Design
The Roll 2 looks and behaves identically to the original. It's a 5.3-inch disc that measures 1.6 inches at its thickest point, with front and back sides that curve toward each other to form a single circular edge. It weighs 11.6 ounces and is rated IPX7 waterproof, meaning it can handle total submersion in 3.3 feet of water for up to 30 minutes. While the Roll 2 can survive being dunked, you can't easily listen to it underwater. Fortunately, it comes with an inflatable cushion that keeps it afloat when you take it into the pool. Just blow it up and set the speaker on it like an inner tube.

Like UE's other speakers, the Roll 2 is available in a variety of bright colors, often with strong contrasts between the body/grille of the speaker and its accents (the front buttons and built-in bungee). Color options include orange/blue, magenta/yellow, black/red, blue/red, and two different patterned versions.

The front side of the speaker is covered entirely in grille cloth, with large plus and minus symbols for volume control. The back of the speaker is rubber, with Bluetooth pairing and power buttons readily available and a 3.5mm input and micro USB port for charging hidden behind a rubber door. The back is also home to the built-in bungee loop, along with a hook to keep the bungee in place when it's not being used to dangle the speaker. You can also pull the bungee around a pole and hook it back onto the speaker to keep it in place. It's a clever design element we first saw in the original Roll.

The Roll 2 shares the same nine-hour estimated battery life as its predecessor. In fact, the only major change here seems limited to Bluetooth range, which UE puts at 100 feet compared with 65 feet for the original. There are also a few software features like Remote On/Off with the free UE Roll 2 app for Android and iOS.

Performance
The Roll 2 can get quite loud for its size, but don't count on playing it at top volume levels. The speaker clearly uses digital signal processing to cut out low frequencies when the volume is cranked high, while still bringing up the rest of the mix in whatever track it's playing. This can result in a shrill, almost painful sound. It isn't an issue until you push things to the very upper level of the speaker's volume range, but it's a noticeable issue. At medium to medium-high levels, the Roll can fill a small room with sound or provide music to a handful of people hanging around outside. It isn't going to power your next party, though.