The Anker Soundcore 2 is a portable Bluetooth speaker that's battery-operated, so you can easily bring it with you outside. It even has an IPX7 rating for water resistance, though we don't currently test for this. However, like a lot of small speakers, it struggles to reproduce low-bass, and it doesn't get very loud. It doesn't offer any sound customization features, either. However, its 15-hour battery life is ideal for long listening sessions.
 
The Anker Soundcore 2 is alright for podcasts. It has a balanced mid-range, so vocals are clear and present, but they can also sound a bit veiled due to the underemphasized treble range. It doesn't get very loud, and there's some compression present at max volume. However, its portable design makes it easy to bring your speaker along with you.
 
If you're looking for a reliable, durable Bluetooth speaker at a low price, you can't get much better than the Anker SoundCore 2. This speaker is water resistant, lightweight, and can last more than 40 hours on a single charge. Yes, it doesn't sound as good as the pricier models, but it is exponentially better than listening to music from the built-in speakers in your smartphone. Plus, it's cheap enough that you'll be able to stock up on some iTunes gift cards before heading out on your next trip.
 
The SoundCore 2 was one of the worst performers in our sound quality testing, picking up a 3 out of 10 in a metric where scores ranged from 3 to 10. Notably this is better than the Cambridge SoundWorks Oontz Angle 3, which was the only other speaker that could compete with the SoundCore in terms of price.