Daiso's $4 Bluetooth Gadgets: Budget Wins and Misses

*Editor's Note: Seoul Economic Daily reporters purchase and review the hottest new products from retail and food industries with their own money.*

Daiso is targeting demand for budget IT devices with a series of ultra-low-priced electronics at around 5,000 won ($3.60). In this review, we tested Daiso's Bluetooth low-noise keyboard, wireless vertical mouse, and Bluetooth speaker to evaluate their price-to-performance ratio. The consensus: "The prices are definitely attractive, but satisfaction varies by product."

Overall, the vertical mouse received the best reviews. Many said it was "sufficient for beginners." The Bluetooth keyboard, however, drew criticism for its small size and slippery base, making it disappointing for practical use. The Bluetooth speaker was deemed adequate for the price, though reviewers agreed sound quality falls short of expectations.

Reviewer 1

*Daiso Bluetooth Low-Noise Keyboard*

Compared to my folding Bluetooth keyboard at home, this is much cheaper but not far behind in usability. Typing response is fast, and it's thin and light for portability. However, it's a bit small to use as a main keyboard. It's adequate for about an hour of work at a café. The weak grip on the bottom causing it to slide around was disappointing.

Usability: ★★★☆☆ | Price: ★★★★★ | Purchase Intent: ★★☆☆☆

*Daiso Low-Noise Wireless Vertical Mouse*

I'd never used a vertical mouse before and worried it might feel awkward, but it was more comfortable than expected. Cursor movement, button clicks, and wheel operation are all smooth with minimal noise. Durability remains to be seen with more use, but considering the price, it's an attractive option.

Usability: ★★★☆☆ | Price: ★★★★★ | Purchase Intent: ★★★★☆

*Daiso Bluetooth Speaker*

The design is quite nice for the price. Sound quality alone rates about 2.5 out of 5. Considering the price, I have no major complaints. Bluetooth connection stability is good.

Usability: ★★☆☆☆ | Price: ★★★★★ | Purchase Intent: ★☆☆☆☆

Reviewer 2

*Daiso Bluetooth Low-Noise Keyboard*

The typing feel—supposedly a keyboard's lifeblood—made me wonder if this was right. It feels like tapping on a floor. The small size leads to many typos. Worst of all, there seems to be no anti-slip treatment on the bottom; it slides with every keystroke. You have to type as lightly as possible to prevent sliding, but then the keys don't register properly. I question whether there's any reason to carry this keyboard around.

Usability: ★☆☆☆☆ | Price: ★★★☆☆ | Purchase Intent: ★☆☆☆☆

*Daiso Low-Noise Wireless Vertical Mouse*

The mouse gets my approval. Vertical mice, supposedly good for wrist health, typically require an adjustment period. This is great for adapting and practicing before buying an expensive ergonomic mouse. Unlike keyboards, as long as a mouse clicks properly, there's no major issue. It's satisfying even as a backup when your wrist hurts from using a regular mouse. The price is affordable. Getting a vertical mouse for the price of a cup of coffee—this is Daiso's mistake.

Usability: ★★★★☆ | Price: ★★★★☆ | Purchase Intent: ★★★★☆

*Daiso Bluetooth Speaker*

It's just an ordinary Bluetooth speaker. Nothing special. The sound quality feels like a cheap Chinese-made speaker. The 5,000 won price is its only merit, but today's premium smartphones have loud volume and clearer sound quality without Bluetooth connection. I question whether anyone would use this speaker. Personally, I wouldn't choose it.

Usability: ★★☆☆☆ | Price: ★★★☆☆ | Purchase Intent: ★☆☆☆☆

Reviewer 3

*Daiso Bluetooth Low-Noise Keyboard*

It's light and portable, but personally it was too small. For actual work use, I made many typos. I'm not sure when you'd suddenly need a keyboard, but it's passable for emergency temporary use.

Usability: ★★★☆☆ | Price: ★★★★★ | Purchase Intent: ★★☆☆☆

*Daiso Low-Noise Wireless Vertical Mouse*

I liked that it connected easily. Some Bluetooth devices take time to work after connecting, but this one didn't. It's "low-noise" rather than "silent," so the clicking sound doesn't completely disappear. I've only used it for about a day, so I don't know about durability yet, but it seems like the best item to buy in a hurry when you've lost your mouse.

Usability: ★★★★☆ | Price: ★★★★★ | Purchase Intent: ★★★☆☆

*Daiso Bluetooth Speaker*

The sound quality isn't particularly good. You have to turn the volume almost to maximum for it to be decent. Mini speakers these days are so good that it was hard to feel any special differentiation. There's a high chance I'll use it once and be done.

Usability: ★★☆☆☆ | Price: ★★★★☆ | Repurchase Intent: ☆☆☆☆☆

Reviewer 4

*Daiso Bluetooth Low-Noise Keyboard*

Considering the 5,000 won price, it wasn't worse than expected. Response speed wasn't slow either. However, the lack of silicone anti-slip treatment on the bottom causing constant sliding was the biggest disappointment. A height-adjusting stand would have been nice.

Usability: ★★★☆☆ | Price: ★★★★★ | Purchase Intent: ★★☆☆☆

*Daiso Low-Noise Wireless Vertical Mouse*

I've been using a vertical mouse for several months, and the response speed was adequate. However, the design is clunky and the size is rather large. It might be slightly uncomfortable for people with small hands to press the buttons.

Usability: ★☆☆☆☆ | Price: ★★★☆☆ | Purchase Intent: ☆☆☆☆☆

*Daiso Bluetooth Speaker*

Maybe because I'm not picky about audio, I didn't notice much difference in sound quality. There was no Bluetooth disconnection. If I had to buy just one of the three products, I'd choose the speaker.

Usability: ★★★★★ | Price: ★★★★★ | Purchase Intent: ★★★★★