- Table of Contents
- Intro
- Our Verdict
- Test Results
- Differences
- Compared To Others
- Deals
- Discussions
The Anker Soundcore Flare 2 is a small, portable Bluetooth speaker with multicolored lights. Even with the BassUp setting on, it struggles to reproduce low-bass, and the upper harmonics of vocals and lead instruments can be dull or dark. Fortunately, there's a graphic EQ and presets in the app to help you customize its sound. It doesn't get very loud, but you can pair it with multiple speakers to amplify your audio across a crowded party.
Our Verdict
The Anker Flare 2 is fair for music. With its BassUp setting on, it still struggles to reproduce low-bass. Vocals and lead instruments are clear and present, but higher frequency sounds like sibilants can be veiled and dull. Also, it doesn't get very loud. There's a graphic EQ and presets available in its companion app, so you can customize its sound to your liking. You can also pair it with multiple speakers to amplify sound across a large or noisy area like a party.
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Amazing soundstage.
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Graphic EQ and presets.
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Lacks low-bass.
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Doesn't get very loud.
The Anker Flare 2 is mediocre for videos and movies. Even with the BassUp setting turned on, it struggles to reproduce low-bass, so you don't feel the thump and rumble in action-packed scenes. It doesn't get very loud, and its latency with Android and iOS devices is pretty high. However, some apps compensate for latency, so your experience can vary. On the upside, it has an excellent soundstage, so you really feel immersed in your audio.
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Amazing soundstage.
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Graphic EQ and presets.
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Lacks low-bass.
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Doesn't get very loud.
The Anker Flare 2 is satisfactory for podcasts. Its balanced mid-range can reproduce dialogue clearly, but upper harmonics and sibilants like S and T sounds can be dull or dark. It has a portable design, but unfortunately, you can only pair one device to it at a time. It doesn't get very loud, and there's compression when you play it at max volume.
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Well-built, portable design.
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Doesn't get very loud.
The Anker Flare 2 is poor for voice assistants. It uses the voice assistant from your paired smartphone, but it doesn't have any built-in support. Also, as part of our methodology, we use recorded voice prompts to test the speaker. However, this speaker didn't respond to the commands, even when there wasn't any ambient noise present. It responded to a normal speaking voice, but this isn't part of our testing process.
The Anker Flare 2 is decent for outdoor use. It's well-built and portable, and since it's battery-operated, you don't have to worry about plugging it into an outlet to get it to work. With an over eight-hour battery life, it can last through long days outside. It even has an IPX7 rating for water resistance, though we don't currently test for this. However, it doesn't get very loud, and there are some compression artifacts present when you play it at max volume.
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Well-built, portable design.
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Doesn't get very loud.
- 6.8 Music
- 6.0 Videos/Movies
- 7.3 Podcasts
- 4.4 Voice Assistant
- 7.2 Outdoors
- Updated Aug 04, 2021: We updated the test results for 'EQ' to 'Graphic + Presets', and for 'Bluetooth Version' to '5.0'.
- Updated Jan 25, 2021: Review published.
- Updated Jan 20, 2021: Early access published.
Test Results
The Anker Soundcore Flare 2 is a fairly small speaker with a cylindrical shape. It's meant to sit vertically, and there's a tight fabric wrapping around it. There are light rings on the top and bottom of the speaker, and you can turn them off if you prefer. You can buy this speaker in either 'Black' or 'Blue' color variants.
The Anker Soundcore Flare 2 is incredibly portable. It's small and lightweight, so you can easily carry it in one hand. Also, since it's battery-operated, you can bring it outside without having to worry about plugging it into an outlet.
The Anker Soundcore Flare 2 has a good build quality. It feels solid and durable, and it sits on a rubber base. The tight fabric wrapping around the speaker doesn't seem like it would rip easily. It even has an IPX7 rating for water resistance, though we don't currently test for this. However, the manual warns that you should avoid dropping it.
The Anker Soundcore Flare 2's controls are very good. On the top of the speaker, some controls let you play/pause your audio, adjust the volume, turn the speaker on/off, and turn the lights on/off. You can press the Play button twice to skip to the next track, and three times to skip to the previous track. The Play button also lets you accept/end calls, and you can hold for two seconds to activate voice assistant. On the rear of the speaker, there's a Bluetooth pairing button and a Bass-Up button that adds an extra thump to your audio. You can hold the Bluetooth button for three seconds to pair other Flare 2 speakers together. Overall, the buttons are responsive and easy-to-use.
- Anker Soundcore Flare 2 Bluetooth speaker
- USB-C to USB-A charging cable
- User Manual
The Anker Soundcore Flare 2 has passable frequency response accuracy. Using the Default EQ with the BassUp feature turned on, it still struggles to reproduce low-bass. As a result, you don't really feel the deep thump and rumble in bass-heavy music genres. Vocals and lead instruments are clear and present, but higher frequencies are a bit dark and dull due to the underemphasized treble. There's a graphic EQ and presets available in the Soundcore app, so you can customize its sound to your liking.
The soundstage is amazing. This speaker has excellent directivity, so the soundstage is perceived as large and open. Also, unlike the JBL Flip 5, it has separate speakers for the left and right channels, so it can play stereo content.
The Anker Soundcore Flare 2 has middling dynamics. It doesn't get very loud, and there's a lot of compression when you play it at max volume. As a result, it may not be ideal to use in large rooms or at crowded parties. For a speaker that can get as loud but with less compression, consider the JBL Charge 4.
The Anker Soundcore Flare 2 has a good battery performance. The manufacturer advertises a battery life of 12 hours, but in our tests, the speaker lasted for just over eight hours. However, battery life can vary depending on usage, so your results can differ. The speaker also shuts off after about twenty minutes without audio, which helps conserve its battery life. If you're looking for a speaker with a longer battery life, consider the Anker Soundcore Motion+ or the Limitless Innovations TikiTunes.
The Anker Flare 2 has poor voice assistant capabilities. It uses the voice assistant from your paired smartphone. As part of our methodology, we use recorded voice messages to test the speaker. However, the speaker didn't respond to some of these commands, even when there wasn't any ambient noise. While it responded to a normal speaking voice, this isn't part of our testing process. For a speaker with a better voice assistant performance, check out the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 Gen 2.
Update 08/04/2021: We updated the test results for EQ to 'Graphic + Presets' after retesting this speaker.
The Anker Soundcore app is very good. There are several EQ settings, including 'Default, 'Voice', 'Chill', 'Flat', and a Custom graph that offers a full graphic EQ. You can also turn the extra bass on and off. You can pair two speakers together to create a stereo pair, and there's also a Party Mode feature that lets you pair speakers to play your audio in large, crowded settings. You can even customize the lighting.
This speaker doesn't support any wired connections. Its USB-C to USB-A cable is for charging only.
Update 08/04/2021: We updated the test results for Bluetooth Version to '5.0' after retesting this speaker.
The Anker Soundcore Flare 2 has decent Bluetooth connectivity. It has an outstanding range, so the speaker stays connected to your Bluetooth device, even if you aren't very close to it. Unfortunately, its latency with iOS devices is likely too high to be suitable for gaming. It performs a little better with Android devices. However, some apps compensate for latency differently, so your experience may vary. Consider the Beats Pill+ if you want a speaker with lower Bluetooth latency with iOS devices.
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 the label for the model we tested here. We expect the other color variants to perform similarly.
If you come across another version, let us know in the discussions so we can update our review.
Compared To Other Speakers
The Anker Soundcore Flare 2 is a portable Bluetooth speaker with customizable colored lights. Like many small speakers, it struggles to reproduce low-bass, even with the Bass-Up feature turned on. Also, it doesn't get very loud. However, it has an amazing soundstage performance that can really immerse you in your audio, and its companion app offers a graphic EQ and presets so you can customize its sound to your liking.
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 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 it doesn't offer the most impressive performance.
The Anker Soundcore Flare 2 is a better speaker than the JBL Charge 4 overall. The Anker has a somewhat better-balanced sound profile with its BassUp feature enabled, and can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono. It has excellent directivity resulting in a wide and natural-sounding soundstage. You can also customize its sound to your liking thanks to the graphic EQ and presets featured in its companion app. That said, the JBL has less compression present at max volume, resulting in cleaner audio at louder volumes. It also has a longer-lasting battery life, though this can depend on your usage.
The Anker Soundcore Motion+ is a slightly better speaker than the Anker Soundcore Flare 2. The Motion+ is better suited to outdoor use since its battery lasts longer and it can get louder than the Flare. While the Flare has a more open soundstage thanks to its 360-design, it has more latency with iOS and Android devices, although some apps compensate differently for this.
The Anker Soundcore Flare 2 is a better speaker than the Anker Soundcore 3 overall. 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. That said, the Soundcore 3 is slightly smaller and comes with a carrying strap, which makes 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 away from the speaker.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 is a better speaker for most uses than the Anker Soundcore Flare 2. The Ultimate Ears is better-built with a longer battery life. Also, it gets louder, and it has less compression when played at max volume. However, the Anker supports voice assistants, and it also has a graphic EQ and presets for sound customization.
The Anker Soundcore Flare 2 is a slightly better speaker than the Sony SRS-XB23. With its default settings and BassUp feature enabled, the Anker has a better-balanced sound profile that can produce a more extended low-bass. Thanks to its 360-degree design, it has excellent directivity, resulting in a more open and natural-sounding soundstage. That said, the Sony is better-built, and can be paired to up to two devices at once, which can come in handy when you need to quickly switch between audio sources.
The Anker Soundcore Flare 2 is a better speaker than the Anker Souncore 2 overall. WIth its Default EQ and BassUp feature enabled, The Flare 2 has a somewhat better-balanced sound profile that can produce a more extended low-bass than that of the Soundcore 2. Thanks to its 360-degree design, it has better directivity, resulting in a wider and more open-sounding soundstage. It's also more customizable thanks to the graphic EQ and presets featured in its companion app. That said, the Soundcore 2 has less compression present at max volume, resulting in cleaner audio at louder volumes.
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 deisgn.
The Anker Soundcore Flare 2 is a slightly better speaker than the Anker Soundcore Motion Boom, though they have different strengths. The Flare 2 has significantly better directivity thanks to its 360-degree design, resulting in a more natural-sounding soundstage. It's also smaller, making it more portable. That said, the Boom can get much louder with less compression at max volume, resulting in cleaner audio at louder volumes.
You may prefer either the Anker Soundcore Flare 2 or the Sony SRS-XB33 depending on your listening habits. The Anker offers a wider-sounding soundstage thanks to its 360-degree design and has a slightly better-balanced sound profile with its Default EQ and BassUp features enabled. That said, the Sony is better built and can be paired to up to two devices at once, which is handy when you need to quickly switch between audio sources. It also has a longer-lasting battery life, though this can vary depending on your usage.
The Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 and the Anker Soundcore Flare 2 are similar speakers, though they have different strengths. The Ultimate Ears can get a bit louder with significantly less compression present at max volume, so your audio sounds cleaner at louder volumes. It's better-built, and has a longer-lasting battery life, though this can depend on your usage. That said, the Anker has a better-balanced sound profile that can produce a more extended low-bass. It also supports voice assistants through your smartphone, though its performance isn't great.
The Anker Soundcore Flare 2 is a slightly better speaker than the Sony SRS-XB43 overall. The Anker has excellent directivity thanks to its 360-degree design, so its soundstage is perceived as more open and natural-sounding. It also offers a better-balanced sound profile with its BassUp feature enabled, and can produce a more extended low-bass. That said, the Sony can get louder than the Anker. Also, it has a longer-lasting battery life, though this can depend on your usage.
You may prefer either the Bose SoundLink Revolve II or the Anker Soundcore Flare 2, depending on your listening habits. The Anker is more customizable thanks to the graphic EQ and presets featured on its companion app. It can also play stereo content without downmixing it to mono. That said, the Bose can be paired to two devices at once, which can help you swap between audio sources quickly. It also does a better job at letting your paired voice assistant hear you from far and in noisy settings.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Anker Soundcore Flare 2 or the Sonos Roam. The Sonos is better built with a better voice assistant performance. However, the Anker has a better soundstage performance, longer battery life, and more sound customization options.
The Anker Soundcore Flare 2 is a better speaker than the JBL GO 3. The Anker has a more balanced sound profile, and its graphic EQ and presets offer more sound customization options. Its soundstage is better, its battery life is longer, and it supports voice assistants. However, the JBL is better built.
The Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 Gen 2 is a better speaker than the Anker Soundcore Flare 2. The Bang & Olufsen has Alexa built-in and understands voice commands very easily, while the Anker struggles to understand you. The Bang & Olufsen is better built, comes with a carrying strap, and is advertised as dustproof. However, the Anker's battery lasts longer, and it can play stereo content without downmixing it into mono.
The Bose SoundLink Revolve is a better speaker for most uses than the Anker Soundcore Flare 2. The Bose is better-built, and its battery life is longer. Also, it has a more neutral, balanced default sound profile. However, the Anker has a better soundstage, and its graphic EQ and presets offer more sound customization options.
The Anker Soundcore Flare 2 is a better speaker than the OontZ Angle 3. The Anker is better-built, and it supports voice assistants, unlike the OontZ. Its default sound profile is more neutral and its graphic EQ and presets offer more sound customization options. Also, it has a better soundstage. However, the OontZ gets louder, and it has less compression at max volume. Also, its battery life is longer.
The Anker Soundcore Flare 2 is a better speaker than the Theater Solutions B83GR, with a more balanced sound profile. The Anker has a graphic EQ and presets, which are handy if you want to customize its sound. It also supports voice assistants and has an amazing soundstage. However, the B83GR may be better suited for those who prefer a louder speaker with fewer compression artifacts at max volume.
The Anker Soundcore Flare 2 is a better speaker than the Limitless Innovations TikiTunes. The Anker is better-built with a more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box, and it also has a graphic EQ and presets to help you customize its sound. Unlike the TikiTunes, it can play stereo content without downmixing it, and it supports voice assistants from your paired smartphone. That said, the TikiTunes has longer battery life.