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 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.
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 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 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.
Test Results
The Anker Soundcore 2 is a pretty small speaker with a rectangular shape. There's a metal grille on the front side with the Anker logo, while a rubberized material surrounds the other sides of the speaker. On top of the speaker are the control buttons and two small lights next to the Power and Bluetooth buttons. This speaker also comes in several different colors.
This speaker is incredibly portable. It's small and lightweight, so you can easily carry it in one hand. Also, since it's battery-powered, you can take it outdoors without having to worry about plugging it into an outlet. It lacks a dedicated carrying handle, like the Anker Soundcore Boom 2, but it's small enough that it'll fit in all but the smallest hands.
The Anker Soundcore 2 has a good build quality. The metal grille helps protect the drivers, and the rubberized material on the other sides of the speaker feels durable. While the material is prone to collecting fingerprints when you touch it, you can easily wipe it clean. It also has an IPX7 rating for dust and water resistance, though we don't currently test for this. While it lacks a rating for impact resistance, the manual says that you should be careful not to drop it.
The controls are decent. On top of the speaker, there are buttons to turn the speaker on/off, adjust the volume, play/pause your audio, and activate Bluetooth pairing. You can double-press the play button to skip to the next track, but you can't skip to the previous track. You can hold the play button to activate the voice assistant. Also, you can press play to answer a call and hold the play button to end a call.
The Anker Soundcore 2 has disappointing frequency response accuracy. Just like many small speakers, like the Sony SRS-XB12, this speaker struggles to reproduce low-bass, so you don't feel the deep thump and rumble in bass-heavy music. Vocals and lead instruments are clear and present in the mid-range. However, the upper harmonics of vocals and lead instruments are veiled, while sibilants like S and T sounds are dull. For a similar speaker with a customizable sound profile, check out the Anker Soundcore 3.
The soundstage is passable. This speaker can play stereo content, but its directivity is poor. As a result, its soundstage is perceived as narrow and directional rather than open and spacious. If you're looking for a small speaker with a better directivity performance, consider the JBL Clip 4.
The Anker Soundcore 2 has acceptable dynamics. It doesn't get very loud, and there are some compression artifacts when you play it at max volume. It may not be ideal to use at parties or in large rooms. For a speaker that has a more clear and pure audio reproduction at max volume, check out the DOSS SoundBox Plus.
The Anker Soundcore 2 has an amazing battery performance. It lasts for about fifteen hours off of a single charge, which is fantastic. The manufacturer advertises a battery life of 24 hours, but battery life can vary depending on usage, so your experience can differ. The speaker also turns off after about twenty minutes without audio, which can help conserve its battery life.
This speaker has terrible voice assistant support. It uses your smartphone's voice assistant, but it doesn't have any built-in support. Also, as part of our methodology, we use recorded voice commands to activate the speaker. However, this speaker doesn't really register these commands, even in settings without any ambient noise, and it doesn't respond. It can register commands from a normal speaking voice, but this isn't part of our testing process.
This speaker doesn't have a companion app. However, the updated version of this speaker has built-in True Wireless Stereo technology, which the manufacturer claims can be used to connect up to two Soundcore 2 speakers together using Bluetooth.
The Anker Soundcore 2 has an AUX port, which you can use to wire your smartphone to the speaker to play audio.
The Anker Soundcore 2 has good Bluetooth connectivity. You can only pair it with one device at a time, which can be a bit limiting. However, its latency with Android and iOS devices is low enough to be suitable for watching videos and movies. That said, some apps compensate for latency differently, so your real-world experience can vary. If you're looking for a speaker that can be paired with up to two devices at the same time, consider the JBL Flip 5.