OVERALL
ALTERNATIVES
SPECS
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Scored using Portable Speakers Methodology v1.0
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Products in this category are scored under Frontum Portable Speakers Methodology v1.0: technical specifications plus authentic consumer ratings, with 0% commercial bias.
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Motorola Sonic Rider Review | 130 Data compared

Avg. price:~£25Audio output power:2.00 WBattery life:45 hoursIP rating:?Bluetooth version:?Weight:91 g

Motorola Sonic Rider Review: Compare 130 technical specifications and user reviews to see how this product ranks in the Portable Speakers category and whether it is worth buying.

Motorola Sonic Rider
6.9/10

Overall score

Score
6.9/ 10
✕
What it is
An overall evaluation of products in the Portable Speakers category, based on technical analysis and user reviews.
When it matters
When you need a quick reference for identifying the best products in the Portable Speakers category.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–² Better than 66% of models
Score components

80%

6.6

Technical score

20%

8.1

User score

â–²Better than 66% of portable speakers
7.9

Value for money

Value for money
7.9/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator that combines the overall score of products in the Portable Speakers category with their prices.
When it matters
When you are comparing products in the Portable Speakers category and want a good balance between quality and price.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–² Better than 76% of models
Score components

70%

6.9

Overall score

30%

10

Price

â–²Better than 76%
6.6

Technical score

Technical score
6.6/ 10
✕
What it is
An assessment of technical performance for products in the Portable Speakers category across these key areas: Audio, Connectivity, Battery, Durability, Controls, Design, Smart features.
When it matters
When you want to compare products in the Portable Speakers category by technical performance, specifications, and available features.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–² Better than 56% of models
Score components

32%

6.8

Audio

20%

8.0

Battery

18%

6.7

Durability

16%

5.5

Connectivity

8%

4.5

Controls

3%

9.4

Design

3%

4.7

Smart features

â–²Better than 56%
8.1

User score

User score
8.1/ 10
✕
What it is
A rating that combines user reviews with the total review volume for products in the Portable Speakers category.
When it matters
When you want to know how products in the Portable Speakers category perform in everyday use and how reliable owners find them over time.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–² Better than 73% of models
Score components

70%

7.6

User ratings

30%

9.4

Number of reviews

Based on ratings from across the web.
â–²Better than 73%
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Where to buy
*As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Best rankings
Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).All: ranking among all products in the database.
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Technical Specifications of portable speaker Motorola Sonic Rider

Technical score
Technical score
6.6/ 10
✕
What it is
An assessment of technical performance for products in the Portable Speakers category across these key areas: Audio, Connectivity, Battery, Durability, Controls, Design, Smart features.
When it matters
When you want to compare products in the Portable Speakers category by technical performance, specifications, and available features.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–² Better than 56% of models
Score components:

32%

6.8

Audio

20%

8.0

Battery

18%

6.7

Durability

16%

5.5

Connectivity

8%

4.5

Controls

3%

9.4

Design

3%

4.7

Smart features

6.6
User score
User score
8.1/ 10
✕
What it is
A rating that combines user reviews with the total review volume for products in the Portable Speakers category.
When it matters
When you want to know how products in the Portable Speakers category perform in everyday use and how reliable owners find them over time.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–² Better than 73% of models
Score components

70%

7.6

User ratings

30%

9.4

Number of reviews

Based on ratings from across the web.
8.1
Popularity
Popularity
9.4/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator based on the number of reviews received by products in the Portable Speakers category.
When it matters
When you prefer products in the Portable Speakers category that have been chosen and reviewed by many other buyers.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–² Better than 88% of models
Popularity:
Motorola Sonic Rider has a popularity score of 9.4 points, which is higher than 88% of products in this category.
9.4
Value for money
Value for money
7.9/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator that combines the overall score of products in the Portable Speakers category with their prices.
When it matters
When you are comparing products in the Portable Speakers category and want a good balance between quality and price.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–² Better than 76% of models
Score components:

70%

6.9

Overall score

30%

10

Price

7.9
Audio output power
2 W
Market range: <4 W – >100 W
This portable speaker has an audio output power of 2 W which is lower than that of 98.5% of portable speakers and equal to that of 1.3% of portable speakers.
Driver unit size
?
Number of drivers
?
Frequency response tolerance
?
Lowest frequency
?
Show more
Bluetooth connectivity
yes
This portable speaker supports Bluetooth audio. 5.4% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Bluetooth version
?
Maximum Bluetooth range
10 m
Market range: <10 m – >30 m
This portable speaker has a maximum Bluetooth range of 10 m which is longer than that of 4.3% of portable speakers and equal to that of 70.2% of portable speakers.
Bluetooth profiles supported
?
Bluetooth LE Audio
no
This portable speaker does not support Bluetooth LE Audio. 2.5% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Show more
Battery life
45 hours
Market range: <6 hours – >24 hours
This portable speaker has a battery life of 45 hours which is longer than that of 99.5% of portable speakers.
Battery capacity
?
Charging time
2 hours
Market range: <2 hours – >5 hours
This portable speaker has a charging time of 2 hours which is shorter than that of 72.9% of portable speakers and equal to that of 22.6% of portable speakers.
Maximum charging input power
5 W
Market range: <5 W – >30 W
This portable speaker has a maximum charging input power of 5 W which is lower than that of 58.7% of portable speakers and equal to that of 38.5% of portable speakers.
Built-in rechargeable battery
yes
This portable speaker has a built-in rechargeable battery. 18.7% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Show more
IP rating
?
Water resistance
no
This portable speaker is not water resistant. 61.7% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Dust resistance
?
Waterproof depth rating
?
Drop resistance
?
Show more
On-device controls placement
front
Touchscreen
no
This portable speaker does not have a touchscreen. 0.3% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Smartphone app control
no
This portable speaker does not support smartphone app control. 54% of portable speakers offer this feature.
No compatible mobile app for speaker control.
Remote control
no
This portable speaker does not include a remote control. 15% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Fast pairing
yes
This portable speaker supports fast pairing. 77.6% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Show more
Weight
91 g
Market range: <200 g – >5.6k g
This portable speaker weighs 91 g which is lighter than that of 98.1% of portable speakers and equal to that of 0.1% of portable speakers.
Height
6.79 cm
Market range: <5.79 cm – >29 cm
This portable speaker has a height of 6.79 cm which is shorter than that of 82.7% of portable speakers.
Width
11.8 cm
Market range: <7.6 cm – >37 cm
This portable speaker has a width of 11.8 cm which is narrower than that of 69.2% of portable speakers and equal to that of 0.2% of portable speakers.
Depth
2.02 cm
Market range: <4.3 cm – >19.97 cm
This portable speaker has a depth of 2.02 cm which is shallower than that of 99.5% of portable speakers.
Carry options
none
Show more
Companion app name
?
Firmware updates
no
This portable speaker does not support firmware updates. 47.2% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Firmware update method
?
Voice assistant support
no
This portable speaker does not support voice assistants. 26.5% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Spotify Connect
no
This portable speaker does not support Spotify Connect. 10.8% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Show more

Motorola Sonic Rider vs the average portable speaker

246810TotalAudioConnectivityBatteryDurabilityControlsDesignSmart features
  • 33 hours longer battery life
    This portable speaker has a longer battery life than the average portable speaker (45 hours vs 12 hours).
    45 hours vs 12 hours
  • Has a noise-canceling microphone
    This portable speaker has a noise-canceling microphone, while the average portable speaker does not have a noise-canceling microphone.
    Uses microphone noise/echo cancellation for calls or voice.
  • 1 hours shorter charging time
    This portable speaker has a shorter charging time than the average portable speaker (2 hours vs 3 hours).
    2 hours vs 3 hours
  • Supports fast pairing
    This portable speaker supports fast pairing, while the average portable speaker does not support fast pairing.
  • 709 g lighter
    This portable speaker is lighter than the average portable speaker (91 g vs 800 g).
    91 g vs 800 g
  • Has a hardware microphone mute switch
    This portable speaker has a hardware microphone mute switch, while the average portable speaker does not have a hardware microphone mute switch.
    Has a physical microphone mute control.
  • Supports playback mute
    This portable speaker supports playback mute, while the average portable speaker does not support playback mute.
    Speaker playback audio can be directly muted.
  • 6.28 cm shallower
    This portable speaker is shallower than the average portable speaker (2 cm vs 8.3 cm).
    2.02 cm vs 8.3 cm
  • 3.6x cheaper
    Motorola Sonic Rider is cheaper than the average portable speaker (£25 vs £90).
    £25 vs £90
  • 2.24x more popular
    Motorola Sonic Rider is more popular than the average portable speaker (9.45 vs 4.21).
    9.45 vs 4.21
  • Has a noise-canceling microphone
    This portable speaker has a noise-canceling microphone, while the average portable speaker does not have a noise-canceling microphone.
    Uses microphone noise/echo cancellation for calls or voice.
  • 33 hours longer battery life
    This portable speaker has a longer battery life than the average portable speaker (45 hours vs 12 hours).
    45 hours vs 12 hours
  • 1 hours shorter charging time
    This portable speaker has a shorter charging time than the average portable speaker (2 hours vs 3 hours).
    2 hours vs 3 hours
  • Supports fast pairing
    This portable speaker supports fast pairing, while the average portable speaker does not support fast pairing.
  • Has a hardware microphone mute switch
    This portable speaker has a hardware microphone mute switch, while the average portable speaker does not have a hardware microphone mute switch.
    Has a physical microphone mute control.
  • Supports playback mute
    This portable speaker supports playback mute, while the average portable speaker does not support playback mute.
    Speaker playback audio can be directly muted.
  • 709 g lighter
    This portable speaker is lighter than the average portable speaker (91 g vs 800 g).
    91 g vs 800 g
  • 6.28 cm shallower
    This portable speaker is shallower than the average portable speaker (2 cm vs 8.3 cm).
    2.02 cm vs 8.3 cm
  • 5.61 cm shorter
    This portable speaker is shorter than the average portable speaker (6.8 cm vs 12.4 cm).
    6.79 cm vs 12.4 cm
  • Is not water resistant
    This portable speaker is not water resistant, while the average portable speaker is water resistant.
  • 18 W less audio output power
    This portable speaker has less audio output power than the average portable speaker (2 W vs 20 W).
    2 W vs 20 W
  • Does not support smartphone app control
    This portable speaker does not support smartphone app control, while the average portable speaker supports smartphone app control.
    No compatible mobile app for speaker control.
  • Does not have a 3.5 mm AUX input
    This portable speaker does not have a 3.5 mm AUX input, while the average portable speaker has a 3.5 mm AUX input.
    No built-in 3.5 mm AUX input.
  • Does not support stereo pairing
    This portable speaker does not support stereo pairing, while the average portable speaker supports stereo pairing.
  • Does not support True Wireless Stereo
    This portable speaker does not support True Wireless Stereo, while the average portable speaker supports True Wireless Stereo.
  • 5 W lower charging input power
    This portable speaker has lower charging input power than the average portable speaker (5 W vs 10 W).
    5 W vs 10 W
  • 2 fewer paired devices remembered
    This portable speaker remembers fewer paired devices than the average portable speaker (6 vs 8).
    6 vs 8
  • 18 W less audio output power
    This portable speaker has less audio output power than the average portable speaker (2 W vs 20 W).
    2 W vs 20 W
  • Does not have a 3.5 mm AUX input
    This portable speaker does not have a 3.5 mm AUX input, while the average portable speaker has a 3.5 mm AUX input.
    No built-in 3.5 mm AUX input.
  • 2 fewer paired devices remembered
    This portable speaker remembers fewer paired devices than the average portable speaker (6 vs 8).
    6 vs 8
  • 5 W lower charging input power
    This portable speaker has lower charging input power than the average portable speaker (5 W vs 10 W).
    5 W vs 10 W
  • Is not water resistant
    This portable speaker is not water resistant, while the average portable speaker is water resistant.
  • Does not support smartphone app control
    This portable speaker does not support smartphone app control, while the average portable speaker supports smartphone app control.
    No compatible mobile app for speaker control.
  • Does not support stereo pairing
    This portable speaker does not support stereo pairing, while the average portable speaker supports stereo pairing.
  • Does not support True Wireless Stereo
    This portable speaker does not support True Wireless Stereo, while the average portable speaker supports True Wireless Stereo.

Video reviews

Hands-on testing, unboxing, and real-world video evaluations

Expert reviews

In-depth analysis and verdict from leading tech publications

T
thetruthaboutcars.com
13/03/2017
Summary of the review
The 18-Year-Old Auto Upgrade: Bluetooth Speaker - Motorola Sonic Rider If you would like to explore this model further, I can provide details regardin...
T
thetruthaboutcars.com
13/03/2017
Summary of the review
The 18-Year-Old Auto Upgrade: Motorola Sonic Rider Bluetooth Speaker
(Translated)Show original

Third-party reviews

Based on ratings from across the web.
Reviews last updated: August 2026 · How we calculate this

What customers like about Motorola Sonic Rider

  • Exceptional battery life offering up to 45 hours of talk time and several months on standby
  • Effective echo and noise reduction that filters out background road and engine noise
  • Strong audio clarity and high volume output from the 2-watt speaker
  • Convenient multipoint technology allowing two phones to connect simultaneously
  • Hands-free usability with helpful voice prompts for battery status and incoming caller information
  • Simple installation with a sturdy clip designed for car sun visors

What customers don't like about Motorola Sonic Rider

  • The physical on/off toggle switch on the side is tiny and fiddly to operate
  • Lacks advanced modern features such as an integrated wireless FM transmitter or AUX input
  • No built-in visual battery level indicator light on the chassis
  • Announces incoming calls by reciting the phone number rather than the contact name if sync fails
  • Relies on an older Bluetooth version resulting in slightly longer pairing and charging times compared to newer models

Verdict

The Motorola Sonic Rider is a compact, lightweight 134g in-car Bluetooth 3.0 speakerphone featuring a 2-watt speaker with echo cancellation, noise reduction, and multipoint technology to connect two devices simultaneously. Main advantages include exceptional battery life offering up to 45 hours of talk time and 5 months on standby, an integrated visor clip for convenient hands-free use, voice prompts, and a physical mute button, though it lacks modern upgrades like an auxiliary input, water resistance, and a physical battery level indicator.

Compare Motorola Sonic Rider with other products in the Portable Speakers category

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