Flare 2 speaker review12/21/2023 Charging takes 3.5 hours: there’s no fast charge here, and you’ll have to use your phone’s plug since you only get a cable in the box. However, turning the Flare’s lights off will probably result in a slight lift. Since LEDs usually use only a couple of watts of power, it seems this is more likely down to an optimistic battery estimate rather than a light show tax. At moderate to slightly high volume levels I’ve found its real-world stamina is closer to eight hours. And that speaker doesn’t have lights.Īnker says the Flare’s battery lasts up to 12 hours. It isn’t as stylish as some Ultimate Ears speakers, but it’s cheaper than the rival UE Boom 2, even after a big price drop. But it actually has great features for a lower-cost speaker. Playback, volume and extra bass buttons are all built into the rubberised top, plus there are light-up Power and Bluetooth buttons on the back.Īs with an Anker battery pack or pair of earphones, you’re likely attracted to the Flare’s relatively low price above other factors. The Anker Soundcore Flare’s actual controls are all water-resistant as standard. This also covers a 3.5mm aux input, which lets you plug in an old MP3 player, laptop or Amazon Echo Dot. You simply need to ensure the rubber flap over the micro-USB charge socket on the back is in place. A few hours later, it was totally dry again. Its fabric grille does absorb a little water – more than rival Ultimate Ears speakers – but, sure enough, the Flare continued playing audio just fine. I gave it a rinse under the tap, which seems a likely outcome after taking the speaker to the park. It’s rated to IPX7, meaning it will survive being submerged in 1 metre of water for up to 30 minutes. The Anker Soundcore Flare doesn’t want to be kept indoors all its life. Sony’s style is more night club Anker’s a living room glow. LED lights are likely to polarise, but the Anker Soundcore Flare’s are less abrasive than those of, for example, the Sony SRS-XB31. However, Anker really does need to add the ability to pick a single colour and stick to it. But it’s actually simple, well designed and reliable. Judging by the usual standards of speaker apps, I half-expected this app to be a flaky, under-optimised mess. You alter the LED mode in the custom Soundcore app. There are two main LED zones on the bottom, and using the ‘M-Sync’ music mode, they pulse on and off to the beat. Soundcore app: ‘Glow’ cycles smoothly between colours ‘M-Sync’ blinks hyperactively to the music ‘Fusion’ is a much subtler reactive mode and in ‘Pulse’ colours snake around the LED ring like an animated neon shop sign Or, yes, less chilled-out ones to a party. Instead, it’s perfect for adding “chilled out vibes” to a bath or late-night reading. It’s unlikely to be used to light-up rooms, even on a bedside table, since it just isn’t bright enough. In action, the Anker Soundcore Flare looks like a relative of a Philips Hue or LIFX smart bulb, although the light is only here for a fun, visual effect. Unlike a standalone smart light you can’t choose exact shades, but different profiles do let you restrict the colour palette somewhat, dim it or turn the lights off completely. The music-reactive mode might be right for the kids’ room, but for a more grown-up look you’ll probably want a subtler effect. Its light can react to music, or transition smoothly through colour tones. The translucent base has multi-colour LEDs under its surface. It’s battery-powered, just about small enough to fit into your hand luggage for a weekend away, and feels as well-made as one of Amazon’s smart speakers. The Anker Soundcore Flare is at heart a simple Bluetooth speaker. You’ll still need to plug in an Echo Dot if you want that kind of functionality. It doesn’t connect directly to Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. This is a completely different kind of speaker, however. It looks similar to the second-generation Amazon Echo, with a fabric grille around the front. The Anker Soundcore Flare is a little tower speaker. However, it just isn’t quite as much fun as the Flare. The Jam Heavy Metal’s audio is a little smoother, and may be a better choice if your priority is sound quality. Like many of Anker’s products, the Flare is a bargain. You get a mini Philips Hue-style mood light and a surprisingly good wireless speaker for £69.99. The Anker Soundcore Flare is a portable speaker with a built-in light show.
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