The Anker Soundcore Flare 2 is a portable Bluetooth speaker that's a budget entry into Anker's speaker lineup. It's a small and lightweight device that lets you bring your tunes with you, and its IPX7 rating for water resistance adds some protection from the elements while you're on the move. The customizable light rings around the top and bottom of the speaker even pulse to the beat, adding a visual element to your favorite songs.
Our Verdict
The Anker Flare 2 is fair for music. It offers a balanced sound out of the box, especially in the mids, where voices and lead instruments are reproduced. As a result, it's suitable for listening to lots of different genres. With its 360-degree design, it has an excellent soundstage, too, so your audio content will sound consistent from every angle. You can also use its graphic EQ and presets to customize its sound or hit the BassUp button on the back of the speaker. That said, given its small size, this device can't bring much rumble in the low-bass, even with BassUp enabled, and it doesn't get as loud as other models on the market.
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Amazing soundstage.
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Graphic EQ and presets.
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Lacks low-bass.
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Not loud enough to fill larger spaces.
The Anker Flare 2 isn't designed for use with videos and movies, but if you want to watch content on a paired smartphone, it can do the job. The speaker reproduces dialogue clearly, though there isn't much bass to bring action-packed scenes to life. There's also relatively high latency with iOS and Android devices, meaning you'll likely notice lip-synching issues.
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Amazing soundstage.
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Graphic EQ and presets.
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Lacks low-bass.
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Not loud enough to fill larger spaces.
The Anker Flare 2 is satisfactory for podcasts. It's easy to follow along with your favorite shows as the speaker reproduces detailed dialogue right out of the box. Given its portable design, you can bring it from room to room as you listen, and its excellent soundstage means you'll hear podcast hosts well from any angle. You can easily stream podcasts from your phone over Bluetooth, and while it pairs with only one device at a time, its impressive range ensures a stable connection even when your phone is further away.
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Well-built, portable design.
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Not loud enough to fill larger spaces.
The Anker Flare 2 has poor voice assistant performance. The speaker uses the voice assistant from your paired smartphone but doesn't have built-in support. Also, as part of our methodology, we use recorded voice prompts to test the assistant's efficiency. However, it didn't respond to some commands, even with no ambient noise present. It answered to a normal speaking voice, but this isn't part of our testing process.
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Amazing soundstage.
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Unresponsive voice assistant.
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Poor ambient noise performance.
The Anker Flare 2 is decent for outdoor use. This portable Bluetooth speaker has a lightweight and sturdy design that makes it easy to bring with you to the park or your backyard. It's rated IPX7 for water resistance, so it's capable of withstanding some light exposure to the elements. However, it isn't rated for dust or impact resistance, so this speaker isn't ideal for a day at the beach, and you'll want to be careful not to drop it when you're on the go. Additionally, it doesn't get as loud as some of the other speakers we've tested, so it's best to stay close by to enjoy your favorite tunes.
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Well-built, portable design.
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Not loud enough to fill larger spaces.
- 6.9 Music
- 6.0 Videos/Movies
- 7.3 Podcasts
- 4.4 Voice Assistant
- 7.1 Outdoors
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Updated Feb 20, 2025:
We've updated the text for accuracy and detail, but our scores haven't changed.
- Updated Sep 04, 2024: We've updated the Battery scores and text, as we've reevaluated how the Battery Life, Charge Time, and Power Saving scores are weighted. We've also updated the relevant usage boxes that were affected by this recalculation.
- Updated Dec 01, 2023: Added market comparison with the Anker Soundcore Motion 300 in the Soundstage box.
- Updated Jan 17, 2023: Updated review text for accuracy and clarity. No changes in test results.
- Updated Aug 04, 2021: We updated the test results for 'EQ' to 'Graphic + Presets', and for 'Bluetooth Version' to '5.0'.
- Updated Jan 25, 2021: Review published.
- Updated Jan 20, 2021: Early access published.
- Updated Jan 11, 2021: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Jan 08, 2021: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
Check Price
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Anker Flare 2 comes in Black and Blue color variants. We tested the Black model, and you can see its label here. We expect the other color variants to perform similarly.
If you come across another version, let us know in the comments, and we'll update our review.
Compared To Other Speakers
The Anker Flare 2 is a portable Bluetooth speaker with customizable RGB lights priced in the lower mid-range of Anker's lineup. It's not as compact, portable, or well-built as the Anker Soundcore Select 4 Go, but it offers a better soundstage and more low-frequency extension. Compared to Anker's other offerings, the Soundcore Flare 2 has a less impressive battery performance, lasting for roughly half of the Anker Soundcore Boom 2's 16-hour battery life. Overall, this speaker is well-suited to social settings where its light show and soundstage really shine.
See also our recommendations for the best Bluetooth speakers, the best waterproof speakers, and the best Bluetooth speakers under $100.
The Anker Soundcore Flare 2 is slightly better than the JBL Flip 6. With its 'Bass Up' feature enabled, the Anker can produce a more extended low-bass than the JBL. It can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono and has better directivity, resulting in a wider and more immersive soundstage. It also supports voice assistants through your smartphone, though its performance isn't very good. However, the JBL is smaller and better built, making it easier to bring outdoors with you. Its out-of-the-box sound profile is better balanced, ensuring a variety of audio content sounds good right away. Additionally, it can get slightly louder than the Anker. You can also pair it to up to two devices at a time, which is handy when you need to switch between audio sources quickly.
The Anker Soundcore Flare 2 is a better speaker overall than the Anker Soundcore 3. The Flare 2 is better built and has amazing directivity, so your audio sounds clear from most angles. You can also connect it to another speaker to create a stereo pair. The Soundcore 3 is slightly smaller and comes with a carrying strap, making it easy to take it with you when you're on the move. It also has a slightly larger Bluetooth range, so your paired device can stay connected even if it's far from the speaker.
The Anker Soundcore Flare 2 is a better speaker than the JBL Flip 5. The Anker has a better soundstage performance, and its graphic EQ and presets give you more ability to customize its sound. Also, the Anker supports voice assistants from your smartphone, though its performance leaves something to be desired.
You may prefer either the Anker Soundcore Flare 2 or the JBL Charge 5, depending on your listening habits. The JBL has a better-balanced sound profile out of the box that can produce a slightly more extended low-bass than the Anker. It's better built with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance and can also get a bit louder. That said, the Anker can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono and offers a wider-sounding soundstage, thanks to its 360-degree design.
The Anker Soundcore Motion+ is a slightly better speaker than the Anker Soundcore Flare 2. The Motion+ is better suited to outdoor use since its battery lasts longer and it can get louder than the Flare. While the Flare has a more open soundstage thanks to its 360-design, it has more latency with iOS and Android devices, although some apps compensate differently for this.
The Anker Soundcore Flare 2 is a better speaker than the Anker Soundcore 2 overall. WIth its Default EQ and BassUp feature enabled, The Flare 2 has a somewhat better-balanced sound profile that can produce a more extended low-bass than that of the Soundcore 2. Thanks to its 360-degree design, it has better directivity, resulting in a wider and more open-sounding soundstage. It's also more customizable thanks to the graphic EQ and presets featured in its companion app. That said, the Soundcore 2 has less compression present at max volume, resulting in cleaner audio at louder volumes.
The Anker Soundcore Flare 2 and the Anker Soundcore Motion 300 are both solid wallet-friendly options from the manufacturer. The Flare 2 boasts a 360-degree design with customizable RGB lights. Meanwhile, the Motion 300 is designed for on-the-go listening with a detachable strap. The Motion supports multi-device pairing, unlike the Flare 2, and it has a longer-lasting battery life. Plus, it gets louder. However, its low-frequency extension isn't as impressive as the Flare 2, so you feel less punch in the mix.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 3 is better than the Anker Soundcore Flare 2 overall. The Ultimate Ears is better built and has a longer battery life of over 13 hours on a single charge. It gets a touch louder with much less compression present at max volume. It's also smaller and more portable. If you like controlling your speaker's sound profile, the Flare 2 comes with a graphic EQ and presets to tweak its sound to your liking. Since it's larger, it also produces a deeper bass. It even supports voice assistants through your smartphone.
The Anker Soundcore Flare 2 is a slightly better speaker than the Anker Soundcore Motion Boom, though they have different strengths. The Flare 2 has significantly better directivity thanks to its 360-degree design, resulting in a more natural-sounding soundstage. It's also smaller, making it more portable. That said, the Boom can get much louder with less compression at max volume, resulting in cleaner audio at louder volumes.
The Anker Soundcore Motion X600 is better than the Anker Soundcore Flare 2. The Motion X600 is a more premium speaker with better sound quality, and it offers some additional enhancement features, such as its Spatial Audio tool. It gets louder, too, so it's more suitable for listening in larger spaces. It doesn't have RGB lights like the Flare 2, though, and its soundstage isn't quite as expansive since it lacks a 360-degree design.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 is a better speaker for most uses than the Anker Soundcore Flare 2. The Ultimate Ears is better-built with a longer battery life. Also, it gets louder, and it has less compression when played at max volume. However, the Anker supports voice assistants, and it also has a graphic EQ and presets for sound customization.
The Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 and the Anker Soundcore Flare 2 are similar speakers, though they have different strengths. The Ultimate Ears can get a bit louder with significantly less compression present at max volume, so your audio sounds cleaner at louder volumes. It's better-built, and has a longer-lasting battery life, though this can depend on your usage. That said, the Anker has a better-balanced sound profile that can produce a more extended low-bass. It also supports voice assistants through your smartphone, though its performance isn't great.
The Anker Soundcore Flare 2 is a better speaker than the JBL Go 3. The Anker has a more balanced sound profile, and its graphic EQ and presets offer more sound customization options. Its soundstage is better, its battery life is longer, and it supports voice assistants. However, the JBL is better built.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Anker Soundcore Flare 2 or the Sonos Roam/Roam SL. The Sonos is better built, and its Roam variant has better voice assistant performance. However, the Anker has a better soundstage performance, longer battery life, and more sound customization options.
The Anker Soundcore Flare 2 is a better speaker than the iFox iF012 overall. The Anker offers a better-balanced sound profile with its BassUp feature turned on and has a graphic EQ and presets you can use to customize its sound profile to your liking. It also supports voice assistants through your smartphone and can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono. That said, the iFox has less compression present at max volume, resulting in cleaner audio at louder volume levels. It also comes with a removable suction cup and carabiner hook, which some users may prefer.
The Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 Gen 2 is a better speaker than the Anker Soundcore Flare 2. The Bang & Olufsen has Alexa built-in and understands voice commands very easily, while the Anker struggles to understand you. The Bang & Olufsen is better built, comes with a carrying strap, and is advertised as dustproof. However, the Anker's battery lasts longer, and it can play stereo content without downmixing it into mono.
You may prefer either the Bose SoundLink Revolve II or the Anker Soundcore Flare 2, depending on your listening habits. The Anker is more customizable thanks to the graphic EQ and presets featured on its companion app. It can also play stereo content without downmixing it to mono. That said, the Bose can be paired to two devices at once, which can help you swap between audio sources quickly. It also does a better job of letting your paired voice assistant hear you from far away and in noisy settings.
The Anker Soundcore Flare 2 is a better speaker than the Limitless Innovations TikiTunes. The Anker is better-built with a more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box, and it also has a graphic EQ and presets to help you customize its sound. Unlike the TikiTunes, it can play stereo content without downmixing it, and it supports voice assistants from your paired smartphone. That said, the TikiTunes has longer battery life.
The Anker Soundcore Flare 2 is a better speaker than the Theater Solutions B83GR, with a more balanced sound profile. The Anker has a graphic EQ and presets, which are handy if you want to customize its sound. It also supports voice assistants and has an amazing soundstage. However, the B83GR may be better suited for those who prefer a louder speaker as the Flare 2 has more compression at max volume, leading to pumping effects and a loss of detail.
The Anker Soundcore Flare 2 is a better speaker than the JBL Charge 4. The Anker has a somewhat better-balanced sound profile with its BassUp feature enabled and can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono. It has excellent directivity resulting in a wide and natural-sounding soundstage. You can customize its sound to your liking, thanks to the graphic EQ and presets featured in its companion app. That said, the JBL has less compression present at max volume, resulting in cleaner audio at louder volumes. It also has a longer-lasting battery life, though this can depend on your usage.
The Bose SoundLink Revolve is a better speaker for most uses than the Anker Soundcore Flare 2. The Bose is better-built, and its battery life is longer. Also, it has a more neutral, balanced default sound profile. However, the Anker has a better soundstage, and its graphic EQ and presets offer more sound customization options.
The Anker Soundcore Flare 2 is a better speaker than the OontZ Angle 3. The Anker is better-built, and it supports voice assistants, unlike the OontZ. Its default sound profile is more neutral and its graphic EQ and presets offer more sound customization options. Also, it has a better soundstage. However, the OontZ gets louder, and it has less compression at max volume. Also, its battery life is longer.
Test Results
The Anker Soundcore Flare 2 is a fairly small speaker with a cylindrical shape. It's meant to sit vertically, with its RGB light rings at the top and bottom. The lights are customizable and flash rhythmically when you play music, but you can also turn them off. When they aren't on, the rings blend in nicely with the speaker's body. The speaker itself has a tight fabric wrapping around it, and you can find it in either Blue or Black color variants.
This is an incredibly portable speaker. It's small and lightweight, so you can easily carry it in one hand. Also, since it's battery-operated, you can bring it from room to room without worrying about plugging it into an outlet.
This speaker has a good build quality. It seems solid and durable, and it sits on a rubber base. The tight fabric wrapping around the speaker feels nice and doesn't seem like it would rip easily. It even has an IPX7 rating for water resistance, meaning you can submerge it in up to a meter of water for thirty minutes without issue. Additionally, it has a flap to cover the USB-C port, providing extra protection against the elements. However, the manual warns to avoid dropping it.
The controls are very good. On top of the speaker, there are controls to turn the speaker on/off, adjust the volume, and start/switch/stop the lights. You'll also find a button with the Soundcore logo, which controls a variety of functions:
- Press once to play/pause or answer/end calls
- Press twice to skip a track and three times to go back
- Hold for two seconds to activate the voice assistant
On the speaker's rear, there's a Bluetooth pairing button and a BassUp button that also doubles as a charging indicator. You can hold the Bluetooth button for three seconds to pair other Flare 2 speakers together. Overall, the buttons are responsive and easy to use.
- Anker Soundcore Flare 2 Bluetooth speaker
- USB-C to USB-A charging cable
- User Manual
Out of the box, the speaker has a fairly balanced sound, making it suitable for listening to a wide range of music genres. Voices and lead instruments are clear and present in the mix. Like most small speakers, there isn't much rumble in the low-bass, which is especially noticeable with genres like EDM and hip-hop. Even with its BassUp feature on, this is still the case.
The soundstage is amazing. This stereo speaker has a 360-degree design, meaning that you can set it in the middle of a table or a room for consistent sound all around. It performs better in this regard than front-facing speakers like the Anker Soundcore Motion 300.
The speaker gets loud enough to fill an average-sized room with sound, but it isn't suitable for larger or more open spaces. Also, as you turn up the volume, you notice more pumping and compression artifacts in the mix.
The manufacturer advertises a battery life of 12 hours, but in our tests, the speaker lasted for just over eight hours. However, battery life can vary depending on usage, so your results may differ. The speaker also shuts off after about twenty minutes without audio, which helps conserve its battery life. If you want a speaker with a longer battery life, consider the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 or the Sony SRS-XB100.
This speaker uses the voice assistant from your paired smartphone. As part of our methodology, we test the speaker using recorded voice messages. However, the speaker didn't respond to some of these commands, even when there wasn't any ambient noise. While it responded to a normal speaking voice, this isn't part of our testing process. For a speaker with better voice assistant performance, check out the Beats Pill.
The Anker Soundcore app is very good. It has several EQ settings, including 'Default,' 'Voice,' 'Chill,' and 'Flat,' as well as a full graphic EQ. You can turn the BassUp setting on and off from both the app and speaker. Create a stereo pair by connecting two speakers within the app, or use Party Mode to link multiple speakers for more powerful audio in large, crowded spaces. You can also use the app to customize the speaker's lighting.
This speaker doesn't support any wired connections. Its USB-C to USB-A cable is for charging only.
This speaker's Bluetooth range is outstanding, so it stays connected to your device, even from far away. Unfortunately, its latency with iOS devices is likely too high to be suitable for gaming. It performs a little better with Android devices, but you might still notice some lip-synching issues. However, some apps and devices compensate for latency differently, so your experience may vary. Consider the Marshall Emberton II if you want a speaker with lower Bluetooth latency.
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