The Edifier MP200 is a solid, but quirky, cube speaker

The Edifier MP200 packs impressive audio punch even though it’s small enough to sit in the palm of your hand. And it won’t break the bank at a price tag of $34.99. Of course, at the low price it has its limitations. 

The 2.4 by 6.3 by 1.7-inch Bluetooth cube speaker is splash proof and dust proof, so it’s suitable for indoor or outdoor use. It can also function as a so-so speaker phone. Music can either be streamed from a device or plugged into the speaker using a Micro SD card. 

With its unusual design, Edifier apparently crafted the MP200 (available in a variety of colors) to be quirky. Your individual tastes will determine whether you find it “quirky cute” or “quirky annoying.”

My opinion tends toward the latter. For instance, the controls along the top panel aren’t presented in a clear, straight line. The skip forward icon is at an angle to the skip backward icon, as is the play/pause button. 

The arrow buttons function both as volume with short presses; the skip buttons with longer presses. The power button is how you cycle through Bluetooth and Micro SD card functions. 

You’ll get the hang of using the MP200 controls after a while — but there shouldn’t be a learning curve (even a short one) with a palm-sized speaker. Speaking of design, I wish the MP200 sported an auxiliary feature.

The Edifier speaker has decent audio for such a small device. However, it distorts at high volumes. Speaker vibrations at such volumes also make it dance around on a flat surface despite its rubberized base.

The MP200 runs has a battery life of around 12 hours on a full charge, though, of course, your results will vary depend upon volume levels. Overall, it’s a good, portable choice for picnics, office listening, and the like — at least once you learn to deal with its eccentricities.

Apple World Today Rating (out of 5 stars): ★★★