The Anker Soundcore Boom 2 is the latest portable speaker offering from Anker. Like the Anker Soundcore Motion Boom Plus, it comes in a neat, portable boombox-style package that you can easily carry with you. It's IPX7 rated, so it can be fully submerged, and the manufacturer even advertises that it can float on water. Plus, it features a long enough battery life to get you through multiple listening sessions without a recharge.
Our Verdict
The Anker Soundcore Boom 2 is decent for music. Like most smaller speakers, it struggles to produce low-bass frequencies, even with BassUp enabled, so 808s and kick drums lack some thump. It has a balanced mid-range response, so lead instruments and vocals sound true-to-life, though a dip across the upper mid-range and low-treble can push them back in dense mixes. It can get loud enough to fill an average-sized room with sound, though there's some compression at max volume. Directivity is mediocre, so you'll want this speaker facing you for the best sound.
- EQ and presets via the companion app.
- Can connect up to two devices simultaneously.
- Disappointing directivity.
- Some compression present at max volume.
The Anker Soundcore Boom 2 is mediocre for movies and videos. Like many smaller speakers, it lacks low-bass, so the blaring horns of Hans Zimmer's soundtracks will lack some oomph. However, its balanced mid-range brings detail and clarity to vocals and dialogue. It's loud enough to fill a living room with sound, though there's some compression at max volume. You'll want to be careful about positioning yourself around the speaker, though, as its mediocre directivity means audio won't sound consistent from every angle. On the upside, audiovisual synchronization error falls within good limits for both iOS and Android devices, so you're unlikely to experience any lip-sync issues. However, apps and devices compensate for this in different ways.
- Lightweight, portable design with carrying handle.
- EQ and presets via the companion app.
- Disappointing directivity.
- Some compression present at max volume.
The Anker Soundcore Boom 2 is very good for podcasts. Its balanced mid-range is great for rendering speech and vocal content in a clear, detailed manner. It can also get reasonably loud, though there's some compression at max volume. It's portable enough to bring around from room to room, too, but you'll want to position yourself in front of the speaker, as its directivity is mediocre.
- Lightweight, portable design with carrying handle.
- EQ and presets via the companion app.
- Disappointing directivity.
- Some compression present at max volume.
The Anker Soundcore Boom 2 lacks voice assistant capabilities, so it's unsuitable for this use.
The Anker Soundcore Boom 2 is very good for outdoor use. Its lightweight design and built-in carrying handle make it a breeze to carry around for day trips or outdoor occasions, and its 16 hours of continuous battery life means it can make it through a weekend without needing a recharge. While it isn't loud enough to soundtrack a large outdoor bash, it can liven up a backyard BBQ, though there will be some compression as you approach max volume. Not everyone will experience the same audio delivery, though, as its mediocre directivity means that audio isn't consistent from every angle.
- Lightweight, portable design with carrying handle.
- 16 hours of continuous battery life.
- Can connect up to two devices simultaneously.
- Disappointing directivity.
- Some compression present at max volume.
Changelog
- Updated Aug 28, 2026: This review has been updated to Test Bench 1.0.1. This includes the Test Bench 1.0 updates to all of our Sound tests: Frequency Response Accuracy, Raw Frequency Response, Directivity, and Loudness, as well as the revised Low-Frequency Extension calculation and related DRC updates introduced in Test Bench 1.0.1. There have also been text changes throughout the review, including to the usages and product comparisons, where applicable, to match these results. You can read more about these changes in our Test Bench 1.0 changelog and Test Bench 1.0.1 changelog.
- Updated Aug 11, 2026: This review has been updated to Test Bench 1.0, which includes new results for all of our Sound tests: Frequency Response Accuracy, Raw Frequency Response, Directivity, and Loudness. There have also been text changes made throughout the review, including to the usages and product comparisons, to match these results. You can read more about these changes in our changelog.
- Updated Oct 16, 2024: The Frequency Response Accuracy section has been updated to mention the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus.
- Updated Aug 01, 2024: We've added a comparison between this speaker and the JBL Xtreme 4 in Build Quality.
Check Price
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Anker Soundcore Boom 2 comes in three color variants: 'Phantom Black,' 'Explorer Blue,' and 'Adventure Green.' We tested the 'Explorer Blue' version and expect all variants to perform similarly. You can see our unit's label here.
If you encounter a different variant of this speaker, please let us know in the comments, and we'll update our review.
Popular Speaker Comparisons
The Anker Soundcore Boom 2 is a portable speaker, following the Anker Soundcore Motion Boom Plus. It has a similar boombox-style design to its predecessor, though it's a touch lighter. The two also have extremely similar sound profiles, with fairly even mid-ranges and a reduced low-treble. The Motion Boom Plus can get louder and offers rudimentary voice assistant capabilities, making it a more versatile choice. Both speakers are also hampered by their disappointing directivity, so you might want to consider a portable speaker with a cylindrical design like the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 3 if you care about getting consistent audio delivery from every angle.
You can also check out our recommendations for the best Bluetooth speakers, the best-sounding Bluetooth speakers, and the best Bluetooth speakers for bass.
The Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus is a beefed-up version of the Anker Soundcore Boom 2. The additional size and heft translate to a more bass-heavy sound, though both speakers have some underemphasis between the high-mids and mid-treble that can take some sparkle away from vocals and lead instruments. The Soundcore Boom 2 is more portable, better built, and has a slightly longer battery life, so it's still a more ideal choice for outdoor and on-the-go use.
The Anker Soundcore Motion Boom Plus and the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 are very similar speakers, but the older iteration has the edge in a few areas. They're both well-built portable speakers with built-in carrying handles, but the Motion Boom Plus has an IP67 certification against dust damage and is submersible in water. The two have very similar sound profiles, but the Boom Plus has fuller bass that's better suited to contemporary genres like techno. They both have disappointing directivity, too, so you'll need to be careful about positioning yourself in front of the speaker for the best sound. While the Boom 2 is lighter, it can't get quite as loud as the Boom Plus.
The Anker Soundcore 3 and the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 are both budget portable speakers. While the Soundcore 3 is lighter, the Boom 2 features a built-in carrying handle, which can make it easier to carry around. The Soundcore 3 is cheaper, but the Boom 2 justifies its higher retail price with a better overall performance. It's better built, has a more balanced sound overall, and it can get louder. It also lets you pair with another Anker speaker for true wireless stereo via the app. The Soundcore 3 has a slightly longer continuous battery life, so it's a good choice for weekend trips.
Test Results
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