The Anker Soundcore 2 is a portable Bluetooth speaker that's battery-operated, so you can easily bring it with you outside. It even has an IPX7 rating for water resistance, though we don't currently test for this. However, like a lot of small speakers, it struggles to reproduce low-bass, and it doesn't get very loud. It doesn't offer any sound customization features, either. However, its 15-hour battery life is ideal for long listening sessions.
Our Verdict
The Anker Soundcore 2 is disappointing for music. This speaker struggles to reproduce low-bass, so you don't feel the thump in bass-heavy genres. Vocals and lead instruments are present in the mix, but higher-frequency sounds like the upper harmonics of vocals can be dull or dark. It doesn't get very loud, and there's some compression when you play it at max volume. There aren't any sound customization features.
- Supports stereo content.
- Doesn't get very loud.
- No sound customization features.
The Anker Soundcore 2 is inadequate for videos and movies. It struggles to produce low-bass, so you don't feel the deep thump in action-packed scenes. Dialogue should be clear, but higher frequencies may be dull or veiled. While it can play stereo content, its soundstage is narrow and not very immersive. Also, it doesn't get very loud, and there's compression when you play it at max volume. Its latency with iOS and Android devices is pretty low, which is nice.
- Supports stereo content.
- Doesn't get very loud.
- Poor directivity for soundstage.
The Anker Soundcore 2 is alright for podcasts. It has a balanced mid-range, so vocals are clear and present, but they can also sound a bit veiled due to the underemphasized treble range. It doesn't get very loud, and there's some compression present at max volume. However, its portable design makes it easy to bring your speaker along with you.
- Portable design.
- Doesn't get very loud.
The Anker Soundcore 2 is poor for voice assistant. As part of our methodology, we use recorded voice commands to activate the speaker. However, the speaker didn't respond to these commands in our testing. While it responds to commands in a normal speaking voice, this isn't part of our testing process.
- Doesn't get very loud.
The Anker Soundcore 2 is okay for outdoor use. It's well-built, and its 15-hour battery life should last for long days on-the-go. It also has an IPX7 rating for water resistance, though we don't currently test for this. Since it's battery-powered, you don't have to worry about plugging it into an outlet to use it. However, it doesn't get very loud, and there's some compression at max volume.
- Portable design.
- Doesn't get very loud.
Changelog
- Updated May 08, 2024: We've added a comparison between this speaker and the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 in Portability.
- Updated Jan 22, 2021: Review published.
- Updated Jan 19, 2021: Early access published.
- Updated Jan 11, 2021: Our testers have started testing this product.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Anker Soundcore 2 comes in 'Black', 'Red', and 'Blue'. We tested the 'Black' variant, and you can see the label for the model we tested here. We expect the other color variants to perform similarly. We also tested the Upgraded version of this speaker. Unlike the previous model, it supports True Wireless Stereo (TWS), so you can pair two Upgraded Soundcore 2 speakers together to create a stereo pair.
If you come across another version, let us know in the discussions so we can update our review.
Popular Speaker Comparisons
The Anker Soundcore 2 Portable Bluetooth Speaker is a small speaker that you can bring outdoors. It has an IPX7 rating for water resistance, though we don't currently test for this. Like many small speakers, it struggles to reproduce low-bass, and it doesn't have any sound customization features. Also, its soundstage has poor directivity, resulting in a narrow and directional soundstage that isn't very immersive.
The OontZ Angle 3 and the Anker Soundcore 2 are similarly-performing speakers, so depending on your listening habits, you may prefer one over the other. The Anker supports voice assistants from your paired smartphone, but it doesn't have the best performance. Its sound profile is better-balanced, though both speakers struggle to produce low-bass. However, the Oontz can get louder, and it has less compression at max volume.
The Anker Soundcore 3 is a better speaker than the Anker Soundcore 2 overall. The Soundcore 3 can produce a more extended low bass than the Soundcore 2, and its companion app comes with a graphic EQ and presets you can use to customize the speaker's sound to your liking. Though the speakers can't get very loud, the Soundcore 3 has fewer compression artifacts at max volume. That said, the Soundcore 2 is better built and comes with an AUX input, unlike the Soundcore 3.
The JBL Flip 5 is a better speaker than the Anker Soundcore 2. The JBL has a more neutral, balanced sound profile, and it also comes with a companion app that makes it easy to pair it with another speaker. However, the Anker supports voice assistants, and it has a longer battery life.
The JBL Go 3 and the Anker Soundcore 2 are very similarly-performing speakers, so depending on your listening habits, you may prefer one over the other. The JBL is better built, and while it doesn't get as loud as the Anker, it has less compression at max volume. The Anker, meanwhile, supports voice assistants from your phone, and it has a longer battery life.
Test Results
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