I tested a sub-£20 Bluetooth speaker from Groov-e, and while the build is basic and the audio doesn't amaze, I wouldn't write if off — here’s why

Groov-e Thunder: review

Want a Bluetooth speaker that can liven up the party? Hey, what about a model that even comes with RGB lighting to set the mood? And what if we combine that with a mouth-wateringly low price that almost seems too good to be true? Well, throw all of those things into a cup, give 'em a good stir, and you’ll have something that looks like the Groov-e Thunder.

This budget-friendly party speaker promises a lot. Its online description suggests that it supplies “rich, clear sound with deep bass and crisp highs” and can also fill any room or space with “immersive audio”. That doesn’t sound all too bad, does it?

Unfortunately, Groov-e is exaggerating a bit here — it’s not exactly one of the best Bluetooth speakers that I’ve tested. However, there’s still a decent amount to like about this model, so let’s break down the talents — and indeed shortcomings — of the Groov-e Thunder.

Let me start by saying that the Groov-e Thunder is spectacularly cheap. Various retailers have the speaker listed for £17 or less at the moment, planting it firmly in the ultra-cheap bracket. Given the size of this speaker and its customizable RGB lights — which are fairly fun — that’s not a bad deal.

However, if you’re buying a party speaker for £17, you’re undoubtedly going to make some sacrifices. For instance, the sound quality of the Groov-e Thunder is, simply put, not very good.

In Black Eye by Allie X, bass sounded muddy, there was a tinny quality to higher-pitched percussion, and although vocals were clear enough, they didn’t sound beautifully defined in the mix. Deeper tracks like Driving Me Crazy by Lewis Taylor also revealed the speaker’s inability to reach down to the depths that some rivals can. This left the low-end sounding pretty thin, and significantly dampened the tune’s energy.

It wasn’t all bad news though. In Cidade Vazia by Milton Banana Trio, leading keys didn’t sound distorted or drowned out at mid-volumes, and came through with enough expression to keep me satisfied. I couldn’t help but notice the understated percussion and underwhelming dynamism on show, but I wasn’t anticipating a particularly revealing listen from this £17 speaker anyway.

Elsewhere, I’m not expecting many people to be bowled over by the design and build quality of the Groov-e Thunder. This thing is very plasticky and, perhaps fittingly, does look very cheap. It’s got well-sized button controls as well as a neat handle for transportation, but it certainly lacks the style of similarly powerful models, such as the JBL Grip.

The Groov-e Thunder doesn’t come with a companion app, so there’s no option to tweak EQ, remotely control its lights, or view its battery status. In fact, it doesn’t have many features outside of its customizable LED lights. There is one interesting inclusion, though: USB playback. Simply insert a flash drive with music pre-loaded, and listen to your heart's content. Will many people use this? I’d guess not. But it sure is a feature.

I don’t want to be too harsh on this model, though. It does have some redeeming qualities, like a decent 10-hour battery life, a bundled charging cable, and a pleasingly lightweight feel. OK, there’s no mention of a waterproof rating, and the 20W maximum power output means your music won't exactly sound... thunderous. But I do think you get what you pay for all in all.

And that just about sums up the Groov-e Thunder. At less than £20, this thing never had to serve up great… no… even good sound. It just had to play my tunes back to me without sounding totally repulsive. And although audio performance is average at best, with muddy bass and blunt treble, you still get clean enough sound at mid volumes. The customizable lights aren’t bad either, and make this a decent pick for a small party.

Its cheap build quality, apparent lack of waterproofing, and thin feature-set are still pretty poor, though. Ultimately, I think it’s worth spending a little more on a speaker like the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4, or the JBL Flip 7 (perhaps even the Flip 7’s predecessor – more on that later).

Groov-e Thunder review: specs

Groov-e Thunder review: price and release date

• RRP of £29.99
• But consistently on sale for almost half price
• Launched in late 2025

2025’s Groov-e Thunder may have an RRP of £29.99, but believe me, you don’t have to pay that much. I’m seeing it at full price on Amazon, but Ryman is selling the speaker for just £15 as I type this review copy. Even Tesco seems to sell the Groov-e Thunder, and for a similarly low price. It’s an incredibly cheap speaker, although this does mean you’ll make some significant sacrifices, as I noted above.

Should I buy the Groov-e Thunder?

Buy it if…

Don't buy it if...

Groov-e Thunder review: also consider

How I tested the Groov-e Thunder

• Tested across the course of multiple days
• Used in the office and the music testing space at Future Labs
• Predominantly tested using Tidal

I spent multiple days listening to tunes on the Groov-e Thunder. I predominantly used it in our music testing space at Future Labs, but also gave it a whirl in the office too.

When listening to tunes, I made sure to start by listening to the TechRadar testing playlist, which features tracks from a wide range of genres. However, I also listened to a bunch of songs from my personal music library as well. I played music via Tidal for the most part, although I did dip into Spotify from time to time.

More generally, I’ve tested a whole lot of Bluetooth speakers here at TechRadar – everything from budget-friendly options like the Tribit PocketGo through to premium models like the Marshall Kilburn III. I also curated our guide to the best Bluetooth speakers around, and have tried out more than 40 models in my quest to find the crème de la crème.

• First reviewed: February 2026
• Read more about how we test