Teenage Engineering PO-32 Tonic

Last updated: 6 October 2026

What the PO-32 Tonic is

Pocket Operators are Teenage Engineering's range of calculator-sized instruments. Each one is a single circuit board with the screen on top, so there is no case, and the space under the display works as the speaker box. The PO-32 Tonic is the drum and percussion model, launched in 2017, and MusicRadar named it among the best samplers and drum machines of NAMM that year.

The sound engine comes from Microtonic, a drum synthesiser plug-in made by Sonic Charge. Magnus Lidström of Sonic Charge rebuilt its oscillators, filters and envelopes to run on the Pocket Operator chip. So the drums are synthesised rather than played back from recordings.

What it does

• Drum synthesiser and sequencer: 16 preset drum sounds, programmed on a 16-step grid with the numbered buttons.
• Parameter locks: each step can carry its own setting, so one snare can change pitch or tone across a pattern.
• Punch-in effects: 16 effects such as stutter, reverse and slowdown that you play live over the beat.
• Step multiplier: repeats a sound within a step for rolls and fills.
• Sound transfer: new sounds and patterns arrive as an audio burst, over the air to the microphone or through a cable.
• Jam sync: it syncs with other Pocket Operators and outside gear through the 3.5mm jacks, so two or more can play as one band.

Key facts about the PO-32 Tonic

• Price: £83.20 on Amazon UK on 6 October 2026, sold by Amazon EU
• Maker: Teenage Engineering, Sweden
• Sounds: 16 presets, with more through Microtonic, which is sold separately
• Connections: 3.5mm sync and audio in, and 3.5mm audio and headphone out
• Power: two AAA batteries, about one month of use and two years on standby
• Also built in: a speaker, an animated LCD, a folding wire stand, a clock and an alarm
• Amazon rating: 4.4 out of 5 from 406 ratings on 6 October 2026

Who the PO-32 Tonic suits

• Anyone who wants to make beats away from a computer: it fits in a pocket and plays through its own speaker.
• Producers who already use Microtonic: the same sounds move from the laptop to the PO-32.
• Pocket Operator owners: it adds drums to a bass or lead model through jam sync.

It is also the closest thing we list to the Sphero Specdrums rings, which are no longer sold. Both turn taps into a drum pattern, though the PO-32 is a proper sequencer rather than a toy. For a gesture-based instrument, the Artiphon Orba is the other one on CoolCuration.

The limits

There is no case. The circuit board is exposed, so a knock or a spill can damage it. Teenage Engineering sells the CA-X silicone case separately, and it fits every Pocket Operator.

It takes time to learn. Most functions are button combinations shown in small print on the board, and Sound On Sound's review called it a bit tricky to learn.

The output is mono, and the sequencer works in 16-step patterns. There is no MIDI over USB either, because there is no USB port.

Unlimited sounds need Microtonic, a separate paid plug-in for your computer. Without it you have the 16 presets and the patterns you build from them.

Where to buy the PO-32 Tonic in the UK

Amazon UK sells it, dispatched and sold by Amazon EU, and had it at £83.20 on 6 October 2026. The full feature list and the user guide are on the Teenage Engineering PO-32 page, and the Sound On Sound review covers how the sound transfer works in practice.

If you are buying it as a present, our gifts for audiophiles guide has more ideas for people who love sound.

PO-32 Tonic on Amazon UK

FAQs

How much is the PO-32 Tonic in the UK?

£83.20 on Amazon UK on 6 October 2026, sold by Amazon EU.

Does the PO-32 Tonic need Microtonic?

No. It plays its 16 preset sounds on its own. Microtonic, sold separately, is only needed to design new sounds and send them to it.

Does the PO-32 Tonic have a speaker?

Yes. It has a built-in speaker, plus a 3.5mm output for headphones or a mixer.

What batteries does the PO-32 Tonic use?

Two AAA batteries, which Teenage Engineering says last about a month of use.

Can the PO-32 Tonic sync with other Pocket Operators?

Yes. Jam sync links it to other Pocket Operators and outside gear through the 3.5mm jacks.

More from CoolCuration

• Portable speakers in the UK: speakers to plug a Pocket Operator into for a bigger sound.
• How Music Works: David Byrne's book on how music is made and heard.
• Amazon Music Unlimited: what the streaming service costs in the UK.
• Gifts for techies: presents for people who like their gadgets.

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