Anker Soundcore Mini 3

Anker's Soundcore Mini 3 is a waterproof Bluetooth speaker that offers a lot of value for just A$69.99. For example, you can customize its EQ via the Soundcore app, something most of the other options in the sub-$100 outdoor speaker category can't claim. Whether you actually need EQ for a speaker this size is debatable, but even without it, the Soundcore mini 3 delivers solid audio performance for its size and price, along with good speakerphone quality. That said, the Sony SRS-XB12 remains our Editors' Choice winner for slightly stronger performance overall, and is often available for under $100.

A Compact and Waterproof Design

Measuring 3.3 by 2.8 inches (HD) and weighing in at 8 ounces, the cylindrical Soundcore Mini 3 has an eggshell-like exterior and is available only in black. The top-firing 6-watt driver is complemented by a down-firing passive radiator, which adds a sense of bass depth to the sound signature. The speaker's base is rubberized to prevent it from dancing across flat surfaces and it seems to have a mild suction-like ability on some surfaces; this property may create vibrations that affect the sonics a bit, however. A built-in strap lets you hang the speaker to avoid that potential issue.

Around the outer panel and just above the base are buttons for power, volume, and Bluetooth pairing, as well as a multifunction control that handles playback, track navigation, call management, and voice assistants depending on how many times you tap it. Also along the base is a covered USB-C port for charging; Anker includes a USB-C-to-USB-A charging cable in the box.

The Soundcore Mini 3’s IPX7 rating means that it's fully waterproof, so you can expose it to splashes, rinse it off under a faucet, and even submerge it in up to a meter of water. Bluetooth signals don’t work underwater, but the Soundcore Mini 3 is otherwise an ideal option for outdoor environments and can stand up to wet weather or poolside splashes.

Anker estimates the Soundcore Mini 3’s battery life to last roughly 15 hours, but your results will vary based on your volume levels.

The Anker Soundcore app for Android and iOS lets you update the speaker's firmware and adjust an impressive nine bands of customizable EQ (or select among the preset options). You can argue that this feature is overkill for a single-driver, 6-watt speaker and that you might not even be able to detect a major difference most of the time, but as I discuss in the next section, the customizable EQ can be useful in some cases.

The app also has a Bass Up option, which I left on for testing because the setting is enabled by default. From the app, you can control the playback and volume, as well as adjust the auto power-down settings and voice prompt. In Partycast mode, the Soundcore Mini 3 can link up with multiple other Anker speakers.

Clean Sound, Clear Mics

The Mini 3's nine-band EQ is far more effective for adjusting higher frequencies than the lower ones that the speaker can barely muster, which isn’t surprising. I tested the Soundcore Mini 3 with the EQ set to the Soundcore Signature setting, which is the default.

On tracks with intense sub-bass content, like The Knife’s “Silent Shout,” the Soundcore Mini 3 tries to deliver powerful lows—but both the lows at the start of the song and the lower thumps that kick in around the 15-second mark are a bit out of range for its driver. The good news is that the speaker doesn’t distort. But particularly when the truly deep bass kicks in, there's some noticeable digital signal processing (DSP) that thins things out considerably to reduce distortion.

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Bill Callahan’s “Drover,” a track with far less deep bass in the mix, better reveals the Soundcore Mini 3’s sound signature. The drums get some bass boosting; I wouldn't expect much bass depth from this driver, but you do get a slight sense of some added body. Callahan’s baritone vocals, too, receive a little boost—some high-mid crispness complements their low-mid richness. The driver does a good job of delivering clear mono audio with a smidge more bass response than you’d expect. This isn't a powerful speaker, but it can get fairly loud for its size. Like most small speakers, it sounds best when you're near it.

On Jay-Z and Kanye West’s “No Church in the Wild,” the kick drum loop receives plenty of high-mid presence, allowing its attack to retain its punch. The speaker delivers the sub-bass synth hits that punctuate the beat with admirable body, but not to a level that approaches real bass depth. You can hear the raspy top notes and some of the mids, but nothing of the actual deep lows. That said, the passive radiator does provide a sense of rumble and lends the drum loop some thump. The Mini 3 presents vocals on this track cleanly and clearly, without much sibilance.

On orchestral tracks, such as the opening scene from John Adams’ The Gospel According to the Other Mary, the Mini 3 produces a bright, clear sound with some added depth in the lows—again, it's something you feel more so than hear because of the passive radiator that sends vibrations through surfaces.

The speaker's mic offers solid intelligibility. I tested it with the Voice Memos app on an iPhone and could understand every word I recorded. The speaker is capable of maintaining a strong Bluetooth signal and keeps audio artifacts to a minimum, so with a sufficient cell signal, callers should have no issue understanding you.

A Small Speaker With Some Punch

The Anker Soundcore Mini 3 delivers a full-bodied sound for its size, though its companion app with user-adjustable EQ is what sets it apart from most others in this price range. It's a bit gimmicky considering how small the speaker is, but if you’re in an environment where more treble would help the clarity, the EQ is beneficial. The Soundcore Mini 3 does have plenty of competition in its price range, however, including the sub-$40 JBL Go 3 and Tribit XSound Go, both of which offer benefits of their own. And for a little more money, our Editors' Choice pick for affordable Bluetooth speakers remains the $59.99 Sony SRS-XB12.