How we reviewed this: this is a research-based review. We did not buy or test the product ourselves. We checked the official website, policies and independent customer feedback, and every fact below links to its source. Facts checked 2026-11-04. How we review · Affiliate disclosure: we may earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you.
This Soundcore Boom 2 review pulls together every independent hands-on test we could find, because we didn’t test it ourselves. The Boom 2 is Anker’s boombox-style Bluetooth speaker: $139.99 at soundcore.com, or $99.99 with a $40 discount through November 8, 2026. It’s rated IPX7 and built to float.
Quick verdict
Buy the Boom 2 if you want big, bassy sound, long battery life and a speaker that floats, for backyard, pool or camping use under $140. Skip it if you need deep low bass, crisp treble, dust protection for the beach, or a small speaker for a backpack. At the $99.99 sale price, it’s an easy recommendation.
Read this before you buy:
- The Boom 2 sold now is a newer version. Soundcore says it “upgraded the hardware to support Auracast” and that “the new Auracast version cannot pair with older Partycast-enabled devices.” The 2024 reviews describe the older Bluetooth 5.3, PartyCast unit; Soundcore now lists Bluetooth 6.0. We found no test that clearly covers the new version.
Pros
- ✓ Big, punchy bass for its size, plus a BassUp boost
- ✓ Loud: TechGearLab measured 99.8 dB; Outer Audio 93.3 dB at one meter
- ✓ Long battery: 16 to 33.8 hours in three different tests
- ✓ IPX7 and floats; it survived TechRadar and Digital Trends dunk tests
- ✓ Power bank, carry handle, 9-band app EQ
- ✓ 18-month warranty and 30-day returns for any reason at soundcore.com
Cons
- ✗ RTINGS: weak low bass “even with BassUp enabled,” compression at max volume
- ✗ Highs and mids lack crispness (TechRadar, TechGearLab)
- ✗ No dust rating; port cover can pop open when dropped (TechGearLab)
- ✗ No aux input; slow 5.5-hour recharge
- ✗ Directional sound: best heard from the front (RTINGS, TechGearLab)
- ✗ Current Auracast version won’t pair with older PartyCast speakers
Check the Soundcore Boom 2 price →
Soundcore Boom 2 specs and price
| Spec | Soundcore Boom 2 |
|---|---|
| Price (Nov 4, 2026) | $139.99 list; $99.99 with $40 off through Nov 8; 2-pack $279.98 |
| Colors in stock | Phantom Black, Explorer Blue, Adventure Green |
| Output | 60W standard, up to 80W in BassUp 2.0 mode |
| Drivers | One woofer and two tweeters (TechRadar: a 50W subwoofer and two 15W tweeters) |
| Battery (claimed) | Up to 24 hours at 50% volume with BassUp and lights off |
| Charging | About 5.5 hours with a 5V/3A (15W) charger; charger not included |
| Power bank | Yes, 5W charge-out |
| Water rating | IPX7, floats; no dust rating |
| Bluetooth | 6.0 on the current version; TWS stereo pairing and Auracast |
| Aux input | No |
| Weight | 3.7 lbs, built-in handle |
Specs from Soundcore’s Boom 2 page and FAQ on November 4, 2026. Codecs are unclear: Soundcore’s Boom 2 FAQ answer lists SBC and AAC but names the Boom 2 Plus, and Digital Trends found its 2024 unit supported “only the SBC Bluetooth codec.”
Sound and bass: what the tests found
- RTINGS (May 2024): “decent for music.” It “struggles to produce low-bass frequencies, even with BassUp enabled, so 808s and kick drums lack some thump.” The mid-range is “balanced,” but “a dip across the upper mid-range and low-treble can push them back in dense mixes,” and directivity is “mediocre.”
- Outer Audio measured it with REW and a UMIK-2 mic: “somewhat subdued bass” on the Balanced preset with BassUp off, a “noticeable increase” with BassUp on, and treble that’s “under-emphasized.”
- TechRadar (3.5/5): “plenty of bass and volume at a more than reasonable price,” but “it stumbles over crisp highs and natural-sounding mids,” and the bass “slightly drowned out vocal elements.”
- TechGearLab (October 2026): “full-bodied bass that thumps throughout the room without being overpowering,” highs “a bit duller than we’d prefer,” and “a very directional sound.”
- Digital Trends (8/10) loved it: with BassUp on, “things went from big to huge.”
How loud is the Soundcore Boom 2?
TechGearLab measured 99.8 decibels, “almost as loud as the front row at a summer music festival,” but heard “jarring compression at the top volume.” Outer Audio measured a maximum of 93.3 dB at one meter on the Balanced preset and heard distortion “after the 85-90% volume level.” The two used different methods, so don’t compare the numbers directly.
RTINGS puts it in context: it can fill “an average-sized room,” and “while it isn’t loud enough to soundtrack a large outdoor bash, it can liven up a backyard BBQ.” Laptop Mag‘s reviewer listened at “only half of its maximum volume because it’s plenty loud.” For a big outdoor party, look bigger: TechGearLab’s loudest tested speaker, the JBL Boombox 4, reached 104 decibels, and our SOUNDBOKS review covers true party speakers.
Is the Soundcore Boom 2 waterproof?
Yes, with limits. Soundcore rates it IPX7 and says it floats, but tells you to “seal the waterproof cover tightly” before it goes in the water. The X means it has no dust rating, which TechRadar and Digital Trends both flag for beach use.
- TechRadar‘s dunk test: “it floated well (on its side), and after being submerged underwater for around a minute it was still able to play audio to the same standard as before.”
- Digital Trends‘ hot tub test: “The music kept on playing, although stifled by the water as it bobbed up and down. When I took it out, the music cleared up immediately.”
- TechGearLab‘s drop test: they “knocked it off the table a few times” and “it didn’t break,” but the port cover “tends to pop open if the speaker is dropped,” so fish it out fast if it gets knocked into a pool.
One more catch: Soundcore’s warranty excludes “damage from misuse,” including “falls” and “water.” If you want a tougher beach speaker from the same brand, the Boom 3i ($129.99) is rated IP68 (dustproof too), and claims to float upright, per Soundcore; RTINGS lists it as a notable mention “for its beach-friendly features.” It’s smaller: 50W and 1.7 lbs.
Battery life: claimed vs measured
Soundcore claims “up to 24 hours of playtime at 50% volume with BassUp and light effects turned off.” Testers got very different results:
- RTINGS: 16 hours of continuous playback.
- Outer Audio: “just shy of 17 hours.”
- TechGearLab: 33 hours 48 minutes, “almost 10 hours longer than what the Soundcore advertises.”
- Trusted Reviews: an hour or two most days for about two weeks, and it “still has over 20% remaining.”
Volume, BassUp and the lights all change runtime: plan on about 16 hours played loud, more at lower volume. Recharging takes about 5.5 hours.
App, EQ, lights and party mode
- EQ: presets (Soundcore Signature, Balanced, Voice, Treble Boost) plus a custom 9-band EQ, which Digital Trends says covers 80Hz to 13kHz. TechRadar says adjusting the EQ “can help improve the sonic balance a lot.”
- Lights: seven preset effects you can recolor or turn off; TechRadar notes lights and BassUp drain the battery faster.
- Pairing: RTINGS says it connects to two devices at once. Two Boom 2 speakers of the same version pair in stereo. The current Auracast version links with the Boom 2 Plus, other Auracast Boom 2s, the Boom Go 3i and Rave 3 and 3S, per Soundcore’s FAQ; older units used PartyCast 2.0, and the two systems don’t mix.
- Connection: TechGearLab had “occasional random stutters” and stayed connected only “within about 50 ft.”
Soundcore Boom 2 vs JBL Flip and JBL Charge
JBL’s Flip and Charge are the usual cross-shops:
| Speaker | Price (Nov 4, 2026) | Water and dust | Battery: claimed / RTINGS | RTINGS notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soundcore Boom 2 | $139.99 ($99.99 sale to Nov 8) | IPX7, floats, no dust rating | 24 hrs / 16 hrs | Weak low bass; fills an average room |
| JBL Flip 7 | $129.95 (was $149.95) | IP68 | 16 hrs with boost / short of claim | Bass lacks weight; mono unless paired |
| JBL Charge 6 | $149.95 (was $199.95) | IP68 | 28 hrs with boost / about 14 (19 boosted) | Small to medium rooms; mono unless paired |
| JBL Flip 6 (older) | Not checked | IP67 | Just under 6 hrs (RTINGS) | “Doesn’t get very loud” |
| JBL Charge 5 (older) | Not checked | IP67 | “Fantastic battery life” (RTINGS) | Doesn’t get very loud |
JBL prices from jbl.com on November 4, 2026; battery and notes from RTINGS.
Soundcore Boom 2 vs JBL Flip 6: Trusted Reviews compared them directly and said the Boom 2 is “slightly cheaper, significantly louder, has a longer-lasting battery and comes with a built-in light show,” while the Flip 6 is more portable. Soundcore Boom 2 vs JBL Charge 5: TechRadar says the Charge 5 has more rounded sound but “lacks the same level of bass thump and the useful carry handle.”
Pick JBL for a smaller, dustproof (IP68) speaker for the beach or a bag. Pick the Boom 2 for more bass and volume per dollar and a carry handle.
See the JBL Charge 6 (we don’t earn a commission from JBL) →
Is the Boom 2 the best waterproof Bluetooth speaker?
No, and it doesn’t claim to be. RTINGS’ 2026 list of the best waterproof Bluetooth speakers picks the JBL Boombox 4 overall, the Ultimate Ears EPICBOOM in the mid-range, the UE WONDERBOOM 4 on a budget and Soundcore’s own Select 4 Go as the cheapest pick; the Boom 2 isn’t on it. TechGearLab ranked the Boom 2 sixth of 14 speakers (score 66) and rated the Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen) higher (73), though the Bose lasted 10.5 hours in its test.
Where the Boom 2 fits: a value pick for backyards, pools and camping when bass and runtime matter more than dustproofing.
Boom 2 vs Boom 2 Plus
| Boom 2 | Boom 2 Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price (Nov 4, 2026) | $139.99 ($99.99 to Nov 8) | $249.99 ($169.99 with $80 off to Nov 8) |
| Output | 60W, 80W with BassUp | 100W, 140W with BassUp |
| Battery claimed / RTINGS | 24 hrs / 16 hrs | 20 hrs / 13 hrs |
| Recharge | About 5.5 hrs (15W) | About 3 hrs (30W) |
| Aux input | No | Yes |
| Weight | 3.7 lbs, handle | 8.4 lbs, shoulder strap |
RTINGS found the Boom 2 Plus “can get pretty loud without adding much in the way of compression artifacts at max volume” and makes “quite a bit of bass” with BassUp, but has high latency with phones. TechRadar (4/5) called it “more powerful, better-looking and sweeter-sounding than its standard-sized sibling, albeit far more expensive,” and Tom’s Guide (4/5) called its battery life “unimpressive.”
Get the Plus for bigger gatherings or if you need an aux input. Stick with the Boom 2 if you’ll carry it around: it’s less than half the weight and lasted longer in RTINGS’ test.
See the Soundcore Boom 2 Plus →
Warranty and returns
- Warranty: 18 months on new speakers bought from Soundcore or its authorized resellers, in the country of purchase only. Replacements may be “a factory refurbished model of equal value when available.” Misuse, including falls and water, isn’t covered.
- Returns: 30 days; “Undamaged products can be returned for a full refund, regardless of the reason,” with all accessories and the original packaging. You pay return shipping on change-of-mind returns.
- Holiday returns: on November 4, 2026, Soundcore’s policy page still showed last year’s extended holiday window, not a 2026 one.
- Refurbished units: 3-month warranty.
For Anker’s support record and the brand’s other products, see our Soundcore review.
Who should buy the Soundcore Boom 2, and who should skip it
- Buy it if: you want a bassy, loud speaker for a backyard, pool or campsite, long battery life and a power bank, for well under $150. On sale at $99.99 it’s strong value.
- Skip it if: you care about detailed treble and deep sub-bass, you’re headed to sandy beaches (look at IP68 speakers like the Boom 3i or JBL Charge 6), you need an aux input, or you want something that fits in a backpack.
- Just want ambience? See our tiki torch speaker review.
See today’s Soundcore Boom 2 price →
FAQ
Is the Soundcore Boom 2 waterproof?
Yes. It’s rated IPX7 and floats, and it kept playing in TechRadar’s and Digital Trends’ dunk tests. It has no dust rating, and Soundcore says to seal the port cover before it goes in water.
How long does the Soundcore Boom 2 battery last?
Soundcore claims up to 24 hours at 50% volume. RTINGS measured 16 hours, Outer Audio just under 17 and TechGearLab 33 hours 48 minutes.
Soundcore Boom 2 vs JBL Flip 6: which is better?
Trusted Reviews found the Boom 2 louder and longer-lasting. The Flip 6 is smaller and rated IP67, but RTINGS measured just under six hours of battery.
Soundcore Boom 2 vs JBL Charge 5: which is better?
TechRadar says the Charge 5 sounds more rounded but lacks the Boom 2’s bass thump and handle. The Charge 5 is IP67; the Boom 2 has no dust rating.
Is the Boom 2 Plus worth it over the Boom 2?
For more volume, bass and an aux input, yes. It costs $249.99 list ($169.99 on sale through November 8, 2026), weighs 8.4 lbs and lasted 13 hours in RTINGS’ test vs 16 for the Boom 2.
Can two Soundcore Boom 2 speakers pair?
Yes, two Boom 2s of the same version pair in stereo. Soundcore says the current Auracast version cannot pair with older PartyCast models.
Sources
- Soundcore Boom 2 (official, specs and FAQ)
- Soundcore Boom 2 Plus (official)
- Soundcore Boom 3i (official)
- Soundcore refund and warranty policy
- RTINGS: Anker Soundcore Boom 2 review
- RTINGS: Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus review
- RTINGS: best waterproof Bluetooth speakers
- RTINGS: JBL Flip 7 review
- RTINGS: JBL Charge 6 review
- RTINGS: JBL Flip 6 review
- RTINGS: JBL Charge 5 review
- TechGearLab: Soundcore Boom 2 review (Oct 2026)
- TechRadar: Anker Soundcore Boom 2 review (May 2024)
- TechRadar: Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus review (Feb 2025)
- Tom’s Guide: Soundcore Boom 2 Plus review (Apr 2025)
- Digital Trends: Soundcore Boom 2 review (Apr 2024)
- Trusted Reviews: Soundcore Boom 2 review (Apr 2024)
- Outer Audio: Soundcore Boom 2 review
- Laptop Mag: Anker Soundcore Boom 2 review (Mar 2024)
- JBL Flip 7 (official)
- JBL Charge 6 (official)