Someone very near and dear to me recently asked another dear friend what the best speaker would be for directly wiring up to her ancient laptop while also featuring the Bluetooth technology needed to stream music from her smartphone. Dear friend #2 went into some complicated explanation that involved her buying a flatscreen television.
This all sounded very fishy to me. And, dear friend #1’s recollection was very hazy. Plus, I was too busy trying to understand why she didn’t just come to me, the guy with the website that has a specific “Help Me Choose” feature on it, to properly investigate her story. But, I let it slide without comment because I am like Mary: full of grace. Instead, I came up with the best portable Bluetooth speaker for her needs.
The Best Portable Bluetooth Speaker: Anker SoundCore
Anker
It really should not surprise you that the Anker SoundCore Bluetooth Speaker is made by a company called Anker. They are a tech firm founded in 2011 with offices in Shenzhen and Seattle. Their name is German for “anchor.” They do not make maritime products. Anker got their start making replacement laptop batteries. Since then, they have branched out to robotic vacuums (under the Eufy brand) and are the top brand of mobile chargers on Amazon.
Now that you have your history lesson, let’s look at what makes the Anker SoundCore great. It comes with the speaker, which is approximately 2.1” by 6.5” by 1.8”; a micro USB charging cable; instructions; and an 18-month warranty. On a single charge, the speaker can play for 24 hours. And, while dear friend #1 is watching woke AF documentaries on her laptop, the speaker can charge. Or, she can listen to her favorite tunes via Bluetooth with her smartphone up to 66 feet away. There’s even a built-in mic for hands-free calling.
What Are People Saying about the SoundCore Speaker?
I hit the streets to find out what people were saying about the Anker SoundCore Bluetooth Speaker. Many of the people told me they had no idea what I was talking about and simply wanted me to leave them alone. So, I decided to turn my attention to some of the trustworthy customer reviews on Amazon.
Verified purchasers mostly commented that the speaker was good for its price, but it doesn’t compare to the alternatives in the $100+ range. The sound is clear and does not sound hollow. The bass is good, but it will not “get the party started.” Basically, it’s a great speaker for casually listening to streaming music, podcasts, guided meditations, and Mitch Albom’s The Five People You Meet in Heaven. Unless you are a professional sound engineer or are looking to collect noise complaints, this affordable speaker should serve you well.
If you want to plug your Anker into some ancient device that doesn’t have Bluetooth. You will likely need an aux cable. I recommend the SoundPie 3.5mm Nylon Braid Contrast Color ShoeLace Auxiliary Audio Cable.
Buy the Anker SoundCore Bluetooth Speaker on Amazon
As always, if you need help finding the right product for the job, check out our Help Me Choose page.
