70

Anker Soundcore 3 Review

Kenn Muguna Avatar
Updated Jan 25, 2024 6:27 PM

True Score

80
77
3

Experts

90
10.8k

Consumers

Product Awards

GR Certified

Customer Favorite

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.

$50.99

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Table of Contents

Product Snapshot

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.

Consensus

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.

ReasonS to Buy

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

Reason to Avoid

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

Anker Soundcore 3 Specs

Battery LifeBattery Life24 hrs
Built In MicrophoneBuilt In MicrophoneYes
Charge TimeCharge Time4 hrs
DepthDepth2.36"
HeightHeight2.24"
IPX RatingIPX RatingIPX7
Smart AppSmart AppSoundcore
Speaker PairingSpeaker PairingYes
Water ResistantWater ResistantYes
WattageWattage16W
WidthWidth6.9"
Wireless RangeWireless Range20 m

All Specs

Test Results

Battery Life (Hours)15.175
Volume Output (dB)84.45
Low End Roll Off (Hz)229.565
High End Roll Off (Hz)1,708.595

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Product Comparison

Anker Soundcore 3 Review

True Score

80
79
80
83

Ranking

#

70

/

109

#

80

/

109

#

76

/

109

#

41

/

109

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

Depth

2.36"

3.2"

2.71"

Height

2.24"

10.02"

2.9"

IPX Rating

IPX7

IPX7

IPX7

Smart App

Soundcore

Soundcore

Yes

JBL Portable

Speaker Pairing

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Dig Deeper

Anker Soundcore Motion+ Review →

Anker Soundcore 2 Review →

JBL Flip 5 Review →

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  • $50.99

    Availability

    In Stock

    Free Shipping

    Yes
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    Availability

    In Stock

    Free Shipping

    No

Score Card

E

Expert Score

77

*.75

We place a 75% weighted value on Expert Test Scores

C

Customer Score

90

*.25

We place a 25% weighted value on Customer Scores

True Score

80

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

Expert Scores

  • Rtings
    100.6

    Category Trust Rating

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

    By:

    Lee Dunkley
  • Techgear Lab
    43.1

    Category Trust Rating

    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
    65.58

    Category Trust Rating

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

    By:

    Dagobiet Morales Alfaro