Battle of the portable speakers: Kaidaer vs. Hi-Rice

When you want to avoid the fuss of cables getting tangled while you listen to music or while you watch your favorite series on your tablet, a mini speaker gets the job done.  Simply put down your portable mp3 player or your tablet beside a portable speaker and enjoy.

The market for portable speakers has grown fast, and the designs have also evolved from medium boxes to minute capsules. However, nothing beats the traditional cylinder-shaped mini speakers that stand with ease and exude class. Take for example the Kaidaer and Hi-Rice mini speakers.

Put the Kaidaer portable speaker beside the Hi-Rice, and immediately you will notice the most obvious similarity: shape. Both mini speakers look like a can, with Hi-Rice being taller by a few inches than its competitor. More than the shape, the two definitely have things to boast of.

These two are so compact they are so easy to carry. Both speakers have metal cases but still they are lightweight. At 170 grams, the Kaidaer weighs 30 grams less than two iPod Touch combined, which is the exact weight of the competition. The weight difference is significant, after all both can provide the same acoustic and volume power even if one is smaller than the other. You will be surprised by the quality of volume you’ll get from these small “cans.”

These two portable speakers come in fun and quirky colors. However, when it comes to ease of use, Kaidaer’s design is much more simplistic. All of its buttons are found in the front unlike the Hi-Rice that has a swivel button for volume adjustment on the side. These are hassle-free gadgets especially since you can run them without plugging it into a power source. Fully charge the batteries to use it on-the-go without any cables—just the plain “can” to provide your audio needs. In terms of audio needs, the only advantage of the Hi-Rice is the FM radio capability. When you are done using these two as speakers, both can serve as a standalone portable mp3 player just by plugging a microSD card filled with your favorite ear candies into the slot found at the rear.

Portability is determined by the size, weight, and ease of use. Both mini speakers have met these criteria. However, if there’s a turnoff about these two, that would be the lack of warranty and support should you find something wrong with your gadget. The cost for each mini speaker falls below $19.