The Smartest Speaker Purchase You Can Make This Black Friday Is This One

Black Friday deal alert: Right now, the black model of the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 is sitting at $90, which is $50 off its list price, during Amazon’s Black Friday sale. Whether you’ve been eyeing a portable speaker or need a solid gift for the holidays, this one’s a great pick. Compared to speakers like the JBL Flip 6 or the Bose SoundLink Max, the Boom 2 can still hold its own — without siphoning all the cash from your pockets.

CNET key takeaways

• The black model is the cheapest, but the blue and green models are also on sale and only $5 more.
• The Anker Soundcore Boom 2 is my go-to speaker, and the sale makes it even more affordable and easier to recommend.

I’ve tested a bunch of Bluetooth speakers, but the one I keep tossing in my bag for weekend getaways and backyard hangs is the Anker Soundcore Boom 2. It’s compact, throws out clean sound with solid bass and doesn’t mind getting wet. I gave it a CNET Editors’ Choice last year, and it’s still holding strong near the top of our best Bluetooth speakers list.

I liked the original Soundcore Motion Boom, which also made our list of the best Bluetooth speakers and was one of the better mini boom box Bluetooth speaker values in the last few years. It goes for $70 on Amazon. The 3.66-pound Boom 2 is priced a little higher but sounds substantially better, with more than double the power rating of the original, so it not only plays louder but kicks out more bass and offers better clarity at higher volumes (it’s equipped with two tweeters and one subwoofer). It also has a couple of built-in LED lights to help create that party vibe.

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Anker Soundcore Boom 2 speaker specs

Here are the details about this mini boom box Bluetooth speaker.

• Drivers: 50-watt, 4-inch racetrack subwoofer, dual 15-watt tweeters
• Dimensions: 11.65×7.28×3.98 inches
• Weight: 3.66 pounds
• Battery life: Up to 24 hours at moderate volume levels
• Bluetooth version: 5.3 (100-foot or 30-meter wireless range)
• Water-resistance rating: IPX7 (fully waterproof and floatable)
• Additional features: Built-in light show, customizable EQ, PartyCast 2.0

Why I like this Anker Bluetooth speaker

The speaker’s design isn’t sleek or eye-catching, but it’s attractive enough and just the right size — neither too big nor too small — and you can choose among three colors. It also seems pretty durable, although it doesn’t have a dust-resistance rating. The Boom 2 is fully waterproof (IPX7-rated) and floats should it fall into a body of water. There’s also a USB-out port to charge your devices.

The battery life on the Boom 2 is solid. The speaker is rated for up to 24 hours of playback at moderate volume levels (it charges via USB-C, which is great). Plus, you can edit the sound and customize the lighting with the Soundcore app for iOS and Android. Battery life does dip if you engage the bass boost or activate the LED lighting.

Read more: Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Review

Another Anker speaker to consider

If you’re looking for even more powerful sound, Anker makes the Soundcore Boom 2 Plus. A bigger speaker, it sends out more sound with similar features to the Boom 2. However, its list price is around $250, and I don’t think it sounds twice as good as the Boom 2 (more like 25% to 30% better). Still, it’s also a relatively good value.

Why this deal matters

The Anker Soundcore Boom 2 is already a great deal as one of our top choices for a compact Bluetooth speaker. Black Friday is the perfect time to pick one up for all your end-of-year and holiday get-togethers, and the Soundcore Boom 2’s waterproof design makes it ideal for outdoor gatherings. With electronics prices in flux, this speaker deal is a good chance to make sure you’re getting the most for your money.