Soundcore Boom 3i Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker
ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The Soundcore Boom 3i is available now on Amazon for $110.
- With some EQ tweaking, it produces better sound than you’d think for a waterproof speaker.
- The Boom 3i does float, but playing music while half-submerged doesn’t sound the best.
Vacation time is in full swing, which means you’re probably heading to the great outdoors. When you’re on the beach, fishing, swimming in a pool, or camping, you probably want to have some music, but unfortunately, many outdoor environments aren’t suitable for Bluetooth speakers.
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You know how it goes: you accidentally drop your electronic device in the pool and someone shouts, “Get a bag of rice!”
It’s a good thing there are companies out there that fully understand the ramifications of mixing water with electronics. One such company is Soundcore, particularly its new Boom 3i Bluetooth speaker, a waterproof device that won’t require an emergency rice bath any time soon.
My experience
After pairing the 3i to my Pixel 9 Pro, I fired up “Signals,” by Rush (because it’s not only one of the greatest albums of the ’80s, but also an outstanding option for testing speakers, thanks to the brilliant musicianship and mastering).
Before I go much further, understand this: the 3i isn’t going to blow you away with a refined sound associated with high-end, audiophile-quality devices. It’s more about being rugged and waterproof, so you have to forgive it for not having the ability to pump out defined and tight bass or crystal highs. This is especially so if you’re going to have this speaker floating around in the pool as you bask in the sun.
Even so, the sound is better than you might think. In fact, the 3i was capable of playing Rush’s masterpiece with a quality that, quite frankly, surprised me. When I read the description of the speaker, I assumed it would sound tinny, with too much mids and not enough bass. This is not untrue: the low end only reaches down to 56 Hz, which means it’s not capable of delivering the deepest thumps.
But the 3i makes up for that by giving the “mid lows” a bit more punch, but that can sometimes sound a bit muddy. It’s not until you press the Bass button that you feel there’s enough bass to bring the music to life. Why this isn’t the default, I have no idea.
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As I was listening to “Analog Kid,” a song that really highlights the low end, I realized I could connect the 3i to the Soundcore app. As soon as I did that, it detected there was a firmware upgrade, which, of course, I ran.
Soundcore’s app steps in
After the firmware update, I went back to the app to see what adjustments could be made. The first thing I did was hop onto the EQ section and customize the sound curve according to my ears. Once that was done, all of a sudden I could hear the highs as they should be, with a cleaner bass.
The Soundcore app makes it easy to adjust the EQ.
Jack Wallen/ZDNET
Within the app, I also found something rather delightful: white noise. That’s right, from the Soundcore app, you can play various ambient sounds, such as a forest, the ocean, a campfire, “summer dream,” or a thunderstorm.
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I love ambient sounds, but I will say all but the “Forest Path” sound were a bit cheesy (what’s with the chimes?). The good news is you can create your own ambient sounds by combining different elements, such as rain and a thunderstorm resulting in lots of variation for the perfect ambient soundscape.
There’s also a voice amplifier option in the app, which allows you to speak into your phone’s mic, and whatever you say will be heard through the 3i. If you happen to have a soft voice, this could be a great way to be heard in a crowd.
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Of course, gimmicks don’t sell speakers — sound does. As far as the 3i goes, once you get the EQ dialed in, it sounds quite good. And with its waterproof case and subtle light show (they’re located on the sides), the 3i is a pretty good deal, especially for outdoor activities.
The water test
I did a quick water test for the speaker by filling a sink with water and floating it while listening to the same album. I was not surprised that instead of hearing the music, I mostly saw the speaker make the water dance, like it was drowning and spitting out every drop of water that seeped into its “mouth.”
Even though it didn’t quite pull off the floating trick, after I pulled it out of the sink, the Boom 3i continued playing like nothing had happened.
ZDNET’s buying advice
At $110, the Soundcore Boom 3i might seem a bit overpriced for a device with just average sound. But when you mix in the extra features and waterproofing, it justifies its cost to anyone who spends a lot of time outdoors.
The Boom 3i isn’t perfect, but it’s rugged enough and has a good enough app to make it worth the purchase. If I actually spent more time at the beach or by the pool, I would consider this speaker my go-to.
Soundcore Boom 3i tech specs
- Output – 50 W
- Bluetooth version – 5.3
- Playtime – 16 hours
- Resistance – Water (IP68) and saltwater
- Weight – 27.5 oz
- Dimensions – 8.27″ x 3.35″ x 3.09″
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