Anker Soundcore Boom 2 vs Earfun UBoom X: battle of the budget Bluetooth party speaker

Anker Soundcore Boom 2 vs Earfun UBoom X: Price and release date

The Anker Soundcore Boom 2 is a low-priced option if you’re looking for a larger Bluetooth speaker. It launched in March 2024 with an already low list price of $129.99 / £119.99 / AU$219.99, but I’ve already spotted it going for much less. On Amazon, I’ve seen the Soundcore Boom 2 available for less than $90 / £80 / AU$170 – that’s very strong value.

Meanwhile, the Earfun UBoom X released a little later, specifically in October 2024. It initially had an asking price of $189.99 / £189.99 (around AU$280), but again, it shouldn't cost you so much if you’re savvy with sales. I’ve seen the UBoom X for as little as $159.99 / £112.49 (around AU$250). So, even on sale it will likely set you back a bit further than the Boom 2, but it is a touch larger and has a better battery life that competes with the best Bluetooth speakers – but we’ll get onto all of that shortly.

Anker Soundcore Boom 2 vs Earfun UBoom X: Specs

Anker Soundcore Boom 2 vs Earfun UBoom X: Features

Both the Soundcore Boom 2 and Earfun UBoom X possess all of the key features you’d hope to see in a modern party speaker… and arguably more. Each of these speakers boast all of the classic inclusions – think companion app, EQ adjustment and multi-speaker pairing. And each have options to really crank up low-end power too. The Boom 2 offers a BassUp option that unlocks its maximum power output of 80W, whereas the UBoom X has sound modes that unleash almighty bass output, such as BOOM xxX and Ground 0.

But that's not all, both of these Bluetooth speakers also have great battery life. The Boom 2 delivers up to 24 hours of play, which should be more than enough to keep the tunes blasting for the entire duration of a house party or beach trip. However, it is beaten out here by the Earfun UBoom X, which offers 30 hours – exceptional for a speaker in this price range. Some features may compromise battery life, though, such as having BassUp on with the Boom 2 or continuously having lights on with either speaker.

Light Show – the name of the Boom 2’s LED feature – is front and centre of its design. You get flashing multicolored LEDs on either side of the speaker which can be customized to your liking using the Soundcore app. Visual options include Energy, Fireworks, Flame, Flash, Lightning, Rainbow, and Wave – all of which can sync up to bass output for a more immersive listening experience. The UBoom X also has customizable lights, but these are a bit more modest than the Boom 2’s flashy LEDs, so bear that in mind if you want a more bold, colorful speaker.

Finally, both of these models can act as a power bank for your phone or any device that needs a bit of extra juice. The Boom 2 has a USB-A port which can be used for external device charging, whereas the UBoom X opts for a more modern USB-C alternative. And so as you can see, there’s a whole host of similarities here feature-wise. There’s not a ton to set these 2 apart, but you do get voice assistant compatibility with the UBoom X, thanks to a built-in mic – combine that with its superior battery life and it has a slight edge for me.

Anker Soundcore Boom 2 vs Earfun UBoom X: Sound quality

There’s a fair bit in common between the Boom 2 and UBoom X when it comes to sound. Both are at their best when leaning into their bass-oriented sound signature, which is perfectly tailored for a party atmosphere or noisy outdoor environments.

With the Boom 2, you get meaty bass output, even without its BassUp feature enabled. If you’re seeking out hard-hitting bass on a budget, that’s exactly what you’re getting here, with this speaker commanding a significant amount of boom given its light weight and not-so gargantuan size. It’s not the most adept at seamlessly moving through the range of low-end frequencies, though, so you won’t always get the ‘bounce’ you’d want from deep, pumping basslines. Sub-bass can be a little lacking too, so fans of EDM or rap, for instance, may crave a little more depth – but overall bass response is still solid.

Meanwhile, the UBoom X plates up a real bass banquet, with ground-shaking low-end output. It can reach deeper than the Boom 2 and hit higher volumes to boot – but it’s worth recognizing again that it’s larger and a touch more expensive. You can really go all in on bass here with the BOOM xxX and Ground 0 presets, but there are more balanced options too. And that’s something I personally liked about this speaker; it’s got a very customizable sound, with a huge collection of EQ presets – and a fully custom option – at your disposal.

Outside of bass, neither of these speakers are going to wow you with super talented all-round audio. I found that neither supplied particularly detailed or superbly separated sound and it’s worth noting that there aren’t any fancy codecs like LDAC or aptX available here.

Due to the bass-heavy nature of both speakers, you may also find that other sounds – particularly those in the lower-mid range – may get a little overpowered. I was rarely impressed by crisp treble across both speakers, but audio wasn’t necessarily too grating or harsh on my ears at medium volumes. At top volumes, though, expect considerably compressed sound from both models.

The real difference maker, for me, is that the UBoom X has highly customizable audio that can at least dampen some of its sonic shortcomings quickly and easily. You also get a bit more low-end horsepower, making it ideal for outdoor functions.

Anker Soundcore Boom 2 vs Earfun UBoom X: Design

Both of these Bluetooth speakers go for a boombox-like design, meaning they’re fairly chunky looking and cuboid-shaped. Each has an attached handle, making them easy to whisk away to the beach (or just your living room), but the UBoom X also comes with a strap for carrying it over longer distances. Notably, though, the Boom 2 is way, way lighter – it’s just 3.66 lbs / 1.67kg – almost three times less heavy than Earfun’s alternative. That makes it way easier to carry around in my view, even if it lacks a strap.

And while we’re on practicalities, each of these have waterproofing that will keep them safe from the elements. The UBoom X is IP67-rated, meaning it is protected against dust and can survive being submerged under a meter of water for up to 30 minutes. This feature is an absolute must-have among the best waterproof speakers on the market. Unfortunately, the Boom 2 skips out on protection against dust, but its IPX7 rating means it’s equally as waterproof as the UBoom X. Both models are floatable, too, meaning you can take them for a swim with you and adjust volume and other settings, if you’d like.

Let’s move away from practicalities, though. In terms of pure aesthetics, neither are the most elegant or premium-looking. But having stewed on it, I prefer the Light Show on the Boom 2. It’s more vibrant, decently customizable and boosts immersion when synced to bass output. The UBoom X, however, has a slightly muted look to its lights, which are positioned behind the front speaker grille. Again, these are customizable, but they just don’t have the same vibrancy or eye-catching effect.

Really, this is as subjective as it comes in terms of which speaker is better. Sure, the UBoom X has its strap and dustproof rating, but the Boom 2 hits back with a lightweight build and ultra-vibrant Light Show. A tight contest indeed.

Anker Soundcore Boom 2 vs Earfun UBoom X: Value

One area that the Soundcore Boom 2 and Earfun UBoom X do great in is value. These were already both well-priced speakers at launch, but when they’re on-sale, they’re top-class budget options.

So, the elephant in the room here is that the Earfun UBoom X is a bit more expensive. But do you actually get extra value from that additional spend? I would argue that yes, you do. With this model, you get deeper bass, louder, more impactful audio and an IP67 rating. It is, of course, larger, too, which adds some power, but does mean you’ll have to lug around a few more pounds of speaker.

Is that it then? Case closed? Not exactly. At the end of the day, the Boom 2 is still cheaper than the UBoom X, yet still holds its own. You get impressive bass output, a nifty companion app, engaging LED lights and pretty much all of the UBoom X’s features, minus a voice assistant.

So, if low-price is your priority above all, fear not: you’re not getting a huge step down with the Boom 2, just don’t expect quite as much bass or volume.

Anker Soundcore Boom 2 vs Earfun UBoom X: Verdict

OK, so things looked quite tight towards the end there. And that speaks volumes about the Soundcore Boom 2’s excellent value and fun design. But when all is said and done, I’d have to give the edge to the Earfun UBoom X.

The UBoom X was one of 2024’s standout budget party speakers, in my opinion, and it's still very much a current and excellent option as we march confidently into 2025. It has the additional volume to cut through excess noise in outdoor environments as well as an IP67 rating to ensure it’s safe and sound while in them. It’s considerably larger and has voice assistant compatibility too, which, for me, makes it worth the extra, say $60 / £40 you’ll have to pay for it compared to the Boom 2.

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