The Anker Soundcore Motion is a portable speaker with an advertised battery life of 24 hours and a built-in carrying handle, making it a great fit for camping trips and weekend excursions. It's rated IPX7 for protection against water and dust, meaning it's waterproof and can even float if dropped in water. It also features Anker's proprietary BassUp technology, which promises to bring plenty of rumble and thump to your audio when enabled.
Our Verdict
The Anker Motion Boom is adequate for music. When placed horizontally and with its BassUp feature enabled, it has a balanced mid-range, so vocals and lead instruments sound present in the mix, though they can also sound a bit dull and veiled. It struggles to reproduce low bass, so you can't feel the thump and rumble in bass-heavy music like EDM. Fortunately, there's a graphic EQ and presets to customize its sound to your liking.
-
Graphic EQ and presets.
-
Gets loud.
-
Lacks low bass.
-
Narrow soundstage.
The Anker Motion Boom is disappointing for videos and movies. While it can get pretty loud, there's compression present at max volume, so your audio doesn't sound as clean at louder volumes. With BassUp enabled, it struggles to produce low bass, so you can't feel the thump and rumble in action-packed scenes. Also, it has high AV synchronization error with iOS and Android devices, so the sound you hear may not sync with the video you see. Some apps compensate for latency differently, and your experience may differ.
-
Graphic EQ and presets.
-
Gets loud.
-
Lacks low bass.
-
Low latency with iOS and Android devices.
-
Narrow soundstage.
The Anker Motion Boom is okay for podcasts. This portable speaker has a balanced mid-range that ensures voices and lead instruments are clearly and accurately reproduced with its BassUp feature enabled. However, higher-pitched voices and instruments can sound dull and veiled. Fortunately, thanks to the graphic EQ and presets in its companion app, you can tweak its sound to your liking. It can also get quite loud, though there's some compression present at max volume.
-
Graphic EQ and presets.
-
Incredibly portable.
-
Narrow soundstage.
-
Some compression present at max volume.
The Anker Motion Boom is poor for voice assistants. It doesn't have any voice assistants built-in, so it uses those that come with your smartphone and struggles to understand your commands from far away and in noisy environments.
-
Gets loud.
-
Narrow soundstage.
-
Bad far-field and ambient noise performances.
The Anker Motion Boom is alright for outdoor use. It's decently built and is rated IPX7, meaning it's certified to be immersible for 30 minutes in up to a meter of water. It can get pretty loud, though there's some compression at max volume that may create some pumping artifacts at louder volumes. It's also remarkably portable and has an incredibly long battery life, making it suitable for long days spent outdoors. Battery performance varies depending on usage, and your experience may differ. Unfortunately, it struggles to reproduce a thumpy and rumbling low bass, even with its BassUp feature enabled. You can customize its sound thanks to its graphic EQ and presets.
-
IPX7 rating.
-
Incredibly portable.
-
Fantastic Bluetooth range.
-
Lacks low bass.
-
Narrow soundstage.
-
Some compression present at max volume.
- 6.5 Music
- 5.6 Videos/Movies
- 6.7 Podcasts
- 3.9 Voice Assistant
- 7.0 Outdoors
- Updated Feb 14, 2024: We've updated this review to ensure it remains accurate and consistent. We've also added relevant comparisons to other similar speakers.
- Updated Sep 12, 2023: Retested the speaker's Battery with BassUP turned on to match our Frequency Response tests. The battery life dropped from 39.9 hours with BassUP off to 22 hours with it on.
- Updated Sep 05, 2023: Added market comparison with the Anker Soundcore Motion Boom Plus to the Style box.
- Updated Jun 29, 2023: Added market comparison with the Tribit StormBox Blast in the Dynamics box.
- Updated May 30, 2023: Added market comparison with the Anker Soundcore Motion X600 in the Build Quality box.
- Updated Oct 12, 2021: Retested and confirmed speaker's weight and battery life.
- Updated Oct 08, 2021: Review published.
- Updated Oct 06, 2021: Early access published.
- Updated Sep 29, 2021: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Sep 27, 2021: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
- Updated Sep 24, 2021: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
- Updated Sep 20, 2021: The product has won our suggestion poll, so we'll buy and test it soon.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Anker Motion Boom comes in one color: Black. You can find the label for the model we tested here.
If you encounter any other variants of this speaker, let us know in the forums, and we'll update our review.
Compared To Other Speakers
The Anker Motion Boom is a decently built portable Bluetooth speaker with a built-in carrying handle. While it's smaller and more portable than its more premium cousin, the Anker Soundcore Motion Boom Plus, it has a slightly lower build quality, and its sound profile isn't quite as balanced. It also lacks Bluetooth multi-device pairing, a feature that's present in the more compact Anker Soundcore Motion 300, but it compensates by having a long 22-hour continuous battery life.
See also our recommendations for the best Bluetooth speakers, the best waterproof Bluetooth speakers, and the loudest Bluetooth speakers.
The JBL Flip 6 is better for most uses than the Anker Soundcore Motion Boom. While both speakers are similarly portable, the JBL is better built, has more intuitive controls, and features Bluetooth multi-device pairing. That said, the Anker can get louder and has some voice assistant support, although you'll need to rely on your smartphone's voice assistant and it often struggles to pick up your voice. The Anker does have a longer continuous battery life though, so it's better suited to weekend camping trips, where you won't be able to charge for a few days.
The JBL Charge 5 and the Anker Soundcore Motion Boom are similar speakers. The JBL has a more neutral sound profile out of the box that's suitable for listening to a wide variety of audio content. It's smaller, making it a bit more portable. You can also pair it to up to two devices at once, so you can easily switch between audio sources. However, the Anker can get louder with less compression at max volume, resulting in cleaner audio at louder volumes. It also supports voice assistants through your smartphone, though its performance isn't great.
The JBL Xtreme 3 and the Anker Soundcore Motion Boom are similar speakers with different strengths. The JBL has somewhat better directivity, resulting in a more open-sounding soundstage. It's also better built and has a shorter charge time, though battery performance can vary depending on usage. That said, the Anker can get louder with less compression present at max volume, resulting in cleaner audio at louder volumes. Its companion app also features additional presets to adjust its sound.
The Anker Soundcore Motion Boom is a better speaker than the JBL Flip 5. With BassUp on, the Anker can produce a more extended low-bass than the JBL and can also get louder with less compression present at max volume. You can also customize its sound profile to your liking thanks to the graphic EQ and presets in its Soundcore app, and it has an incredible battery life of almost 40 hours, though this can vary depending on your usage. However, the JBL is smaller and more portable than the Anker. It offers a wider-sounding soundstage and can pair with multiple PartyBoost-compatible JBL speakers at once.
The Anker Soundcore Motion+ is a better speaker than the Anker Soundcore Motion Boom overall. The Motion+ has better directivity, resulting in a wider-sounding soundstage. You can pair it to up to two devices at once, so you can easily switch between audio sources. Also, it has lower Bluetooth latency with Android devices, making it better-suited for watching videos over this connection. That said, the Motion Boom can get louder with less compression at max volume, resulting in cleaner audio at louder volumes.
The Anker Soundcore Motion Boom Plus is the more premium cousin to the Anker Soundcore Motion Boom. As its name implies, the Plus is larger and better built. It supports multi-device pairing, too, unlike the standard Boom. Its overall sound quality is a touch improved, too.
The Anker Soundcore Flare 2 is a slightly better speaker than the Anker Soundcore Motion Boom, though they have different strengths. The Flare 2 has significantly better directivity thanks to its 360-degree design, resulting in a more natural-sounding soundstage. It's also smaller, making it more portable. That said, the Boom can get much louder with less compression at max volume, resulting in cleaner audio at louder volumes.
The Anker Soundcore Motion Boom is a better speaker than the Anker Soundcore 3 overall. The Boom can get louder with less compression present at max volume, so your audio sounds cleaner at louder volumes. It can also produce a more extended low bass with its BassUp feature turned on, and it has a longer battery life, though the latter can vary depending on your usage. The Soundcore 3 is smaller, making it more portable than the Boom.
The Anker Soundcore Motion X600 is better than the Anker Soundcore Motion Boom. They're both portable Bluetooth speakers with solid performances, but the X600 has a better sound quality out of the box. Notably, it has more emphasis in the treble, so its sound is less dull overall. Its Spatial Audio feature allows you to create a more immersive sound overall. It has a better build quality, too.
The Tribit StormBox Blast is better than the Anker Soundcore Motion Boom. The Tribit has a better build quality, and its customizable RGB lights are a nice touch. It gets louder with less compression at max volume, too. It offers a more even sound out of the box, though both speakers have many customization tools to adjust their performance. That said, only the Anker allows for voice assistant support through a paired smartphone.
The Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3 is a better speaker than the Anker Soundcore Motion Boom overall, though they have different strengths. The Ultimate Ears is better built and has better directivity thanks to its 360-degree design, so its soundstage is perceived as wider and more spacious-sounding. That said, the Anker has a longer-lasting battery life, though this can depend on your usage, and your experience may vary. With BassUp enabled, it can also produce a more extended low-bass.
The Anker Soundcore Motion Boom is a better speaker than the Anker Soundcore 2. With its BassUp feature enabled, the Boom can produce a more extended low-bass. You can tweak its sound profile to your liking, thanks to the graphic EQ and presets featured in its companion app. It can also get louder. That said, the Soundcore 2 is smaller, making it more portable.
The Sony SRS-XB43 is a slightly better speaker than the Anker Soundcore Motion Boom. With its 'EXTRA BASS' and 'ClearAudio+' features enabled, the Sony has a somewhat better-balanced sound profile. It's also better built and can be paired with up to two devices at once, which can come in handy when you frequently need to switch between audio sources. That said, the Anker is smaller, more portable, and has a longer-lasting battery life, though battery life can vary depending on your usage, and your experience may differ.
The Anker Soundcore Motion Boom is a better speaker than the Bushnell Wingman for music overall. With its BassUp feature enabled, it has a better-balanced sound profile that can produce a more extended low-bass. You can customize its sound to your liking thanks to the graphic EQ and presets featured in its companion app. It's also rated IPX7 for water resistance and is advertised to float in water. That said the Bushnell is smaller, making it more portable. It also has less compression present at max volume, resulting in cleaner audio when the volume is maxed out. It also has golf-oriented capabilities. There's a built-in GPS, and you can use its companion app to record your scores and calculate yardages.
Test Results
The Anker Motion Boom is a medium-sized speaker meant to be placed horizontally, though you can also place it vertically. It comes with a built-in carrying handle to help with transporting it. It's smaller and more compact than the Anker Soundcore Motion Boom Plus.
This speaker is amazingly portable. It's battery-powered, lightweight, and has a built-in carrying handle, so you can easily carry it with one hand and take it outdoors when you're on the go.
This outdoor speaker is decently built. It's mostly made of plastic and feels pretty solid, though its finish doesn't give it a premium look, especially compared to speakers like the Anker Soundcore Motion X600. It's rated IPX7 for water resistance, so it's certified to be immersed in a meter of water for up to 30 minutes. Passive radiators are located on either side of the speaker for the bass, and a metal grille protects its drivers. Its ports are protected by a thick rubber flap on its rear, and you can find its rubberized buttons atop the speaker.
This speaker has very good rubberized controls that are clicky and easy to press. You can press the multifunction button to play/pause your audio, accept or decline a call, and activate your paired voice assistant. You can also double-press it to skip tracks and triple-press it to backtrack. There are '+' and '-' buttons to control its volume and a TWS button to connect the speaker to another Motion Boom speaker to create a stereo pair. There's a Bass button you can use to enable its BassUp feature when you want to add extra punch to your audio.
Its Bluetooth button flashes a blue light when it's in pairing mode and turns solid when paired to your device. Also, its power button blinks red when its battery is running low, turns solid red when it's reached half its charge, and turns solid white when fully charged. Unfortunately, there isn't a way to know the speaker's exact battery level, though there's a small icon in its companion app that indicates it.
Its frequency response accuracy is alright. With the speaker placed horizontally and its BassUp feature enabled, it has a balanced mid-range that ensures vocals and lead instruments are reproduced clearly. However, the underemphasis in the treble range causes higher-pitched vocals and instruments to sound dull and veiled. Like most speakers its size, the Motion Boom also lacks low bass, so you can't feel the deep thump and rumble in bass-heavy music like hip-hop and EDM. Fortunately, there's a graphic EQ and presets in its companion app that you can use to tweak its sound to your liking.
The Anker Motion Boom has a passable soundstage. It can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono, which means you'll hear a clear separation between the left and right channels according to how your audio has been mixed. However, as with most boombox-style speakers, it has poor directivity, so your audio doesn't sound consistent from all angles.
This speaker has decent dynamics. It can get loud, making it suitable for use at parties or outdoors. That said, some compression artifacts are present at max volume, so you'll hear some pumping and loss of clarity when you blast your tunes. If you want an even louder speaker, check out the Tribit StormBox Blast.
The manufacturer advertises this speaker to last 24 hours on a single charge. We tested it with the BassUP feature turned on, and its battery lasted 22 hours. That said, battery performance can vary depending on your usage, and your real-world experience may vary. For example, when we tested it with the BassUP feature turned off, its battery lasted just shy of 40 hours, which is even more impressive. You can even set its power-saving feature to turn off the device following 5, 10, 30, or 60 minutes of inactivity when it isn't connected to a power source.
This speaker's voice assistant performance is bad. It uses the voice assistants that come with your smartphone and struggles to understand your commands from far and in noisier settings. It's compatible with Google Assistant and Siri but doesn't feature support for Alexa.
The Soundcore companion app is alright. It's compatible with iOS and Android devices and features a graphic EQ to tweak its sound to your liking. You can choose from four EQ presets: 'Soundcore Signature,' 'Voice,' 'Treble Boost,' and 'Balanced.' That said, while you can pair this speaker to another Motion Boom to create a stereo pair, the app doesn't have Party Mode or Multi-Room features to connect it to multiple speakers simultaneously.
This speaker comes with a USB-C input to charge it. Thanks to its USB-A port, you can use the speaker to charge your other devices. It doesn't come with AUX or USB Audio ports to play your audio from older devices via a wired connection.
This speaker has an alright Bluetooth performance. It has an outstanding range, so your paired device can remain connected to the speaker, even when it's far from it. However, it has high latency with iOS and Android devices, which results in high AV synchronization errors, so it isn't suitable for watching videos and movies over this connection. Some apps compensate for latency differently, and your real-world experience may differ.