BlueAnt Burleigh speaker review

Quick verdict: BlueAnt's new flagship portable Bluetooth speaker offers rich bass and a long-lasting battery for a full day on the go.

Decent audio quality
Easy to use
Long battery life
Payment plan for Telstra customers

Not fully waterproof
No app

Sarah Brandon

Last Updated Mar 23, 2021

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Melbourne-based tech company BlueAnt has launched a new flagship Bluetooth speaker, the Burleigh. The portable speaker is splashproof and includes a carry strap so that you can take it to the beach all summer.

The Burleigh offers high-quality sound for an affordable price, but it isn't fully waterproof.

Design

Sleek, durable design
Includes carry strap
Not fully waterproof

The Burleigh has a cylindrical shape with a thin base that sits flat on the ground. It comes in matte black with the BlueAnt logo featured on the front.
The top of the speaker holds the controls for volume as well as a play button.
One end of the speaker has the power button, a control for the equaliser setting and a mode changing button to switch between Bluetooth and auxiliary input. There are also controls to skip or play the previous track.
The other end of the speaker has a cover that pulls out to expose a charging port, auxiliary cord input and a MicroSD card slot.
The box includes a carry strap that hooks into metal loops on either end of the speaker, which makes it easy to carry around. The exact weight of the speaker isn't listed on the BlueAnt website, but according to my kitchen scale, it's about 2.2kg. It's light enough to take out for a day at the beach, but not ultra-portable like the UE Wonderboom.
The Burleigh comes with a cable input so you can use it as a soundbar or connect it to an audio source that isn't Bluetooth capable.
The box also includes a rapid charge AC adaptor with plugs for several different countries including AU, US, EU and UK.
While the Burleigh looks and feels durable, it's only IP54 splashproof rated, so it's only protected against some dust and splashes of water.

Performance

Easy to pair with smart devices
No app
Decent bass
Bluetooth, aux cord and MicroSD card compatible

The Burleigh uses Bluetooth 4.2 to connect to audio sources. BlueAnt doesn't have an app, but the speaker is easy enough to set up and use without one.
To connect to the speaker, all you have to do is turn it on and make sure it's in Bluetooth mode. A male voice lets you know that the speaker is pairing and you can click on the Burleigh as soon as it pops up on your mobile phone or smart device.
The Burleigh connected quickly to my iPhone and after the initial pairing, it automatically connected every time I turned it on.
It had enough range that I could take my phone anywhere in my apartment and stay connected.
Audio
The Burleigh has two 76mm mid/bass drivers with two 35mm tweeters and two passive radiators. It's rated at 40-watts and can produce up to 100 decibels.
BlueAnt signature psycho-acoustic bass produces a deep, rich sound and three different EQ modes allow you to adjust the bass levels. The audio sounds clear at low and high volumes, although the highest volume setting is too loud unless you're in a noisy outdoor environment.
As mentioned, you can listen using several different sources including Bluetooth, aux cord and a MicroSD card.

Battery Life

Long battery life
No automatic shutdown

The Burleigh has a 20-hour battery life, which is good for a Bluetooth speaker but not exceptional. It comes with a rapid charge AC adaptor and plugs for several different countries including AU, US, EU and UK.
One downside is that the speaker doesn't automatically shut off after a period of inactivity like many other speakers do. I left it on overnight by accident and realised the battery had drained the next time I tried to use it.

Verdict

How we score our reviews

Quality audio
Affordable
No bells and whistles

BlueAnt Burleigh Portable Bluetooth Speaker

Should you buy it?

The BlueAnt Burleigh isn't the lightest, most durable or cheapest speaker available, but it's a solid Bluetooth speaker at an affordable price.

It's extremely easy to use and offers much better sound quality and longer battery life than a lot of other speakers in this price range.

The Burleigh retails for $240. Telstra customers can choose to buy the speaker outright or take advantage of a 24-month payment plan at $10 per month.

Pricing and availability

Price

RRP: $240.00

Where to buy

Check availability at eBay

Check availability at Amazon

Amazon THE ICONIC BlueAnt Burleigh Portable Bluetooth Speaker

Specifications

Where to buy

General

Weight

2.2g

Water Resistance Rating

IP54

Frequency Response

64Hz - 20kHz

Battery Life

20 hours

Connectivity

Bluetooth

4.2

Auxiliary In

Yes

Miscellaneous

Microphone In

Remote Control

More from shopping and tech

Images: Sarah Brandon

Sarah Brandon

Sarah Brandon is an editor at Finder specialising in technology and reviews. She has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from New York University and loves learning about why people do what they do. Sarah has researched and written about a wide range of topics, from air purifiers to AirPods. But no matter the subject, her number one priority is figuring out what information our readers need to make the best decisions.

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BlueAnt Burleigh speaker review