Compare Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 Speaker 3rd Gen vs Soundcore Boom 3i

The Bang & Olufsen app is widely praised as polished, stable and genuinely useful, with EQ, stereo setup, battery readouts and extra content. One review noted a radio feature hiccup.

The Soundcore app is repeatedly described as useful, packed, clean, or easy to connect, giving access to EQ, lighting, alarms, voice features, firmware, and sound effects.

Audio-format evidence is limited to codec-style support, with reviews mentioning AAC and SBC rather than broader file-format playback.

Compatibility with other speakers is mixed: one review says it cannot pair with older Boom versions in that context, while another says PartyCast 2.0 works with Boom 2 models.

Battery life is one of its best features. The 24-hour claim is repeatedly praised and several reviewers found real-world endurance strong or even conservative at moderate volume.

Battery feedback is mixed but serviceable. The 16-hour rating appears often, yet real-world results drop with higher volume, BassUp, and lighting, with some tests closer to 6 to 12 hours.

AAC and aptX Adaptive support are appreciated, but Bluetooth 5.1 feels dated and the lack of Auracast comes up repeatedly as a missed opportunity.

Codec evidence is modest but positive: reviewers identify Bluetooth 5.3 and AAC/SBC support, without evidence of higher-end codecs such as LDAC or aptX.

Bluetooth stability is a strong point, with reviewers reporting dependable pairing and no meaningful dropouts in normal use.

Bluetooth stability is good. Reviewers reported reliable Bluetooth, stable connections, no lost connection indoors or outdoors, and strong performance through walls.

Bluetooth range is solid for normal portable use, roughly room-to-garden or around 10 meters, but nobody describes it as exceptional.

Bluetooth range is specifically praised in two reviews, including a 100-foot range claim/test and strong performance through indoor walls.

Construction is rugged and solid, with repeated references to hard plastic, sturdy plastics, rubber bumpers/end caps, a brick-like exterior, and durable outdoor build.

Charging takes around three hours, which is acceptable but commonly described as leisurely or on the long side.

Charging time is decent but not exceptional. Direct tests cite three hours in one review and four hours in another.

Its presentation is repeatedly described as composed, unified and together-sounding, with strong musical organization.

The overall presentation is fun and cohesive for casual listening, with praise for balanced blending and lively sound, though PCMag found it compressed on some tracks.

Physical buttons are consistently described as clicky, positive and easy to use.

Control responsiveness is positive where directly discussed, with reviewers saying the top controls worked perfectly or had responsive, tactile button feedback.

Design is the headline feature. Nearly every review describes the A1 3rd Gen as beautiful, premium, luxurious and unusually desirable for a portable speaker.

Design reactions are mixed. Reviewers liked the unique, compact, colorful build, but some found the grille polarizing or the shape less attractive.

Detail retrieval is a major strength. Reviews repeatedly praise how much vocal texture, instrument separation and fine nuance it extracts for such a small speaker.

Detail retrieval is mixed. Some reviewers praised nuance, vocal detail, and above-average clarity; PCMag found orchestral details hard to discern.

The A1 3rd Gen generally stays composed when pushed, with little change in character at high volume, though bass-heavy tracks and resonant surfaces can expose some strain or boom.

High-volume control is mixed. Some reviews heard garbling, harshness, splash-related artifacts in water, or loss of nuance at higher levels, while others said bass held up well.

Build quality is excellent, but the aluminum finish can scuff and reviewers are less comfortable throwing it around than a rugged JBL-style speaker.

Drop durability is well supported, with several reviews citing one-meter or three-foot drop resistance, hard plastic construction, and rugged outdoor use.

Dust protection is also strongly supported. Multiple reviews cite IP68 dustproofing, dust resistance, and cleaning features meant for sand or debris after outdoor use.

It handles dynamic swings capably for a small portable, but several reviews say larger or cheaper rivals still sound more explosive.

Dynamic headroom is decent for size but limited when pushed. Reviews cite above-average dynamic range and retained bass, but also lost dynamics in mono playback.

Energy efficiency evidence is narrow. One review specifically notes BassUp and lighting increase battery drain by about 5 to 10 percent each.

EQ customization is one of the best parts of the experience. The preset system and visual sound control are intuitive, effective and unusually enjoyable to use.

EQ customization is one of the strongest software features, with repeated evidence for presets, nine-band or custom EQ controls, and meaningful sound tuning.

Everyday usability is strong because reviewers used or recommended it for camping, travel, poolside use, smaller rooms, casual home listening, and outdoor gatherings.

Float capability is the product’s standout feature. Reviewers repeatedly emphasize upright floating playback that keeps the drivers facing upward and audible in water.

Its tonal balance is warm, rich and polished rather than strictly neutral, with standout mids and vocals, controlled bass and smooth highs. Some listeners wanted more treble bite or deeper sub-bass.

The tonal balance is generally bass-forward and fun rather than neutral. Reviewers liked the punch and clarity after EQ, but some found the default sound dark, muffled, harsh, or bass-heavy.

The leather strap looks and feels premium and makes carrying or hanging the speaker easy.

The included strap generally helps portability and mounting, with several reviewers praising it for carrying or attaching the speaker, though one noted the clamp pieces could slide off.

Home theater usefulness is limited. One review used it successfully with a projector, while another warned about latency and no low-latency gaming mode.

Inter-speaker connectivity is strong, with TWS stereo pairing, PartyCast, and left/right two-speaker modes mentioned across many reviews.

Latency is mostly acceptable for casual video use, with several reviewers saying it was not an issue, though one review noted slight lag and no dedicated low-latency gaming mode.

The LED/RGB lighting is widely noted as a fun outdoor-party extra. Reviewers liked the customization and brightness, though a few preferred to turn it off.

Lighting customization is broadly supported through app modes, color options, rhythm-sync presets, brightness control, and the ability to turn the lights off.

It gets impressively loud for a compact speaker and can fill a room or hotel space, but it is not the brute-force outdoor party option and some reviewers wanted more outright volume for the price.

Reviewers consistently found the Boom 3i loud for its compact size, with repeated references to 50W output, strong outdoor volume, and room-filling or party-ready playback.

Low-volume evidence is limited but positive: one review found the speaker clearly audible even at minimum volume while camping.

Microphone-related functionality is indirect. Reviews describe phone-based voice amplification or PA-style recording, while one says a speakerphone is missing.

Stereo pairing is a genuine strength. Reviews say it is easy to set up and useful in practice, including pairing with a 2nd-gen A1 in several cases.

Multi-speaker support is a plus, with PartyCast/TWS references and quick pairing in some tests. Stereo pairing generally requires another compatible or identical speaker depending on the mode.

Multipoint support is a real plus and reviewers found switching between two devices simple and reliable.

Multipoint is well supported across the review set, with several reviewers noting two-device connectivity along with stereo or PartyCast options.

Sound disperses broadly and works well for room or table listening, though not every reviewer agrees it is truly 360-degree audio.

On-device controls are well covered, with reviewers pointing to top-mounted control groups, lighting/BassUp buttons, playback controls, and easy-to-use physical buttons.

Power-bank capability is absent. Reviewers explicitly say it cannot charge a phone, cannot top off a device, or is not reverse-chargeable.

Price impressions are favorable, especially at discounts. Reviewers repeatedly call it a good or strong value against similar outdoor Bluetooth speakers.

Privacy/data evidence is limited but favorable: PCMag says creating a Soundcore account is encouraged but not required to use the app.

Remote control through the app is useful rather than essential, with support for playback, volume, power, and other settings from a phone.

Pairing and setup are straightforward, helped by Fast Pair or Swift Pair support and a clean companion app.

Setup appears straightforward in the available evidence, including simple Bluetooth pairing and a strap that was easier to assemble than expected.

Gen 3 drops Alexa entirely, which reduces smart-speaker appeal versus Gen 2, even if several reviewers said they did not miss it.

Smart/outdoor utility features are unusually rich, including Buzz Clean, emergency alarm, voice amplifier, white-noise/sound effects, app control, and lighting options.

Speakerphone performance is generally good, with clear calls and solid voice pickup, though some reviewers heard slightly processed edges to voices.

Speakerphone functionality is weak because one review specifically says the only missing feature is a speakerphone.

The status LEDs work, but they are fairly subtle, and a couple of reviewers wanted them larger or more obvious.

Status indicators are adequate, with app battery estimates or bars, battery percentage, button lights, and auto-power settings mentioned in several reviews.

Stereo performance is limited from one unit because reviewers describe mono playback, but the woofer/tweeter setup and optional two-speaker pairing help improve openness and separation.

Sustainability stands out for the category thanks to repairability, a replaceable battery and Cradle to Cradle certification.

Sustainability evidence is limited to packaging, with one review noting minimal plastic and recyclable packaging.

USB-C charging is clearly supported across reviews, though the port is generally described as charging-only rather than a wired audio or power-output port.

Value for money is the most debated part of the A1 3rd Gen. Many think the sound, materials and longevity justify the premium, but value-minded reviewers still see better sound-per-dollar from cheaper JBL and other larger rivals.

Value is a recurring strength. Several reviewers describe the Boom 3i as a strong buy, a steal, or better value than comparable compact outdoor speakers.

Vocals and spoken content are generally clear for casual listening. Multiple reviewers mentioned audible vocals, defined voices, or midrange clarity even with stronger bass engaged.

Its IP67 rating is consistently treated as trustworthy for poolside, shower and beach use, and several reviewers mention quick dunk-style tests without issue.

Water resistance is one of the clearest strengths, with repeated IP68, waterproof, submersion, pool, river, saltwater, and beach-use evidence across the reviews.

It is portable enough for bags and travel, with reassuring heft, but it is not featherlight or pocket-sized.

Portability is a strength. Reviewers describe the speaker as compact, light, easy to carry, and close to travel-bottle size, though not as tiny as some rivals.

USB-C works for both charging and wired audio, giving the A1 more flexibility than many Bluetooth-only rivals. USB-C wired playback is more than a checkbox feature. Reviews that tried it reported extra clarity, punch and definition compared with Bluetooth.

Wired input is a clear weakness. Reviewers repeatedly state there is no aux or wired audio input and that the USB-C port is only for charging.