53

Anker Soundcore 3 Review

True Score

71
70
3

Experts

NR
0

Consumers

Expert Rankings

The Anker Soundcore 3 delighted expert reviewers with its high build quality, incredible portability and fitness for outdoor use. Reviewers also liked that it had long battery life and that it produced clear and concise vocals. Still, they were not as pleased with its missing AUX input, narrow soundstage, and sound distortion at loud volumes.

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Overview

The Anker Soundcore 3 is an entry-level portable Bluetooth speaker launched in early 2017. The wireless speaker has an IPX7 waterproof rating, which makes it an excellent choice for outdoor use. Because the speaker comes with a microphone, it can also be integrated with voice assistants such as Google Assistant and Siri, but this has to be correctly set up first through a smartphone. Its long battery life is in line with some of the best speakers in the industry (including the best Bluetooth speakers) since it offers up to 13.6 hours of playback time and only takes 3.6 hours to charge fully.

What Is Not on the Box

What the brand doesn’t always tell you…

our Verdict

Expert testers were impressed with the build quality of the Anker Soundcore 3 and also commended its long battery life. Critics from Tom’s Guide were happy that at only 13 ounces, the Soundcore 3 was pretty easy to carry around. They were also pleased with its long battery life, which meant they could listen to music or watch movies for a long time before plugging it in. Reviewers from Rtings liked that its water resistance allowed for submersion and that its companion app had a graphic equalizer. During their sound tests, they were impressed with how balanced and clear the vocals were and agreed that the speaker would be ideal for listening to audiobooks and podcasts.

However, like the Anker Soundcore Flare 2 (which we’ve covered in our Anker Soundcore Flare 2 review, it also doesn’t have an AUX input. Testers were also not too pleased with its narrow soundstage, lack of WiFi connectivity, and reduced sound quality at max volume.

True Score

71

Reasons to Buy

  • Portable and lightweight
  • Great battery life
  • Support for voice assistants
  • Clear vocal reproduction
  • Water-resistant

Reasons to Avoid

  • No AUX input
  • Narrow soundstage
  • Sound distorts at higher volume

Specifications

Battery Life24 hrs
Built In MicrophoneYes
Charge Time4 hrs
Size6.9" (w) x 2.4" (h) x 2.2" (d)
Smart AppSoundcore
Speaker PairingYes
Water ResistantYes
Wattage16W
Wireless Range20 m

All Specs

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Product Comparison

True Score

71
77
73
84

Ranking

#

53

/

106

#

28

/

106

#

43

/

106

#

9

/

106

Market Context

The Anker Soundcore 3 is an entry-level portable Bluetooth speaker launched in early 2017. The wireless speaker has an IPX7 waterproof rating, which makes it…

The Anker Soundcore 3 is an entry-level portable Bluetooth speaker launched in early 2017. The wireless speaker has an IPX7 waterproof rating, which makes it an excellent choice for outdoor use. Because the speaker comes with a microphone, it can also be integrated with voice assistants such as Google Assistant and Siri, but this has to be correctly set up first through a smartphone. Its long battery life is in line with some of the best speakers in the industry (including the best Bluetooth speakers) since it offers up to 13.6 hours of playback time and only takes 3.6 hours to charge fully.

The Anker Soundcore 3 is often compared to the Anker Soundcore Motion+ by buyers. The comparisons made are many, and some of them are based…

The Anker Soundcore 3 is often compared to the Anker Soundcore Motion+ by buyers. The comparisons made are many, and some of them are based on weight and battery life. The Soundcore 3 is smaller in size and weighs 1.1 pounds, while the Motion+ weighs 2.3 pounds, but the Motion+ has a longer-lasting 15.5-hour battery life compared to the Soundcore 3’s 13.6-hour battery life. The Motion+ also has an AUX input, while the Soundcore 3 does not.

The Anker Soundcore 3 has a graphic equalizer preset while the Anker Soundcore 2 does not, but the Soundcore 2 has a longer 15-hour battery…

The Anker Soundcore 3 has a graphic equalizer preset while the Anker Soundcore 2 does not, but the Soundcore 2 has a longer 15-hour battery life compared to the Soundcore 3, which has a 13.6-hour battery life. However, the Soundcore 3 has a companion app, while the Soundcore 2 does not. We’ve covered much more about it in our Anker Soundcore 2 review.

The Anker Soundcore 3 supports voice assistant use while the JBL Flip 5 does not, and it can also act as a speakerphone, unlike the…

The Anker Soundcore 3 supports voice assistant use while the JBL Flip 5 does not, and it can also act as a speakerphone, unlike the Flip 5. The Soundcore 3’s battery life of 13.6 hours is much longer than the Flip 5, which lasts 8.2 hours. However, the Flip 5 only takes 2.6 hours to charge compared to the Soundcore 3, which takes 3.6 hours.

Battery Life

24 hrs

12 hrs

24 hrs

12 hrs

Built In Microphone

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Charge Time

4 hrs

4 hrs

3 hrs

2.5 hrs

Size

6.9" (w) x 2.4" (h) x 2.2" (d)

3.1"(h) x 10.1"(w) x 3.2"(d)

16.5 cm (w) x 5.6 cm (h) x 4.6 cm (d)

2.91" (h) x 7.12" (w) x 2.71" (d)

Smart App

Soundcore

Soundcore

Yes

JBL Portable

Speaker Pairing

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Dig Deeper

Read review →: Anker Soundcore Motion+ Review Read review →: Anker Soundcore 2 Review Read review →: JBL Flip 5 Review

All Stores

  • Save $16
    $50.99
    $34.99

    Availability

    In Stock

    Free Shipping

    Yes

Score Card

E

Expert Score

70

*.75

We place a 75% weighted value on Expert Test Scores

C

Customer Score

0

*.25

We place a 25% weighted value on Customer Scores

True Score

71

Any product with a True Score above 70 is a Mixed Reviews

Expert Score Breakdown

  • Rtings
    A

    Trust Score

    56
    The Anker Soundcore 3 is passable for music. With its ‘Bass Up’ feature turned on,… read more

    By:

    Lee Dunkley
  • Techgear Lab
    C

    Trust Score

    64
    Anker’s Soundcore 3 is big on sound and battery life, but lightweight enough to be… read more

    By:

    Michelle Powell
  • Tom’s Guide
    C

    Trust Score

    90
    The Anker Soundcore 3 is a portable and affordable little unit with exceptional battery life…. read more

    By:

    Dagobiet Morales Alfaro

Customer Score Breakdown

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