Or, with the appropriate cable, you can plug in a smartphone or other device and charge that up from the speaker's battery ... on where you most often listen. Inside, the stereo split is easier ...

Inside the packaging ... this is a great way to supply extra juice to a dying smartphone if you’ve taken your speaker on the road. It’s also an easy way to gain power if your outlets are ...

So, connect your smartphone to the same Wi-Fi network ... live with multiple people who use your smart speakers, tap on the speaker inside the Google Home app, head to the Recognition and sharing ...

Most Bluetooth speakers also have companion smartphone apps that allow control ... I also listened to them inside since they can certainly do double duty as desktop or countertop speakers.

And the tablet's screen (no hidden speakers, I was once again assured) played music while I was doing it. It's an impressive one-two punch that solves a lot of problems current smartphones have ...