This Anker Bluetooth Speaker Is One Of My Faves, and It is Cheaper Than Ever at $75

Proper now, the Anker Soundcore Boom 3I is just $75, which is $65 off its listing worth. That is the lowest worth we have seen on this tech/home-entertainment/best-bluetooth-speaker/” rel=”” class=”c-shortcodeLink c-shortcodeLink-active”>transportable Bluetooth speaker. If you happen to’ve been fascinated with upgrading your cell sound state of affairs, that is a type of offers that is straightforward to overlook for those who wait too lengthy. I’ve in contrast it to different prime Bluetooth audio system just like the JBL Flip 6 and Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen), and the Growth 3I holds its personal with out stretching your finances.

In some methods, Anker’s new Soundcore Boom 3I is the non secular successor to the Soundcore Motion Plus. It is equally formed however has extra of an out of doors 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 need to snag one on a budget whereas Black Friday offers are nonetheless round.

I’ve used the Soundcore Growth 3I for a number of months and have primarily been impressed with it, although the speaker is so much simpler to suggest to CNET readers at $65 off all the numerous coloration choices.

As you’d anticipate from a speaker that promotional pictures present strapped onto a kayak (it does have a removable carrying strap), the Soundcore Growth 3I is totally waterproof and dust-resistant, with an IP68 score. Anker takes issues a step additional, touting the Growth 3I as “5x” saltwater-resistant. “Whereas typical audio system might rust in below 5 months, Growth 3I stays corrosion-free for as much as two years of seashore, boat and seaside use.”  

Learn extra: tech/home-entertainment/best-bluetooth-speaker/” rel=”” class=”c-shortcodeLink c-shortcodeLink-active”>Greatest Bluetooth Audio system of 2025

You should not anticipate audiophile sound from a mono Bluetooth speaker of this ilk. However for probably the most half, the Soundcore Growth 3I provides you what you need from a conveyable Bluetooth speaker from a sound perspective. By that I imply it performs loud for its dimension — it weighs about 1.8 kilos and measures 8.3 by 3.1 by 3.3 inches — plus it places out an inexpensive quantity of bass and has pretty respectable readability. Yow will discover audio system that sound a bit of extra pure, however all these rugged transportable audio system aren’t designed for crucial listening.

I used it outside and inside in a number of rooms, together with a toilet (it does make for an excellent toilet speaker), and it was capable of fill smaller rooms with sound. You may tweak the sound with the equalizer settings within the Soundcore companion app for tech/cell/best-iphone/” rel=”” class=”c-shortcodeLink c-shortcodeLink-active”>iOS and tech/cell/best-android-phone/” rel=”” class=”c-shortcodeLink c-shortcodeLink-active”>Android and mess around with the settings for the built-in beat-synched LED gentle present, which I saved turned off more often than not. You may as well 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 have been dealing with up, and the music saved enjoying, although the audio acquired a bit of garbled when a bit of 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 via 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 facet that stays above the floor when the speaker is floating. 

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You may truly activate a Buzz Clear mode from the app that makes the speaker vibrate and shed filth and particles, like sand after a day on the seashore. After ending the Buzz Clear, you may then rinse off the speaker to get it really clear. 

The speaker additionally has one other attention-grabbing 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 pink LED lights. You may hit any button to show the alarm off. 

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Battery life is rated for 16 hours at average volumes, which is first rate for a speaker this dimension. It is also price mentioning that the Growth 3I has a Bluetooth vary of 100 toes, which is healthier than the extra typical 33 toes you get with many Bluetooth audio system.