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Oct 15, 2024

Under $50 Scores: Anker’s light-up speaker sounds as vibrant as it looks | CNN Underscored

There is no shortage of budget wireless speakers. Companies like JBL, Sony and Ultimate Ears have terrific options available for under $100, several of which are featured on our best portable

There is no shortage of budget wireless speakers. Companies like JBL, Sony and Ultimate Ears have terrific options available for under $100, several of which are featured on our best portable Bluetooth speakers list. Anker is another popular audio brand with an enticing catalog of low-priced Bluetooth speakers that often surpass their price point in terms of quality.

We love the $25 Soundcore Mini for its big sound, waterproof protection and unique features — like its ability to double as a media player via its microSD slot. Now, we have the $39 Glow Mini that comes with greater connectivity, playtime and sound, while simultaneously putting on a light show.

See why Anker’s latest bargain speaker is a fun purchase and a nifty holiday gift idea.

Grab the Glow Mini if you want an inexpensive and good-sounding wireless party speaker with lots of neat color lighting effects.

Knowing the company’s knack for silent launches, I frequent their website to catch up on the latest product releases that never receive the press release treatment. I recently stumbled upon the Glow Mini, never once thinking it was a miniature version of another Anker speaker, the $79 Glow. Curiosity encouraged me to reach out and request a sample.

The Glow Mini isn’t going to compete with the best Bluetooth speakers, but what it delivers sonically is satisfying for the price. Bass is at the forefront and dominates the soundstage, resulting in energetic and lively listens. The clarity on high-pitched vocals is a little off, but that doesn’t ruin the listening experience.

Sound customization is done through the Anker Soundcore app for Android and iOS. There’s an adjustable EQ with four serviceable presets: Balanced, Soundcore Signature (default), Treble Boost and Voice. Being able to manually create your own sound profile by tweaking bass, midrange and treble is a feature you won’t find on many wireless speakers under $100.

You can achieve stereo sound by setting up a second unit. Pairing is seamless through the PartyCast function, which can be enabled in the companion app or by pressing the logo button on the front. Anker lets you pair more than 100 Glow Mini speakers together for wider audio presentation.

Design-wise, this is a surprisingly attractive speaker. It’s built from solid plastic that has a nice shimmer to it when exposed to light. IP67 certification grants dust- and waterproof protection. Details like the reflective Anker logo on top and built-in lanyard for convenient portability add to the Glow Mini’s flair. Even small details like the rubber flap protecting the USB-C charging port are appreciated.

The Glow Mini won’t match the grand illumination of certain high-end speakers like the JBL Pulse 5. However, there are multiple color profiles that give the speaker a notable radiance in dimly lit environments.

The speaker lasts up to 12 hours on a full charge. Keep in mind that the lighting effects significantly decrease playtime by about 5 hours. This kind of battery life is standard for speakers this size, and I was satisfied with the three weeks of shower time I got. It doesn’t take long to recharge either; you can go from empty to a full battery in about two hours.

The Glow Mini’s control scheme is a bit awkward. For instance, the power button on the back doubles as a multifunctional button for play/back/forward/previous. The simpler solution would have been to place a button that supported those functions on the front with the others: lighting, volume, PartyCast and pairing.

Connectivity is both impressive and wonky. While you get cool perks like dual device pairing, which works well, there are minor bugs you’ll encounter when connected to specific devices. One issue I encountered was pairing the speaker to my MacBook Pro and having sound come out of only the laptop speakers; going into the audio settings and changing the output from internal speakers to Bluetooth source fixed this. It seems like a minor complaint, but it’ll be a troubleshooting headache for less-tech-savvy consumers.

Outside of those flaws, you’re looking at a great, affordable waterproof speaker that’s ideal for living room gatherings, jacuzzi hangs, patio parties, shower concerts … you get the idea. You can take the Glow Mini anywhere and enjoy its bold sound quality for the asking price of two Andrew Jacksons.