Anker Soundcore 2 Review: Room-Filling Sound, All-Day Play

Bass comes first in the Anker Soundcore 2's tuning. A beat lands with more weight than such a small box suggests, and the volume goes well past what its size promises. That tuning serves music far better than film, since Bluetooth can leave a soundtrack trailing the picture. Around the sound, the basics are strong: a long-running battery, IPX7 protection and simple controls. That mix lets it move easily between a bathroom, a beach bag and a car.

It's also budget-priced, and Anker has sold it since 2017, with a revision along the way. Revised units charge over USB-C and still keep an aux input. For scale, JBL's own JBL Flip 5 listing quotes 12 hours of playtime, while Anker quotes 24 hours for this speaker. Both are rated IPX7, so the real difference on paper is stamina.

With a beat

The low end leads the mix. Bass sits ahead of the mids and treble, and it carries real punch. Anker credits its BassUp technology and a patented spiral bass port for that low end. It also lists two neodymium drivers and 12 watts of power. On paper, 12 watts is modest, so the volume it reaches is the real surprise.

Still, the bass hits harder than it digs. It lands as a firm thump in the mid-bass and stops short of the room-shaking kind. Mid-bass is the range that gives a kick drum and a bass guitar their punch, while the deep rumble lies below it. Anker's listing promises pounding bass, which oversells the depth, if not the punch. For a box this size, that's a fair place to draw the line. I'd only spend more for bass with real depth, since that's the clearest gap in what it does.

Anker pitches it for beach parties and for sitting around a campfire. Both fit it well, since a beach, a campsite or a picnic is the scale of gathering it carries best. A backyard get-together sits squarely in its range, too.

Above that bass, vocals and treble still come through clearly at everyday levels. The firm thump suits music built on a drum beat, and rock comes across well on it. Judged apart from its size, however, the sound is good rather than remarkable. A strictly balanced sound would also take some help from an equalizer.

The Anker Soundcore 2 also gets loud for its size. Next to the built-in speaker of a phone or a computer, it's a clear step up, fuller and far louder. In absolute terms, though, its volume is moderate. A medium-sized room fills easily, and it carries a small gathering, indoors or out, without strain. A whole house is too much for it, however, since one unit won't carry through every room.

Nearly the whole volume range stays clean. Even near the top, music keeps its shape without a harsh crackle. Anker goes further and promises zero distortion at any volume. At the very top, however, the sound loses some of its clarity. Clarity is at its best around the middle of the dial. I'd keep it a notch or two below maximum, since three-quarters of the dial is usually plenty for a room.

Paired with a second unit, it plays in stereo. The mode goes by TWS, short for true wireless stereo, and linking the two usually takes little effort. For a bigger room, a second Anker Soundcore 2 is the natural next step. At this price, a stereo pair is also an easy upgrade to justify.

Outdoors and near water, it's just as comfortable. The pool, the beach and the yard all suit it, and it goes out on the water as well. Anker calls it outdoor-proof and rates it IPX7 against splashes, waves and water vapor. IPX7 covers brief submersion, a step beyond splash resistance, although Anker's own wording stops at splashes. Daily shower steam doesn't trouble it either, so it's at home in a bathroom. Even a unit that ends up fully under water, dropped in a pool or overboard, can come back working.

On podcasts and audiobooks

Voices come through clearly. Audiobook narration is easy to follow, and podcasts get the same clear delivery from the Anker Soundcore 2. That suits a long listen, especially with a battery this patient behind it. It also makes an easy bathroom companion, playing through a morning shower.

Spoken word also travels well. In a car, it rides along for podcasts and music, whether on a daily commute or a long road trip. There, the battery keeps pace for hours between charges.

With this much bass in the tuning, I'd set a phone equalizer before a podcast. An equalizer app on the phone can reshape the sound. It can pull the bass back for voices, or push it further for music. That takes a minute to set, and for a mostly spoken-word diet, it's a minute well spent.

Through a day of background music

The battery runs long. Anker quotes 24 hours of play from a 5,200mAh battery and promises a full day of great sound. That promise holds up, since a full day of play still leaves charge in reserve. Anker credits its power management for that stamina, and here the marketing matches the result. With casual listening, one charge can stretch across a week. Away from home, that means days between charges rather than hours. It also holds a charge well between sessions, so it's ready when grabbed. Recharging it over USB doesn't take long either.

Out of the box, it's ready within minutes, and the first pairing is usually the only one. That first pairing takes a couple of minutes, and iPhones connect without trouble. The printed guide is brief and not much help, though. It pairs with nearly any Bluetooth source, old or new, even an old iPod. The link also holds at a good distance from the phone. Once made, the connection usually stays steady. Some units have connection hiccups now and then, however.

Around the house, it moves easily between rooms, so the music can follow the day. For a day away, the Anker Soundcore 2 packs small. Its size and shape slip neatly into a bag or a backpack. It's easy to carry, too, which makes it a natural travel speaker. Anker describes a classic design refined with simple controls and effortless portability, and that's a fair summary.

It's solid and heavier than it looks, and the smooth, sleek finish looks well made. That heft reads as sturdiness, and the build has a rugged feel that holds up to travel and outdoor use. Several colors are on offer, black among them. It can also manage years of daily use.

Behind a movie

For a small room, it makes a capable TV speaker. The Anker Soundcore 2 pairs with a TV directly or through a streaming stick. A projector can lean on it as well. It also pairs with a computer and works well as a desk speaker, where its small footprint takes up little room.

Video brings one catch, though. Over Bluetooth, the sound can run behind the picture. Music hides the delay, since there's no picture to match. Video over Bluetooth is therefore the job that asks for a trial run. A quick check with the actual TV or projector settles it.

Current units of the Anker Soundcore 2 also keep an aux input, so a wired source can feed it too.

Between tracks on the Anker Soundcore 2

The controls stay simple. Only a handful of buttons cover power, volume, play and Bluetooth. They're easy to find and easy to press. The Bluetooth button starts pairing, while the play button covers playback. Each button has one clear job, so there's little to memorize.

A tone marks each power-up and connection. That tone confirms a connection without a glance at the phone. After the first pairing, the Anker Soundcore 2 rejoins the last phone as soon as it powers on. Getting back to a playlist takes little more than the power button.

It also handles sleep sounds at night, such as rain or a quiet album. It switches itself off after a spell of silence, and a long pause in the audio can trip it.

Pros: What we liked

• Pro: Bass-forward tuning gives music real punch from a small box
• Pro: Plays loud for its size and stays clean until the very top of the dial
• Pro: A charge covers a full day of play, or a week of casual listening
• Pro: Rated IPX7 by Anker, and at home in a steamy bathroom
• Pro: Rejoins the last phone on power-up, with simple buttons that are easy to use

Cons: What could be better

• Con: The bass punches but stops short of deep, chest-felt low end
• Con: Over Bluetooth, sound can trail the picture on video
• Con: At the very top of the dial, the sound loses some clarity

Specification	Details
Output	12 W (Anker's figure)
Drivers	Two neodymium drivers
Bass	BassUp and a spiral bass port (Anker's terms)
Battery	5,200 mAh Li-ion
Playtime	Up to 24 hours (Anker's figure)
Water resistance	IPX7
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 5
Weight	0.91 lb
Model number	A3105
Color	Black

Final Verdict

To me, this speaker is one idea, carried out well. That idea is portable music that runs for a long time off its own battery. Everything that serves it arrives in full: the stamina, the water resistance, the plain buttons and the quick reconnection. The sound serves it too, delivering punch more than depth at a volume that belies the box.

It also asks for very little in return, only an occasional charge and a phone to pair with. For a bathroom shelf, a beach bag or the passenger seat of a car, it earns its keep many times over. Its gaps sit at the margins, in film over Bluetooth and in the last notch of the dial, and neither touches the everyday job. Among budget speakers, one that covers its single job this completely deserves a warm recommendation.