Functionality:

Nobi doesn’t offer any additional functions, hence the lack of extra buttons or controls (not even volume dedicated!). The short cable is another mystery for us. It could have been at least twice as long or there could have been an extension in the package.

Performance:

Nobi is expected to provide music with acceptable quality. Since it is intended for use with the Nokia XpressMusic line, we used the 5610 to find out about its performance. At maximum volume level, there were crackling noises, which were very annoying. Almost immediately, we lowered the sound and things started to get much better. However, we would not rely on Nobi for listening to loud music. We would rather use it as a background for a casual event. Considering the low price of the speaker, it performed well and we can’t ask for anything else with the exception of a bit more power.

The only power source of the model are 3 AAA batteries. According to the official data supplied from Altec Lansing, they will provide up to 18 hours of listening to music. That’s not a bad for a loudspeaker, but you’ll have to constantly carry spare batteries.

Conclusion:

Nobi is an affordable, compact mobile loudspeaker, targeted at the consumer group which is not characterized with high quality music expectations. You can carry it in your bag or hanging on your neck. The only thing we would like to note is that the sound is not that loud, but it will do just fine in most cases.