The Anker Soundcore Select 2S is a budget portable speaker offering from Anker. Despite its diminutive size, the manufacturer advertises that its 'Bass Up' technology will coax some extra bass from its small frame. Its dual-driver design means that it can playback stereo content without downmixing to mono, and there are sound customization options available through the companion app, too, which is rare at this price point.
Our Verdict
The Anker Soundcore Select 2S is middling for music. Its small size means that it's not capable of outputting much bass, even with the 'Bass Up' function engaged, and its treble range leans towards sounding muffled and veiled. However, it reproduces mid-range content, like vocals and speech, in a balanced and detailed way. You can always adjust the sound further through the graphic EQ and presets in the app, too. Though this speaker is capable of playing back stereo content without downmixing to mono, its directivity isn't the best, so you'll need to be careful about positioning yourself around the speaker. While it doesn't get too loud, there's minimal compression at max volume.
Graphic EQ and presets in the app.
Directivity isn't the best.
Can't get very loud.
Veiled treble response and underemphasized bass.
The Anker Soundcore Select 2S is disappointing for videos and movies. It lacks boom and rumble in the bass range, meaning cinematic sequences lack a bit of oomph. Its directivity isn't the best either, so not everyone watching a movie will enjoy the same audio reproduction. It also can't get very loud, and its latency via iOS and Android devices is high enough that you could notice lip-sync issues. That said, its balanced mid-range helps render dialogue in speech in great detail, and there isn't a great deal of compression at max volume.
Graphic EQ and presets in the app.
Can't get very loud.
Veiled treble response and underemphasized bass.
The Anker Soundcore Select 2S is okay for podcasts. Its balanced mid-range adds plenty of detail to your favorite podcast hosts' voices, and you can even enable the 'Voice' EQ preset in the app for better dialogue accentuation. It's portable enough to be carried around from place to place and can get loud enough to be audible in the same room while you do chores. That said, its directivity isn't the best, so you'll have to position yourself intentionally to get the best sound.
Very portable design.
14 hours of continuous battery life.
Directivity isn't the best.
Can't get very loud.
The Anker Soundcore Select 2S doesn't have any voice assistant capabilities, so it's not suitable for this use.
The Anker Soundcore Select 2S is decent for outdoor use. It's well-built, extremely portable, and rugged, with an IPX7 rating that ensures it can survive everything from a light shower to temporary submersion underwater. Its 14-hour battery life means it can go on a weekend trip without needing to pack the charging cable, too. That said, it can't get particularly loud, and its directivity isn't the best, so not everyone will enjoy consistent sound in an outdoor setting.
Very portable design.
IPX7 rating against water damage.
14 hours of continuous battery life.
Directivity isn't the best.
Can't get very loud.
No Bluetooth multi-device pairing.
Changelog
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Updated Oct 31, 2025:
The binaural recordings (in Raw Frequency Response) were re-uploaded to correct a volume dip in the original files. The Bluetooth version was corrected to state '5.3.' The Controls and App boxes were updated to explain how to create a stereo pair.
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Updated Jul 22, 2025:
We've updated the Bluetooth box to indicate that this speaker uses Bluetooth version 5.3, rather than 5.4 as we previously indicated.
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Updated Apr 15, 2025:
We updated this speaker's firmware to 2.1.2 and re-measured its frequency response. But, as we outline in the Frequency Response Accuracy section of this review, the resulting difference in frequency responses is too small to change our scoring or assessment of this speaker.
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Updated Nov 15, 2024:
We referenced the Anker Soundcore Select 4 Go in the Build Quality box.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Anker Soundcore Select 2S comes in three color variants: 'Black,' 'White,' and '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 Select 2S is one of the cheapest Bluetooth speakers available on the market today, making it a solid option for those on a budget who want something portable and rugged. It has a similar battery life and sound profile to the slightly more expensive Anker Soundcore 3, but the Soundcore Select 2S boasts a better build quality and dynamics performance. It's challenging to find a speaker at the same price point that offers comparable features and performance. The JBL Go 4 retails for slightly more, but it lacks the Anker's long continuous battery life and produces even less bass. It is a little more portable and ruggedly built, though.
Check out our recommendations for the best Bluetooth speakers, the best waterproof Bluetooth speakers, and the best budget and cheap speakers.
The Anker Soundcore Select 4 Go is a better speaker for most use cases than the Anker Soundcore Select 2S. The Select 4 Go has a more balanced mid-range and a flatter treble, so cymbals aren't dulled slightly like they are when listening via the Select 2S. The Select 4 Go is also rated against dust ingress and is more portable than the Select 2S, so it's a better choice for taking on a hike with you. On the other hand, the Select 2S has a longer battery life and can reproduce stereo audio, although since the two drivers are positioned so close together, you don't get much of a sense of width.
The Anker Soundcore Select 2S is a cheaper alternative to the Anker Soundcore 3, with comparable performance and features. Though both feature Anker's 'Bass Up' function, neither speaker is capable of outputting much bass. The Soundcore 3 has a more balanced sound profile overall, though, and features some rudimentary voice assistant implementation. The two have comparable battery lives and a similar build quality; however, the Soundcore Select 2S has a better dynamics performance
The JBL Go 4 and the Anker Soundcore Select 2S are both good options if you're looking for a portable speaker on a budget. While the JBL has greater portability and a more rugged build quality going for it, its battery life is considerably shorter than the Anker's, and it outputs even less bass. Both speakers feature sound customization options via their respective companion apps, though this won't help you overcome sound limitations that stem from their design.
If you're not constrained by budget, the JBL Flip 6 offers quite a bit of value over the Anker Soundcore Select 2S for the additional outlay. Despite being roughly the same size, the JBL has a better build quality and a more balanced frequency response, with more bass on tap. It also has better connectivity options, as you can pair two devices at once via Bluetooth and form a stereo pair with a host of different JBL speakers via the companion app. That said, the Anker is able to deliver a longer battery life and a better dynamics performance at a lower price point, which makes it a solid choice for those who want an outdoor speaker on a budget.
Test Results
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