I love a rugged device. Not because I have a use for one—I live in New York, and the “elements” are usually more psychologically harrowing than physical—but damn, sometimes I’m a sucker for a stunt, and knowing I’ll have tunes when the apocalypse strikes ain’t bad either. Anker is here to scratch that baser, stunt-loving, disaster-fearing itch in my brain with what it’s calling an “industry-first” Bluetooth speaker that plays just fine while floating in all types of water.
The Soundcore Boom 3i outdoor speaker is the latest in Anker’s Boom series of outdoor speakers and offers a few headlining perks. One, as I mentioned before, is that this thing can float. According to Anker, the Soundcore Boom 3i: “Stays upright and sound-forward, even in waves. No distortion, no sinking—just loud, clear audio for kayaking, pool parties, and every water adventure.” That’s not really a technical feat necessarily; the weight is just distributed in such a way that the actual speakers stay pointed away from the watery depths. Still, it’s a nice flourish if you plan on throwing this thing into a lake or a big pool, or if you’re feeling a little wacky, the ocean.
Speaking of ocean water, the Boom 3i is also apparently a lot more durable on that front compared to competitors. Anker says, thanks in part to a coating on the outside of the speaker, the Boom 3i can withstand exposure to salt water much longer than competitors. Specifically, Anker says the Boom 3i will stay “corrosion-free” for up to two years, while “other” speakers may start to degrade in five months. Outside of its emphasis on floatability, the Boom 3i also has some solid drop resistance and can withstand drops onto concrete of up to 1 meter (3.28 feet), can be submerged 1.5 meters deep in water for up to 30 minutes, and has an IP68 dust resistance as well.
Outside of its durability, the Boom 3i also has 50W of sound, which equates to 98dB of volume and 16 hours of audio playback. That should be plenty of battery and loudness if you’re using this thing at a lake party or somewhere out in the open for a party. Adding to its apocalypse-weathering vibes is also an emergency alarm for if you’re ever in trouble that emits a noise that’s “roughly as loud as a motorcycle” to signal you need help. Similarly, there’s a voice amplifier that lets you broadcast a message out loud and a “Buzz Clean” feature that vibrates the speaker with sound to clean off sand and dust. Given all of that rugged, apocalypse-defying goodness, the Boom 3i won’t come cheap, retailing at $189, but if you’re looking for something that can save your ass when Waterworld hits, then it might be worth every penny.
English (US) ·