when an app asks for extra private info than is totally obligatory, and I’d say that an app for a speaker would not want my location underneath any circumstances.

Must you purchase the Divoom Ditoo?

The Divoom Ditoo speaker is for individuals who need one thing cute that sits on their desk that shows enjoyable customizable pixel artwork, with the additional benefit of being a Bluetooth speaker. It’s a very lovely speaker that may in all probability slot in with the desk setup of a comfy gamer with a variety of different knickknacks round their setup, full with RGB lights.

This speaker is just not actually for anybody that falls exterior of that class. As a speaker, it is middling at finest, and the pixel artwork characteristic can get outdated fairly shortly. In case you’re not tremendous dedicated to it, it is in all probability not going to be price your cash. TikToks claiming that this speaker is an “important” are actually overblowing it — it is only a speaker with a enjoyable show and an app. That is the type of product that may doubtless be an impulse buy greater than something, and will likely be a reminder of your over-consumption issues just a few months down the street.

Divoom Ditoo Pixel Artwork Bluetooth Speaker