The Anker Soundcore Motion+ is a small and lightweight portable speaker. It’s well-suited for outdoor use due to its more than 15-hour battery life and IPX7 water resistance rating, though we don’t currently test for this. Although the volume can be quite loud, there are some compression artifacts present at maximum volume. It struggles to produce low-bass, like many small speakers, but its mid-range is well balanced, so vocals and lead instruments sound clear and present. Its companion app also includes a graphic EQ that allows you to customize its sound profile.
When you take the Soundcore Motion+ out of its box, you won’t be impressed by its appearance. It’s all right. It looks like nearly all other Bluetooth speakers: unremarkable and inoffensive, but harmless enough to fit in almost any room. It’s about the length of two smartphones and won’t take up much space on your desk or counter. It’s also very easy to pick up and carry with one hand, though its near 2.5lb weight means you probably won’t want to take it on any trips where luggage weight limits apply. This is a portable speaker when necessary, but portability isn’t the main focus here.
When you take a closer look at the speaker, you’ll notice it’s a little more stylish than first impressions suggest. The inner workings of the speaker, as well as the Soundcore logo, can be seen behind its black grille. It’s understated, but it’s more appealing than a plain plain speaker. The Soundcore Motion+ is also interestingly aligned, tilted upwards at a 15 degree angle. Anker claims that this improves sound dispersion – more on that later – but in terms of design, it means the speaker sits neatly on your desk or entertainment unit.
The controls are located on top of the speaker. Volume controls (which also serve as rewind/fast forward), a Bluetooth pairing button, and an option to boost the bass are included. Because they are tactile, you can navigate the device by feeling rather than looking for lit-up displays. This produces mixed results. You save battery life by not using too many lights, but it would be nice to be able to see more when listening to music in the dark.
The power button, AUX input, and USB-C charging port are located on the device’s side. USB-C connectivity is a useful feature that isn’t as common with Bluetooth speakers as you might expect. With a 6700mAh capacity, the battery life is adequate, and the Soundcore Motion+ can also serve as a power bank for your other devices. Up to 12 hours of music playback is promised, though this figure may be lower if you listen to your music loudly.