First released in late 2017, the Anker Soundcore 2 is an introductory Bluetooth speaker designed for outdoor use. The speaker has a 12-Watt output and is available in four colors. Like most of the best-rated speakers around, the Soundcore 2 has excellent battery life, with a playback time of up to 15 hours. It can also be integrated with a voice assistant such as Google Assistant or Siri or used as a speakerphone when linked to a smartphone. As far as portability is concerned, the Soundcore 2 is compact in size and easy to move around with since it weighs only 0.9 pounds. The best-rated Bluetooth speakers are designed with portability in mind, and the Soundcore 2 is no exception. For other compact alternatives, check out our best small soundbar roundup and our best mini bluetooth speaker review.
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Anker Soundcore 2 Review
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Product testers were impressed with the build quality and portability of the Anker Soundcore 2. They also liked its long battery life and long Bluetooth range. However, its max volume was still not loud enough, and its bass levels were lackluster. Its narrow soundstage and missing WiFi connectivity were also disappointing.
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Product Snapshot
Overview
First released in late 2017, the Anker Soundcore 2 is an introductory Bluetooth speaker designed for outdoor use. The speaker has a 12-Watt output and is available in four colors. Like most of the best-rated speakers around, the Soundcore 2 has excellent battery life, with a playback time of up to 15 hours. It can also be integrated with a voice assistant such as Google Assistant or Siri or used as a speakerphone when linked to a smartphone. As far as portability is concerned, the Soundcore 2 is compact in size and easy to move around with since it weighs only 0.9 pounds. The best-rated Bluetooth speakers are designed with portability in mind, and the Soundcore 2 is no exception. For other compact alternatives, check out our best small soundbar roundup and our best mini bluetooth speaker review.
Consensus
our Verdict
The Anker Souncore 2 had testers praise it for its portability and long battery life. Experts from Tom’s Guide also noted that it was water resistant courtesy of its build quality. They were satisfied with its compact size, and after their storage tests, they confirmed that it was portable. They were also happy with their testing results after using it with voice assistants like Siri and Google, while reviewers from Rtings confirmed that it could last up to 15 hours with one single charge. They also liked its long 88ft Bluetooth connectivity range, but they weren’t blown away with its sound output when watching movies or playing music. For a speaker with much better sound quality, have a look at our Amazon Echo Studio review.
Still, testers felt that the Soundcore 2 did not get as loud as they would have wanted at max volume. They also didn’t like its narrow sound stage and mediocre bass levels.
ReasonS to Buy
- Great battery life
- Great portability
- Long Bluetooth range
- Speakerphone functionality
- Good build quality
Reason to Avoid
- Low max volume
- Narrow soundstage
- Mediocre bass levels
- No WiFI connectivity
Anker Soundcore 2 Specs
 | Battery Life | 24 hrs |
 | Built In Microphone | Yes |
 | Charge Time | 3 hrs |
 | Size | 16.5 cm (w) x 5.6 cm (h) x 4.6 cm (d) |
 | Smart App | Yes |
 | Speaker Pairing | Yes |
 | Water Resistant | Yes |
 | Wattage | 12W |
 | Wireless Range | 66 ft |
All Specs
Test Results
These are the most important criteria to test for Speakers based on our comprehensive Testing Methodology.
| Battery Life (Hours) | 28 |
| Volume Output (dB) | 85 |
| Low End Roll Off (Hz) | 201.587 |
| High End Roll Off (Hz) | 1,836.523 |
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Product Comparison
 Anker Soundcore 2 Review | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
True Score | 79 | 78 | 83 | 82 |
Ranking | # 66 / 109 | # 78 / 109 | # 25 / 109 | # 42 / 109 |
Market Context |
First released in late 2017, the Anker Soundcore 2 is an introductory Bluetooth speaker designed for outdoor use. The speaker has a 12-Watt output and… |
After the Anker Soundcore 2 was released, Anker followed it up with the Anker Soundcore 3, and this included a few updates. The Anker Soundcore… After the Anker Soundcore 2 was released, Anker followed it up with the Anker Soundcore 3, and this included a few updates. The Anker Soundcore 3 does not come with an EQ preset while the Anker Soundcore 3 does; however, the Soundcore 2 still has a slightly longer 15-hour battery life compared to the Soundcore 3’s 13.6 hours. Take a look at what else the Soundcore 3 has to offer through our Anker Soundcore 3 review. |
The Anker Soundcore 2 supports voice assistants while the JBL Flip 5 does not, and the Soundcore 2 can also be used as a speakerphone… The Anker Soundcore 2 supports voice assistants while the JBL Flip 5 does not, and the Soundcore 2 can also be used as a speakerphone while the Flip 5 cannot. The Soundcore 2 also has a wider soundstage and a longer run time of 15 hours compared to the Flip 5, which lasts up to 8.2 hours. |
The Anker Soundcore 2 has speakerphone functionality and supports voice assistants, while the JBL Go 3 does not, and it also has a much longer… The Anker Soundcore 2 has speakerphone functionality and supports voice assistants, while the JBL Go 3 does not, and it also has a much longer battery life of 15 hours compared to the JBL Go 3, which lasts only 5 hours. |
Battery Life | 24 hrs | 24 hrs | 12 hrs | 5 hrs |
Built In Microphone | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
Charge Time | 3 hrs | 4 hrs | 2.5 hrs | 2.5 hrs |
Size | 16.5 cm (w) x 5.6 cm (h) x 4.6 cm (d) | – | – | – |
Smart App | Yes | Soundcore | JBL Portable | n/a |
Speaker Pairing | Yes | Yes | Yes | n/a |
Water Resistant | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Wattage | 12W | 16W | 20W | 4.2W |
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Score Card
E
Expert Score
*.75
We place a 75% weighted value on Expert Test Scores
C
Customer Score
*.25
We place a 25% weighted value on Customer Scores
True Score
Any product with a True Score above 70 is a Mixed Reviews
Expert Scores
Publications with higher Trust Ratings are given more weight.
100.6Category Trust Rating
54The Anker SoundCore 2 delivers better than average sound for the money, is water-resistant and… Read MoreBy:
Unknown
43.1Category Trust Rating
80While the sound can’t compete with that of most larger Bluetooth speakers, you’d be hard-pressed… Read MoreBy:
Lewis Leong
36.25Category Trust Rating
70The Anker Soundcore 2 is okay for outdoor use. It’s well-built, and its 15-hour battery… Read MoreBy:
Jon L. Jacobi
43Category Trust Rating
70If you’re looking for a reliable, durable Bluetooth speaker at a low price, you can’t… Read MoreBy:
David Carnoy
50.83Category Trust Rating
84A durable, sleek little Bluetooth speaker that can be beaten for sound but has good… Read MoreBy:
What Hi-Fi?
47.9Category Trust Rating
80The Anker SoundCore 2 offers a ton of features for the price like water resistance,… Read MoreBy:
John Panoryios
Customer Scores
- 92
(
4.6/5
)
118384Ratings
- NR
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NR/5
)
Ratings
- NR
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NR/5
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Ratings
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