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At its heart, the Anker Soundcore Mini is the definition of a pleasant surprise. Despite a ridiculously low price tag, it comes with access to both Bluetooth connectivity and aux input, as well as the option to play your music via MicroSD.
The only problem? There’s no screen on this thing, so you have absolutely no idea which station you’re listening to. Finding the right channel if you want to listen to Radio 4 or BBC1 isn’t easy. The Anker Soundcore Mini is a squat bollard of speaker. It fits in the palm of your hand, and barely takes up any space in a bag. This baby is loud & sounds way better in a box or underneath something so the sound has barriers to bounce off of. So to speak. The speaker is turned off OR the battery is fully charged. The total battery runtime is approx 15 hours.The sound comes out of the top, so you can put the Anker Soundcore Mini wherever you like, and access great volume. There’s even rubber feet on the bottom to keep it stable. Equipped with a single speaker, the SoundCore Mini 2 delivers a RMS rated power of 6 W, ensuring clear and powerful sound output. It can be powered by a battery, allowing for wireless use, or by using a wired connection. The connectivity technology includes both wired and wireless options, providing flexibility in how you connect your devices. The downside is that the painted aluminium is likely to scratch easily, but if that really bothers you, all you need to do is take better care of it. When choosing a Bluetooth speaker, what it really comes down to is size and price. If you're looking for a very portable speaker, you'll want to get something very compact, but remember that smaller speakers usually produce less sound and bass than larger ones. So while there are plenty of mini Bluetooth speakers that deliver bigger sound than you might expect, they do have their sonic limitations. For a lot of people it's a question of finding a speaker that's not too big or too small -- one that travels well but also is capable of producing good sound for its size. But finding the best portable Bluetooth speaker also comes down to your budget. The SoundCore Mini 2 features Bluetooth version 4.2, enabling seamless wireless connectivity with compatible devices. Additionally, it supports AUX in, allowing you to connect external audio sources. Furthermore, it includes a USB charging port, ensuring convenient charging of your devices on the go.
We liked Ultimate Ears' Wonderboom 2and the third-generation model, the Wonderboom 3, offers some small improvements, including slightly better battery life (up to 14 hours instead of 13, at moderate volume levels) and a new Bluetooth chip that allows for extended wireless range of over 130 feet (40 meters). The design has not changed, though the speaker now comes in different color options. Anker estimates the Soundcore Mini 3’s battery life to last roughly 15 hours, but your results will vary based on your volume levels. On the plus side, you do get the option to play music from an SD card too – which is something you don’t find with many Bluetooth speakers of a similar price. Anker Soundcore Mini review: Performance You can play your own music via Bluetooth, aux cable, or an SD card, and there’s a microphone, so you can take hands-free calls too. Another thing to note is that the Anker comes with FM radio built-in. This is a nice extra connectivity touch. You plug the MicroUSB cable into the device so it can act as an antenna, then you press the play button until you start scanning for stations.
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Though it’s one of the smallest speakers we’ve ever seen, the Anker Soundcore mini blew us away with its functionality, connectivity, and volume. Bang and Olufsen Beoplay P6 review: Strong, stylish, and small Anker Soundcore Mini review: Connectivity Bluetooth signal is one of the Mini’s few little weak spots. The signal is not ultra-reliable, and occasionally you’ll hear cut-outs, and then what almost sounds like a sped-up portion of audio as the speaker makes up for lost time.
With its durable construction, the SoundCore Mini 2 ensures reliability over time. Its sturdy design guarantees long-lasting performance, while its high-quality materials contribute to its overall durability. Finding a connection and keeping it is notoriously difficult, to the point where we gave up and used the aux input a few times.
A Small Speaker With Some Punch
Mini Bluetooth speakers are designed so that you can take them with you, including to places where they might get dirty or be otherwise exposed to the elements. So focus on their ability to withstand intrusion by solids and liquids, denoted by an IP (ingress protection) rating. The first digit signifies how well the speaker can resist solids getting in, while the second signifies liquids. The higher the number, the better the device keeps things like dust and rain out, respectively. The scale for solids ranges from 0 to 6, and for liquids, 0 to 9. This amplifies the bass of the main driver, to help avoid the thin, scratchy sound many older speakers this size have.
Alas, Ultimate Ears, which is owned by Logitech, has not upgraded the charging port to USB-C. The speaker still charges with a Micro-USB cable, which is a bit of a bummer. Still, for an extra feature that seems to be thrown in for good measure, the FM radio option is a nice extra touch. We just wish that Anker had thought the feature through a little more.The Anker Soundcore Mini is perhaps the smallest speaker I’ve used that can be classed as genuinely enjoyable to listen to. It sounds radically larger than it looks, and puts out serious volume for its size.
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