A few years ago, I used to say in some reviews that Bluetooth speakers under $100 are inferior and not worth buying. A lot of things have changed since then and I myself couldn’t believe that now I can get a decent mini Bluetooth speaker for less than $40. The Anker Soundcore Flare Mini really surprised me over the testing period.
Unboxing & Sound Test
Design & Features
The Soundcore Flare Mini is not a fancy-looking Bluetooth speaker at first. It looks a little dull in an all black color and cloth grille wrapping around the body. All buttons are placed on top of the speaker under a rubberized surface. The Soundcore speaker would look really boring if it didn’t feature the LED lights on the bottom. There are actually 8 LED lights and you can change among 5 different lighting effects. The feature might sound gimmicky but I really enjoy the light show each time I play music on this speaker.
This speaker has quite a durable design as it features IPX7 waterproof rating. That means you won’t have to worry about rains, spills, or even accidentally drop to a swimming pool. Just make sure to secure the micro-USB port on the back with the attached rubber flap.
I am also quite impressed with the battery life of the Anker speaker as it could last around 8-10 hours. Notice that I always turn on the LED lights during music playback, so the battery life is not bad at all.
Audio Quality
The Anker speaker looks and feel like an Amazon Echo speaker but it actually sounds way better. If I have to describe my experience with the speaker, I will say I was “shocked” as soon as I started playing music. At the same time reviewing this Anker, I also tested a more expensive and bigger soundbar and surprisingly, the tiny Bluetooth speaker has much better audio characteristics.
It is equipped with two 5W neodymium drivers sitting back-to-back. That explains why it can produce such a spacious sound. Most Bluetooth speakers at this size have a muddy and boxy sound but that’s not the case with the Soundcore Mini. I didn’t expect it could deliver such a good bass and clarity in the mids.
Overall, this is an amazing product and it has totally changed my opinion about the Anker brand. Now, you can own a high-quality portable Bluetooth speaker at a very affordable price.
