| Pros | Cons |
| – Loud, deep audio | – No case included |
| – Rubber finish good for wet hands | – LED indicator behind mesh |
| – Multi-Function controls that work | – |
| – Perfect increase in volume levels | – |
| – Plenty of sound for your money | – |
{Tech} for Travel Says…
… A Bluetooth speaker built for outdoor adventures, with the audio performance of a more high-end speaker. A great addition to your travel kit!
Anker SoundCore Icon Mini
The SoundCore range of speakers from Anker is often a safe bet for those wanting a reasonably priced Bluetooth speaker for their travels.
I previously reviewed the SoundCore Nano, which was a perfect fit for business travellers seeking a small, powerful speaker with a sleek design and so it wouldn’t look out of place in the office.
With the Icon Mini, Anker has the opposite. This is a Bluetooth speaker for the outdoors!
Features
To ensure the Icon Mini is a “go anywhere” speaker, Anker has encased it in a tough rubber shell which is smooth to the touch, but rugged and strong enough to provide suitable protection. The finish also provides grip when wet!
I’m always cautious with devices and water, as most would be, but the Icon Mini is IP67 rated.
This means it can stay submerged in up to 1 meter of water for no longer than 30 minutes! It also indicates the device is dust resistance.
The review unit I was sent has been sprayed and submerged with no ill effects.
The Go Anywhere Speaker
The Icon Mini is an enclosed unit thanks to the rubberized control buttons which are easy enough to use. After only a few uses I was able to navigate each button by touch alone.
On the side is a concealed housing for the Micro-USB port and a 3.5mm Audio Jack.
A full charge takes around 3 hours and provides up to 8 hours of playback Anker claim. I found this to be mostly true, although the longest period of play I used it for was a little under 7 hours outdoors (so volume was up) and it still had life left in it!
The internal microphone worked okay for hands-free calls but was not the best I’ve used, however, most owners of this Anker speaker won’t be using that feature too often.
Audio playback preference varies depending on the person and the type of music.
At the time of testing one of my childhood heroes, Keith Flint of The Prodigy, had just passed away. So the majority of this review is based on me working through their entire back catalogue…… and it sounded great on the Icon!
Specifications
Make no mistake, just because the Icon Mini is small, that is no indication as to the audio it produces! It packs a punch at the top end of the volume scale without much distortion and is perfect for music outdoors!
- Dimensions – 13 x 11 x 5cm
- Weight – 181g
- Colour Options – Black/Orange/Blue/Red
- Built-In Microphone
- IP67 Water-Resistant
- Up To 8 Hours Playback
- Micro-USB Charging
How Much does the Anker SoundCore Icon Mini Cost?
The Anker SoundCore Icon Mini is $35.99/£29.99 direct from Amazon.
Final Thoughts…
When the Icon Mini was designed they clearly wanted to create a compact outdoor speaker that was comfortably exposed to the elements or by the pool! Whilst maintaining a great style and even better acoustics.
They achieved all of the above!
A big stand out was the steps in volume.
Often on Bluetooth speakers, when being used outside, they are either too loud for the environment I’m in, or too quiet.
The SoundCore Icon always seemed to be just right for the volume I needed it to be, took less than a minute to pair with both Android and Apple devices, and always maintained a solid connection with my devices.
If you need even more sound, you can pair two Icon Minis to a single smartphone!
Join the Conversation
Do you travel with a speaker? What’s your go-to device for music on the move? Comment below or join the conversation on Twitter.
For more information visit soundcore.com.