Bottom Line
Choose it for loud, bass-heavy outdoor parties and flexible EQ. Skip it if you need long battery life, dustproofing, or a more refined, detail-first sound.
Best for
People who want a loud, bassy, waterproof party speaker for backyards, pools, campsites, and casual indoor hangouts. It especially suits buyers who value EQ control, lighting effects, and phone charging.
Not for
Listeners who want long real-world battery life, dustproof protection, or a more refined, detail-led sound. It also makes less sense if you need compact travel portability or dependable call and voice-assistant support.
Verdict
The Boom 2 Plus succeeds by leaning hard into what a portable party speaker should do: play loud, push big bass, survive poolside use, and give you lots of tuning and lighting control. Reviews consistently praise its volume, waterproof floatable design, useful handle and strap, EQ flexibility, and power-bank function. The tradeoff is refinement. Several reviewers call the design plasticky, battery life only average once lights and BassUp are active, and fine detail less convincing than stronger rivals. Dust protection is also a notable miss. As a fun, feature-rich outdoor boombox around $250, it lands as a strong value, but it is not the pick for subtle listening or rough sandy environments.
Pros
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Reviews consistently confirm an IPX7 waterproof build suitable for splashes, rain, and brief submersion.
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Multiple reviews explicitly confirm that the speaker floats and can keep playing around water.
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One reviewer highlights unusually long Bluetooth reach, noting the connection can extend far beyond a typical room.
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Across reviews, the speaker gets very loud and is repeatedly framed as a strong outdoor or party option, with enough output to fill open spaces and large rooms.
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Power reserve is a clear strength, with reviews pointing to high wattage and strong output that holds up outdoors.
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A recurring practical bonus is the ability to use the speaker as a power bank for phones and other devices.
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The speaker's physical controls cover core playback, lighting, pairing, and bass functions without forcing app use.
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At around $249, reviewers generally see the speaker as a strong value given its output, features, and outdoor focus.
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Connection stability is described as steady and reliable, with no obvious playback or app-switching issues in testing.
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Setup is described as painless and intuitive, with fast Bluetooth pairing and minimal friction out of the box.
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EQ control is one of the strongest recurring positives, with multiple reviews highlighting flexible custom tuning and useful presets.
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Most reviewers say it stays clean at high output, though one noted occasional radiator buzz on certain deep-bass tracks.
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The Soundcore app is repeatedly described as smooth, easy to navigate, and straightforward for managing EQ, lights, and settings.
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Button feel is repeatedly described as tactile, clicky, clear, and easy to use.
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Physical controls, app-free basic operation, and simple day-to-day handling make the speaker easy to live with.
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Reviewers repeatedly frame the Boom 2 Plus as one of the better value buys in its size and power class.
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The handle and included strap are frequently praised as comfortable and helpful for carrying an 8.4-pound speaker.
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Reviews confirm PartyCast and TWS support for linking multiple Soundcore speakers or creating a stereo pair.
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The speaker offers a customizable, party-oriented light show with multiple presets, colors, and brightness control, and several reviews found the effects fun.
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The housing is generally described as rugged, with reviewers citing tumble resistance and no visible damage after accidental impact.
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USB-C is consistently present for charging, and reviews also note the port's role in device charging or in-out power on some test units.
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Despite the bass-heavy tuning, several reviews still describe the presentation as energetic, balanced enough, and coherent for its intended party role.
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Multiple reviews confirm a 3.5mm aux input for wired playback.
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Reviews consistently mention AAC and SBC support, which is a welcome step up for Apple-oriented listening even if it is not a full hi-res wireless feature set.
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Several reviews say the speaker still sounds full and bassy at modest volume levels.
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Reviews confirm Google Fast Pair support for quicker pairing.
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One review specifically credits the built-in subwoofers for keeping outdoor parties moving and delivering the model's strong low end.
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Limited testing suggests Bluetooth lag is low enough for casual video and movie use on a tablet or laptop.
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The tuning is bass-forward, but many reviews still describe mids and highs as clear enough, with EQ helping rebalance the sound for different spaces.
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A couple of reviews found it useful for casual movie or computer audio, but this is more of a bonus use case than a core strength.
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A full recharge is usually quoted at about three hours; some reviewers consider that acceptable, while others call it slow.
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Voice and vocal clarity are mixed: some reviews found vocals clear or adjustable via EQ or presets, while others said bass can muffle them.
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Design impressions vary: some like the rugged, sleeker look, while others criticize the plastic finish as cheap.
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Lighting performance is mixed: several reviews liked the beat-synced visuals, while others found them gimmicky or off-beat.
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Weight is a tradeoff: lighter than some rivals and manageable with the handle or strap, but still bulky enough that some reviewers call it heavy.
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Several reviews confirm pairing with two devices or switching between phone and tablet, but another says it cannot pair more than one phone, so results are mixed.
Cons
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Codec support covers common formats like AAC and SBC, but one review also notes the lack of AptX and hi-res wireless playback.
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The quoted 20-hour battery is broadly acknowledged, but reviewers also say BassUp and lighting cut runtime noticeably, leaving battery life merely average for the class.
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Detail is not a strength; reviews say the bass-first tuning can blur finer information, though some still find acceptable detail for a party speaker.
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Status feedback exists but is limited, with reviews noting app-dependent battery info and a red warning light when power runs low.
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Calling support is inconsistent across reviews: one says the model lacks speakerphone functionality, while another found call clarity decent in ideal conditions.
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Microphone support is unclear across reviews: some say there is no speakerphone mic, while another says a built-in mic is available for quick calls.
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Reviewers repeatedly call out the lack of any dustproof certification, limiting confidence for beach or dusty use.
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One review explicitly says the speaker lacks microphone-based voice assistant support.
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One review says there is no microphone-based voice assistant support, so responsiveness is effectively absent in that testing.
FAQ
Is the Soundcore Boom 2 Plus good for pool use?
Yes. Multiple reviews confirm the IPX7 waterproof rating and that it floats, so it is well suited to poolside use and brief submersion. The main caveat is that several reviews also note the lack of dust protection.
How long does the battery last in real use?
Most reviews repeat the 20-hour claim at 50% volume with lights and BassUp off. Several also say real runtime drops meaningfully once lighting, louder playback, or BassUp are involved, with one review reporting about 10 hours in a loud, lights-on scenario.
Does it have app EQ and light controls?
Yes. Reviews consistently mention the Soundcore app for preset and custom EQ control, along with multiple lighting presets, color changes, and brightness adjustments.
Can it charge a phone and play through a wired connection?
Yes. Reviews repeatedly confirm USB-C device charging and a 3.5mm aux input, so it can act as a power bank and also support wired playback.
Can it pair with multiple devices or other speakers?
Reviews confirm PartyCast and TWS support for linking other Soundcore speakers, and several mention multipoint pairing with two devices. One review disagrees on multi-phone pairing, so that part looks less consistent than the speaker-to-speaker linking features.
Reviews we analyzed
Video Reviews
Article Reviews
#1
4.3
Choose it for premium design and refined sound in a truly portable package; Skip it if you want louder, bass-heavier value or broader...
Pros: Cohesive presentation, Design and aesthetics, Sustainability, Water resistance rating, Battery life (if portable), App reliability, Multipoint connectivity
Cons: Smart assistant integration (Alexa, Charging time
#2
4.1
Choose the StormBox 2 if you want strong battery life, big output, and very good value under $100. Skip it if you want...
Pros: On-device controls, Value for money, Bluetooth connection stability, Inter-speaker connectivity, Bluetooth range, Battery life (if portable), Wired input availability
Cons: Dust resistance rating, Charging time
#3
4.1
Choose the Kilburn III for room-filling, warm 360-style sound and marathon 50-hour battery in a premium retro design; Skip it if you need...
Pros: Battery life (if portable), Design and aesthetics, Control button responsiveness, Distortion at high volume, On-device controls, Loudness / maximum volume, Handle or strap...
Cons: Speakerphone quality, Multi-speaker pairing reliability, Smart features, Bluetooth codec support, Weight convenience, Water resistance rating
#4
4.0
Choose the Tribit XSound Plus 2 for loud, customizable sound and long battery life in a compact, pool-friendly speaker; Skip it if you...
Pros: Value for money, Water resistance rating, Inter-speaker connectivity, Loudness / maximum volume, EQ customization, Stereo imaging accuracy, Wired input availability
Cons: Dust resistance rating, Bluetooth codec support, Float capability