 "Image Credit: Firstpost | Ameya Dalvi")
Honeywell recently released a bunch of portable wireless speakers that are not just affordable but also boast of some interesting features and broad connectivity options. Three of them have been keeping us company over the past few weeks and each of them couldn’t be more different in design from each other. Of course, there are a lot of common traits too like Bluetooth 5,3 connectivity, use of SBC codec and a generous 2-years warranty among others.
The Honeywell Suono P300, Suono P400 and Trueno U300 each have a feature called TWS. It has nothing to do with true wireless earphones for which the acronym is commonly used, but in this case it denotes the capability to pair two units of the same model together to get a stereo sound. We couldn’t test this feature out as we had a single unit of each speaker. But we did test most of the other things and it’s time to tell you everything to need to know about these Honeywell speakers.
Honeywell Suono P300 Review
Price: Rs 1,099
The Suono P300 is the most affordable of the lot, retailing for just a little over a thousand Rupees. It sports a cylindrical design inspired by that of the JBL Flip. It is meant to be placed vertically but one can also use it in a horizontal orientation. The controls are placed at the top of the speaker (when vertical) and all the connectivity options are at the back, which includes a 3,5 mm Aux input, a USB-A port and a microSD card slot in addition to a USB-C charging port.
The P300 is fairly lightweight and sports an IPX4 rating for splash resistance, but strangely, the aforementioned ports do not have a protective flap or any kind of cover and may be susceptible to water damage. So despite the IP rating, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to keep this speaker away from water and other liquids. The speaker is fitted with a 52 mm driver that claims to deliver 10W RMS sound output. You also get a microphone for hands-free calling.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsPairing this speaker or even the other two with a phone or a tablet is a straightforward process. Just switch it on, find it in the list of Bluetooth devices and pair it. The Suono P300 may look like a JBL Flip but doesn’t sound like one. But then, it also costs only a small fraction of that. The speaker can get decently loud but the bass response is fairly subdued. The vocals are reproduced pretty well and the speakers are better suited for voice-heavy tracks or playing some soft music at night.
I would not recommend using this speaker in a party setting as it cannot produce enough thump for it to be enjoyable in dance numbers or bass-heavy tracks. The P300 is fitted with a 1200 mAh Lithium-ion battery that claims to deliver up to 9 hours of audio playback. Your mileage may vary depending on the volume level at which you use it. At close to 50 per cent loudness, it lasted for about 8 hours. You can top it up again using any standard USB-C charger.
While the Honeywell Suono P300 doesn’t sound anything special, it only demands Rs 1,099 for its purchase, and at that price, not many would complain about its performance. Buy this speaker if you largely wish to listen to vocal-heavy tracks or play some retro or soft music on it. If you are thinking about some party music, it’s time to move on to the Suono P400.
Honeywell Suono P400 Review
Price: Rs 1,999
This barrel-shaped speaker has fun written all over it. Be it its cool design with sturdy construction and an integrated handle or simply the RGB lights on either end, this speaker is sure to grab your attention. The Suono P400 is noticeably heavier than the P300 and has a larger 78 mm driver and two passive radiators for the extra thump in sound. The rated output is also higher at 15W RMS. This too has a microphone for calling.
The Suono P400 sports an IPX6 rating for water resistance and it looks the part thanks to its rubber padding and a protective flap over the connectivity and charging ports. Again, you get a 3,5 mm Aux input, a USB-A port, a microSD card slot and a USB-C charging port. This speaker too can be used either vertically or horizontally. Depending on the orientation, you will find the controls either on the side or behind the speakers, encompassed by the rubber strip.
The sound output of the Suono P400 is noticeably fuller than that of the P300, and while I cannot call the bass thumping, it is certainly punchier. The sound has better balance, and as a result, this speaker works well across more genres of music and content. The RGB lighting adds to the cool quotient without being gaudy. The battery capacity here is double at 2400 mAh, however, that doesn’t translate into double the battery life.
The larger and more powerful speaker understandably consumes more juice and some also by the RGB lighting, which I didn’t find a way to switch off. Despite that, the speaker lasts an hour longer than the P300 on a full charge, which is acceptable. The Honeywell Suono P400 is priced at Rs 1,999, which is quite reasonable for what it offers. Realistically, don’t expect it to rock the room at a house party but its output can certainly get your feet tapping.
Honeywell Trueno U300 Review Price: Rs 2,299
We now move on to the third speaker from the company from a different series, the Trueno U300. This is the most powerful and the heaviest of the lot with 20W RMS output. And it’s not just the wattage but you also get dual 78 mm drivers here. All the connectivity and charging options remain the same as on the other speakers, and they are well-protected under a rubber flap. This speaker too has an IPX6 rated water ingress protection. A microphone is also present for receiving calls on this speaker.
Its design is more striking from the behind rather than the front courtesy of the two exposed drivers. This speaker can only be placed horizontally. The build of the U300 is quite solid, however, the balance is a little off. The speaker topples backwards even with a gentle push and that can be annoying. As for the performance, this speaker is easily the loudest of the three but doesn’t do much better than the P400 in the bass department. It does have the best battery backup of the three though.
Its 4500 mAh battery can keep the speaker running for close to 12 hours of playback at close to 50% volume level, which is not bad at all. The Honeywell Trueno U300 is priced at Rs 2,299, which is just Rs 300 more than the Suono P400.
It would be a good choice if you are looking for a fairly loud sound output and good battery backup under Rs 2,500. If you ask me to choose between these three speakers, the Honeywell Suono P400 would be my pick for the best all-round option.