Yogasleep Travelcube review

A compact white noise machine with a handful of good quality sound effects

Yogasleep Travelcube
(Image: © Future)

TechRadar Verdict

The Yogasleep Travelcube is a tough, well-built portable white noise machine that'll withstand more than a few knocks when you're on the road. It's a good option for anyone with limited dexterity too thanks to its large, clearly labelled controls. Its sound recordings are good quality too, though the selection is more limited than that offered by many similar devices. It's relatively heavy as well, so if you're travelling light then something like the LectroFan Micro2 may suit you better.

Pros

  • +

    Good quality sounds

  • +

    No noticeable looping

  • +

    Very simple to use

Cons

  • -

    Doesn't double as a Bluetooth speaker

  • -

    Heavy for a portable noise machine

  • -

    Controls on underside

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30-second review

The Yogasleep Travelcube is a compact white noise machine that's a good choice if you struggle to settle down and sleep in an unfamiliar bed – though it's not the most portable or versatile machine around.

Although it's not huge (you can hold it in one hand quite easily), the Yogasleep Travelcube isn't much smaller than many full-sized white noise machines like the HoMedics Deep Sleep Mini, which offer many more options and better sound quality. It's not the lightest travel white noise machine we've tested, either – that award goes to the LectroFan Micro2.

That said, it's very easy to use, and would be a good choice for an older person or anyone with limited dexterity in their hands. There are just five buttons, which are all large and clearly labelled. It's strange that the Yogasleep Travelcube's controls are on the underside though, as it means you have to pick the whole unit up to use them. Locating the controls on the side seems like a better option, particularly since the Travelcube has a non-slip base that would stop it sliding around while you used them.

Yogasleep Travelcube

(Image credit: Future)

There are only six sound to choose from, but they're all high quality recordings and (with the exception of the piano version of Brahm's Lullaby) we were unable to spot the points where they looped round.

Price and availability

  • Affordably priced
  • Widely available

The Yogasleep Travelcube costs $20.99 / £34.99 (about AU$42) direct from Yogasleep, or from third-party retailers like Amazon worldwide. That makes it Yogasleep's cheapest portable sound machine, and one of the most affordable white noise machines we've tested to date.

It's also a little cheaper than the LectroFan Micro2  in the US and Australia (this smaller device is available for $34.95 / £34.95 / AU$69.99).

Design

  • Not as small as LectroFan Micro2
  • Practical, easy to carry design
  • Controls on underside

The Yogasleep Travelcube is a square, pillow-shaped device, measuring 90 x 90 x 44mm and weighing 180g (measured using our digital caliper and scale). That's considerably larger than the LectroFan Micro2, and almost twice as heavy (our Micro2 tipped the scale at 96g).

The Travelcube's case is hard plastic, with a loop on one corner and a lanyard so you can tie it somewhere if there's no flat surface available. The speaker on top of the device is covered in light gray fabric, and a ring of soft silicone on the bottom prevents the device sliding around on your nightstand. 

On the underside you'll also find the controls: a power button; a timer that will turn the machine off after 30 minutes, one hour, or two hours; a button to switch between audio effects; and the volume buttons. It's charged using a USB-C cable (supplied), which plugs into a port on the side of the unit.

Yogasleep Travelcube

(Image credit: Future)

Performance

  • No noticeable looping (except on lullaby)
  • No Bluetooth speaker option
  • Easy to operate

Unlike the smaller LectroFan Micro2, the Yogasleep Travelcube doesn't moonlight as a Bluetooth speaker. This is just a noise machine – and a very well built one, at that. The Travelcube is solidly made, and although it's not exceptionally light, its sturdy plastic shell took quite a few knocks while being carried around during our tests, and doesn't have a scratch to show for it. It comes with a one-year limited warranty too, which protects you in the event of a manufacturing fault.

The design is user-friendly, and easy to operate. The Travelcube is controlled with just five physical buttons, all of which are large and clearly labelled, which would make this white noise machine a good choice for users with vision problems, or parents who want to operate it in a darkened room without disturbing their child.

Yogasleep Travelcube

(Image credit: Future)

There are six sounds to choose from: white noise, brown noise, a piano rendition of Brahm's lullaby, rain, and crashing waves. It's not a huge selection, but the sounds available are high quality recordings , and we were unable to spot when the colored noise and nature effects looped (something that can be an issue with cheaper sound machines). The volume controls let you adjust the sound in very small increments, and the lowest setting is very faint; some white noise machines we've tested have been quite loud even with their volume at its minimum, so this is a welcome feature.

One of the Yogasleep Travelcube's best features is its timer, which can switch the speaker off after 30 minutes, an hour, or two hours. Many people only need white or other ambient noise to help them fall asleep, not throughout the whole night, and the timer helps greatly extend the machine's battery life. It has a battery life of around eight hours, but thanks to the timer you'll only need to charge it once or twice a week rather than daily.

Yogasleep Travelcube

(Image credit: Future)

The fact that the controls are on the underside of the Travelcube is a little strange. On one hand, it means Yogasleep's designers have been able to make all the buttons large and clearly labelled accessibility, but on the other, you have to pick up the device to make any changes to the sounds and settings. It's not a major hardship, but something you might prefer to avoid if you've settled down in bed.

First reviewed March 2022

Buy it if

You travel a lot
The Yogasleep Travelcube can take more than a few knocks and keep on playing, and thanks to its timer, you can get away with only charging it once a week.

You have limited dexterity in your hands
The Yogasleep Travelcube's buttons are large, clear, and very easy to operate. There are no fiddly switches or dials.

You need a noise machine for your child
The controls are also easy to use in the dark, and the lanyard means you can secure the Travelcube well out of reach of small hands.

Don't buy it if

You want variety
There are only six sounds to choose from here (five if you don't include the lullaby, which could soon become irritating). If you want lots of options you might be better served by a sleep app and under-pillow speaker.

You're travelling light
The Yogasleep Travelcube is tough, but weighs twice as much as the LectroFan Micro2.

This article is part of TechRadar's Sleep Week 2022 (running from Sunday 13 to Saturday 19 March), a week-long celebration of all things slumber. We'll be bringing you proven techniques and tips to help you sleep better, and have rounded-up all the top-rated tech to transform your sleep.

Cat Ellis
Homes Editor

Cat is TechRadar's Homes Editor specializing in kitchen appliances and smart home technology. She's been a tech journalist for 15 years, and is here to help you choose the right devices for your home and do more with them. When not working she's a keen home baker, and makes a pretty mean macaron.