The Anker Soundcore Boom 3i is a rugged, portable outdoor speaker that's built to be used in and around bodies of water. The IP68 rating against dust and water ingress isn't unusual for an outdoor-oriented speaker these days, but Anker's taken things a couple of steps further, promising this speaker can withstand both salt water ingress and drops of up to a meter. Thanks to its floating playback design, it stays upright and sound-forward even in waves, making it well-equipped for beach days, pool parties, or kayaking trips. It even comes with a unique self-cleaning mechanism to clear out the dust after a day outside.
Our Verdict
The Anker Soundcore Boom 3i is acceptable for listening to music. Since it's a small speaker, don't expect an earth-shattering thump from those 808 kick drums, but there's enough high-bass warmth to keep disco basslines feeling immersive. The mids are balanced, so voices and instruments sound accurate, and the slightly reduced treble means your audio never gets harsh. If you prefer a different sound, you can tweak the 9-band EQ in the companion app. This is a forward-facing speaker, so your audio will sound different depending on your listening angle, but that design is deliberate as it means the speaker will always face up when floating in water. It gets loud enough to fill an average-sized room with sound.
Amazing 15-hour battery life (without the lightshow on).
Downmixes stereo audio to mono (unless paired with another unit).
The Anker Soundcore Boom 3i isn't really meant for watching videos. Its compact size limits its maximum volume and bass output, so effects like cinematic explosions lack impact, and it struggles to fill larger spaces with sound. Since it downmixes stereo to mono, you also don't get much of a sense of spatial separation (though you can pair it with a second unit for stereo playback). Bluetooth latency is high via both iOS and Android, so you might run into lip-sync issues, though some apps and devices may offset this automatically.
Amazing 15-hour battery life (without the lightshow on).
Downmixes stereo audio to mono (unless paired with another unit).
A fair amount of compression at maximum volume.
The Anker Soundcore Boom 3i is decent for listening to podcasts. It's small enough to carry around with you from room to room, either on its own or via its included carrying strap. It also plays loud enough for you to hear your audio across an average room. That said, you'll want to ensure the speaker is facing you most of the time, as audio sounds quite different when you're behind it. That said, you can pair it with another unit for stereo playback.
Amazing 15-hour battery life (without the lightshow on).
Downmixes stereo audio to mono (unless paired with another unit).
The Anker Soundcore Boom 3i doesn't have a microphone, so it doesn't support voice assistants.
The Anker Soundcore Boom 3i is good for use outdoors. Its 15-hour battery life will keep you going through full days out and about, while its balanced sound (which you can customize via EQ if you wish) also suits most types of audio. But the real attractions here are its special outdoors-focused features. First, it's designed to always face up when floating in water, so you hear clear audio even if it's bobbling about in some waves. Second, you can clear dust out using a special mode that plays a low frequency to buzz out any dirt. Its IP68 rating means dust and water won't damage it. It's also easy to carry with one hand and will fit into larger coat pockets, while its superb Bluetooth range means you can leave your phone on the boat or poolside without worrying about the connection dropping.
Rotates itself while floating in water so that the drivers always face upwards.
Buzz Clean mode helps shake out any dirt.
Amazing 15-hour battery life (without the lightshow on).
The strap clips are small and could be lost easily.
Downmixes stereo audio to mono (unless paired with another unit).
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Anker Soundcore Boom 3i comes in four colors: 'Black,' 'Blue,' 'Brown,' and 'Green.' We tested the 'Blue' variant, and you can view its label here.
If you encounter any other variants of this speaker, let us know in the comments, and we'll update the review accordingly.
Popular Speaker Comparisons
The Anker Soundcore Boom 3i offers some features you don't often find in the portable, outdoor-oriented speaker market. The two most notable are its Buzz Clean mode, which plays a low-frequency signal to vibrate the drivers, shaking out dirt and sand, and its ability to rotate itself when floating in water so its drivers always point upwards. While its IP68 rating is fairly standard among its competitors, Anker also says this model has been specially designed to withstand exposure to saltwater. All in all, we haven't tested a speaker quite like this one. If you know you want a speaker to accompany you while you float around a body of water (or hang in a shower), this is a great choice.
That said, if you're mostly interested in a more general-use outdoors speaker, there's some stiff competition in the market. The JBL Flip 7 also comes with an IP68 rating and offers a remarkably similar sound profile to the Anker, but it also pairs with Auracast-enabled JBL speakers. If you've other Auracast speakers from JBL, you might be better off sticking in the ecosystem with something like the Flip, though it doesn't float in water like the Anker. Alternatively, the Ultimate Ears BOOM 4 has an IP67 rating and floats in water, while also offering a 360-degree design that keeps your audio sounding the same regardless of your listening angle. Of course, its regular sound will be muffled slightly while it floats since it doesn't have the upward-facing drivers of the Anker, but that might be a worthwhile compromise if you only tend to go swimming a couple of times a year.
For more, check out our recommendations for the best portable Bluetooth speakers, the best outdoor speakers, and the best shower speakers.
The JBL Charge 6 and the Anker Soundcore Boom 3i are portable Bluetooth speakers that are both good for use outdoors. They share an IP68 rating and balanced sound profiles, although the larger JBL gets louder and puts out a bit more bass by default. While they both float, the Anker's design keeps your audio from sounding muffled, as its drivers always rotate to face upwards. And its Buzz Clean mode helps you clear out any dust that gets into its enclosure. The Anker can be paired with another unit for stereo playback, but if you want to pair multiple speakers, the Auracast-enabled JBL is the way to go. The Anker is best for use in and around water, while the larger JBL is better for playing audio in larger spaces, or linking up with a host of other speakers.
The Anker Soundcore Boom 3i and the JBL Flip 7 are very similar speakers. They're similarly priced, have a similar sound, and both offer companion apps with a host of ways to customize your listening experience. That said, they do have some notable differences. The Anker is much better for use in and around water, since it floats in water, and its drivers always face upwards while doing so. It also has a Buzz Clean mode that shakes sand out, so it's probably better for use at the beach. On the other hand, the JBL comes with Auracast support, so if you have other Auracast-enabled JBL speakers, you can get a fun party going across all of them. Still, if we had to pick, the Anker's superior battery life tips the scales in its favor.
The Ultimate Ears BOOM 4 and the Anker Soundcore Boom 3i are both good picks if you're looking for Bluetooth speakers that work as well outdoors as in. The Ultimate Ears' 360-degree design keeps audio sounding the same regardless of your listening angle, which makes it great for sticking in the middle of a park hang. On the other hand, the Anker's protection against saltwater and rotating drivers that always face up when the speaker is floating make it the obvious choice if you like to get wet with your speaker. By default, the Anker has a more balanced sound, but you can customize each speaker's sound via their respective companion apps. The Ultimate Ears' main downside is its lack of support for multi-device Bluetooth pairing, but it can sync up with a bunch of other Ultimate Ears speakers in Party mode. The Anker doesn't have a party mode, but it does offer stereo playback via another paired unit.
The LG xboom Grab and the Anker Soundcore Boom 3i are funky, outdoors-oriented speakers with similar personalities. They both come with optional light shows to get the (modestly-sized) party started, and each has a balanced sound that represents most kinds of audio accurately. They're small, so don't expect much bass here, but voices and instruments sound accurate and true-to-life. The Anker's IP68 rating and ability to ensure its drivers always face upwards while floating make it the better pick for use in and around water (though the LG's IP67 rating keeps it safe from the elements, too). The Anker also offers a longer battery life, but the LG's built-in microphone means it will work with your phone's voice assistant. The choice really depends on your priorities.
Test Results
The Anker Soundcore Boom 3i looks right at home among Anker's portable lineup. Its funky, playful styling and light-up bass radiators at either end bear more than a passing resemblance to speakers like the Anker Soundcore Boom 2. It's a fairly compact speaker that will fit into larger coat pockets, which is handy for trips to the beach when you're laden with kit. But don't worry if it's too hot outside to wear a jacket: the speaker comes with loops at either end for attaching the included carrying strap. The power and Bluetooth buttons light up during use. Finally, you can pick this up in a number of colorways to match your vibe: 'Black,' 'Blue,' 'Green,' and 'Pink.
The Anker Boom 3i is remarkably portable. It's lightweight and easy to carry with one hand, either on its own or with the included carrying strap. Since it's battery-powered, you don't need to be stuck indoors for it to work, either.
The Anker Soundcore Boom 3i has a great build quality. Most of the speaker is covered in hard plastic, with two rubber feet on the bottom to keep it stable and raised on flat surfaces. Its side-facing radiators are protected by hard plastic rings, and the transparent grill design allows its RGB lighting to shine through while still offering physical protection. The top-mounted control buttons are easy to access, and the USB-C charging port is located at the back under a rubber-sealed flap to keep water and debris out. While Anker doesn't provide an official drop rating, the speaker is advertised to survive drops of up to 1 meter onto concrete and is fully waterproof and dustproof with an IP68 rating. Anker says it'll be resistant to saltwater, too, although there's no industry-standard saltwater resistance certification. The speaker also offers floating playback, meaning it always rotates to have its front-facing drivers pointing upwards, keeping your audio sounding relatively clean, even in slightly rough waters.
For sandy environments, the speaker includes a clever Buzz Clean mode, which vibrates the drivers using a low-frequency signal to shake loose dirt and sand. We found it to be effective at dislodging sand from around the driver area, though you'll still need to give it a shake to fully remove particles trapped in the grille. If there's a notable downside, it's that the small strap clips used to attach the strap to the speaker could be easy to lose.
The Anker Boom 3i has alright controls. The buttons themselves are located on top of the speaker and are clearly labeled. The control scheme is also easy to understand. You get dedicated buttons for essential functions like power, Bluetooth pairing, volume up/down, play/pause, and light mode switching, along with dedicated buttons for PartyCast pairing and BassUp mode. Pressing play/pause button twice skips the track, and holding it activates the voice assistant. Similarly, holding the Bluetooth button puts the speaker into stereo pairing mode, and holding the BassUp button activates an emergency alarm. Finally, you can perform a factory reset by holding the Bluetooth and volume + buttons together for four seconds.
Most of the downsides come in the form of feedback. While the tactile buttons provide a satisfying click and the speaker provides audio chimes for device and multi-speaker pairing, there are no chimes for disconnects, toggling BassUp, or volume limits. That said, the RGB lights do flash when BassUp is toggled, and the power LED blinks at max/min volume, but some people may prefer to disable the lighting options, so they'd miss out on the visual feedback.
- Anker Soundcore Boom 3i
- USB-C to USB-C charging cable (0.6m / 2.0 ft)
- Carrying strap
- 2x strap clips
- Quick start guide
Using the Soundcore Signature preset and with BassUp enabled, the Anker Soundcore Boom 3i has an alright frequency response. It's a small speaker, so don't expect much (or any) low-bass thump, but there's enough mid-bass punch to keep kick drums feeling exciting. The response is generally balanced, though the whole treble region is rolled off slightly. Many people will appreciate this slightly warmer tone, but if you prefer a more excited sound, you can tweak the response to taste using the EQ in the companion app. We measured the response of the stock EQ presets, but you can create and save your own, too.
It's worth noting that this speaker has been designed to sound good when floating in water, as its drivers will always point upwards. We did indeed find this to be the case in our testing. Other floating speakers can sound muffled depending on where the drivers are pointing. Similarly, the hard plastic coating makes it easy to shake any residual water off when you remove it from the pool, lake, or ocean.
The Anker Soundcore Boom 3i has a middling soundstage performance score, but in this case, that design choice makes a lot of sense. This is a front-facing speaker, so if you stand behind it or off to the side, your audio will sound different. However, since its front-facing drivers are designed to always point upwards when the speaker is floating in water, what seems like a limitation on land becomes a boon in water, with the speaker always projecting clear audio upwards, regardless of the waves you're floating in. It downmixes stereo audio to mono, unless paired with another unit.
This Anker Soundcore Boom 3i has a disappointing dynamics performance. At full volume, it gets loud enough to fill a small-to-average-sized room with sound, but it compresses your audio a lot while doing so. The bass range, in particular, is compressed heavily, so kick drums and basslines are robbed of punch and warmth. If loudness is a priority, you'll want to consider something like the Anker Soundcore Motion Boom Plus instead, but that's a much larger speaker that doesn't come with fancy water-focused features like the Boom 3i.
This speaker has an amazing battery performance. The manufacturer advertises up to 16 hours of continuous battery life, and we measured 15 hours with the light show turned off. With the lights on, that time is reduced to just over 5.5 hours. It takes 3.4 hours to fully charge from empty, but it will only draw power at a rate between 11 and 13W, so more powerful chargers won't speed up the process. Finally, an auto-off timer can be enabled in the App to save battery by turning the speaker off after 5, 10, 20, or 60 minutes of inactivity.
The Soundcore app is very good (check out this video of it in action), offering a host of features that let you customize the speaker's sound and lighting to your preferences. You can toggle BassUp mode, choose from several EQ presets (the default Soundcore Signature, along with Voice, Treble Boost, and Balanced), or create and name your own with the 9-band graphic EQ. You can even create and save several different custom EQ presets. You can choose between different lighting schemes and set the speaker's lights to be synced to your media or leave them static.
The Anker Soundcore Boom 3i also comes with a host of special features. A White Noise mode lets you choose between several different kinds of background noise to help you sleep or focus, and an Emergency Alarm will help draw attention towards the speaker, should you get lost or into trouble out in a body of water. The app also provides access to a Voice Amplifier, which lets you record and then broadcast a short message, and Buzz Clean, a self-cleaning function that helps dislodge sand or dust from the speaker drivers. Finally, the app lets you manage Auto Power On/Off settings and check for firmware updates.
If there's one downside to the app, it's that the battery icon shows charging status, but not an exact percentage remaining. There's also no Party mode to speak of.
The Anker Soundcore Boom 3i doesn't have an AUX input, and the USB-C port is only for charging the device, so you can't play audio via a cable. But what use is a cable when you're floating on your back out in the ocean, right?
The Anker Soundcore Boom 3i has decent Bluetooth performance. The range is superb, so you can swim away from your phone on the beach without the connection dropping. It also supports multi-device pairing, but you have to pause playback on the first device before hitting play on the second. The latency is fairly high on both Android and iOS, so you might run into lip-sync issues, but different apps and devices compensate for latency in different ways.