Soundcore Boom 3i

I was always told that sensitive consumer electronics must never get wet, never be wiped with a damp cloth and certainly not exposed to rain. And never drop them!

If something did happen: switch off, dry off immediately or put it in rice and suck out the moisture. And to prevent it from happening again: take better care of the expensive stuff!

Nowadays, the manufacturer recommends simply letting the Soundcore Boom 3i float on a lake, face North Sea waves, join you in the bathtub or the desert. Because the motto is: there is no unsuitable environment for good sound. Water? Fresh or salty? No problem. Fine dust? Sand? Dirt? Bring it on. Oil, mud, grime? No worries.

Note: Only with IP68 protection does it become truly outdoor!

The rugged hardware

The Soundcore Boom 3i comes in four colours – each with a matching carrying strap: Midnight Black, Ocean Blue, Desert Rose and Jungle Green. Weighing 783 grams and measuring 21 × 8.5 × 7.8 centimetres, it’s still easy to carry, and thanks to the long strap, it can go anywhere that’s wet and dirty. On a kayak, SUP board, open-cast mine, beach, camping trip, or even to the party basement.

The housing is made of tough, resilient plastic that withstands drops from one metre onto concrete, is unaffected by salt spray and corrosion, and can be submerged up to one and a half metres for 30 minutes – assuming it doesn’t just float on the surface, which it can do.

On top are two strap mounts and the control panel with rubberised control buttons, which are not illuminated but are tactilely distinguishable. For better orientation, there are also four LEDs.

On the back, protected by a thick rubber cap, is the USB-C charging port. On the front, behind a slotted plastic grille with the Soundcore logo, you’ll find a 3.7-inch racetrack woofer and a separate tweeter. The total output of the system is 50 watts. The sides of the box feature two passive radiators, which also serve as surfaces for the light show, reinforced with plastic strips.

Function and operation

To connect, the Soundcore Boom 3i uses Bluetooth version 5.3. However, Soundcore does not disclose the codec used. Multipoint is supported, as is pairing two speakers – whether in TWS (true stereo) or Partycast (more power) mode remains unclear, as the advertising and the app contradict each other at the time of this review.

The corresponding Soundcore app only offers Partycast but also lists compatible speakers. The factsheets claim TWS too. As I only had one Soundcore Boom 3i, I couldn’t test this.

All essential functions, including Partycast, can be controlled directly on the speaker. In the app, you’ll find an equalizer with four presets and a 9-band EQ for custom sound setups. You can install updates and set a sleep timer. In the “Light” section, you can choose from a large number of pre-programmed light effects with names like “Passionate as Fire” or “Crazy Midnight”, customise colours, and decide whether the effects follow the beat or play randomly.

Additionally, the Soundcore Boom 3i offers other interesting features, like the voice amplifier, which allows messages recorded via smartphone to be played through the speaker once or in a loop.

In the “White Noise” section, things get wild. You can enjoy relaxing soundscapes from five presets or create your own mix using an extensive library of sounds – from birdsong, crackling, and chewing to Buddhist flutes – supported by a random generator that produces truly bizarre combinations, with adjustable individual volume levels.

In the “Emergency Alarm” section, three very loud alarm sounds offer real help if you and the speaker need to draw attention. Finally, there’s the “Vibration Cleaning” function, where the speaker shakes off dirt, water and dust using multi-frequency, powerful tones.

Sound of the Soundcore Boom 3i

In terms of sound, the small power cylinder performs solidly up to about 50% volume in combination with the BassUp 2.0 feature, which is supposed to deliver punchy and powerful bass. There’s bass, and it makes a statement.

As for the mids and highs, the Soundcore Boom 3i sounds somewhat boxy and dull, and when the volume increases, the highs begin to hiss and screech unpleasantly. Resolution and depth are generally underwhelming. Still, it’s fun at close range and moderate volume, making it a great companion for canoe trips or hours in a tent during a sandstorm. Soundcore claims 16 hours of battery life – if light effects are off and volume stays below 50%. That’s below average.

Conclusion

The Soundcore Boom 3i’s ruggedness and features are truly impressive and mean you can stay relaxed if the speaker falls down a halfpipe or into an ice bath. That makes it easier to overlook a few flaws in sound quality and enjoy playing around with the many functions. Overall, the Soundcore Boom 3i leaves a good impression, and at €130 it’s reasonably priced for what it offers – though it’s not for sound purists or big parties.