In an era where portable audio is part of everyday lifeāwhether youāre relaxing at home, hosting a gathering, or heading outdoorsāfinding a Bluetooth speaker that balances sound quality, durability, and value is essential. Enter the LifeStyle Gen1 Bluetooth Speaker, a compact yet powerful device designed for everyday use. But does it deliver on its promise?Ā
After several weeks of testing in different environments, hereās what we found.
Right out of the box, the LifeStyle Gen1 makes a strong first impression. The packaging is sleek and minimal, housing the speaker, a USB charging cable, an AUX cable, and a concise user manual.
The speaker itself is compact and modern, featuring a matte black finish that resists fingerprints and smudges. A built-in carry strap adds to its portability, and the tactile buttons are conveniently placed along the top for intuitive control. At just under 1.5 pounds, itās lightweight without feeling flimsy.Ā
The LifeStyle Gen1 strikes a fine balance between form and function. Its rubberized exterior gives it a rugged feel, suggesting it can handle minor bumps and travel wear with ease. While it's not fully waterproof, it is splash-resistant (IPX5 rated)āmaking it suitable for poolside sessions or kitchen use, just not a full dunk in water.
The speakerās cylindrical shape allows for 360-degree sound projection, and it sits firmly on flat surfaces thanks to anti-slip rubber pads underneath. For its price point, the materials and build quality are impressive.
Where the LifeStyle Gen1 really shines is in its audio output. Equipped with dual 10W drivers and passive bass radiators, it produces surprisingly rich and balanced sound. The bass is deep enough to fill a small room, while mids and highs come through clean and distortion-free, even at higher volumes.
For casual listening, podcasts, or background music during gatherings, this speaker punches well above its weight class. It also handles different genres wellāfrom bass-heavy hip-hop to acoustic tracks, vocals remain clear and warm.
Pairing the Gen1 is a breeze thanks to Bluetooth 5.0 technology, which ensures a stable connection and improved battery efficiency. In our tests, the connection remained rock-solid within the promised 30-foot range, with no noticeable dropouts or lag.
The speaker also supports AUX input, giving it added versatility for older devices or when Bluetooth isnāt available.
LifeStyle promises up to 12 hours of playtime on a full charge, and in real-world use (at around 50-70% volume), it delivered close to that figure. Charging is done via USB-C, which is a welcome feature, especially at this price pointāit allows faster and more efficient charging than older micro-USB setups.
A full charge takes around 3 hours, and an LED indicator near the charging port lets you know when the battery is running low.
We took the Gen1 on a picnic, used it during a home workout, and played music in the shower (from a dry shelf)āand in each case, it delivered consistent, room-filling sound. Itās compact enough to throw in a backpack and durable enough to withstand everyday use.
Its microphone feature also supports hands-free calling, which works decently well in quiet settings, although voice quality can degrade in noisier environments.
If youāre looking for a budget-friendly Bluetooth speaker that doesnāt compromise on sound quality, the LifeStyle Gen1 is a strong contender. It combines a sleek, durable design with great audio performance, long battery life, and modern connectivityāall at an affordable price.
Whether you're upgrading from an older model or buying your first Bluetooth speaker, the LifeStyle Gen1 delivers excellent value. Itās not built for extreme outdoor use or audiophile-level performance, but for casual, everyday listening, it checks all the right boxes.