At less than $100, Anker’s original Soundcore Motion Boom speaker is still a good deal. But the Motion Boom Plus, which is brand-new for 2022, is substantially better, especially in terms of sound quality. It is among the top Bluetooth speakers and receives a best Award for its stylish design, potent performance, and affordable pricing. The list price is $180, but it’s frequently offered for less.
Its enhanced dual 3.5-inch woofers and freshly added dual 1-inch tweeters weigh 5.29 pounds, approximately a pound more than the Motion Boom, and can produce up to 80 watts of audio (60 for the woofers and 20 for the tweeters). At moderate volume levels, the battery life is rated for 20 hours. It has Bluetooth 5.3 and is dust- and waterproof to IP67 standards.
The sound quality impressed me because it compares favourably to some of the more costly and larger versions on our list of the best Bluetooth speakers. Including Anker’s free Soundcore companion app for iOS and Android, you can modify the sound profile and update the firmware on the speaker.
The speaker offers a broad sound with good clarity in the mids and highs and good bass definition. I found this to be the case when I frequently used the bass boost feature, which can be activated by pressing a button on the speaker. The speaker can produce a lot of sound for its size and typically avoids distorting at higher volumes.
Anker Soundcore Motion Boom Plus review: Design and features
Even a cursory look at the Soundcore Motion Boom Plus reveals that it is an outdoor speaker. The speaker is larger than the majority of alternatives, measuring a substantial 388 x 140 x 195mm. Even though it is slightly smaller than its conventional Motion Boom sister, the 73 x 184mm UE Boom 3 and other typical Bluetooth speakers are dwarfed by the Motion Boom. The Soundcore Motion Boom Plus weighs 2.4kg, which is more than you might anticipate given its size, but having a built-in handle makes it simpler to carry around.
You may sling the speaker over your shoulder and listen to your favorite music while enjoying the great outdoors thanks to the detachable strap that is also supplied. These are excellent options that reduce the overall weight, but they are not as lightweight as alternatives that are genuinely portable.
The Motion Boom Plus’s tough design is intended for outdoor use, but it also boasts official water and dust protection. The Plus model’s full IP68 water and dust resistance makes it suitable for usage at the beach, outperforming the IPX7 water resistance of the standard Motion Boom.
In fact, according to the waterproofing rating, it can withstand being submerged in water for up to 30 minutes, and Soundcore purposefully made the speaker buoyant so that it will float if it falls into a swimming pool or the ocean. In addition to housing the various connectors, there are a few controls located beneath the speaker’s handle that let you modify playing without using the connected smartphone.
Anker Soundcore Motion Boom Plus review: Controls
On top of the housing, directly in front of the handle, are the control buttons. The BassUp function control button is on the left. This boosts your bass quickly and is excellent for gatherings. The button has an excellent tactile reaction and is rounded. In the middle is a brilliant LED indicator as well. This takes us to another one of the Motion Boom’s small issues.
The LED lighting is absurdly bright. This is not a problem during the day. They can, however, be annoying in dim illumination. Of course, this is a question of preference, and some individuals prefer bright LEDs. Consider checking out the Tronsmart Bang if that describes you. The left and right sides of the Bluetooth speaker have brilliant rainbow LED lights embedded into them. It has a strong bass and is designed specifically for parties, but it’s also quite massive.
A Bluetooth pairing button is located next to the BassUp button. This button also features an LED light that turns on when you’re connected. The rubber volume bar is located in the center of the controls row. You can easily manipulate this and rapidly get to the level you choose.
A power button is placed after that. When switched on, this performs precisely as you would anticipate and illuminates. The PartyCast feature is turned on by the final button. This is intended to boost your signal to the PartyCast speakers from Soundcore. With the Motion Boom Plus acting as the controller, you can daisy-chain up to 100 of them together. It’s a fantastic feature for larger spaces where a lot of sound is required.
Anker Soundcore Motion Boom Plus review: Sound quality and performance
With two 30W woofers and two 10W tweeters, the Motion Boom Plus has an 80W output. It has one of the best sounding portable speakers I’ve tried so far when combined with the two passive radiators. The speaker has a rich, well-balanced voice. Even with BassUp off, there is still plenty of bass, and even with tunes with greater bass, the mids are clear and detailed.
Although it is not a tiny speaker, it is nevertheless remarkably loud for its size. If you’re indoors, in the same room, I’d say the majority of music is uncomfortable loud at even close to full level. Even at this higher volumes, there is very minimal distortion, though you do lose some information with more hectic music. Anything above 75% volume is better suited for outdoors or larger areas. I measured the speaker at maximum and 75% volume with a sound level metre placed one metre from the speaker grille.
The built-in presets do sound rather different, so it’s worth exploring with the EQ adjustments available through the Soundcore app. Additionally, if you’d like, you can make your own unique settings. You can disable speech prompts, change the auto-power off from the default 20 minutes, and upgrade the firmware via the app.
You can hear for yourself how the speaker sounds in the accompanying video with and without BassUp, as well as in comparison to the Soundcore Motion+, the Soundcore Motion Boom, and the JBL Xtreme 3. Due to the fact that two Motion Booms in a stereo pair would cost about the same as one Motion Boom Plus, we have also included them. Tell me which one is your favorite in the comments. If you’re interested, I also have in-depth written and video reviews of the Motion+ and Motion Boom playing different music.
Anker Soundcore Motion Boom Plus review: Battery life
This revolutionary speaker can play music continuously for up to 20 hours thanks to its 13,400mAh internal battery, giving partygoers with long-lasting entertainment. Just bear in mind that, as always, the number of hours depends on the volume at which you use it; at maximum volume continually and with the bass boost option, the number lowers to roughly 8 hours, which is still a very excellent value.
The excess power can be used to recharge devices like your smartphone via the USB-A port or just for later use without recharging because at a moderate volume, these 20 hours are more than enough for the majority of outdoor activities. The power button flashes red when the battery is low and remains solid white when fully charged. The battery needs roughly 5.5 hours to charge completely, which is longer than typical.
Anker Soundcore Motion Boom Plus review: Price
At £189.99/$179.99, the Soundcore Motion Boom Plus is more expensive than well-known speakers like the £129.99/$149.99 UE Boom 3 and £119.99/$129.95 JBL Flip 6, but far less expensive than the £449.99/$399 UE Hyperboom, which is geared for outdoor use.
There is a trade-off to be made because, despite being more portable than the Motion Boom Plus, the rival still provides higher music quality and a longer battery life. If you’re tempted, you can get the Soundcore Motion Boom Plus directly from Soundcore as well as via US and UK shops like Amazon. Check out our list of the best Bluetooth speakers for more speaker ideas. If you’re on a tighter budget, we also have the best cheap Bluetooth speakers.
Final Words
The Anker Soundcore Motion Boom Plus is one of the greatest sounding portable speakers we have tried so far, despite its somewhat modest design especially when you take into account its pricing. Although it is a bit huge, it should show to be a speaker with a lot of versatility. It has a good low-volume sound with lots of detail, but it can also fill a sizable room or be heard outside.
There are only a few minuscule drawbacks. Although it is fantastic that it is IP67 dustproof and waterproof, it doesn’t feel as tough as something like the JBL Xtreme 3. Although the charging port is helpful, I’d want to see a USB-C connector with USB Power Delivery output for the newest technology because of the huge battery. Overall, though, this is a fantastic addition to the Motion line.
The Motion Boom is a viable alternative if you lack the room or funds for the Motion Boom Plus. Even though it lacks the tweeters and a wired audio-in connector and isn’t as loud, it still sounds excellent and costs approximately half as much. The Motion+, which fits stereo woofers and tweeters into its small body and still produces excellent sound despite being on the market for a few years, is another option if you’re looking for a really portable speaker. If you’re interested, you can read my in-depth reviews of these speakers.
