Cambridge SoundWorks Oontz Angle 3 Review
Pros: Lightweight, portable, inexpensive
Cons: Poor sound quality
Manufacturer: Cambridge SoundWorks
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Cambridge SoundWorks Oontz Angle 3 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  | | |||
| Price | $30 List | $300 List $249.00 at Amazon | $200 List $179.00 at Amazon | $150 List $129.99 at Amazon | $120 List $119.49 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
|||||
| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Lightweight, portable, inexpensive | Excellent sound quality, very loud, long battery life | Excellent sound quality, water resistant, great battery life | Good overall sound, great volume, great battery life, waterproof | Good sound quality, waterproof, long battery life |
| Cons | Poor sound quality | Expensive, relatively large and heavy | Expensive, relatively heavy | Not the strongest bass, a bit pricey | Not the best sounding nor most portable |
| Bottom Line | A decent speaker for those that want something inexpensive and very portable | Top notch sound quality and volume in a somewhat heavy package | The best portable speaker for audiophiles | A good mix of sound qaultiy/volume and durability | A great balance of sound quality, portability, and price |
| Rating Categories | Oontz Angle 3 | Bose Soundlink... | Bose SoundLink... | UE Boom 3 | JBL Flip 5 |
| Sound Quality (40%) | |||||
| Portability (25%) | |||||
| Volume (20%) | |||||
| Battery Life (15%) | |||||
| Specs | Oontz Angle 3 | Bose Soundlink... | Bose SoundLink... | UE Boom 3 | JBL Flip 5 |
| Dimensions (in x in x in) | 5.25" x 2.75" x 2.75" | 4.1" x 4.1" x 7.3" | 5.97" x 3.24" x 3.24" | 2.9" x 2.9" x 7.25" | 3.64" x 3.6" x 8.5" |
| Inputs | 3.5 mm auxiliary input, Micro-USB port | Charging port, Micro-USB, 3.5mm auxillary input | 3.5 mm auxiliary input, Micro USB port | Micro USB port | Charging port |
| Reported Weight | 9 oz | 34 oz | 24 oz | 24 oz | 19.04 oz |
| Measured Weight | 9.4 oz | 34 oz | 24 oz | 22 oz | 19 oz |
| Wireless Range (feet) | 33 | 30 feet | 30 feet | 150 feet | Not Listed |
| Reported Battery Life (hours) | 12 | 16 | 12 | 15 | 12 |
| Measured Battery Life (hours) | 15.5 | 24 | 18 | 24 | 27 |
| Warranty | 90 day limited | 1 year limited | 1 year limited | 2 year limited | 1 year limited |
| Receive Phone Calls | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Cambridge SoundWorks Oontz Angle 3 earns brownie points for being small and portable, but not much else. It's a decent budget option, but if you're looking for good sound quality or volume you'll have to look elsewhere, and likely spend quite a bit more.
Performance Comparison
Sound Quality
The Oontz received the low score of 2 out of 10 in our sound quality testing, putting it far behind the high score of 10. This speaker is louder and a bit clearer than a smartphone's built-in speakers, but can't match most of the other more capable speakers that we tested. The bass sounds quite thin and weak, and treble often takes on a static quality, especially at higher volumes and pitches. If you don't care about sound quality and just want an inexpensive way to amplify the music on your phone the sound quality is acceptable, but those looking for a refined listening experience will be sorely disappointed by the Oontz.
Portability
Portability is one area where the Oontz shines. It earned a 9 out of 10 in this metric, just off the top score of 10 and far ahead of the low score of 2. At just 9.4 ounces the Oontz is the lightest speaker we tested by a comfortable margin. It also rivals the UE Roll 2 for being the smallest speaker we tested (the two are such radically different shapes that they're hard to compare). The IPX5 rating guarantees that it won't be ruined by hearty splashes of water, but it won't survive full submersion. The Oontz definitely has a 'might as well toss it in the bag just in case' portability factor.
Volume
With its small size the Oontz really struggles to get to high volumes. Accordingly, it scored the low score of 4 in this metric, which saw scores as high as 9. The Oontz can still belt much louder than any smartphone's built-in speakers. However, the music quickly starts to sound tinny as you crank the volume up. Listening at the highest volume that didn't result in a shrill assault on our ears the Oontz was able to mostly fill our testing apartment with sound, but when standing far from the speaker the music could get lost in normal ambient noise. Overall it's loud enough for a small group of people sitting close to the speaker, but doesn't have enough power for a large party.
Battery Life
The Oontz hung on for 15.5 hours in our battery life test, besting its manufacturer claim by more than 3 hours. This covers almost all of your waking hours on a normal day, so chances are this will be more than enough battery life, unless you're looking to take the Oontz on an extended backpacking trip. 15.5 hours was just around average in our battery life testing, thus the Oontz received a score of 6 out of 10.
Value
At the price point, it is a decent value for those who don't want to spend much on a speaker, but we feel the Anker SoundCore still offers a better value for budget-conscious buyers.
Conclusion
The Cambridge SoundWorks Oontz Angle 3 is a decent speaker for those not fussed by sound quality who are on a tight budget, but the Anker SoundCore fits that bill just a bit better.
— Max Mutter and Steven Tata