The Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus is a supercharged version of the Anker Soundcore Boom 2. It's bigger, heavier, and supposedly louder. Plus, its IPX7 rating, advertised 20 hours of battery life, and detachable carrying strap mean it can be brought around outdoors without too much babying. But does it justify the additional weight and outlay compared with the original Boom 2?
Our Verdict
The Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus is okay for music. With its 'BassUp' feature engaged, it can produce quite a bit of bass, which can inject some boom into your house and techno mixes. The lower part of the mid-range is well-balanced, but the clarity of vocals and lead instruments is hurt by the sizeable dip between the high-mids and mid-treble. This can be compensated for somewhat via the graphic EQ and presets in the app, though. While it can playback stereo content without downmixing to mono, its poor directivity means audio won't sound consistent from every angle. On the upside, it can get pretty loud without adding much in the way of compression artifacts at max volume.
Graphic EQ and presets in the app.
Lots of bass on tap with the 'BassUp' feature.
Disappointing directivity.
Lacks detail in mid and treble ranges.
The Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus is disappointing for videos and movies. It has a solid bass response that lends excitement to action-packed sequences. However, the upper harmonics of vocals and stringed instruments in soundtracks can sound a little dull, due to its underemphasized upper-mid to mid-treble response. Its directivity isn't the best, and latency with iOS and Android devices is on the high side, too, so it's possible you'll encounter sync issues between audio and video. On the upside, it can get quite loud without the audio compressing very much.
Lots of bass on tap with the 'BassUp' feature.
Minimal compression at max volume.
High latency with iOS and Android devices.
Disappointing directivity.
Lacks detail in mid and treble ranges.
The Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus is a decent choice for podcasts. Though there's some underemphasis in the frequency response between the high-mids and mid-treble, speech and dialogue still sound relatively clear and detailed. The speaker is portable enough to be brought from room to room but loud enough that you can also crank the volume and leave it there. Unfortunately, its directivity isn't the best, so you'll have to be careful about how you position yourself to get consistent audio delivery.
Graphic EQ and presets in the app.
Minimal compression at max volume.
Disappointing directivity.
Lacks detail in mid and treble ranges.
This speaker doesn't have a microphone and can't be used with voice assistants.
The Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus is good for outdoor use. It's reasonably well-built and rated IPX7 against water submersion, plus its 13 hours of continuous battery life is enough to get you through weekend trips and backyard BBQs alike. It has enough bass and volume on tap to get people moving, even though it lacks some detail between the mid and treble ranges. You'll need to be careful about how you position yourself relative to the speaker, though, as audio isn't consistent from every listening angle.
13 hours of continuous battery life.
IPX7 rating against water submersion.
Minimal compression at max volume.
Disappointing directivity.
No rating against dust or impact damage.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus comes in three color variants: 'Phantom Black,' 'Adventure Green,' and 'Explorer Blue' (here's a picture of its label).
If you encounter another variant of this speaker, let us know in the comments, and we'll update our review.
Popular Speaker Comparisons
The Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus is a portable party speaker with built-in RGB lights. Its increased size and volume output from the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 puts it at the intersection of portable Bluetooth speakers and fully-fledged party speakers, like the JBL PartyBox On-The-Go. It can't get as loud and doesn't output as much bass as the JBL however, meaning the PartyBox line is still the place to go for dedicated party speakers. The Anker is comparable in size to the JBL Xtreme 4, though. While it has a bassier default sound and compresses less at max volume, the JBL's longer battery life and better build quality make it a better outdoor companion.
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 JBL Xtreme 4 is a better choice for outdoor use than the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus, thanks to its IP67 rating, better portability, and 27 hours of continuous battery life. It also has better directivity and can get louder. That said, the Anker can deliver a more bass-heavy sound, courtesy of its 'BassUp' button, and compresses less at max volume. So if you're planning on hosting a few parties and plan on cranking up the beats, the Anker might be just the ticket.
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 and a better dynamics performance, 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 Plus are similar boombox-style speakers, with slightly different strengths. The Motion Boom Plus is more portable and better built, though both speakers have an IPX7 rating. However, the Motion Boom Plus also has some rudimentary voice assistant capabilities. When it comes to sound, both speakers are capable of bringing the bass via the 'BassUp' button, but the Motion Boom Plus can get a bit louder and has better directivity. The Boom 2 Plus compresses much less at max volume, though, and its battery lasts a few hours longer off a single charge.
The JBL Flip 6 is a better-built, more portable alternative to the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus. The JBL's IP67 rating, extremely portable form factor, and lower retail price make it a compelling choice for those who want an outdoor speaker they don't have to be too precious with. That said, those who don't mind sacrificing portability for some extra volume and firepower in the bass range will prefer the Anker. The Anker also gives you a substantially longer battery life for your additional outlay, too.
Test Results
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