Anker takes aim at Apple HomePod 2 with a cheaper Spatial Audio Bluetooth speaker
Meet the cheap portable speaker with a ‘sky driver’
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Box-fresh Bluetooth speakers roll in thick and fast at this time of year and frankly, not all of them deserve a dedicated TechRadar news piece. Why is this one any different? Is it cut from the same cloth as some of thebest Bluetooth speakersaround?
Not necessarily. Although this particular audio outfit’sAnker Soundcore Flare 2performed well under review, theAnker Soundcore 2was a little disappointing – andAnkeris perhaps better known for producing some of thebest power bankson the market, rather than speakers.
The new Anker Soundcore Motion X600 is not a smart speaker either. But what itdoeshave is something its maker, Anker Soundcore, is calling a ‘sky driver’ for upward firingSpatial Audiosupport plus LDAC (from an Android device), akaSony’s wireless audio codec that allows three times more data to be efficiently transmitted than standard Bluetooth. This kind of resolution, while not entirely lossless, is far closer to true CD-quality audio as long as you’re pairing the speaker with a device that supports either codec. And those are pretty special to have here.
Why? Because of pricing. A quick glance over ourApple HomePod 2 reviewprovesApple’s Spatial Audio-toting speaker will set you back $299 / £299 / AU$479 (remember, theApple HomePod minidoesn’t support Dolby Atmos, LDAC or Spatial Audio) – andSonos Era 300, which has an upfiring driver just like the Anker, costs $449 / £449 / AU$749. Whereas the model I want to tell you about knocks an easy $100 off the HomePod and $250 off the Sonos – or more, if you grab a deal…
Opinion: if the Motion X600 sounds as good as its spec sheet looks, Anker Soundcore has a hit on its hands
Anker Soundcore says that the Motion X600 is designed to be the company’s most premium-looking loudspeaker to date, with a metal grille, a handle and a simple yet elegant design – but it’s under the hood that things get really interesting.
This speaker incorporates five drivers: two woofers, two tweeters and one full-range, upwards-firing driver (aka the Sky Driver). This unique speaker array, combined with Soundcore’s audio algorithm is designed to provide an immersive, high-fidelity, audio experience in a portable design.
The Motion X600 is the brand’s first speaker to accept and decode Hi-Res LDAC sources (Android only) and the speaker includes a nine-band custom EQ (yes, nine) accessible via the Soundcore app (for both iOS and Android).
Get the best Black Friday deals direct to your inbox, plus news, reviews, and more.
Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable Black Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content.
The Motion X600 has a 50W output which promises to fill a room with great sound and you can wirelessly pair two Motion X600 speakers together for a beefier stereo soundstage. It includes a 6400 mAh (7.2v) internal battery to claim up to 12 hours of playtime (at 50% volume) and it also carries an IPX7 waterproof rating.
The Anker Soundcore X600 comes in Polar Gray, Aurora Green, and Lunar Blue and is scheduled to be available for purchase on May 6 for $199.99 / £199.99 / €199.99 and $269.00 (CAD) onAmazon.com (which is around AU$299.99) viasoundcore.comand other retail partners.
But if you’re strongly interested, you can save $50 if you pre-order. The Motion X600 isavailable for pre-orderthrough May 9 on Soundcore’s website (www.soundcore.com) in the US, UK, Germany, or Canada for $149.99, £149.99, €149.99, and $199.99 CAD.
I’ve not seen anything that excited me quite so much in the Bluetooth realm since theworld’s first LDAC and aptX HD Bluetooth speaker, the BE100, also known as Astell&Kern’s first foray into wireless Bluetooth speakers, which launched in March 2022. The thing is, that speaker cost $499 / £449 / AU$549…
At just $150 and toting Spatial Audio and LDAC, Anker Soundcore could be onto a stone cold winner with the X600. And if it sounds any good at all, Apple,Sonosand JBL should definitely be worried – or be busily creating a new competitor…
Becky became Audio Editor at TechRadar in 2024, but joined the team in 2022 as Senior Staff Writer, focusing on all things hi-fi. Before this, she spent three years at What Hi-Fi? testing and reviewing everything from wallet-friendly wireless earbuds to huge high-end sound systems. Prior to gaining her MA in Journalism in 2018, Becky freelanced as an arts critic alongside a 22-year career as a professional dancer and aerialist – any love of dance starts with a love of music. Becky has previously contributed to Stuff, FourFourTwo and The Stage. When not writing, she can still be found throwing shapes in a dance studio, these days with varying degrees of success.
The most mind-blowing portable speaker of 2024 is now cheaper, and finally coming to the UK too
JBL Authentics 200 review: a punchy smart speaker with vintage style
Black Friday is here: Sony XM5 over-ears drop to their lowest-seen price – act fast!
