My favorite Bluetooth speaker is $40 off for Black Friday and makes a great gift
As we enter the holiday gifting season, people are asking me for Bluetooth speaker recommendations because they do indeed make good gifts. I like to point them to our list with the best Bluetooth speakersbut I also mention that I awarded a CNET Editors’ Choice to the Anker Soundcore Boom 2because I think it sounds very good for its affordable price and is an excellent value. Although it costs $130, it is now on sale for $90or $40 off. Note that the blue and green models are only $30 off.
Read more: Best Tech Gifts Under $100
This story is part of Gift Guideour year-round collection of the best gift ideas.
I liked the original Soundcore Motion Boomwhich made our list of the best Bluetooth speakers and was one of the better Bluetooth speaker values for mini boomboxes in recent years, retailing for around $80. The £3.75 Boom 2 is priced slightly higher, but sounds significantly better, with more than double the power of the original, so it not only plays louder, but also kicks out more bass and offers better clarity at higher volumes (it’s equipped with two tweeters and one subwoofer). It also has a few built-in LED lights to help create that party atmosphere.
Hey, did you know? CNET Deals copy is free, easy, and saves you money.
Why I like the Anker speaker
The speaker’s design isn’t very sleek or flashy – you can choose from three color options – but it’s attractive enough and just the right size, not too big and not too small. It also seems quite durable, although it lacks dust resistance. The Boom 2 is completely waterproof (IPX7 certified) and floats when dropped into water. In addition, there is a USB output to charge your devices.
Enlarge image
The speaker has built-in LED lights that pulse and change color to your music.
The battery life is also good. The speaker can play for up to 24 hours at moderate volume levels (it charges via USB-C, which is good), and you can adjust the sound and adjust the lighting with the Soundcore app for iOS and Android. The battery life does decrease if you turn on the bass boost or activate the LED lighting.
Read more: Anker Soundcore Boom 2 review
Another Anchor speaker to consider
If you’re looking for an even more powerful sound, Anker makes the Soundcore Boom 2 Plus. It’s a larger speaker and puts out more sound with similar features to the Boom 2. However, it costs about $180, 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 good price and would make a decent gift.
Will Anker Soundcore Boom 2 be on sale during Black Friday and Cyber Monday?
The Anker Soundcore Boom 2 is currently on sale and Anker regularly offers good discounts on our favorite devices, like this power bank, so we expect to continue to see significant discounts for Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
For more gift ideas, check out our Editors’ Choice awards for gift technology. We’ve also rounded up a selection of budget-friendly gifts under $25 and under $50. And if you want to spend a little more, we’ve found the best gifts under $300 and gifts under $500.
