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Anker Soundcore Motion Boom Speaker Review

Tested using Methodology v0.8
Reviewed Oct 08, 2021 at 09:32 am
Latest change: Retest Sep 12, 2023 at 11:21 am
Anker Soundcore Motion Boom Picture
6.5
Music
5.6
Videos/Movies
6.7
Podcasts
3.9
Voice Assistant
6.9
Outdoors

The Anker Soundcore Motion Boom is a decently built portable Bluetooth speaker with a built-in carrying handle. It can get pretty loud. With its BassUp feature enabled, the Motion Boom has a balanced mid-range that ensures vocals and lead instruments sound present in the mix, though they can also sound a bit dark. Unfortunately, it struggles to reproduce the deep thump and rumble in low-bass that's typically present in bass-heavy music like hip-hop or EDM. That said, there's a graphic EQ and presets you can use to tweak its sound to your liking.

Our Verdict

6.5 Music

The Anker Soundcore Motion Boom is adequate for music. When placed horizontally and with its BassUp feature enabled, it has a balanced mid-range, so vocals and lead instruments sound present in the mix, though they can also sound a bit dull and veiled. That said, it struggles to reproduce low-bass, so you can't feel the thump and rumble in bass-heavy music like EDM. Fortunately, there's a graphic EQ and presets to customize its sound to your liking. However, it has poor directivity, so its soundstage may be perceived as narrow and directional.

Pros
  • Graphic EQ and presets.
  • Gets loud.
Cons
  • Lacks low-bass.
  • Narrow soundstage.
5.6 Videos/Movies

The Anker Soundcore Motion Boom is disappointing for videos and movies. While it can get pretty loud, there's compression present at max volume, so your audio doesn't sound as clean at louder volumes. With BassUp enabled, it struggles to produce low-bass, so you can't feel the thump and rumble in action-packed scenes. Also, it has high latency with iOS and Android devices, so the sound you hear may not sync with the video you see. That said, some apps compensate for latency differently, and your experience may differ.

Pros
  • Graphic EQ and presets.
  • Gets loud.
Cons
  • Lacks low-bass.
  • Low latency with iOS and Android devices.
  • Narrow soundstage.
6.7 Podcasts

The Anker Soundcore Motion Boom is okay for podcasts. This portable speaker has a balanced mid-range that ensures voices and lead instruments are clearly and accurately reproduced with its BassUp feature enabled. However, higher-pitched voices and instruments can sound dull and veiled. Fortunately, you can tweak its sound to your liking thanks to the graphic EQ and presets in its companion app. It can also get quite loud, though there's some compression present at max volume, so your audio may not sound as clean at louder volumes.

Pros
  • Graphic EQ and presets.
  • Incredibly portable.
Cons
  • Narrow soundstage.
  • Some compression present at max volume.
3.9 Voice Assistant

The Anker Soundcore Motion Boom is poor for voice assistants. It doesn't have any voice assistants built-in, so it uses those that come with your smartphone and struggles to understand your commands from far and in noisy environments. It also has poor directivity, so your voice assistant may not sound as clear from all angles.

Pros
  • Gets loud.
Cons
  • Narrow soundstage.
  • Bad far-field and ambient noise performances.
6.9 Outdoors

The Anker Soundcore Motion Boom is alright for outdoor use. It's decently built and is rated IPX7, meaning it's certified to be immersible for 30 minutes in up to a meter of water. It can get pretty loud, though there's some compression at max volume that may affect the clarity of your audio at louder volumes. It's also remarkably portable and has an incredibly long battery life, making it suitable for long days spent outdoors. That said, battery performance varies depending on usage, and your experience may differ. Unfortunately, it struggles to reproduce a thumpy and rumbling low-bass, even with its BassUp feature enabled. That said, you can customize its sound thanks to its graphic EQ and presets.

Pros
  • IPX7 rating.
  • Incredibly portable.
  • Fantastic Bluetooth range.
Cons
  • Lacks low-bass.
  • Narrow soundstage.
  • Some compression present at max volume.
  • 6.5 Music
  • 5.6 Videos/Movies
  • 6.7 Podcasts
  • 3.9 Voice Assistant
  • 6.9 Outdoors
  1. Updated Sep 12, 2023: Retested the speaker's Battery with BassUP turned on to match our Frequency Response tests. The battery life dropped from 39.9 hours with BassUP off to 22 hours with it on.
  2. Updated Sep 05, 2023: Added market comparison with the Anker Soundcore Motion Boom Plus to the Style box.
  3. Updated Jun 29, 2023: Added market comparison with the Tribit StormBox Blast in the Dynamics box.
  4. Updated May 30, 2023: Added market comparison with the Anker Soundcore Motion X600 in the Build Quality box.
  5. Updated Oct 12, 2021: Retested and confirmed speaker's weight and battery life.
  6. Updated Oct 08, 2021: Review published.
  7. Updated Oct 06, 2021: Early access published.
  8. Updated Sep 29, 2021: Our testers have started testing this product.
  9. Updated Sep 27, 2021: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  10. Updated Sep 24, 2021: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
  11. Updated Sep 20, 2021: The product has won our suggestion poll, so we’ll buy and test it soon.

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Black Soundcore Motion Boom
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants

The Anker Soundcore Motion Boom comes in one color: Black. You can find the label for the model we tested here.

If you come across any other variants of this speaker, let us know in the discussions, and we'll update our review.

Compared To Other Speakers

The Anker Soundcore Motion Boom is a decently built portable Bluetooth speaker with a built-in carrying handle. With its BassUp feature enabled, it has a balanced mid-range, so vocals and lead instruments sound present in the mix, though they can also sound a bit dark. That said, like most speakers its size, it struggles to reproduce a thumpy and rumbling low-bass. Fortunately, there's a graphic EQ and presets in its companion app, meaning you can tweak its sound to your liking. It can also get pretty loud.

See also our recommendations for the best Bluetooth speakers, the best waterproof Bluetooth speakers, and the loudest Bluetooth speakers.

JBL Charge 5

The JBL Charge 5 and the Anker Soundcore Motion Boom are similar speakers. The JBL has a more neutral sound profile out of the box that's suitable for listening to a wide variety of audio content. It's smaller, making it a bit more portable. You can also pair it to up to two devices at once, so you can easily switch between audio sources. That said, the Anker can get louder with less compression at max volume, resulting in cleaner audio at louder volumes. It also supports voice assistants through your smartphone, though its performance isn't great.

JBL Xtreme 3

The JBL Xtreme 3 and the Anker Soundcore Motion Boom are similar speakers with different strengths. The JBL has somewhat better directivity, resulting in a more open-sounding soundstage. It's also better-built and has a shorter charge time, though battery performance can vary depending on usage. That said, the Anker can get louder with less compression present at max volume, resulting in cleaner audio at louder volumes. Its companion app also features additional presets you can use to adjust its sound.

Anker Soundcore Motion+

The Anker Soundcore Motion+ is a better speaker than the Anker Soundcore Motion Boom overall. The Motion+ has better directivity, resulting in a wider-sounding soundstage. You can pair it to up to two devices at once, so you can easily switch between audio sources. Also, it has lower Bluetooth latency with Android devices, making it better-suited for watching videos over this connection. That said, the Motion Boom can get louder with less compression at max volume, resulting in cleaner audio at louder volumes.

JBL Flip 5

The Anker Soundcore Motion Boom is a better speaker than the JBL Flip 5. With BassUp on, the Anker can produce a more extended low-bass than the JBL and can also get louder with less compression present at max volume. You can also customize its sound profile to your liking thanks to the graphic EQ and presets in its Soundcore app, and it has an incredible battery life of almost 40 hours, though this can vary depending on your usage. However, the JBL is smaller and more portable than the Anker. It offers a wider-sounding soundstage and can pair with multiple PartyBoost-compatible JBL speakers at once.

Anker Soundcore Motion Boom Plus

The Anker Soundcore Motion Boom Plus is the more premium cousin to the Anker Soundcore Motion Boom. As its name implies, the Plus is larger and better built. It supports multi-device pairing, too, unlike the standard Boom. Its overall sound quality is a touch improved, too.

Anker Soundcore Motion X600

The Anker Soundcore Motion X600 is better than the Anker Soundcore Motion Boom. They're both portable Bluetooth speakers with solid performances, but the X600 has a better sound quality out of the box. Notably, it has more emphasis in the treble, so its sound is less dull overall. Its Spatial Audio feature allows you to create a more immersive sound overall. It has a better build quality, too.

Tribit StormBox Blast

The Tribit StormBox Blast is better than the Anker Soundcore Motion Boom. The Tribit has a better build quality, and its customizable RGB lights are a nice touch. It gets louder with less compression at max volume, too. It offers a more even sound out-of-the-box, though both speakers have many customization tools to adjust their performance. That said, only the Anker allows for voice assistant support through a paired smartphone.

Anker Soundcore 3

The Anker Soundcore Motion Boom is a better speaker than the Anker Soundcore 3 overall. The Boom can get louder with less compression present at max volume, so your audio sounds cleaner at louder volumes. It can also produce a more extended low-bass with its BassUp feature turned on and has a longer-lasting battery life, though the latter can vary depending on your usage. That said, the Soundcore 3 is smaller, making it more portable than the Boom.

Anker Soundcore Flare 2

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.

Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3

The Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3 is a better speaker than the Anker Soundcore Motion Boom overall, though they have different strengths. The Ultimate Ears is better built and has better directivity thanks to its 360-degree design, so its soundstage is perceived as wider and more spacious-sounding. That said, the Anker has a longer-lasting battery life, though this can depend on your usage, and your experience may vary. With BassUp enabled, it can also produce a more extended low-bass.

Anker Soundcore 2

The Anker Soundcore Motion Boom is a better speaker than the Anker Soundcore 2. With its BassUp feature enabled, the Boom can produce a more extended low-bass. You can tweak its sound profile to your liking, thanks to the graphic EQ and presets featured in its companion app. It can also get louder. That said, the Soundcore 2 is smaller, making it more portable.

Sony SRS-XB43

The Sony SRS-XB43 is a slightly better speaker than the Anker Soundcore Motion Boom. With its 'EXTRA BASS' and 'ClearAudio+' features enabled, the Sony has a somewhat better-balanced sound profile. It's also better built and can be paired to up to two devices at once, which can come in handy when you frequently need to switch between audio sources. That said, the Anker is smaller, more portable, and has a longer-lasting battery life, though battery life can vary depending on your usage, and your experience may differ.

Bushnell Wingman

The Anker Soundcore Motion Boom is a better speaker than the Bushnell Wingman for music overall. With its BassUp feature enabled, it has a better-balanced sound profile that can produce a more extended low-bass. You can customize its sound to your liking thanks to the graphic EQ and presets featured in its companion app. It's also rated IPX7 for water resistance and is advertised to float in water. That said the Bushnell is smaller, making it more portable. It also has less compression present at max volume, resulting in cleaner audio when the volume is maxed out. It also has golf-oriented capabilities. There's a built-in GPS, and you can use its companion app to record your scores and calculate yardages.

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Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
RGB Lights No

The Anker Soundcore Motion Boom is a medium-sized speaker meant to be placed horizontally, though you can also place it vertically. It comes with a built-in carrying handle to help with transporting it. It's smaller and more compact than the Anker Soundcore Motion Boom Plus.

8.9
Design
Portability
Volume
352 in³ (5,775 cm³)
Weight
3.4 lbs (1.5 kg)
Power Source
Battery & USB
One-Hand Carry
Yes

The Anker Soundcore Motion Boom outdoor speaker is amazingly portable. It's battery-powered and has a built-in carrying handle, so you can easily carry it with one hand and take it outdoors with you when you're on the go.

7.0
Design
Build Quality
Material Quality
Decent
Water Resistance
Submersible (IPx7)
Dust Resistance
Unspecified
Impact Resistance
Unspecified
Floats In Water
Yes

The Anker Soundcore Motion Boom outdoor speaker is decently built. It's mostly made of plastic and feels pretty solid, though its finish doesn't give it a premium look, especially compared to speakers like the Anker Soundcore Motion X600. It's rated IPX7 for water resistance, so it's certified to be immersible in a meter of water for up to 30 minutes. There are passive radiators located on either side of the speaker for the bass, and a metal grille protects its drivers. Its ports are protected by a thick rubber flap on its rear, and you can find its rubberized buttons atop the speaker.

7.9
Design
Controls
Ease Of Use
Great
Feedback
Good
Music Play/Pause
Yes (Physical)
Call Answer/End
Yes (Physical)
Volume Up/Down
Yes (Physical)
Track Next/Previous
Yes (Physical)
Microphone On/Off
No
Additional Controls
Yes

The Anker Soundcore Motion Boom has very good rubberized controls that are clicky and easy to press. You can press the multifunction button to play/pause your audio, accept or decline a call, and activate your paired voice assistant. You can also double-press it to skip tracks and triple-press it to backtrack. There are + and - buttons to control its volume and a TWS button to connect the speaker to another Motion Boom speaker to create a stereo pair. There's a Bass button you can use to enable its BassUp feature when you want to add extra punch to your audio.

Its Bluetooth button flashes a blue light when it's in pairing mode and turns solid when paired to your device. Also, its power button blinks red when its battery is running low, turns solid red when it's reached half of its charge, and turns solid white when it's fully charged. Unfortunately, there isn't a way to know the speaker's exact battery level, though there's a small icon in its companion app that indicates it.

Design
In The Box

  • Anker Soundcore Motion Boom speaker
  • USB-C to USB-A charging cable
  • Quick start guide

Sound
6.4
Sound
Frequency Response Accuracy
Slope
-0.36
Std. Err.
4.95 dB
Low-Frequency Extension
55.0 Hz
High-Frequency Extension
14.7 kHz

The Anker Soundcore Motion Boom's frequency response accuracy is alright. With the speaker placed horizontally and its BassUp feature enabled, it has a balanced mid-range that ensures vocals and lead instruments are reproduced clearly. However, the underemphasis in the treble range causes higher-pitched vocals and instruments to sound dull and veiled. Like most speakers its size, the Motion Boom also lacks low-bass, so you can't feel the deep thump and rumble in bass-heavy music like hip-hop and EDM. Fortunately, there's a graphic EQ and presets in its companion that you can use to tweak its sound to your liking.

Sound
Raw Frequency Response
Binaural Recording @ 1m
Binaural Recording @ 2m
6.1
Sound
Soundstage
Directivity Index
7.24 dB
Stereo
Yes

The Anker Soundcore Motion Boom has a passable soundstage. While it can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono, it has poor directivity, so your audio may not sound as clear from all angles.

7.2
Sound
Dynamics
SPL @ Max Volume
93.1 dB SPL
DRC @ Max Volume
2.78 dB

This speaker has decent dynamics. It can get loud, making it suitable for use at parties or outdoors. That said, some compression artifacts are present at max volume, so your audio may not sound as clean during louder listening sessions. If you want an even louder speaker, check out the Tribit StormBox Blast.

Active Features
7.7
Active Features
Battery
Battery Life
22.0 hrs
Charge Time
6.1 hrs
Power Saving
Yes
Charging Port
USB-C
Battery Powered
Yes

The manufacturer advertises this speaker to last 24 hours on a single charge. We tested it with the BassUP feature turned on, and its battery lasted 22 hours. That said, battery performance can vary depending on your usage, and your real-world experience may vary. For example, when we tested it with the BassUP feature turned off, its battery lasted 39.9 hours, which is even more impressive. You can even set its power-saving feature to turn off the device following 5, 10, 30, or 60 minutes of inactivity when it isn't connected to a power source.

2.6
Active Features
Voice Assistant
Alexa
No
Google Assistant
Yes (Requires Smartphone)
Speakerphone
Yes
Siri
Yes (Requires Smartphone)
Voice Assistant
Yes
Voice Activation
No
Microphone Mute
No
Far-Field Performance
Mediocre
Ambient Noise Performance
Bad

The Anker Soundcore Motion Boom's voice assistant performance is bad. It uses the voice assistants that come with your smartphone and struggles to understand your commands from far and in noisier settings.

6.3
Active Features
App
App Name
Soundcore
iOS
Yes
Android
Yes
EQ
Graphic + Presets
Stereo Pair Mode
Yes
Party Mode
No
Multi-Room
No

The Anker Soundcore Motion Boom's Soundcore companion app is alright. It's compatible with iOS and Android devices and features a graphic EQ to tweak its sound to your liking. There are also four EQ presets you can choose from: 'Soundcore Signature', 'Voice', 'Treble Boost', and 'Balanced'. That said, while you can pair this speaker to another Motion Boom to create a stereo pair, the app doesn't come with Party Mode or Multi-Room features to connect it to multiple speakers at once.

Connectivity
Connectivity
Wired
Aux Input
No
USB Audio
No
Other Ports
Yes

The Anker Soundcore Motion Boom comes with a USB-C input to charge the speaker. Thanks to its USB-A port, you can even use the speaker to charge your other devices. That said, it doesn't come with AUX or USB Audio ports to play your audio from older devices via a wired connection.

6.7
Connectivity
Bluetooth
Bluetooth
Yes
Bluetooth Version
5.0
Bluetooth iOS Latency
297 ms
Bluetooth Android Latency
223 ms
Bluetooth Range
193.6 ft (59.0 m)
Multi-Device Pairing
No

The Anker Soundcore Motion Boom outdoor speaker has an alright Bluetooth performance. It has an outstanding range, so your paired device can remain connected to the speaker, even when it's far from it. However, it has high latency with iOS and Android devices, which can cause syncing issues between audio and visuals, so it isn't suitable for watching videos and movies over this connection. That said, some apps compensate for latency differently, and your real-world experience may differ.

0
Connectivity
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi Version
No Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi Frequency Band
No Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi
No
Apple AirPlay
No
AirPlay Latency
N/A
Google Chromecast
No
Chromecast Latency
N/A