Soundcore 3 – Review and Test
A successor for one of the most popular Bluetooth speakers on Amazon is finally available in the version of the Anker Soundcore 3 Bluetooth speaker. The Soundcore 2 might have been something of great achievement for the well-known audio division of Anker. Over the years, the Anker Soundcore 2 collected more than 61,000 reviews, making its star rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars stunning considering the number of reviews. Finally, the Soundcore 3 is on the market so we reviewed this Bluetooth speaker if it can be successful as its successor.
Design of the new Soundcore 3
The Anker Soundcore 2 has been on the market since January 2017 and the Anker logo is still on its front. With the new speaker, the Anker logo on its front changed to Soundcore. For some time now, Anker has been splitting its audio division apart from the brand “ANKER”, which is more known for power banks and power adapters. Soundcore 2 is available in the Anker store but the new model is available in the Soundcore store. Soundcore is to be perceived as a stand-alone audio brand more and more.
The design and shape remain similar to the predecessor. The speakers are only available in black and both have five control buttons on the top. Only the center play/pause icon has been replaced by the Soundcore logo on the Soundcore 3, which did not even exist when the Soundcore 2 was released.
Soundcore also keeps to the same proven materials. On the front, a metal grille protects the speakers, the rest is covered with a waterproof rubber coating, which is already known in a similar shape to the older Soundcore 2. The Soundcore 3 is now certified to IPX7, as its predecessor was only certified to IPX5.
Size of the new Soundcore 3
Even though its dimensions have grown to 6.9 x 2.4 x 2.2 in (17.5 x 6.1 x 5.6 cm) it weight got lighter from 0.91 lb (412 gr.) to 0.82 lb (372 gr.).
Sound of the Soundcore 3 Bluetooth speaker
Comparing the Soundcore 2 with its successor, there is of course a lot that can be improved on an almost-four-year-old Bluetooth speaker. Here, the Soundcore 3 is based on two speakers with 100% pure titanium diaphragms and 8 watts of power in each.
As with Soundcore 2, there is a passive radiator between the drivers, which is supposed to provide more volume in terms of sound. The Soundcore 3 also has a second passive radiator, located on the back of the speaker. Soundcore proudly advertises that the titanium diaphragms are supposed to be even better than the predecessor, especially in the high frequencies.
Treble is extended up to 40kHz for sparkling high notes that shine with detail and clarity. Compared to the predecessor, the sound seems a bit more vibrant to me.
The new Soundcore 3 Bluetooth speaker delivers a balanced sound in the midrange. The midrange frequencies are not disturbed by the bass, so voices and vocals sound natural. Still, a difference to the Soundcore 2 is already audible here. The new speaker already delivers a considerably more voluminous sound in the midrange. The Soundcore 2, on the other hand, even sounds a bit too weak for me in a direct comparison. However, at that time the standard was also different.
The Soundcore 3 has clearly improved the low frequencies compared to its predecessor. Where there was practically nothing in the predecessor, bass is now audible. Soundcore accomplishes this through the deeper case, which leaves more room for volume, the improved speakers, and, of course, the additional passive radiator on the back.
While the Soundcore 3 now delivers a much stronger bass, it is still rather moderately tuned compared to other models. The small speaker has difficulties with sub-bass frequencies, but it delivers upper bass frequencies much better than its predecessor. In terms of sound, the Soundcore 3 is something like the little brother of the Soundcore Motion+ for me. Like the Motion+, the Soundcore 3 is not the strongest “bass masterpiece”, but it does a lot better than the competition in the high and mid frequencies.
So, if you’re not necessarily looking for just a knickknack as a Bluetooth speaker, but also value the most detailed sound possible in a small Bluetooth speaker, the Soundcore 3 is well recommended.
Bluetooth range and connections
The Soundcore 3 is equipped with a Bluetooth 5 module as the predecessor. In the test, the connection was stable over a distance of about 15 meters in an open area. It is correspondingly less inside closed rooms due to massive obstacles, such as concrete walls. If the cell phone and speaker remain in the same room, however, there were no connection problems.
In terms of connections, the micro-USB charging port has been replaced by a modern USB-C port. As is often the case nowadays, it is also protected against liquid penetration without a rubber cap.
The audio jack is unfortunately removed, just like in the Soundcore Motion Boom and many other new Bluetooth speakers. This is a trend that started with smartphones and now seems to be continuing in the world of Bluetooth speakers.
Controls
In terms of operation, not much has changed between Soundcore 2 and Soundcore 3. There are still five control buttons on the top of the speaker.
The Soundcore 3 is equipped with the “BassUp” mode, which amplifies the low-frequency sound. This is quite handy if you want a slightly more voluminous sound at low volumes or want to avoid overdriving the speaker at high volumes. This can be turned on and off via the app.
Similar to the Soundcore Flare 2, the Soundcore 3 now also supports “PartyCast”. This means that not only two speakers can be paired as a stereo pair, but up to 100 speakers can be controlled and connected to each other via a cell phone.
Mobile App
Additionally, the Soundcore 3 is now integrated into the Soundcore App. In addition to the buttons, the Soundcore app offers some extra functions.
The Soundcore app actually only offers sound customization options for the speaker and enables software updates. Nothing mind-blowing, but the communication between the speaker and the app worked well in the test.
Battery & runtime
The battery capacity of the Soundcore 3 has remained identical to its predecessor at 5200 mAh.
So, according to the manufacturer, the battery runtime remains identical with 24 hours according to the specifications sheet. In the test, I was able to achieve a runtime of just under 20 hours at a volume of 50% – 70%, which is more than enough.
Scope of Delivery and Handling
The Soundcore 3 comes in a small fancy printed box, inside, the Soundcore 3 Bluetooth speaker is accompanied by a Hand strap, user manual, and a 60 cm long USB-C charging cable from ANKER. As expected, the Soundcore 3 Bluetooth speaker is very well made. I could not find any product defects or flaws in the material.
Conclusion
The upgrade from Soundcore 2 to Soundcore 3 turns out to be bigger than I had initially expected. In terms of sound, the new speaker already delivers a significantly better sound quality in all areas. The differences are the smallest in the high frequencies since the Soundcore 2 already delivers a good performance here.
However, the lower the frequencies, the more the sound improvement becomes noticeable. Only in the sub-bass range, the speaker is still unfortunately not the best. There are other speakers for a similar price that perform better here. For example, the JBL FLIP 4 or Tribit Stormbox should be noted here.
But these speakers do not feature an app integration, which I like about Soundcore despite fewer features. It is simply an interface between my speaker and the manufacturer, who can thus ensure that my speaker will continue to work flawlessly in the future. Of course, everyone has to decide for themselves how important this aspect is to you personally.
All in all, the Soundcore 3 Bluetooth speaker is a worthy successor, a well-rounded product with better sound, new features, and great build quality. So I can only recommend the speaker at least in the offer from a price of about 49$ or less, even if this is still a significant extra charge compared to the predecessor.
