Summary
The Populele 2 Pro Smart Ukulele does an excellent job blending the charm of a traditional ukulele with the educational benefits of the smart features. If you’re looking to learn a new instrument, then the Populele 2 Pro Smart Ukulele is well worth considering.
Pros
- Excellent Build Quality
- Sounds Great
- Awesome Educational Features
Cons
- Larger than traditional Ukulele
Smart instruments are certainly a growing trend in the music world and for good reason. They offer many potential benefits over traditional instruments, particularly when it comes to learning the instruments – and this is where the Populele 2 Pro Smart Ukulele comes in extra handy.
We previously reviewed the Lumi Keyboard, a smart keyboard that helps would-be pianists pick up the keys with ease, and thought it was excellent. So how does the Populele 2 Pro Smart Ukulele fare? Find out now in this Populele 2 Pro Smart Ukulele review.
Short in time, feel free to skip ahead:
Populele 2 Pro Smart Ukulele Overview
If you’ve ever wanted to learn the ukulele but thought it might be too hard or too late in life, well think again. The Populele 2 Pro Smart Ukulele is designed to make learning the ukulele a breeze and a joy.
The Populele 2 Pro Smart Ukulele is not the first ukulele from Populele. The well-regarded company has released two previous versions, the Populele 1 and the Populele 2, both of which were well received in the community.
The new Populele 2 Pro Smart Ukulele takes things a step further by adding a ton of innovative features that makes learning the instrument much more engaging and interactive.
Let’s take a look at the different features on offer:
Features
Built-in Song Library
Included with the product is a free library of over 120 songs. These songs can be accessed through the app and are updated monthly. Alongside each of the songs are interactive video lessons to help you learn the songs. More on that below.
Video Tutorials
No matter what your skill level, there are video tutorials designed for everyone. Whether you’re still learning the notes, chord progressions, or even an insanely technical solo, you’re covered.
Built-in LEDs
The fretboard has 56 built-in LEDs that guide the player through each of the songs. No longer will you have to look at a book, check your finger placement, double-check, and then adjust. Now you can place your hands in the exact position without ever having to take your eyes off of the ukulele.
PopuBoost Preamplifier
The built-in premium preamplifier adds an endless number of distortion effects that can make each song unique to you. Add chorus, reverb, and delay right from the body of the ukulele. This means you can take the Populele 2 Pro Smart Ukulele anywhere and still have access to premium sound effects and distortions.
Gamification
We all love playing games from time to time. The feeling of progression, unlocking achievements, and sharing them online goes a long way in creating additional motivation to play games, or in this case play the ukulele.
Think of it as Guitar Hero but for a real ukulele.
Patented Music Recognition
In order to effectively learn something, you must receive accurate feedback. The Populele 2 Pro Smart Ukulele app has patented technology that accurately records your playing and matches that to the expected sound. It does this with a unique algorithm that removes unwanted noise, calculates the lag from the ukulele to the phone, and then determines the accuracy of the play.
This, alongside the built-in LEDs, are two excellent features that truly make this an exceptionally good instrument to learn on.
Rich Tonal Design
The Populele 2 Pro Smart Ukulele is crafted into an acoustically-vibrant form using premium materials, from the body to the strings. This ukulele opted for a larger vibration space, some 30% larger than traditional ukuleles which result in a wider area for each note to vibrate on.
The broader vibration space, in combination with PVDF carbon fiber strings, results in warm and rich tones
Durable and Well-Built
The material choice doesn’t just create beautiful sounds, they also create a durable ukulele that functions just as well in the cold as it does in a humid climate. This is thanks to the carbon fiber composite material.
Populele 2 Pro Smart Ukulele Specs
| Model | Populele 2 Pro |
| Product Size | 23 inches (610mm x 210mm x 70.8mm) |
| Net Weight | 800g |
| Fret LEDs | 56 |
| Material | Carbon Fiber Reinforced SAN Composite |
| Strings | Fluoro Carbon Strings |
| Fretboard Material | ABS |
| Tunning Gears | Sealed Die-cast |
| Nut/Saddle | Cattle Bone |
| Bridge | HPL Synthetic Fiber |
| Wireless Connection | Bluetooth 5.0 BLE |
| Power Supply | 2*1.5V AAA Dry Batteries |
| Preamplifier | PopuBoost Preamplifier |
| Applicable Standards | Q/SGWH 004-2018 |
Design and Build
The Populele 2 Pro Smart Ukulele has a very satisfying and clean silhouette that looks modern while still retaining the traditional proportions we expect. There are four different colour options, Midnight Black, Snow White, Mint Green, and Light Pink, each of which adds a lot of personality.
The material choice is excellent and results in a durable, resistant, and lightweight instrument that can certainly endure more than a traditional ukulele.
The Verdict
The Populele 2 Pro Smart Ukulele is no doubt a quality smart instrument that can accelerate the rate of learning the ukulele, and also make it a more enjoyable process. There are some really cool features that set it apart. The built-in LEDs and patented app algorithm ensure accurate learning and feedback that cannot be replicated on a traditional ukulele, without paying for a tutor.
In addition to the very useful educational features, the ukulele still holds its own just as a ukulele – it sounds good, is very portable, and looks the part too.
Overall, it is very easy to recommend this to anyone who has an interest in learning the ukulele. It’s fairly priced, sounds good, and can teach you a thing or two as well!
Make sure to check out the Indiegogo campaign by clicking the link