Soundcore selection: The best Anker speakers

For our favourite Anker speaker, consider the Soundcore Motion 100. It's the best balance of budget for performance you can get and has very weak spots. It has two full-range drivers, a solid output of 20W, and a great waterproof rating of IPX7, so it certainly impresses when it comes to specs.

It's lightweight and fairly compact, so it's an excellent choice for those looking for a portable Bluetooth speaker. The 12-hour playtime can be fully charged in roughly five hours, so it's easy to keep it topped up. The Bluetooth 5.3 connection is also worth noting for how reliable it is.

We had one of our tech writers, Kyle Purves, test and review the Soundcore Motion 100, and they had this to say – "Soundcore speakers have often been my go-to choice for mid-budget speakers, but the Motion 100 has completely brought me around to the true budget side.

"While it doesn't quite have the bass coverage of other speakers, it still does a fairly good job, and it's a factor I'm willing to forgive when factoring in the price and size. For your money, you get an exceedingly reliable Bluetooth speaker that is lightweight, very portable, and plenty powerful."

For pure performance, the Motion x600 is the clear winner. The sound quality is superb, providing clear and crisp audio whether it's music or even a podcast. It truly shines when it comes to bass, pumping out powerful beats that rival larger, much less portable speakers.

The audio projection is notable too. With five drivers and five amplifiers, it's no surprise that this speaker can push its sound across even the largest of rooms.

One of our tech writers, Kyle Purves, reviewed the Soundcore Motion x600 and had this to say – "I listened to a lot of Japanese art rocker Haru Nemuri with this speaker, gaining a whole new appreciation for the guitar and drum work. Frankly, I'm hooked on how much of a quality leap this is from my usual headphones, and every time I leave the house and speaker behind, the albums don't hit quite as hard. Basically, if you like heavy instruments, the Motion X600 really draws out their potential. 

"It's not just music in which the Motion x600 excels, as it's also great for listening to YouTube videos and podcasts. Voices came out crisp and clear, so I had no trouble or instances of double-guessing what was said. It's not as mindblowing as the performance when listening to music, but it's still great overall."

Listening to music as you shower is great, but you need a waterproof speaker that's loud enough to be heard, and that's where the Motion 300 comes in. It's a great size, being lightweight and small enough that you can have it in your bathroom or take it on the go. It's not our favourite pick for bass, but other than that, it's more than powerful enough.

The battery life is quite impressive for the size. At 13 hours, you won't need to charge it regularly, and even when you do, it goes back to full in a reasonable four hours or so.

When tech writer Kyle Purves reviewed the Anker Soundcore Motion 300, they had this to say about it – "With the focus on the outdoors and parties, the Motion 300 understands the importance of water resistance. With a rating of IPX7, this speaker can easily handle the occasional rainy shower. In fact, it's also a superb shower speaker too. I've used other speakers before for listening to music while I shower, but this is definitely the best size for one I've found. It's not too big whatsoever, with me never struggling to find a place for it. It's also not too small either, running the risk of slipping or somehow rolling away."

The Motion X500 is another very versatile speaker from Anker that can perform well just about anywhere, but we like it best as a desk speaker. Its build is a bit different than other Soundcore speakers, being a bit more vertical, and as such, it's got a lot of power behind its sound without taking up too much surface space.

The Motion X500 is designed to focus on spatial sound, so you'll always feel immersed in music no matter where you sit in a room. As such, it's a great companion to help focus on work and other tasks.

Tech reviewer Kyle Purves said this when they reviewed the Anker Soundcore Motion X500: "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 Anker Soundcore mini, as its name suggests, is absolutely tiny. It will comfortably sit in the palm of your hand, so don't be afraid to take this with you on a sunny day. It's also incredibly lightweight, so it won't become bothersome either.

What's most impressive about it is the Bluetooth range. Usually, a speaker this size would have a fairly limited range, but the Soundcore mini has no difficulty outranging much larger devices.

The Motion Boom Plus thrives in the outdoors. Its battery life is more than enough to last a camping trip, and the addition of a built-in power bank means it can even charge your other devices in a pinch. Naturally, it also sports a solid level of dust and waterproofing, so rain and bad weather won't hold it back.

Of course, this is a larger speaker than most on this list, so you'll need to factor that into your travel plans. That said, the carry strap does help out in this regard.

A playtime of 24 hours is already great, but the fact that the Anker Soundcore 3 can reach a full charge in roughly four hours is nothing short of impressive. You'll basically never be without it or your music. Plus, it's a little more powerful than the Soundcore 2, so you get better sound for longer.

It connects via Bluetooth 5.0, meaning it's a reliable connection that's unlikely to drop or be easily disturbed. As such, this is a great speaker to pair up with other models.

The Anker Soundcore 2 pretty much does it all. It has a fantastic 24 hours of playtime, connects easily with other devices (especially other Soundcore 2 speakers), and has some solid drivers for its size. It's small enough that you could pack it away in a bag and take it with you somewhere, but it's also powerful enough to use in a party setting.

The Soundcore 2 is a great all-rounder that won't disappoint. Still, if you think you might prefer something stronger in a specific niche, those options are available.

The Anker Soundcore Boom 2 isn't just a waterproof speaker; it's also one that floats. That's right, you can take your tunes to the pool now. An IPX7 rating means that as long as its charge section is secured correctly, it can be submerged without any issue. It's the ultimate summertime companion.

As part of the Boom line, it's well-suited for bass-heavy music, so even if you're using it indoors, it still performs well at parties. You may want to play around with the settings a bit to get things just how you like them.