Creative Pebble V3 review: Small, mighty, stylish

Our Verdict

The Artistic Pebble V3 produce adept sound for their size and cost — and look adept, too.

For

Large sound from a small package
Stylish
Enough of connection options

Confronting

Limited bass
Lacks headphone output

Tom's Guide Verdict

The Creative Pebble V3 produce practiced sound for their size and cost — and look practiced, likewise.

Pros

+
Big audio from a small-scale package
+
Stylish
+
Enough of connection options

Cons

-
Limited bass
-
Lacks headphone output

Creative Pebble V3: Specs

Blazon of system: two.0
Size: iv.8 x 4.7 x 4.6 inches
Speakers: 2.25 inch driver
Inputs: USB-C, iii.v mm, Bluetooth

If yous're looking for affordable computer speakers that don't take up much space on your desk, Creative Pebble V3 Minimalistic 2.0 USB-C Speakers with Bluetooth should be almost the top of your listing. These small speakers produce a big sound and come with plenty of ways to connect to your computer or other audio source, including USB-C and Bluetooth. They're reasonably priced, at about $xl. Though they lack any bass to speak of, the overall sound is very good for the price — especially for vocals. And they await pretty cool, too.

Read on for our full review of the Artistic Pebble V3.

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Creative Pebble V3: Price and Availability

The Pebble V3 came out in 2020, and is the newest version of the Creative'southward popular Pebble line.

The Pebble V3 costs $39.99 and is bachelor at Creative's online shop too as Amazon.

If you run into a Pebble for nigh $30, you're likely looking at the Pebble V2, which is similar to the V3 only lacks Bluetooth.

Creative Pebble V3 review: Design

Pebble speakers are centre-catching, mod-looking orbs of sound. The 4.8 x iv.seven 10 four.6-inch satellites don't take up much infinite on your desk. The black plastic enclosure feels a little inexpensive but volition likely handle the challenges of desk-bound life.

Creative Pebble V3 connected to laptop — (Prototype credit: Tom's Guide)

To give it more than style, the spherical shape is sliced at an bending on top, exposing the commuter. The back of each satellite features some other piece that shows a passive bass radiator.

Back view of Creative Pebble V3 — (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

On the correct satellite, there's a knob on the front to control the volume and an LED light that changes color to indicate which input you're using. To the correct of the volume knob you'll discover a modest button for Bluetooth pairing.

Creative Pebble V3 power button — (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

The back has a USB-C cable, which provides ability to the unit and can also provide a connection to your computer. A second wire connects to the left satellite. Neither cable is removable. Y'all'll also discover a iii.five mm port on the right speaker if you prefer to connect to your sound source that way.

One feature the Pebble lacks is a headphone output, which is user-friendly to take when you want to switch to personal listening.

Creative Pebble V3 review: Operation

The Pebble V3 sound much better than the stock speakers in a laptop and most monitors, as well as most cheaper computer speakers. Voices are clear and the overall sound is big, and it's much louder than your congenital-in speakers. There'due south a little bass, merely non much — you'll take to spend more to get noticeable low finish in computer speakers.

On "I Think Therefore I Am," Billie Eilish's vocals sounded full, though the rhythm lacked oomph due to the lack of bass. The synths and electric guitars on The State of war on Drugs "I Don't Live Here Anymore" were vivid and crisp, but again the drums lacked depth. Post-obit the trend, "Blinding Lights" by The Weeknd featured clear vocals but the beat was sparse.

The speakers' emphasis on voices and big sound made podcasts such every bit The Daily easy to understand — though the voices lacked resonance considering of the limited bass — and improved the sound of voices on a Zoom call.

The little speakers produce impressive ability. They maxed out at nearly 94 decibels — though there was a expert amount of baloney at that level. The organisation was more comfortable, and sounded amend, keeping the volume around 80-85 decibels.

Creative Pebble V3 review: Setup

There'south not much to setting up the Pebble V3. Y'all pick how you lot want to connect to your audio source: USB-C, 3.v mm or Bluetooth. If yous choose USB-C, you may need to manually switch your estimator'south audio output.

Bottom view of Creative Pebble V3 — (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

The only adjustment y'all can make to the sound is constitute on the lesser of the right speaker: a gain switch. H seems to be loftier gain; I'm not sure what the A stands for (the manual doesn't explain). Either style, there's not much difference in the sound regardless of which you pick.

Creative Pebble V3 review: Verdict

It's hard to find much fault with the Creative Pebble V3. They're affordable and provide considerably improved audio at your desk. You can connect by USB, three.5mm or Bluetooth. The organisation lacks bass and ways to adjust the sound, but those are common problems among computer speakers this small and that price less than $50.

If you desire to save a few bucks, selection upwardly the previous generation of the Pebble — yous'll give up Bluetooth merely have an extra $10 in your pocket. If you desire better bass, you lot could look at Creative'due south T60 or T100 speakers, though they are larger and cost more than.

For many people, the Pebble V3 will hit a sweetness spot in price and size, with just plenty operation.

Michael Gowan covers soundbars, TVs, portable speakers and other audio- and video-related topics for Tom's Guide. He'south written virtually music and engineering science for more than xx years for a raft of publications including Wired, Men's Journal, PC Earth and Macworld. When he's not reviewing speakers, he'southward probably listening to one anyhow.