Product test
Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd Gen: are you paying for the name?
by Florian Bodoky
Now Go F1 Follow Light: good for barbecues, not so good in the mountains
10.7.2025
Translation: Katherine Martin
The Now Go F1 Follow Light promises a lot: music, light and an ability to withstand the elements. Ideal for barbecues or camping trips. But how does the speaker sound? This review reveals its strengths and limitations.
The NowGo F1 Follow Light is a mix between a lamp and a speaker. It’s IPX6-certified, so it’s designed for outdoor use, such as on camping trips or at barbecues. But is it robust enough for that? And is the sound suitable for long music-listening sessions too? Or is the speaker just a gimmicky add-on to the camping lamp?
Okay for picnics? Yes. As for a trip into the mountains? Not really.
The speaker consists of plastic housing covered with a rubberised surface. This is supposed to give the device some protection against knocks. Even so, the housing’s plastic feels a tad cheap. I can’t shake the feeling that the fun of listening to tunes will come to an abrupt end if the speaker bumps against a rock. Tipping the scales at 923 grammes, the device is also heavier than expected. Although this means it’s more stabile, it also means it’s more difficult to transport. Even so, that isn’t a big deal, as you can carry the speaker by its handle or even attach it to your rucksack. It’s also cool that there’s a headphone jack, a USB-A port and a USB-C port on the back. The latter two ports can be used for charging your devices, allowing the speaker to double as a power bank.
Source: Florian Bodoky
The top of the lamp is made of matt material, creating a pretty functional overall impression. It’s easy to reach the control buttons on the surface, and they respond precisely. The speaker’s protected against heavy water jets in accordance with IPX6. Even so, it’s not water-resistant. If a minor rain shower takes a more extreme turn, you’re better off bringing it to shelter.
Source: Florian Bodoky
Sound: a wall of sound around the campfire
The F1 is a reasonably priced, multifunctional device and a bit of a jack-of-all-trades. It’s clear to me, and probably to you too, that you can’t expect hi-fi quality from it. Considering the price, however, the F1 does a solid job. So, what does that mean specifically? The F1 Follow Light’s treble clearly reproduces high frequencies, which come into their own during songs with a lot of high notes. One example of this is When You Say Nothing At All by Alison Krauss.
The instruments are present and clearly audible in the mix. When you crank up the volume, however, you can clearly hear that the speaker’s treble has its limits. At more intense frequencies, the sound can be a little sharp or shrill. This really rubs me up the wrong way when a more demanding piece of music with multiple elements comes on.
The fact that there’s no deep bass to support the treble means that the sound can seem a little thin at high volumes. The speaker’s mids are generally well reproduced and balanced, but also quite restrained. At higher volumes, vocals can be drowned out in the mix, especially in more complex arrangements or with louder instruments. The speaker seems a little flat and less dynamic when that happens.
Considering the size of the NowGo F1 Follow Light speaker, the bass is easily recognisable. It can fill the room (albeit a small one), but it’s not as precise as the bass on other speakers. At times, it seems a little faded, for example on Breathe by The Prodigy.
The F1’s bass is lacking that crisp precision. During very bass-heavy songs, the mids can also overlap slightly, tarnishing the overall sound. Nevertheless, the speaker’s bass does the job if you’re listening to music outside or hosting a small gathering.
Light modes: from romantic candlelight to operating theatre
The F1 Follow Light comes with various light modes. You can choose between warm and cold light and freely adjust the brightness using a dial on the speaker. One of the F1 Follow Light’s highlights is candlelight mode. The light imitates candlelight (or simply warm light) and creates a romantic, soothing atmosphere. It’s ideal for relaxing evenings outdoors or creating atmospheric lighting on a camping trip. However, the lamp can also give off cool light. When I tried it, I found out that cold light is both a light source (duh!) and better at keeping insects at bay than candlelight mode.
Battery life : enjoy for longer
The F1 Follow Light has decent battery life. The 5,200 mAH battery allows you to enjoy up to 13 hours of music (without light). With the light on, the battery lasts up to nine hours. That means you can spend a whole day outdoors without having to recharge it – ideal for long outings.
In a nutshell
For background ambience
The concept of the Now Go F1 Follow Light is cool: it’s suitable for outdoor use and provides both music and light. If you’re looking for something for the patio during the summer months, this speaker-lantern hybrid’s a decent price. That being said, you won’t get much more from the sound than a bit of background music to liven up an evening get-together. If good audio is important to you, you’re better off buying a different Bluetooth speaker and putting a lamp next to it.
Pro
- Cool concept
- Bright lamp
- Battery life
Contra
- Below-average sound
- Not made for extreme weather conditions
Header image: Florian Bodoky
I've been tinkering with digital networks ever since I found out how to activate both telephone channels on the ISDN card for greater bandwidth. As for the analogue variety, I've been doing that since I learned to talk. Though Winterthur is my adoptive home city, my heart still bleeds red and blue.
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