Black Friday deal alert: Proper now, the black model of the Anker Soundcore Boom 3i is $80, which is $60 off its checklist worth throughout Amazon’s Black Friday sale (different colours are $5 extra). That is the lowest worth we have seen on this portable Bluetooth speaker. In case you’ve been desirous about upgrading your cellular sound state of affairs earlier than the vacations, that is a type of offers that is simple to overlook should you wait too lengthy. I’ve in contrast it to different high Bluetooth audio system just like the JBL Flip 6 and Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen), and the Increase 3i holds its personal with out stretching your price range.
In some methods, Anker’s new Soundcore Boom 3i is the religious successor to the Soundcore Motion Plus. It is equally formed however has extra of an outside journey slant, with Anker touting it as “constructed for the wild” and billing it as the primary Bluetooth speaker with playback in water, because it floats and “auto-corrects” to maintain the speaker drivers dealing with upward simply above the floor. All that provides to an ideal speaker for yard hangouts or sizzling tubbing, so that you may wish to snag one on a budget whereas Black Friday offers are nonetheless round.
I’ve used the Soundcore Increase 3i for a number of months and have primarily been impressed with it, although the speaker is rather a lot simpler to suggest to CNET readers at $60 off the black mannequin, dropping the worth to $80. In the meantime, the blue, brown and inexperienced fashions are currently $85.
As you’d anticipate from a speaker that promotional photographs present strapped onto a kayak (it does have a removable carrying strap), the Soundcore Increase 3i is totally waterproof and dust-resistant, with an IP68 score. Anker takes issues a step additional, touting the Increase 3i as “5x” saltwater-resistant. “Whereas typical audio system could rust in below 5 months, Increase 3i stays corrosion-free for as much as two years of seaside, boat and seaside use.”
Learn extra: Best Bluetooth Speakers of 2025
You should not anticipate audiophile sound from a mono Bluetooth speaker of this ilk. However for probably the most half, the Soundcore Increase 3i provides you what you need from a conveyable Bluetooth speaker from a sound perspective. By that I imply it performs loud for its measurement — it weighs about 1.8 kilos and measures 8.3 by 3.1 by 3.3 inches — plus it places out an affordable quantity of bass and has pretty respectable readability. You could find audio system that sound somewhat extra pure, however a majority of these rugged transportable audio system aren’t designed for important listening.
The speaker has some colourful LED lighting on either side.
I used it open air and inside in a number of rooms, together with a rest room (it does make for an excellent lavatory speaker), and it was in a position to fill smaller rooms with sound. You’ll be able to tweak the sound with the equalizer settings within the Soundcore companion app for iOS and Android and mess around with the settings for the built-in beat-synched LED gentle present, which I stored turned off more often than not. You may also pair two of those audio system up in stereo mode and get considerably higher sound.
I examined the speaker’s playback in water by dropping it in a pool. It certainly flipped over, so the speaker drivers had been dealing with up, and the music stored enjoying, although the audio received somewhat garbled when somewhat wave handed over the speaker, and the drivers began spitting water out. In different phrases, it definitely sounds higher out of the water than in it.
One of many issues with Bluetooth gadgets is that Bluetooth would not transmit by means of water, which is why it’s a must to load MP3s into reminiscence when utilizing wi-fi headphones whereas swimming (you may’t stream music to the headphones in case your head is underwater). I do not know the place the Bluetooth antenna is on this speaker, however presumably it is on the aspect that stays above the floor when the speaker is floating.
The Soundcore Increase 3i not solely floats however auto-corrects to an upright orientation.
You’ll be able to really activate a Buzz Clear mode from the app that makes the speaker vibrate and shed grime and particles, like sand after a day on the seaside. After ending the Buzz Clear, you may then rinse off the speaker to get it really clear.
The speaker additionally has one other fascinating function: Holding down the “BassUp” bass-boost button for five seconds units off a 96-decibel emergency alarm — Anker says it is clearly audible at as much as 100 meters — with flashing purple LED lights. You’ll be able to hit any button to show the alarm off.
Battery life is rated for 16 hours at average volumes, which is respectable for a speaker this measurement. It is also price stating that the Increase 3i has a Bluetooth vary of 100 ft, which is healthier than the extra typical 33 ft you get with many Bluetooth audio system.
BLUETOOTH SPEAKER DEALS OF THE WEEK
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The Soundcore Increase 3i in black, which is simply $80 for Black Friday.
