Enjoy superb sound wherever you are: Anker Soundcore Motion X500 review

When it comes to choosing the best speakers, you can usually trust an Anker Soundcore design, and that continues here with Motion X500. The motion range focuses on blending portability and ease of use with all the hallmarks of a quality speaker for music, and the X500 is designed to add an extra layer of richness to your listening experience with its spatial audio.

Available in Black Deluxe, Pink Punch, and Glitzy Blue colours, the Motion X500 is a Hi-Res certified speaker that wants you to take it wherever you go, whether that's by your side in your home, out and about on a sunny day, or keeping a party going at night.

While the Motion X500 isn't super expensive, but neither is it what we would consider a budget speaker. As such, it's normal to be a bit unsure as to whether it's worth your money. Luckily, that's what we're here for.

Resident tech expert Kyle Purves has been hands-on with the Motion X500, testing it thoroughly over a few weeks. In order to find out its strengths, weaknesses, and unique quirks, they've trialled it out with various different types of audio, from high BPM music to simple video chatter. They made sure to get a deep understanding of what it's like to use the Motion X500 and are now ready to share their findings.

The quick version

The Motion X500 speaker packs a punch with its trio of drivers, delivering loud and clear sound that fills whichever space you are in. It's designed to focus on spatial audio, aiming to immerse listeners with rich surround sound that stays high-quality no matter where you are in the room. It's a lightweight, portable, mid-budget Bluetooth speaker well-suited for just about any situation. From a beach party to studying at a desk, the X500 will excel.

Performance

Looking at the specs of the Motion X500 may make it seem unassuming at first glance, but in practice, it all comes together into a very powerful package.

The trio of drivers go a long way into making this as good a speaker as it is. Volume is no issue, and thanks to the way it projects its sound, you can comfortably listen to music from across the other side of the room. In my experience, I could leave this on top of my desk and carry out other tasks throughout the house and still enjoy what I was listening to – it's one of the best speakers for music I've trialled in some time.

A sizable focus on spatial audio has been designed into the X500. It wants you to enjoy its sound to the fullest, regardless of location. With three-channel spatial audio, it aims to provide the most immersive sound possible considering its size. I found the stereo sound to be fantastic, and sure enough, no matter how many times I shifted around in my seat or my room, I never noticed a drop in the consistency of my listening experience.

One of the ways the Motion X500 achieves its versatility is the various EQ modes you can switch between. These can be swapped with the press of a button next to the upward-facing driver, allowing you to adjust the audio balance to whichever you think sounds best. As expected of an Anker Soundcore speaker, there's a bass boost mode (as indicated by a light yellow glow) for those who want to feel each beat. There's also a signature mode (the white light), which I tended to treat as the default. My favourite, however, was the dynamic mode (a soft blue), which seemed to nail my preferences in a way that I couldn't manage even if manually playing around with the settings. As always with a Soundcore model, you can play around with the equalizer in the companion app to further fine-tune everything to your liking.

So, what was it like to use the Motion X500? A treat.

I've used several Bluetooth speakers before, larger and more powerful ones, smaller and more portable ones, and yet I was very impressed by this speaker. It's a great speaker for bass, which I got a lot of use out of, but I was pleasantly surprised by how well it handles things. The opening song to Netflix's Delicious in Dungeon hits all the better when coming out of it. And, as you can gather from that line of thought, I found the Motion X500 to be suited for more than just music. Turns out that the spatial audio works well for videos and TV shows, and is a surprisingly great pick for gaming too. I intend to use it to get immersed in a horror game in the future once I muster up some more courage.

Lastly for performance, I want to make a brief note on the battery life. With a playtime of 12 hours, I did have it run low on me a few times, but never often enough to be a bother. In fact, I'm quite a fan of how its battery life performed, seeing as it charged quicker for me than advertised. I was able to have it reach full again in less than four hours, and seeing as I kept it by my desk most often, it was never a hassle to keep it topped up. Once again, it's one of the aspects of the X500 that seems unimpressive at first, but brilliant in practice.

Build and design

Unlike most other Motion designs, the X500 stands quite tall, almost as much as it is wide. This more square-like design seemed unusual initially, but I grew quite fond of it. For me, it hits the perfect balance where it doesn't take up too much surface space while still having plenty of space for its drivers and output. Packing it away could be tricky, but the handle and lightweight build make it easy to carry around, so it never becomes a nuisance.

The controls sit to the sides of the upward-facing driver, with one side dedicated to the volume and pause buttons and the other for power, Bluetooth, and mode selection. This is a great placement for them, especially since the sloped design makes it easier to use than a flat surface.

Regarding waterproofing, the X500 continues the Motion line's trend of excellence. An IPX7 rating means it can be submerged in water, so long as you secure the covering around the back. It makes for an excellent beach or poolside companion and isn't afraid to get splashed. It should come as no surprise then that I found the X500 to be a fantastic shower speaker, and I could see myself taking it with me on a camping trip in future since rainy weather won't hold it back.

Although I mainly used the X500 indoors, it's definitely well-suited for the outdoors too. In warmer weather, I can't wait to try it out for a picnic, and I can see myself getting plenty of use out of it while sitting in a sunny garden.

Any drawbacks?

Usually, there's something I can nitpick about a product, even the most minor detail, but for the Motion X500, I really had to dig deep and think about what I would change about it if I had the chance.

Ultimately, I narrowed in on one aspect: its upward-facing driver. Although I do not fault with how it performs, I think it could go further. It takes up about a third of the top section, but I could see it expanded to improve its coverage and projection, making it even better at filling a room. There appears to be enough space for the controls to go vertical instead of horizontal, so I don't imagine it would cause much issue.

Still, the fact that my one complaint is about what it could be and not what it is reflects just how great the Motion X500 is overall.

Price and competition

While the X500 may not be the cheapest speaker on the market, I still think it's great value for money. Considering how few drawbacks it has and how powerful it is for its size, it more than justifies its price point. Besides, it's quite comparable to other Anker speakers, so there's nothing unexpected here. For its current price, the Motion X500 is just about the best you can get.

That said, if you don't mind splashing out a bit more cash, you can find some solid competition. Here are a couple of notable ones that we have reviewed:

Final thoughts

Going forward, I see the Motion X500 as becoming my main speaker. Its compact size makes it unobtrusive to keep on a desk or shelf, and of course, it's a fantastic travel option. It'll excel wherever it is, but especially in social spaces, whether that's a full-fledged party or a chill night with friends.

It's powerful too, a lot more than it looks on paper. The added focus on spatial design and surround sound has been worthwhile, making this a speaker capable of providing an immersive audio experience you would expect of a larger, immobile unit.

Who is it for?

Just about any and everyone. It may seem like a bit of a cop-out, but really, so long as you're after a speaker, I struggle to think of why you wouldn't appreciate the Motion X500. I suppose if you're an audiophile, you'll likely appreciate the finer details that a bigger budget can afford, so you may want to look for a higher tier of speaker. But for those of us happy with a mid-budget option, the X500 suits just about any purpose.

Would we recommend it?

Without a shadow of a doubt, yes. This is easily one of the best speakers you can buy at this price range, and during all of my testing, I was never let down by it. If you're looking for a new speaker, the Motion X500 will not disappoint.

Who tested it?

Kyle Purves is one of our tech product writers. They always have a speaker on their desk at home, ready to play some tracks to get focused for work or relax at night. They've tested numerous wireless speakers before, including a handful of Anker ones, so they're experienced and familiar with what to look out for and what to expect.

How was it tested?

I had the Motion X500 beside me whenever working from home for a number of weeks, using it as my main source of audio both in and out of work hours. I've listened to everything from classic grunge to movie soundtracks and even tried it out for video and game audio. Whenever I used the home exercise bike, it was a great help for keeping me focused and motivated.

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Kyle Purves is a Commercial Content Writer for What’s The Best, with an avid interest in all things gaming and tech.

They’re well-versed in reviewing a variety of tech products, with a soft spot for speakers and earphones. They’re also no stranger to hunting down the best savings, always wanting to get the best deal possible. Outside of work, they can often be found playing through an RPG, listening to Japanese noise rock, or trying to catch up with their ever-expanding list of shows and anime to watch. If possible, they try to play Dungeons and Dragons a couple of times a week, but getting six adults to be free at the same time is easier said than done.

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