Ultimate Ears Everboom: Two-minute review

It would have been very easy for the Ultimate Ears Everboom to falter. Given UE’s storied reputation among the best Bluetooth speakers around, we knew the Everboom would be a solid speaker, but sandwiched between the Ultimate Ears Megaboom (now into its fourth iteration, launched alongside this model) and the inaugural 2023 Ultimate Ears Epicboom it would be easy to get lost in the noise. Would people opt for the more affordable downgrade or be compelled to bypass this and pick up the beefier party-ready option? 

That would be a shame, because the Everboom finds its niche as a near-powerhouse that isn’t a challenge to carry around – in large part thanks to its surprisingly lightweight 960g build and metal carabiner clip replacing the Epicboom’s flimsy strap.

Sonically the Everboom isn’t perfect – at max volume subtle distortions creep in, and audiophiles will notice tunes aren’t as expansive and neutral as when using more premium speakers – but to say it gets the job done would be an understatement. Whether you’re looking to keep guests entertained at a party or kick back to a podcast after a long day, the Ultimate Ears Everboom’s room-filling 360-degree sound has your back. It can do so for hours too, with a decently long 20-hour max battery life.

And if things go awry at the party, the Everboom is designed to survive smaller drops and lengthier dunks – it’s IP67 rated and floats – which makes it the perfect companion on an adventure where anything can happen.

Just note that the Everboom lacks music over Wi-Fi support (unlike the Sonos Roam 2, say) and doesn’t have a 3.5mm aux port, which means your only option is a Bluetooth connection for playing tracks, and you won't be disappointed. 

At $249.99 / £249.99 / AU$349 there’s a lot of competition. For your home you could snag a Sonos Era 10 from our best wireless speakers list, you might like the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 (2nd Gen) from the best Bluetooth speakers we’ve tested, or you could go for the more affordable route and pick up the UE Wonderboom 3 (or recently released Wonderboom 4) for $99.99 / £89.99 / AU$149. 

Then again, the Ultimate Ears Everboom does stand up for itself, boasting a ruggedness and performance combination that many rivals can’t match. Whether you’re after a new best party speaker, or simply want an all rounder audio gadget then you’ll find the Everboom won’t steer you wrong. 

Ultimate Ears Everboom review: Price & availability

• Released in US and UK June 26, 2024
• Released in Australia July 22, 2024
• $249.99 / £249.99 / AU$349

The Ultimate Ears Everboom launched in June 2024 in the US and UK at $249.99 / £249.99, landing a little later on July 22 in Australia at AU$349. 

This places the speaker firmly between the UE Megaboom models at $199.99 / £169.99 / $349.95 (at least in the US and UK, we’re not sure why the Australian prices of the two models are the same) and the pricier UE Epicboom that released at $349 / £340 / AU$499 in terms of cost, performance, and size.

There are currently two color options to choose from: the Charcoal Black with lime accents, and Azure Blue with light blue accents. Later in the year Ultimate Ears will launch two further colorways: Raspberry Red with light blue accents and Enchanting Lilac with lime accents.

Ultimate Ears Everboom review: Specs

Ultimate Ears Everboom review: Design

• Big but still portable
• IP67 dust and waterproof rating
• Carabiner clip is a useful tool

As with all other current Ultimate Ear speakers (and plenty of rival options these days), the Everboom has an IP67 waterproof rating. This means it’s dustproof and can survive for up to 30 minutes submerged in water at depth of up to 1m – though because this speaker also floats (I checked; it does in my bathtub) you shouldn’t ever have to go diving deep to find it.

We wouldn’t recommend using the speaker while it’s floating, as the audio quality takes a noticeable hit, but this feature makes it a perfect option for outdoor parties. Has someone accidentally kicked the Everboom into the pool? Has it fallen off your boat into the lake, or has the sky let loose a torrential downpour? With these features it’s easy to rescue the speaker well before it can get damaged – just remember to give it a rinse in clean freshwater if it's taken a dip, to prevent long-term salt or chlorine damage.

It also has a familiar aesthetic design – especially to the ovaloid Epicboom. It features the same iconic large volume buttons on its front face, and basic controls on its top face – one button each for power, Bluetooth, Outdoor Boost, and play/pause. The USB-C port can be found at the back on its base with a nifty guard to keep water out.

Though the similarities with the Epicboom end when it comes to portability. The Everboom is smaller than UE’s Epicboom at just 11.0 cm x 8.5 cm x 20.5 cm and  fairly light – coming in at 960g – though it is nevertheless going to be a challenge to shove this speaker into an already well-stocked bag if you want to travel with it – which is where the nifty carabiner clip comes in.

You can either secure it to a rucksack’s exterior, or (as I’ve frequently used it) clip it onto a belt loop to easily carry the Ultimate Ears Everboom with you wherever you go; with the added benefit of simultaneously enjoying music or podcasts through your speaker without giving up a free hand to carry it.

• Design score: 5/5

Ultimate Ears Everboom review: Features

• 20-hour battery life
• App unlocks a megaphone and equalizer
• No 3.5mm port, or microphones

The Ultimate Ears Everboom is full of neat features, though to access a lot of them you’ll need to install the UE Boom app on your phone (it’s available on iPhone and Android).

This is true for the equalizer – a control panel that lets you choose presets for specific listening experiences such as “Bass Boost” or “Podcast/Vocal”,  and gives you the option to customize the Everboom’s sound profile as you see fit; PartyUp that lets you pair multiple compatible Ultimate Ears speakers to play music through them all at the same time, and if you have two Everbooms they’ll work as a stereo pair; and the new Megaphone feature (which has arrived to other UE speakers too) which lets you talk into your phone’s mic to blast a message through your Everboom.

You don’t need the app for every tool though. An in-built NFC feature lets you instantly pair the Everboom to an NFC-compatible smartphone (running Android 8.0 or later) by touching it to the speaker’s top. There’s also an Outdoor Boost mode which diverts power away from frequencies that don’t travel well outdoors so the speaker can get a little louder (reaching a max of 91dBC instead of 90dBC).

The UE Everboom does lack a few features. You won’t find a 3.5mm port, or any microphones (removing any potential for this doubling as a smart speaker) – and it also lacks Wi-Fi connectivity.

Lacking these tools won’t be a deal breaker for many, but the Ultimate Ears Everboom doesn’t do a lot beyond being 'just' a Bluetooth speaker – albeit a great one.

• Features score: 3.5/5

Ultimate Ears Everboom review: Sound quality

Having a neat design and nifty features is certainly a bonus to any sound system, but we all know the most important factor to any speaker is its sound; on this front the Ultimate Ears Everboom serves up a storm.

Firstly, this thing can get monstrously loud with its max 90dBC volume (91dBC using Outdoor Boost, more on that in the Features section). This is louder than you’ll ever really need – for context, while using the Everboom in my flat I hover around two-fifths of the max volume and have only ever cranked it louder while I’m outdoors ignoring some tests I did for this review (apologies to my neighbors if you’re reading this weren’t out at work like I hoped you all were when I cranked the Everboom up).

Secondly, the Ultimate Ears Everboom delivers a very compelling audio performance, proving it can deliver quality not just quantity. Admittedly at the loudest volumes we detected a little distortion creeping in, but at most normal listening levels you're served a well mixed sound buffet.

Sabrina Carpenter’s pop hit Please, Please, Please is crafted with precision – her vocals are bright and crisp; the bombastic Tokyo Drifting by Glass Animals is delivered with an emphatic albeit not overpowering bass; meanwhile the instrumental layers in the jazz standard Caravan (I recently rewatched Whiplash, and the soundtrack has been a recent musical obsession of mine) are simultaneously distinct yet not at war with each other. Though there were occasions I felt the sound could be fuller and more warm.

Lastly, this speaker’s 360-degree soundstage can’t go unnoticed. It’s hardly a unique feature of modern Bluetooth speakers, but its ability to serve the same high-quality performance in every direction is nevertheless commendable.

• Sound quality score: 4/5

Ultimate Ears Everboom review: Value

At $249.99 / £249.99 / AU$349 isn't the priciest Bluetooth speaker out there, but isn't what we'd call budget either. Materials and design-wise it does look and feel premium, and while it lacks high-end fetaures like Wi-Fi connectivity, that's hardly the end of the world.

In terms of sound there are speakers that offer a better overall performance at this price (even though the Everboom does a great job), but they lack the portability and/or the ruggedness and waterproofness afforded by the the Everboom making it something of a jack of all trades. 

If that's what you're after it's solid value, but if you're searching for a speaker that is better for at-home sound and can piggyback on your home's Wi-Fi network, you'll want something different – perhaps from Sonos, perhaps one of our best wireless speakers recommendations. 

• Value score: 4/5

Should you buy the Ultimate Ears Everboom?

Buy it if… 

Don’t buy it if… 

Also Consider

How I tested the Ultimate Ears Everboom

• Tested for two weeks
• Listened against the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom, and Sonos Beam (Gen 2) and Sonos Sub
• Used at home, in a garden, and on the beach

To get a sense of this portable speaker's energy and stamina, I made sure to test it in a variety of environments to match up with how you might want to use it. I spent a lot of time with it at home but also took it outside into my garden and on a quick trip to the beach to see how it fared sonically and how often it needed charging.

This also included dropping it into a filled bathtub to make sure it floats as Ultimate Ears had promised  –  and thankfully it did, otherwise this would have been a short review. Quick note, make sure you dry it before leaving it on your desk as I came back to quite the puddle.

Music-wise I made sure to put the Ultimate Ears Everboom through its paces using a wide array of genres – everything from hip-hop to metal, as well as podcasts and a couple of films – to see if this speaker would get tripped up anywhere.

Read more about how we test

• First reviewed: July 2024

The Sony XB100 was first made available in mid-2023 and is currently priced at a reasonable $49.99 / £44.99 / AU$66. It would appear that Sony made a few sacrifices to lower the cost, but that doesn’t mean this speaker isn’t good value for money.

The small print on the Sony website states that the XB100 has up to 16 hours of battery life when the volume is set to 36. Whether that’s the volume level (the volume gauge on the app isn’t numbered), or volume percentage, there’s no easy, if any, way to accurately determine. So instead, I tested the speaker at 50% volume and it reduced by 20% in just under three and a half hours, suggesting that the speaker could last up to the stated 16 hours of playtime.

As well as using this Bluetooth speaker to listen to music and podcasts, you can also use the XB100 for hands-free phone calls. To vie for a spot in our best Bluetooth speakers buying guide, it has a feature called Echo Cancelling that is designed to allow two people to speak at once without muting either of them.

If you read my Sony ULT Field 7 review, you’ll already know I’m not a fan of the unintuitive and laggy Sony Music Center app. While you can sync the XB100 to the app and view the speaker’s battery level, other than that, it only gives shortcuts to open your installed music apps on your device. There are no adjustable EQ settings or additional features. Although the XB100 delivers a fairly well-rounded listening experience, it definitely would have been an advantage to have the ability to make adjustments to the treble and bass levels at times.

This lack of features is a shame considering another similarly priced speaker, the JBL Go 4, does have app-based customizable settings. Despite this, overall the XB100 still came out on top in my comparison of the Sony XB100 and JBL Go 4 Bluetooth speakers thanks to the sound quality. Elsewhere, the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3, although devoid of companion app, does tote an effective outdoor boost button on the underside, for tweaking the sound to your surroundings.

If your priority is premium sound quality, this probably isn’t the speaker for you. While it does deliver adequate bass and nice-sounding vocals, the highs are lacking somewhat. This is partly down to the full-range driver facing upwards, as the speaker is situated on the top of the XB100. This upward trajectory muddies the sound, although there is a noticeable improvement if you angle the speaker to face you directly. 

This inability to successfully provide higher-range frequencies in its upright position is particularly obvious when listening to Rains Again by Solji. The delicate rain sounds at the beginning of the track are practically inaudible when playing at 50% volume, and that isn’t because this little speaker is quiet – it can reach a good level of volume. At 50% the XB100 fills an average-sized living room with plenty of sound to dance around to.

Treble trouble aside, mid-frequency vocals were delivered well, so listening to podcasts was enjoyable. The speaker's ability to handle low frequencies was particularly apparent when listening to Angel by Massive Attack, providing a bassline that was deep and ominous. The XB100 continued to impress when pounding out the bass in I Believe in a Thing Called Love by the Darkness, and Black Eye by Allie X. When the speaker was placed on the floor, I could feel the vibrations through the floor from about a meter away. 

The amount of mid-range details that the XB100 could convey was notable, too. When listening to Algorithm by Muse, Matt Bellamy’s voice comes through with plenty of depth and detail; however, the bass does overshadow the vocals at times. This is where different EQ profiles would have come in handy.

The purpose of this speaker is to deliver 360-degree omnidirectional sound (if you placed it in the middle of a picnic, say), which it certainly does, making it a good choice for small gatherings or if you just fancy some background music while you potter about.

This speaker was designed to be easy to carry and durable, with a soft plastic outer and a waterproof and dustproof rating of IP67; however, it looks utilitarian, and shows fingerprints easily, at least in the case of the Black sample I was given. Sony has attempted to jazz things up a little by offering some brightly colored orange and blue options, which do look a bit more interesting than the Black or Light Grey, but the overall design is still on the bland side. Although if that’s the cost to get an IP67 rating, it’s worth it.

With the XB100, Sony has taken a welcomed sustainable approach, avoiding plastic in their packaging and utilizing recycled plastics in parts of the body and multiway strap. The versatile strap looks like it’d be easy to attach to your backpack or hang inside a tent if you want to listen to some tunes on your adventures. 

All things considered, the XB100 provides a satisfyingly well-rounded listening experience for the price. For only $49.99 / £44.99 / AU$66, we can’t expect the world from this speaker, but if you’re looking for a compact and portable Bluetooth speaker to take your tunes wherever you go, or one of the best waterproof speakers for pool-side gatherings, the Sony XB100 has got you covered – and for not much money.

Sony XB100 review: Price and availability

• $49.99 (usual price $59.99)/ £44.99 / AU$66
• Available now

The Sony XB100 was first released in the US in May 2023, Australia in June 2023, and the UK in August 2023. It is currently retailing at £44.99 / AU$66, and is on sale in the US for $49.99, with a non-sale price of $59.99. 

As one would expect from this low price, it can’t compete with the amazing sound quality and features available from other Bluetooth speakers such as the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 or the Sonos Roam. No, it doesn't sound as good as its twice-the-price JBL Flip 6 rival, but that doesn’t mean the Sony XB100 isn’t good value for money, if this is where your budget maxes out… 

Sony XB100 review: Specs

Should I buy the Sony XB100?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Sony XB100 review: Also consider

How I tested the Sony XB100

• Tested the speaker for two weeks
• Listened to a variety of music genres and podcasts
• Played music continuously to determine battery usage

I tested the Sony XB100 for two weeks. I listened to a variety of music genres, as well as the TechRadar testing playlist that includes tracks ranging from complex and layered instrumentals, deep bass, and delicate vocals to enable me to determine the speaker's ability to handle different frequencies.

While I am fully committed and would have listened for the full 16 hours, I’m not sure the other folks on my commute would have been too amused. Instead, I observed the time it took for the battery level to reduce by 20% when playing continuously at 50% volume to get the best idea of how long it would take for the battery to run out of juice. 

I used it to listen to music and podcasts in the TechRadar office, our music testing room, and at home, using Spotify and Tidal from an iPhone 12 Pro and a OnePlus Pad Go.

• First reviewed: June 2024
• Read TechRadar's Reviews Guarantee

Indeed, alongside the much-anticipated reveal of the Sonos Ace, the audio brand quietly dropped the second-generation Roam. The Sonos Roam 2 sticks with a compact, ultra-portable design that doesn’t take many big swings. Moreover, the price is still $179 / £179 / AU$299.

I’ve had the opportunity to spend a few days with one – and no, that isn’t enough time for a full review yet. So, for now, I’m not going to go deep into the sound quality or battery life, but these are my early first impressions of the Roam 2. Sonos made one big change that really makes a good wireless speaker even better.

Finally, a Bluetooth button

As I alluded to above, Sonos added a button here. You may recall that the first generation Roam only had a single button at the back, which was used for powering up the speaker and swapping to a Bluetooth connection. It was easy to cause fumbles in that you couldn’t just get set up with a simple press right out of the box but rather needed to add it to the broader Sonos wireless ecosystem. Remember, the Roam, and now Roam 2, doubles as a Bluetooth and Wi-Fi speaker. 

The fix? Sonos added a dedicated Bluetooth button on the back, and folks, it gets the job done. I simply powered on the Roam 2, in this lovely shade of blue named “Wave,” and was off to the races. I then held the Bluetooth button for a second or two and connected to the device from my iPhone. Within seconds, I was able to stream Ghosts by Bruce Springsteen and So American by Olivia Rodrigo. It was as easy as that; the Roam 2 really does the job of being just a Bluetooth speaker much better and more succinctly than its predecessor. 

Of course, when it comes time to add the speaker to the Sonos ecosystem, the app – yes, the new one – will guide you through that process. For me, I had to hold the volume up and volume down buttons on the top of the Roam for a few seconds, and then it was added to my Sonos ecosystem. 

Aesthetically, the Bluetooth button is the only major change to the Roam 2. There is still a USB-C port on the back, which is still fit for only charging, and the power button. The top is also home to the same four physical buttons as the original: microphone on or off, volume down, play or pause, and volume up. The front grille still features a Sonos logo, but it doesn’t stick out as much since it’s painted to match the color of your speaker. 

The Roam 2 can still rock, and the battery is rated at the same 10 hours

The original Roam wasn’t shy about producing vibrant, loud sound, and from listening to a few songs on the Roam 2, it still meets that level. TechRadar actually called the original “the best Bluetooth speaker on the planet,” and while there are more competitors, the Roam 2 is setting itself up for high performance.

While playing Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen, the speaker mimics the wall of sound effect quite nicely, letting you hear the various elements of the mix. “Racing in the Street” sounds powerful, highlighting the piano, Springtseen’s vocals, and the clash of the rest of the band kicking in – saxophone, bass, backing guitars, and drums all at once. 

It also handles pop music well, like bad idea right? by Olivia Rodrigo and I Can Do It With a Broken Heart by Taylor Swift. Both vocals come through clearly, regardless of where they fall in the range. The Roam 2 also does an excellent job of producing the rest of the mix with fairly clear separation.

Again, these are not final thoughts, but the Sonos Roam 2 sounds great, and I look forward to testing it in the elements as I journey down to the Jersey Shore. It's IPX67-rated and can handle dirt, sand, and water. 

What I haven’t been able to test fully or all that much as of yet is the battery life. Sonos promises it still meets 10 hours of playback, but in the world of Bluetooth speakers, that really isn’t all that long. I’m hopeful that maybe there are some under-the-hood improvements, but at the minimum, I hope it meets the full promise for playback. Again, volume and Bluetooth vs Wi-Fi connection will impact this.

The outlook

From a selection of new shades to keeping with the audio quality we’ve come to expect, the Sonos Roam 2 is making an excellent first impression. I especially like the “Wave” blue option and appreciate that it’s not a hassle to set up if I’m only looking for Bluetooth. I also think that makes it more appealing to folks outside the Sonos ecosystem. 

So, while it’s not a redesign, adding more audio hardware, or even a bigger battery, it’s a solid quality of life improvement that may encourage you to get a Roam 2 if you’ve been waiting or might make you give a Sonos speaker a chance. 

If you’re already sold, Sonos is already taking orders and shipping the Roam 2 in five shades: Black, White, Olive, Sunset, or Wave.

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Anker Soundcore Boom 2: Two-minute review

Anker Soundcore Boom 2 offers enough quality to get the party started, especially given its relatively low price. The chunky Bluetooth speaker’s main draw is its ability to plate up impactful deep bass tones, with its BassUp feature able to pump this up further. 

In addition, the Soundcore Boom 2 keeps pace with a number of pricier options among the best Bluetooth speakers when it comes to battery life, offering a playtime of up to 24 hours.

As a lower-cost option, however, the Boom 2 sometimes compromises on quality, with the mid-range and high frequencies lacking crisp definition, especially at louder volumes. It’s not exactly the best-looking Bluetooth speaker either, though its built-in Light Show feature with customizable settings may add a splash of excitement for some. 

One slightly disappointing aspect is the Soundcore Boom 2’s lack of a dustproof rating, despite Soundcore pitching it as a beachside companion. It is, however, waterproof and floatable, making it a worthy candidate for a pool party, and an option for those looking at the best waterproof speakers. Being boyant also means it's quite light in weight for a chunky speaker, which means it's portable – a big plus.

With Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity and simple button controls, the Boom 2 is super-easy to set up and operate. If you want to get more out of it, the free-to-download Soundcore app enables users to flick through Light Show options and calibrate EQ settings to their liking (which can help improve the sonic balance a lot). 

Despite some shortcomings when it comes to how it sounds, the Boom 2 has a decent amount of power. If you’re not overly concerned with top-quality audio and want a powerful Bluetooth speaker that can cut through loud background noise while being more portable than most of its direct competitors, the Boom 2 makes for a solid pick. For those who like a more rounded sound, the JBL Charge 5 is about the same price, and will give you that – but it lacks the same level of bass thump and the useful carry handle.

Anker Soundcore Boom 2 review: Price and release date

• Released on March 6, 2024
• Price: $129.99 / £119.99 / AU$219.99

The Soundcore Boom 2 is well-priced for a larger portable wireless speaker, carrying an asking price of $129.99 / £119.99 / AU$219.99. That’s just $30 more than its predecessor, the Soundcore Motion Boom, despite the newer model offering double the output power (without BassUp enabled), new drivers, and more versatile multi-speaker pairing (via PartyCast 2.0).

By comparison, our highly recommended JBL Charge 5 can sometimes be found at around $10 more, so there are similarly affordable alternatives out there. For $70 / £42 (about AU$80) more, you could pick up the Tribit Stormbox Blast speaker, which is a bit bulkier, but offers awesome sound quality and still with buckets of bass.

Anker Soundcore Boom 2 review: Specs

Anker Soundcore Boom 2 review: Features

• BassUp bass-boosting feature
• 24 hours of playtime
• Adjustable Light Show settings

The Soundcore Boom 2 houses a 50W subwoofer alongside two 15W tweeters, meaning that its output can hit 80W. However, this 80W output is only achievable when the Boom 2’s BassUp feature is activated, which serves up a “punchy bass” according to Soundcore. I’d agree here, to a degree; the Soundcore Boom 2 is clearly designed around delivering a solid deep bass listening experience – more on this later.

Utilizing the BassUp function doesn’t come without a downside, however, as it causes the Soundcore Boom 2’s playtime to deplete faster. For reference, the model has a playtime of up to 24 hours per charge, which is a good amount of time for a speaker of its size. I found that it took over five hours of playing music at 30% volume for it to drop 20% of its battery (as rated by the app, using its crude system of five battery bars – I would much prefer an actual percentage). It certainly appears to live up to its battery claims.

As is the case with BassUp, users should be warned that the Soundcore Boom 2’s Light Show option also drains battery faster – a feature which may not be to everyone’s tastes, although there is an option to switch it off entirely.

Light Show has seven settings: Energy, Fireworks, Flame, Flash, Lightning, Rainbow, and Wave. Each setting syncs with bass audio, which is more apparent with options such as Flame than with others, like Fireworks. The Soundcore app enables you to alter the colors used in each Light Show configuration, adjust brightness levels, or turn the LED lights off entirely. You can also switch between Light Show settings by holding the speaker’s BassUp button, which is a slightly hidden design choice, but works well regardless. 

Anker's Soundcore Boom 2 supports Bluetooth 5.3, which ensured that it was quick and easy to connect with both my Android phone and one of the best portable music players. Like many other similar Bluetooth speakers, the Soundcore Boom 2 also offers charging of a phone or other device through a USB-A port hidden beneath a rubber tab on its reverse side. Next to this is a USB-C port, which can be used to charge the speaker – note that you can’t charge another device from the USB-C port, which is a shame. The model comes with a USB-C to USB-C cable, which can fully recharge the Boom 2 in approximately 5.5 hours.

If you find yourself in a situation where you need to connect more than 100 Soundcore speakers at the same time, you’re in luck. The Soundcore Boom 2 has a PartyCast 2.0 feature, enabling it to sync its audio and light output with various other Soundcore speakers.

• Features score: 4/5

Anker Soundcore Boom 2 review: Sound quality

• Impressive, booming bass
• Various vocal and instrumental elements can lack definition
• ‘Balanced’ EQ setting provides decent all-round experience 

The heavy kick of the Soundcore Boom 2’s deep bass means that it can hold its own at events with lots of background noise, such as outdoor parties or gatherings. When listening to Young Blood by The Naked and Famous, the Boom 2 delivered deep bass tones with substantial power, even without BassUp enabled.

Though it's still good value, the Boom 2’s low-end output isn’t perfect. When I listened to Black Eye by Allie X, the energetic bass bounce you’d anticipate from the opening is slightly lacking, especially when I compared it to the JBL Xtreme 4. The Boom 2 reaches deep, but it doesn’t connect the bass to the mid-range so well out of the box, leaving it feeling thin as it moves through the range of low-end frequencies.

Unfortunately, the Boom 2’s prominent bass can sometimes be overbearing, and at times the speaker’s deep bass output slightly drowned out vocal elements, for instance. This was apparent when listening to Moloko’s I Want You, when I was once again impressed by the bass output, but felt that it overshadowed the impact of several other instruments too heavily, preventing the complexity of the track from being fully realized. Unsurprisingly, this is exaggerated further with volume cranked up high, and even more with BassUp turned on, so I’d only recommend using this feature if you're really going for that pounding beat for a party, and aren't really worried about fidelity.

The Soundcore Boom 2’s clarity isn’t going to wow, with higher-pitched vocals and lower-toned guitars often lacking a touch of sharpness and definition. With a bit more sweetness to its sound, it could've been a really great speaker.

In fairness, some of these issues can be remedied somewhat via the Soundcore App, which enables users to switch from the default ‘Soundcore Signature’ EQ settings (where the midrange is given precious little limelight) to a ‘Balanced’ option, which delivers a decent all-round listening experience. The Soundcore app also has ‘Voice’ and ‘Treble Boost’ presets, as well as an option to adjust EQ levels manually. 

But while this all improves their balance in the mix, it doesn’t solve the deeper lack of detail. Voices and strings are simply less sweet, less real, than pricier large speakers.

• Sound quality score: 3.5/5

Anker Soundcore Boom 2 review: Design

• Plastic exterior looks on the cheaper side
• Nice and lightweight
• Lacks a dustproof rating, although it’s waterproof and floatable

When it comes to style points, the Soundcore Boom 2 doesn’t score too highly, with its plastic casing looking a little on the basic side. The speaker is available in Adventure Green (the version I tested, and it's a nice color), Explorer Blue, and Phantom Black, all of which look clean enough, though may not appeal to those seeking a touch of pizzazz. The Boom 2’s drivers are protected by a rather budget-looking plastic covering decorated with the Soundcore logo. 

For the price, however, the Soundcore Boom 2 still looks the part for any outdoor event or party, sporting a solid attached handle and minimalistic yet simple button controls, which enabled a quick and easy setup. It also has four rubber feet at the base to provide grip, protect the speaker’s base from scratching against rough surfaces, and stop the bass vibration from moving it around.

Something I really liked about the Boom 2 is that it’s relatively light for its size, weighing in at 3.66lbs / 1.67kg. That’s far less hefty than comparable models such as the Tribit Stormbox Blast, which comes in at a weighty 11.6lbs / 5.3kg.

There’s something about the Soundcore Boom 2 that I found almost perplexing, however. The speaker’s packaging specifically bigs up its use at a beach setting, with much of the model’s online marketing similarly highlighting this. However, the speaker is only IPX7 certified, meaning it does not have a dustproof rating, unlike an IP67-rated model such as the JBL Charge 5.

This means the Soundcore Boom 2 may not be a prime pick for the beach after all, although the IPX7 rating does promise that the speaker can withstand being under 1m of water for 30 minutes without suffering any damage. The Boom 2 is also floatable, making it easily accessible in a pool (or maybe even a large bath). 

Naturally, I gave it a dunking – it floated well (on its side), and after being submerged underwater for around a minute it was still able to play audio to the same standard as before.

• Design score: 3.5/5

Anker Soundcore Boom 2 review: Value

• Low-priced for a larger Bluetooth speaker
• Despite imperfect sound, it will do the job for parties
• Large competitors often have higher list prices

The Soundcore Boom 2 may not be revolutionary, it may not deliver earth-shatteringly good audio, and it may not even woo the masses with elite design, but one thing’s for sure – it performs well in the value category. 

It’s not the cheapest Bluetooth speaker available, but given its larger size and solid bass output, it’s easily worth its $129.99 / £119.99 / AU$219.99 price tag. The Boom 2 provides everything essential for the average listener, especially when accounting for the adjustments available via the Soundcore app. 

Indeed, many speakers of a similar size go for much closer to the $200 / £150 / AU$300 mark. For instance, the JBL Charge 5 has an official price of $179.95 / £169.99 / AU$199.95 and the Sonos Roam comes in at $179 / £179 / AU$299. If you want a speaker with powerful, pumping outdoor sound at a lower cost, the Boom 2 is worth considering.

• Value score: 4/5

Should you buy the Anker Soundcore Boom 2?

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Anker Soundcore Boom 2 review: Also consider

Anker Soundcore Boom 2 review: How I tested

• I used the speaker over the course of a week
• Mostly used in our music testing room in the TechRadar office
• I listened to a wide variety of music genres during each listening session

I spent hours testing the Soundcore Boom 2 with music, checking how easy the speaker was to set up and operate, tinkering with its various Light Show settings, and of course tuning into the quality of its audio output. 

While using the speaker, I listened to a range of tracks, including songs from TechRadar’s testing playlist. I had other speakers available to compare against, including the similarly sized JBL Xtreme 4. I connected both a Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 using Spotify and a Fiio M11S hi-res music player using Tidal, to put the Boom 2’s audio abilities to work.

Read more about how we test

• First reviewed: May 2024