Test: Inateck BP2003 Bluetooth speaker - an insider tip!

Anyone who reads my blog posts knows that I don't throw the term "insider tip" around in an inflationary way. In this test report, however, I can use it with peace of mind, because – without spoiling the end of the article too much – the Inateck BP2003 BT speaker definitely deserves it, if you see the relationship between sound and price. But let's start with testing, because for me there is more to the overall conclusion of a test than just a recommendation.

Short reading tip: Some time ago I tested an Inateck Bluetooth speaker: at that time it was MemoryBoxwhich from my point of view is still recommended if you are looking for a waterproof BT speaker. In terms of sound, however, it cannot keep up with the Inateck BP2003 loudspeaker.

Technical data

The technical details always give a good all-round view of a device. For this reason, here is a small list of the "Specs" for this Bluetooth speaker:

• Type designation: Inateck BP 2003
• Dimensions: 23 10,2 x x 6,3 cm
• Weight: 700 grams
• Charging socket: Micro-USB (cable included)
• Compatibility: Bluetooth 4.2 (range up to 10 m)
• Pairing code (if a device asks for it): 0000
• Supported Bluetooth profiles: A2DP V1.2 and AVRCP V1.4
• Output power: 2 x 10 watts
• Audio driver: 2 x 12 watts
• Battery: Li-ion battery, 7,4 volts / 2.000 mAh
• Charging shows: approx. 2 - 3 hours
• Operating time: approx. 6-10 hours
• Signal-to-noise ratio:> = 80 dB
• the speaker is NOT waterproof
• Energy saving mode: automatic shutdown after 10 minutes of inactivity

What's in the box

The Inateck BOP2003 is delivered in a cardboard box. It is only printed in one color and padded with minimal plastic, which I really appreciate. You don't have to produce a lot of packaging waste to get good products to men or women. In addition to the loudspeaker, the package contains a user manual as well as a micro-USB charging cable and a 3,5 mm jack cable with which you can also feed the box with music by cable.

Processing and design of the Inateck Bluetooth Box

Regarding the processing quality, it should be noted that the Bluetooth speaker is mostly made of acrylic. The upper part is made of transparent acrylic, which has the typical "frosted" effect. The good 700 grams that the box weighs are probably mostly due to the 2000 mAh battery and the built-in audio drivers.

The design is of course a matter of taste. Personally, it's a bit too playful for me with the silver bottom and the transparent area on top. It might look very effective on a matching designer desk, but I prefer a simple design, such as the Bose SoundLink Mini, which I also own. Nevertheless, I don't want to give a negative rating for the optics, because everyone prefers something different and ultimately the sound is the decisive criterion for a loudspeaker. That being said, there is plenty of praise here on Amazon - especially because of the design. So I'm not a yardstick. ;) And the workmanship is undoubtedly very good: You don't see any unclean seams on the acrylic or other things that would annoy the eye.

Operation and controls of the BT speaker

The front has only one control element - namely the on / off button, which pauses or restarts playback at the same time when the Inateck Bluetooth speaker is switched on. When you switch it on or off, the loudspeaker plays a short melody that is not too loud and sounds pleasant. I have already had models from other manufacturers here that spoiled the fun with cruel, loud announcements every time they were switched on - not so with the Inateck.

A blue LED light indicates the operating status on the power button:

• Bluetooth pairing mode: LED flashing blue
• Bluetooth connected: LED lights up blue
• connected via AUX cable: LED lights up green
• when charging: glowing red
• fully charged: glowing green

The other buttons as well as the inputs for AUX and micro USB can be found on the back. Between the two sockets there is a small hole in which a reset button is hidden. This can be released with a straightened paper clip. The loudspeaker is then back in the delivery state. According to Inateck, this can be necessary if the loudspeaker no longer reacts to operator inputs. But this has not happened to me yet.

In addition to the sockets for AUX and Micro-USB, the buttons "M", "+" and "-" can also be found on the back. It's self-explanatory what the plus and minus buttons are used for. Pressing them briefly affects the volume. If you press it longer, this is the command for "One song forward" or "One song back". This is a familiar function that is also known from the control element of the Apple headset.

No multipoint bluetooth pairing

The M button is pressed longer to disconnect the Bluetooth connection and pair another device. This works wonderfully, but the loudspeaker does not support mutipoint pairing. This means that there is only ever one device paired with the Inateck loudspeaker. If you want to pair another device at short notice, you have to perform the pairing process in the new device via the Bluetooth menu.

With my SoundLink Mini II I can pair several devices at the same time. Two devices can be coupled in parallel. If I then press the Bluetooth button on the SoundLink Mini 2, then I can switch through all the devices that are paired with the box - this can be significantly more than two, because the box stores the last 6 paired devices. From my point of view, this is a feature that makes the difference between a 150 EUR Bluetooth speaker and a 60 EUR model. You have to decide for yourself whether such little things are important to you.

Battery life and display

I've had the loudspeaker in operation for several hours now without having to reload it. The 6 to 10 hours specified by the manufacturer can be achieved in any case. Since I usually listen to podcasts or soft music at low volume while working, I certainly don't use as much battery as someone who wants to fill their garden party with sound. But you can safely say - without having measured it - that a battery life of 6 hours is the absolute minimum. I think the practical value is around 8 hours.

The display of the battery level in the iPhone or iPad is also positive. Once the loudspeaker has been paired, the headphone symbol appears at the top right of the iPhone with a battery indicator that provides information about the charge status of the battery. In addition, the speaker emits a voice warning when it falls below the 10% mark, which indicates that the device should be recharged again.

Adjusting the volume

Important note: the volume buttons on the Inateck BP2003 do not influence the volume on the iPhone, but only that of the Bluetooth box. This does not have a major disadvantage, but it does not give you the usual overview of the set volume, as the display on the iPhone is no longer meaningful. It can happen that the box is set very loud, but the iPhone is set to a low volume. In order to achieve the maximum volume you have to turn up the volume on both the iPhone and the box.

Some speaker systems offer a synchronization between the volume control. This makes the operation a little easier, because you can change the volume on the iPhone with the buttons on the box and thus have a common and uniform control. A small thing, but I would like to point it out.

Sound quality of the Inateck loudspeaker

Now here we come to the interesting part of the test. When I used the speaker for the first time, I was surprised by the bass that the box delivers. In addition to the bass, the rest of the frequency spectrum is not neglected either. The sound is balanced and clear. In the price range in which the Inateck box is located at around EUR 60, I would have expected something worse, but I was taught better: even cheap boxes can have a good sound that offers more than just "a lot of bass".

In order to be able to classify the sound quality for me, I let the box compete against my Bose SoundLink Mini 2, which easily costs 100 euros more and is actually in a different league in terms of price. In terms of size, it is only about half the size of the Inateck BP2003, but this was the loudspeaker that was most likely to be used for a comparison.

The result is surprising, because the enormous price difference to the Bose box is definitely not heard on the Inateck loudspeaker. If you have the speakers on your desk and listen to music while working at a low volume, I would even certify the Inateck Box has a better sound. A clear difference can be heard more at high volume, where the Bose SoundLink Mini 2 still produces a balanced sound image, while the Inateck BP2003 loudspeaker loses a bit of volume - presumably because the bass is no longer loud enough in relation to the medium and High notes are.

What does Airflow technology bring?

In the advertisement, Inateck speaks of the "airflow technology" that brings the good sound with it. This describes an open tube that connects the interior of the box with the outer part of the housing over a distance of approx. 15 cm. To test the effect of this technical feature, I closed the opening with my finger and opened it again while the song was playing. You can hear the difference quite clearly. If the opening is closed, frequencies in the lower spectrum are immediately missing. So it's not just marketing blah, it also has a technical use.

In I read an Amazon reviewthat a user inserts a small piece of foam into this opening to regulate the bass strength. The further you plug it, the weaker the bass becomes. A smart idea if you're not a bass fetishist. ;)

Bose vs. Inateck - a meaningful comparison?

I know that many readers think that Bose audio devices do not produce good sound and are therefore not suitable for comparison. I personally cannot understand this. For this reason, I am "forgiven" for comparing the two boxes. In the end it is always a subjective thing whether you like the sound or not. However, the comparison may help with a rough assessment if you cannot listen to a sample yourself.

Conclusion: an insider tip for value for money

I have to admit that I haven't tested a box in the last few months that delivered such a good sound for this size. Of course you have to make a few compromises in terms of "features" such as multipoint pairing and also in processing. If you don't have any problems with that, you will definitely get a Bluetooth speaker with the Inateck BP2003, which can hold a candle to some of the competitors, which are significantly more expensive.

The price of the Inateck Box was around 60 euros when I bought it. The price may have changed, but you can definitely find the current price here at Amazon.

If you are interested in the loudspeaker, here is the summary with a link to the Amazon shop:

Inateck Bluetooth 4.2 speaker BP2003

Inateck's mobile speaker works via Bluetooth or AUX input and offers an impressive sound for the price. With a running time of approx. 8 hours and an output power of 20 watts, it can be used as a music box for the office as well as for the barbecue party.

Buy it at Amazon Price includes VAT, plus shipping costs (updated: 23.03.2023 at 00: 31 clock)

Jen Kleinholz( Founder & Sir Apfelot )

Jens has been running the blog since 2012. He appears as Sir Apfelot for his readers and helps them with problems of a technical nature. In his free time he drives electric unicycles, takes photos (preferably with his iPhone, of course), climbs around in the Hessian mountains or hikes with the family. His articles deal with Apple products, news from the world of drones or solutions for current bugs.

The page contains affiliate links / images: Amazon.de