A perfect speaker for bass-lovers craving a rugged and affordable outdoor party speaker built for beach, pool, or wilderness.
Key Takeaways:
- Despite its compact size, the Boom 3i has deep, strong bass with BassUp enabled.
- Although its front grille is polarizing, its highly functionable and makes cleaning a breeze.
- The Boom 3i is one of the only portable Bluetooth speakers to offer saltwater protection.
- Best for bass-lovers, but audiophiles will likely prefer the Motion 300 for its stereo sound.
The Final Verdict
The Soundcore Boom 3i is one of the best speakers I’ve tested this year. While it doesn’t exactly have audiophile-quality sound, with mono audio, its deep bass and clear vocals make it a top choice for casual, regular use. It’s outstandingly durable and is easily one of the best portable outdoor speakers available. If you’re looking for a speaker to take around with you to friends, on hiking trips, or use around your pool area, for $139, you’re going to be hard-pressed to find a better choice.
What I Like:
- Floats in water and corrects itself to an upward position.
- Very durable, with saltwater protection.
- Deep, strong bass for a speaker of its size.
- Amazing mobile app that allows a lot of customization, including to sound.
What I Don’t Like:
- While designed for function, the front grille looks a little industrial.
- Mono sound, meaning less soundstage than the Motion 300.
- Battery life is only average.
Sound Profile – “Deep & Bass-Heavy”
The Boom 3i is tuned for fun, punchy bass, energetic treble, and a bold dynamic presence. It’s not the most refined speaker out there, but it brings the excitement. With elevated low-end and solid punch, it fits squarely into our Deep & Bass-Heavy profile.
Note: Wondering what this sound profile means? Here’s how we rate speaker sound and why it matters.
What’s In The Box?
- Soundcore Boom 3i Speaker
- Type C USB Cable
- Quick Start Guide
- Carry strap
Introducing The Soundcore Boom 3i
I get genuinely excited about testing new Soundcore products, as they’re one of the few companies offering affordable speakers that can compete and even, in some cases, overshadow flagship releases by companies like JBL and Sony.
Having already used and reviewed the Soundcore Boom 2, an evolution of their Motion Boom line, I was expecting something similar. Instead, the Soundcore Boom 3i is about half the size, similar to the JBL Charge or Bose Soundlink Flex.
Curious about how it performs and how it stacks up against its competitors, I used the Boom 3i every day for two weeks. So, before you rush into a purchase, let me tell you everything you should know about this speaker’s performance and how it compares to the competition.
The grille may not necessarily be pretty, but it’s highly functional, being extremely easy to clean.
Design & Build Quality
While some don’t like the grille, it’s what makes this speaker so easy to clean. Soundcore clearly set out to create the best budget outdoor speaker. It can be used in the rain or in the pool, and even features a mechanic that ensures it stays floating upright. I wouldn’t go tossing it around, but it can hold its own in rough use.
If you’re looking for a refined-looking speaker that exudes culture and class, this isn’t it. The front grille is polarizing, with an industrial-style appearance. But this is intentional, and I’ll discuss more when I cover the durability.
Willem says:
“The Soundcore lineup has plenty of stylish speakers. The likes of the Motion X600 are as classy as it gets.”
Available in four different colors, it’s also nice to be able to pick one that matches your style. You can pick from:
- Adventurer Black for a sleek and mature look.
- Deep Ocean Blue for something toned down, but still distinct.
- Jungle Green if you love vibrancy and uniqueness.
- Desert Rose Brown for a subtle aesthetic.
One area of the speaker that immediately stands out to everyone I’ve shown it to is the LED-lit bass reflex ports on either end. They pulse brightly when turned on, but can also be kept off, which I’ll tell you – is a great thing when you want to chill in the dark late at night listening to tunes but don’t want the whole room lighting up.
A lightweight speaker, the Boom 3i weighs just 781.6g (27.57oz)
Top Tier Weather Protection, Including a Saltwater Rating
As with most portable Bluetooth speakers nowadays, the Soundcore Boom 3i is waterproof, with an IP68 rating. So there’s great protection from dust intrusion and rain. It can even be tossed in the swimming pool.
Engineered to withstand 240 hours of salt spray-5x the industry average. Lab-tested to ASTM G85-equivalent conditions.
What separates this speaker from the rest of its competitors is its ability to withstand salt water, coming equipped with a 5X saltwater resistance rating. No stress about rusted components after a few months.
IP68 Waterproof, with the ability to autocorrect its position.
I absolutely love the floating playback feature. The speaker’s been designed to always stay upright in water, something most other floating speakers fail to get right.
Washing this speaker off and getting sand or dirt out of the grille is really easy because of the large front grille slots. I found I could remove all the sand from a beach visit in seconds by running a low-pressure hose through the grille.
The lighting effects on the Boom 3i are vibrant and adjustable, but if you prefer a subtle aesthetic, they can also be turned off.
This grille design throws a lot of people off, and if you’re using the speaker just around the house, then you may want something that looks a bit classier, but if you’re always getting your speaker dirty or using it at the beach, this grille is awesome.
In terms of the materials used and their overall ruggedness, the speaker feels great. Don’t get me wrong, the plastic body should still be used carefully on rough surfaces – but overall, the plastic feels durable and can take a few falls without issue.
How Easy Is It To Carry?
The Boom 3i is about 20% larger than a can of Monster Energy, so it’s pretty easy to carry around. There’s a carry strap provided, but for most cases, you won’t need it. I only found it useful when I had my hands full. Otherwise, I just carried it handheld.
Unlike previous Soundcore Boom releases, which often felt a little too large to carry on public transport. The Boom 3i is a lot easier to conceal.
The Boom 3i comes with a carry strap, which isn’t necessary most of the time, but can benefit long treks.
Controls & Connectivity
The controls are easy to use and cover all the essentials, including a few extras – like TWS pairing and LED control. Bluetooth is reliable and there is very little latency, making it completely suitable to watching YouTube on. Its weak point lies in the lack of additional wired ports, with the speaker only having a charging port.
The controls are excellent; they cover everything one needs to adjust the speaker and playback. They’re also made from durable material and are laid flat into the speaker, giving the top a stylish look. Sometimes raised buttons can ruin the aesthetic.
Although they’re not backlit, the power, pairing, and bass boost buttons have small LEDs behind them so you can still have an idea of where to press if you’re in the dark.
Having light effects and bass boost buttons on a speaker of this size is also something I appreciate.
The controls are laid flat into the speaker and include an LED lighting toggle and BassUp toggle.
The Lack of Ports On The Boom 3i Is Disappointing, But Not Unusual
If you’re looking for additional ports like aux input, USB output, things like that, you’re out of luck. The Boom 3i follows a lot of other recent releases and goes for simplicity. The only input you’ll find is the USB-C charging port.
5.3 Bluetooth Connectivity
The speaker supports Bluetooth 5.3, which, while not the latest, doesn’t really have any noticeable differences from the newer Bluetooth 5.4.
5.3 is still very relevant and provides stable connections and low latency. I had no problems watching YouTube videos without noticing sync problems, and didn’t have any cases where my phone and speaker ever lost connection, indoors or outdoors.
Does The Boom 3i Support Stereo Pairing?
At just $139 each, there’s merit to owning two of the Boom 3i. Since they support wireless stereo pairing, you could pair two up so that each becomes a dedicated left or right channel speaker. The result? Better soundstage and a bit more volume. Basically, it just makes the speaker sound more immersive.
And no, it can’t be paired with older versions of the Boom series.
Wireless pairing can sometimes be a pain to do through mobile apps, so having a wireless pairing button directly on the speaker is something I always appreciate.
Sound Quality
This speaker has a fun, lively sound – with deep powerful bass and brightness towards the treble. It’s great for casual listening, with vocal clarity and detail. However, it only supports mono, meaning there’s not as much soundstage as something like the Soundcore Motion 300, which has stereo drivers.
Frequency Response Chart
How to Read a Frequency Response Chart
Bass
Outstanding. Honestly.
It’s extremely refreshing to see a Bluetooth speaker that effectively approaches bass.
With the bass boost off, the lows are subtle, and it makes the speaker sound well-balanced, with more emphasis on vocals. Toggle the bass boost, though, and the speaker comes to life with significantly deeper and more powerful lows.
Having been on a bit of a Techno binge recently, I first tested this speaker to Toter Schmetterling by Klangkeunstler/ Sant. Immediately, I was blown away by how deep and powerful the bass was.
Part of me wishes there was a touch more bass without bass boost enabled, but that would cause the familiar problem of too much bass when the boost is enabled. So I understand the thinking here.
Overall, very impressive considering the speaker only has a moderately sized racetrack woofer for its low range.
Mids
The midrange frequencies are where most vocals and string instruments exist. The Boom 3i’s mids keep their integrity, even with the bass boost feature turned on. There’s more fullness when it’s activated, as it also boosts the lower mids.
With bass boost disabled, the vocals and instruments become more vibrant, and you’ll get a bit more detail from the speaker.
When I ran a frequency response test on the speaker, I could see another secret to the Boom 3i’s great sound – the distinct dip in the upper midrange. This may not mean much to the average speaker user, but it tells me that Soundcore thought about how this speaker will sound outdoors.
This type of tuning is more common in larger outdoor speakers, basically helping the higher frequencies to cut through the wind.
Highs
The BassUp is disabled, the highs are still slightly elevated, and can be a little sharp for those sensitive to sibilance. However, just drop the 9k frequency band to -2 in the custom EQ, and it irons out the harshness.
With BassUp enabled, the highs become more prominent to balance out the increase in lows. I’ve seen others suggest they found these highs too harsh, but I found they did a good job at adding sufficient detail to a bass-heavy sound.
A couple of stabilizers on the base prevent it from moving around when playing.
Soundstage & Dynamics
If you’re not into the technical side of audio, just think of soundstage as how realistic the speaker sounds. A narrow soundstage can sound like it’s coming from a single narrow source, while a broad soundstage makes it hard to pinpoint where on the speaker the sound is coming from.
Since this is a mono speaker, you’re not going to get as much separation as the Motion 300, but for a mono speaker, the Boom 3i has reasonably good soundstage.
Dynamic range basically refers to the amount of detail a speaker can produce. Whether you can still hear the subtle hi-hats over the deep bass.
Dynamic range on the Boom 3i is above average for speakers of its size, but at high volume (75%+), you’re still going to miss a few of those more nuanced elements of mixing. This is normal for consumer speakers, especially portable ones.
Volume: How Many Decibels Does The Boom 3i Produce?
I’ve been using this speaker when friends are over, and I’ve been able to fill a small to medium-sized living room with good quality sound. I try to keep it below 90% to preserve detail as well.
For a more precise measurement, I used Room EQ Wizard and the UMIK-II measuring microphone to run standardized volume tests at 1 meter.
Doing this gave a decibel reading of 91.2 to 91.8 dB, which is the same as the Soundcore Motion 300 and makes it louder than the JBL Flip 7.
This is still slightly short of Soundcore’s marketing material, which claims 96 decibels. But variables in the testing methodology can easily cause this.
Sound Characteristic Scores (Scale: 1–10)
| Characteristic | Score | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Warmth | 7 | The Boom 3i delivers a noticeable low-mid warmth, especially when using the BassUp feature. It’s full without sounding muddy. |
| Bass Depth | 8 | Solid bass performance for its size and price. It doesn’t reach deep sub-bass, but there’s enough low-end to satisfy for most genres. |
| Dynamic Range / Punch | 7 | One of the speaker’s biggest strengths, it hits hard for its size and feels punchy, particularly with energetic tracks. |
| Balance | 5 | With BassUp disabled, the speaker has a balanced midrange with recessed lows, but when activated, it exchanges balance for punch. |
| Clarity | 7 | Good clarity, especially for a speaker in its class. Vocals are intelligible, but some midrange details are lost with BassUp active. |
| Treble Smoothness | 6 | The highs are crisp, but they are elevated, which can be a bit harsh in some situations, but benefits outdoor use as it cuts through wind. |
| Soundstage / Imaging | 5 | Mono drivers limit the width, and it projects fairly well. Imaging is average, but better than many competitors in the same price range. |
How It Sounds With Different Genres
The tuning of a speaker has a direct impact on which genres it excels in and which are left sounding lackluster. Here’s my experience testing the Boom 3i with multiple genres.
Metal
With metal having so many subgenres, one can’t capture them all, but overall, the Boom 3i handles metal well. The bass boost feature works well for some subgenres, but when there’s a lot of double bass, it can be a bit overwhelming, and you may then prefer how it sounds with the boost disabled, which gives the guitars and vocals more prominence.
Pop and Rock
With bass boost enabled, the Boom 3i creates a warm, bass-heavy sound that’s ideal for most pop music and most rock. The strong bass thump tends to leave enough room for vocals and guitars in the mids to come through with clarity and detail.
Electronic
I mostly listen to electronic music, and find that I barely ever turn the bass boost off when I’m doing so. This speaker captures the raw power in the lows, required to make EDM exciting. The bass hits hard, and with the elevation in the treble, it captures the essential nuance that makes EDM sound so immersive.
The addition of lights adds a splash of character to the speaker.
Battery Performance & Charging
With 16 hours battery life and a 3 hour recharge time, the Boom 3i performs on par with similar speakers, but falls short of competitors like the JBL Charge 6.
How Long Does The Boom 3i’s Battery Last?
The Boom 3i is rated to provide up to 16 hours of battery life, which is about average for a speaker this size in 2025.
I got just over 12 hours of use over the last week, but I also used a lot of bass boost and lighting, which is something to keep in mind. While the speaker can last up to 16 hours, the playtime will vary depending on the features and volume.
Bass boost and lighting effects appeared to each use about 5 to 10% more battery life.
How Long Does It Take To Charge The Soundcore Boom 3i?
Charging is done via USB-C input, which can be found on the back of the speaker, behind the protective flap. The speaker can be played while charging, which is nice, and the charging process only takes 3 hours.
The Boom 3i keeps things simple, with no additional ports outside of the charging input.
App Support
The Soundcore app is easy to use and packed with features. Change the lighting effects, change between sound profile presets or create your own sound with the 9-band custom EQ. The app may have a bit too much even, with a few novel features, like white noise and alarm options.
Using the Soundcore app is highly recommended, as it adds the ability to update firmware, control the speaker, and customize the sound with the custom EQ. It’s available to both iOS and Android users.
When I paired the speaker with the app, I was prompted to update to firmware version 1.24, which fixes some distortion issues in the bass.
I’ve raved about the Soundcore app in other reviews, and I still find it to be the most satisfying speaker app to use.
Battery Life Indicator
Within the app, there’s a small battery life indicator on the top left. It’s broken up into 5 segments, each representing 20% battery life.
BassUp 2.0
This is the speaker’s bass boost feature, and can be toggled on and off either on the speaker itself or through the app.
Equalizer
There are four preset EQ options to pick from:
- Soundcore Signature
- Treble Boost
- Voice
- Balanced
For a more customized sound, the 9-band equalizer offers an effective and easy way to make adjustments to a wide range of frequency bands.
Voice Amplifier
A somewhat novel feature, the voice amplifier turns your phone into a microphone and the Boom 3i into an amp. While it’s not something I see many people using, having it as an option has no downsides.
Sound Effects
Since this speaker is made for the outdoors, the alarm sound effects are actually quite useful. It’s somewhat novel, but a nice-to-have feature – especially if your adventures are on the extreme side.
Buzz Clean
Looking to shake loose some sand or debris? The Buzz Clean setting shakes the drivers by playing a range of high movement frequencies.
Who Is the Soundcore Boom 3i For?
While this is one of the more versatile speakers on the market, balancing good volume, battery life, ruggedness, and portability, it’s not for everyone.
Best For
- People who want a versatile daily driver, light, portable, and easy to take anywhere (garden, poolside, campsite, or a friend’s place).
- Listeners who appreciate sound profile flexibility, balanced/neutral when bass boost is off, energetic and fun when it’s on.
- Those who want a poolside companion, rugged enough for outdoor hangs and splash-friendly environments.
- Anyone looking for an affordable speaker that doesn’t compromise on everyday usability.
Not Ideal For
- Audiophiles chasing studio-grade detail or hi-fi sound, this is more about fun than accuracy.
- People needing very high volume for large parties, it’s capable, but not on par with bigger boombox-class speakers.
How The Boom 3i Compares With Similar Speakers
This speaker goes head-to-head with flagship releases like the JBL Charge 6, Flip 7, and Turtlebox Ranger.
I had more fun using the Boom 3i than I have using any of the portable JBL speakers I have around me here, and there are a lot of them. In particular, the bass boost is super effective and a lot easier to activate than going into one’s custom EQ on a phone and adjusting the lows.
Apart from having a more impressive bass, it’s mostly about what the Boom 3i brings to the table. Saltwater resistance and the lighting effects set it apart from the Turtlebox Ranger, Flip 7, and Charge 6.
Soundcore Boom 3i vs Turtlebox Ranger
The Boom 3i and Turtlebox Ranger both boast waterproof builds, but they differ in toughness and purpose. The Boom 3i offers good outdoor protection in a compact form, ideal for casual use by the pool or on hikes. In contrast, the Turtlebox Ranger is designed with ruggedness at its core. It’s bulkier, shock-resistant, and built to handle extreme outdoor conditions like camping, hunting, or off-road adventures. While both are portable, the Ranger feels more like heavy-duty gear, whereas the Boom 3i balances durability with lighter weight and versatility for everyday outdoor and social use.
Soundcore Boom 3i vs JBL Flip 7
The Flip 7 (priced at around $149 on Amazon) is compact and tuned for a more balanced, clear sound, while the Boom 3i is slightly larger and built for impact with punchier bass. Both are waterproof and easy to carry, but the Flip 7 leans toward everyday listening and portability, whereas the Boom 3i feels more versatile for parties and outdoor use. Battery life is strong on both, though the Flip 7 is slimmer to pack, while the Boom 3i delivers a livelier, bass-driven performance for its size.
Soundcore Boom 3i vs JBL Charge 6
While both are rugged Bluetooth speakers, they lean in different directions. The Charge 6 (priced between $170 and $200 on Amazon) is the refined all-rounder with balanced sound, cleaner highs, and a bigger battery that doubles as a power bank. The Charge 6 has a lot more battery life. The Boom 3i is lighter, more versatile outdoors, and packs punchier, more energetic bass, even if it trades some polish for impact. Both are waterproof and travel-friendly, but the Charge 6 feels more premium, while the Boom 3i brings more fun for its size and price.
Soundcore Boom 3i vs JBL Charge 5
The Charge 5 and Boom 3i share rugged designs and waterproofing, but they aim at different experiences. The Charge 5 (often on sale for under $150 on Amazon) has a more balanced sound with smoother mids and highs, while the Boom 3i leans toward punchy, bass-heavy fun. The Boom 3i is lighter and easier to carry, though the Charge 5’s larger size gives it fuller sound and slightly better durability. Both are strong outdoor companions, but the Boom 3i wins for portability and lively bass, while the Charge 5 feels more refined overall.
The Soundcore Boom 3i and JBL Charge 5 are similar size, but have distinct differences.
Soundcore Boom 3i vs Motion 300
If you’re curious about how it compares to the similar Soundcore Motion 300 (often retailing under $80 on Amazon). They are similar speakers in some ways, but when it comes to sound and purpose, they couldn’t be more different. The Motion 300 is a good at-home speaker, but I find the Boom 3i to be a lot more versatile, and its bass is a lot more punchy than the Motion 300.
The Soundcore Motion 300 offers class, the Boom 3i puts durability at the forefront.
Soundcore Boom 3i vs Boom 2
Compared to the Soundcore Boom 2 (frequently discounted), the Boom 3i is a different type of speaker. It’s quite a bit smaller than the Boom 2, but it does keep some of the best qualities of the Boom 2, retaining the backlit passive bass radiators and BassUp. Despite the smaller size, it still gets nearly as loud as the Boom 2 and, for its size, produces surprisingly similar amounts of bass.
One can note the difference in size between the Boom 2 (back) and Boom 3i (in front).
Conclusion
While this speaker will be staying in the OuterAudio office, I am absolutely going to pick up my own. It’s as close to the perfect portable Bluetooth speaker as I’ve reviewed. The front grille is probably its most polarizing feature, as it has a more rugged, industrial look than a smooth, soft aesthetic.
Everything else is gravy with this speaker. The sound quality is great, and I love the deep bass extension with the boost active. Having saltwater resistance is also an awesome addition, not usually found on portable Bluetooth speakers.
At $139, this is a steal. I can wholeheartedly recommend this speaker to everyone looking for an everyday Bluetooth speaker.
Frequently Asked Questions
Summary
Soundcore Boom 3i
The Soundcore Boom 3i is one of the best speakers I’ve tested this year. While it doesn’t exactly have audiophile-quality sound, with mono audio, its deep bass and clear vocals make it a top choice for casual, regular use. It’s outstandingly durable and is easily one of the best portable outdoor speakers available. If you’re looking for a speaker to take around with you to friends, on hiking trips, or use around your pool area, for $139, you’re going to be hard-pressed to find a better choice.
Product Brand: Soundcore
4.6
Pros
- Floats in water and corrects itself to an upward position.
- Very durable, with saltwater protection.
- Deep, strong bass for a speaker of its size.
- Amazing mobile app that allows a lot of customization, including to sound.
Cons
- While designed for function, the front grille looks a little industrial.
- Mono sound, meaning less soundstage than the Motion 300.
- Battery life is only average.
Soundcore Boom 3i Review: My Favorite Speaker of This Year
Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
