I’ve never seen a speaker as cute and quirky as the NES-inspired 8BitDo Retro Cube 2 — and it boasts surprisingly good sound for just $49

I’ve tested many of the best Bluetooth speakers in my time, but most of them look either the same or they sport bland or uninventive design. Not the 8BitDo Retro Cube 2. It’s the cutest, quirkiest speaker you can buy today, and not for a lot of money as it costs just $49. An NES-inspired design and D-pad-style buttons make the Retro Cube 2 a joy to look at and use.

In addition to its simply fantastic design, the Retro Cube 2 boasts long battery life with up to 30 hours of playback time. It comes with a practical wireless charging dock too. Sound quality is great, with treble that shines and strong dynamics. However, given the speaker’s size and limited frequency response, the bass is a little lacking. It isn’t waterproof either, and its underbaked companion app doesn’t do it any favors.

Should you still buy it? Read my full 8BitDo Retro Cube 2 review to find out.

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8BitDo Retro Cube 2 review: Specs

8BitDo Retro Cube 2 review: Price & availability

The 8BitDo Retro Cube 2 is the successor to the first-gen speaker, which first came out in 2019. The 2026 iteration is priced similarly, and is available for $49 / £39 at Amazon. It’s available in one color only, at the time of writing: N Edition, which is a combination of beige, red and black.

If it’s a budget Bluetooth speaker you’re after, the Retro Cube 2 is perfect for you. It’s cheaper than the JBL Go 5 ($54) and the Tribit Stormbox Micro 3 ($64). It’s a little pricier than the Tribit StormBox Mini+ ($39) and the Tozo PE1 ($39) but it’s still in the same ballpark. So, why should you buy the Retro Cube 2 from a brand that isn’t as well-known for audio gear as it is for its retro-style peripherals? The design and long battery life, for starters, and we’ll get into the details next.

8BitDo Retro Cube 2 review: Design

I’ve tested a lot of Bluetooth speakers in my time, but I’ve never seen one as cute as the 8BitDo Retro Cube 2. Sporting a design inspired by the NES, the Retro Cube 2 fits right in with the brand’s other retro-style products. If you own the 8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard like I do, or the 8BitDo 64 N64-styled gamepad, the Retro Cube 2 is the perfect accompaniment, thanks to its beige, red and black colors.

The Retro Cube 2 is, as the name suggests, a cube. Four red speaker grilles are located on each face, and the top of the cube hosts the D-pad physical buttons, which I’ll talk about shortly. With subtle branding, the Retro Cube 2 is minimalist and good-looking, and is sure to draw eyeballs (in a good way). There’s no flashy RGB lighting, which I like, and the only bits that light up are the setting indicators on the top.

It’s quite small too, measuring just 3.47 x 3.45 x 3.45 inches. The Retro Cube 2 weighs 15.87oz so it’s a little heavier than the JBL Go 5 (8.16oz), but lighter than the Tribit StormBox Mini+ (19.2oz). A wireless charging dock is included in the box so you can keep the speaker powered at all times. Both the speaker and the dock host grippy rubbers to keep them from being unintentionally knocked about.

Weatherproofing

8BitDo doesn’t specify an IP rating for the Retro Cube 2, so it isn’t waterproof or dustproof. Given that this speaker is designed for indoor use, this isn’t a massive drawback, but something to keep in mind before you choose to take it outdoors, or use it in the shower. For a rugged waterproof speaker, I’d recommend the JBL Go 5 (IP68) or the Tribit StormBox Mini+ (IPX7).

Controls

The playback controls are in the form of an NES D-pad, and are unlike any other buttons you may have seen on other speakers. The four physical buttons enable you to adjust the volume, play/pause playback, and initiate Bluetooth pairing. All buttons give great tactile feedback when pressed.

To add to the speaker’s quirkiness, when you press the power button to, well, power on the speaker, the speaker sings, “8BitDooooo.” 10/10, no notes.

Connectivity

The Retro Cube 2 utilizes Bluetooth 5.3 with support for the standard SBC codec. There’s no AAC or LC3, like on the JBL Go 5. You do get multipoint connectivity, though, so you can connect two devices simultaneously. I did this with my Google Pixel 10 Pro XL and my MacBook Air M2 and it worked seamlessly.

In addition to Bluetooth, the Retro Cube 2 comes with a 2.4GHz dongle for virtually lag-free audio in games and music. The dongle can be stored in a slot located on the charging dock’s underside, which is a neat feature as it keeps it from getting lost. There’s wired playback too, via the USB-C port located around the back.

8BitDo Retro Cube 2 review: Sound quality

If you want a speaker to soundtrack your workday, gaming session, or an intimate dinner party, the 8BitDo Retro Cube 2 is up to the challenge. It has a power output of 10W (5W x 2) and covers a frequency response range of 125Hz to 15KHz. Given that it goes down to just 125Hz, the sub-bass and bass in general are a little lacking, but I’ll talk about that later. Good things first.

To test the Retro Cube 2, I listened to my usual selection of testing songs on Qobuz, the best music streaming service for hi-res, over Bluetooth. I kicked things off with ‘One Inch Punch’ by Yin Yin. This track highlighted the Retro Cube 2’s treble clarity, as the song’s bright surf-guitar riffs, crisp hi-hats and intricate percussion came through with plenty of energy and definition. The track sounded lively and the guitar notes cut cleanly through the mix, while percussion retained its texture without becoming harsh.

The Retro Cube 2 features a surprisingly capable midrange too. Lana Del Rey’s vocals in ‘Taco Truck x VB’ sat front and centre, sounding clear, intimate and well-defined which allowed the emotional nuances in her performance to come through effortlessly. The guitars blended smoothly without becoming congested, and the Retro Cube 2 lent the midrange elements a natural warmth that flattered the song’s laid-back, hazy production style.

But the only disappointing bit about the Retro Cube 2 is its limited bass capabilities — something commonplace in small speakers. I played ‘No Chances’ by Twenty One Pilots to test the speaker’s bass extension. While the track’s ominous low-end pulse and deep synth bass were present, they lacked the weight and physical impact that lend the song much of its tension — something you won’t experience when listening to it through the JBL Go 5. The song’s cinematic foundation, then, felt noticeably reduced, and while the kickdrums had definition, they didn’t hit with the chest-thumping force the song demands.

Overall, the Retro Cube 2 performs well but doesn’t provide a sound as full as the JBL Go 5, so if you want powerful bass, you may want to consider the JBL instead. But if cute looks matter more to you, then the Retro Cube 2 is a no-brainer.

Listen along to my review with the 8BitDo Retro Cube 2 testing playlist:

8BitDo Retro Cube 2 review: App

The 8BitDo Retro Cube 2 doesn’t have a mobile companion app, so you can’t customize the speaker on the fly. Well, you can’t customize the speaker full stop. While the Retro Cube 2 is compatible with the 8BitDo Ultimate Software V2 macOS and Windows app, the only thing you can do is update the speaker’s firmware.

This means that there’s no custom EQ or way to remap the buttons. If you want customizable EQ, I’d recommend spending a little extra on the JBL Go 5, or getting the cheaper Tribit StormBox Mini+.

8BitDo Retro Cube 2 review: Battery life

One of the 8BitDo Retro Cube 2’s biggest selling points is its long battery life, which is class-leading. 8BitDo says that the speaker can last up to 30 hours, and can go from zero to 100% in three hours. In my testing, the Retro Cube 2 ran out of battery around the 29th hour mark when it was playing at 50% volume.

The Retro Cube 2 outclasses most other speakers in its weight class. The JBL Go 5 offers a maximum playtime of 10 hours, while the Tribit StormBox Mini+ can last up to 12 hours. The Tozo PE1 has a rated battery life of 32 hours at low volume, and we found that it drained really quickly at high volumes. Given that, the Retro Cube 2 is your best option in the battery life department.

Unlike any other tiny Bluetooth speaker I’ve tested, the Retro Cube 2 comes with a wireless charging dock to keep it powered at all times.

8BitDo Retro Cube 2 review: Verdict

Few Bluetooth speakers are as attractive as the 8BitDo Retro Cube 2. This cute little thing sports an NES-inspired design that’s sure to impress retro gamers. Its D-pad-style buttons not only give good tactile feedback when pressed, but they add to the Retro Cube 2’s charm too. Throw in 30 hours of battery life and a wireless charging dock with dongle storage and you’ve got yourself a winner.

But how does it sound? The Retro Cube 2 boasts great sound dynamics with the ability to make the treble sparkle. However, the bass is a little lacking, given that the speaker doesn’t have a wide frequency response range. It doesn’t have a custom EQ either, and it isn’t waterproof.

Should those drawbacks stop you from getting the Retro Cube 2? Depends on what you’re after. If you want a full-bodied sound, the JBL Go 5 is clearly the superior option. But if you want a $49 speaker that makes for a great addition to your setup, or as a coffee table centerpiece, the Retro Cube 2 is sure to please you. Its retro aesthetics have won me over, and it's become a permanent fixture on my desk. I’m vibing to the “8BitDoooo” startup sound.