In a world dominated by cylindrical or squarish Bluetooth speakers, it’s not difficult for Ultimate Ears’ circular Roll 2 to stand out. Especially since it was freshly updated to suit music-lovers on the move.

It hasn’t changed in form, remaining the same saucer-sized disk of rubber and tough fabric; its handy bungee cord loop is still on the back, and it’s still waterproof. For the same price of $99.99, the secrets of the new Roll 2 are all on the inside.

First of all, the new speaker is more powerful than its predecessor – 15 percent more than before – with crisp sounds even at higher volumes. Just like before, two Roll 2 units can be paired together to give off a broader sound stage, while battery life sticks at nine hours.

Range is another factor that has changed significantly; with the original Roll, you couldn’t put it further away than 65 feet from its Bluetooth A2DP source; the Roll 2 has been upgraded to remain connected at 100 feet.

Obviously, that’s the best-case scenario, assuming that there’s nothing in-between your phone and your Roll 2 to interfere with the signal. At the same time, you can also plug in the source via the old-school 3.5mm aux-in, if it doesn’t have a Bluetooth radio.

This jack and the microUSB charging port are both covered by a rubber flap, which is a clever way to keep them both waterproof. According to the description of the speaker, they are also waterproof themselves, which means you don’t have to worry about them getting wet if you haven’t closed the flap all the way.

In terms of external differences, UE has released a couple new color schemes: you can choose from the new Habanero and Tropical Anime, in addition to the ones you’ve had before: the grey/black Volcano, blue Atmosphere, and purple Sugar Plum.

Seeing that the “Floatie” was such a success as a pool and tub-friendly accessory for the Roll, UE has decided to include the inflatable ring as standard with every Roll 2. After you blow it up, the Floatie becomes a clever support for the Roll 2, making up for the fact that the speaker itself doesn’t float on its own.

As Amazon has released its own Bluetooth speaker since the first Roll made it on the shelves, it becomes clearer that the portable speaker market is moving forward.
Image Source: CNET