The Anker Soundcore Flare 2 is a portable Bluetooth speaker that's a budget entry into Anker's speaker lineup. It's a small and lightweight device that lets you bring your tunes with you, and its IPX7 rating for water resistance adds some protection from the elements while you're on the move. The customizable light rings around the top and bottom of the speaker even pulse to the beat, adding a visual element to your favorite songs.
Our Verdict
The Anker Flare 2 is fair for music. It offers a balanced sound out of the box, especially in the mids, where voices and lead instruments are reproduced. As a result, it's suitable for listening to lots of different genres. With its 360-degree design, it has an excellent soundstage, too, so your audio content will sound consistent from every angle. You can also use its graphic EQ and presets to customize its sound or hit the BassUp button on the back of the speaker. That said, given its small size, this device can't bring much rumble in the low-bass, even with BassUp enabled, and it doesn't get as loud as other models on the market.
- Amazing soundstage.
- Graphic EQ and presets.
- Lacks low-bass.
- Not loud enough to fill larger spaces.
The Anker Flare 2 isn't designed for use with videos and movies, but if you want to watch content on a paired smartphone, it can do the job. The speaker reproduces dialogue clearly, though there isn't much bass to bring action-packed scenes to life. There's also relatively high latency with iOS and Android devices, meaning you'll likely notice lip-synching issues.
- Amazing soundstage.
- Graphic EQ and presets.
- Lacks low-bass.
- Not loud enough to fill larger spaces.
The Anker Flare 2 is satisfactory for podcasts. It's easy to follow along with your favorite shows as the speaker reproduces detailed dialogue right out of the box. Given its portable design, you can bring it from room to room as you listen, and its excellent soundstage means you'll hear podcast hosts well from any angle. You can easily stream podcasts from your phone over Bluetooth, and while it pairs with only one device at a time, its impressive range ensures a stable connection even when your phone is further away.
- Well-built, portable design.
- Not loud enough to fill larger spaces.
The Anker Flare 2 has poor voice assistant performance. The speaker uses the voice assistant from your paired smartphone but doesn't have built-in support. Also, as part of our methodology, we use recorded voice prompts to test the assistant's efficiency. However, it didn't respond to some commands, even with no ambient noise present. It answered to a normal speaking voice, but this isn't part of our testing process.
- Amazing soundstage.
Unresponsive voice assistant.
Poor ambient noise performance.
The Anker Flare 2 is decent for outdoor use. This portable Bluetooth speaker has a lightweight and sturdy design that makes it easy to bring with you to the park or your backyard. It's rated IPX7 for water resistance, so it's capable of withstanding some light exposure to the elements. However, it isn't rated for dust or impact resistance, so this speaker isn't ideal for a day at the beach, and you'll want to be careful not to drop it when you're on the go. Additionally, it doesn't get as loud as some of the other speakers we've tested, so it's best to stay close by to enjoy your favorite tunes.
- Well-built, portable design.
- Not loud enough to fill larger spaces.
Changelog
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Updated Feb 20, 2025:
We've updated the text for accuracy and detail, but our scores haven't changed.
- Updated Sep 04, 2024: We've updated the Battery scores and text, as we've reevaluated how the Battery Life, Charge Time, and Power Saving scores are weighted. We've also updated the relevant usage boxes that were affected by this recalculation.
- Updated Dec 01, 2023: Added market comparison with the Anker Soundcore Motion 300 in the Soundstage box.
- Updated Jan 17, 2023: Updated review text for accuracy and clarity. No changes in test results.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Anker Flare 2 comes in Black and Blue color variants. We tested the Black model, and you can see its label here. We expect the other color variants to perform similarly.
If you come across another version, let us know in the comments, and we'll update our review.
Popular Speaker Comparisons
The Anker Flare 2 is a portable Bluetooth speaker with customizable RGB lights priced in the lower mid-range of Anker's lineup. It's not as compact, portable, or well-built as the Anker Soundcore Select 4 Go, but it offers a better soundstage and more low-frequency extension. Compared to Anker's other offerings, the Soundcore Flare 2 has a less impressive battery performance, lasting for roughly half of the Anker Soundcore Boom 2's 16-hour battery life. Overall, this speaker is well-suited to social settings where its light show and soundstage really shine.
See also our recommendations for the best Bluetooth speakers, the best waterproof speakers, and the best Bluetooth speakers under $100.
The Anker Soundcore Flare 2 is a better speaker overall than the Anker Soundcore 3. The Flare 2 is better built and has amazing directivity, so your audio sounds clear from most angles. You can also connect it to another speaker to create a stereo pair. The Soundcore 3 is slightly smaller and comes with a carrying strap, making it easy to take it with you when you're on the move. It also has a slightly larger Bluetooth range, so your paired device can stay connected even if it's far from the speaker.
You may prefer either the Anker Soundcore Flare 2 or the JBL Charge 5, depending on your listening habits. The JBL has a better-balanced sound profile out of the box that can produce a slightly more extended low-bass than the Anker. It's better built with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance and can also get a bit louder. That said, the Anker can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono and offers a wider-sounding soundstage, thanks to its 360-degree design.
The Anker Soundcore Flare 2 is slightly better than the JBL Flip 6. With its 'Bass Up' feature enabled, the Anker can produce a more extended low-bass than the JBL. It can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono and has better directivity, resulting in a wider and more immersive soundstage. It also supports voice assistants through your smartphone, though its performance isn't very good. However, the JBL is smaller and better built, making it easier to bring outdoors with you. Its out-of-the-box sound profile is better balanced, ensuring a variety of audio content sounds good right away. Additionally, it can get slightly louder than the Anker. You can also pair it to up to two devices at a time, which is handy when you need to switch between audio sources quickly.
The Anker Soundcore Flare 2 is a better speaker than the JBL Flip 5. The Anker has a better soundstage performance, and its graphic EQ and presets give you more ability to customize its sound. Also, the Anker supports voice assistants from your smartphone, though its performance leaves something to be desired.
Test Results
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