The discontinued B&O Beosound A1 holds the higher sound-quality rank, while the Soundcore Boom 3i is the more straightforward new-speaker purchase. The B&O ranks 9 of 142 medium portable speakers; the Soundcore ranks 29 and sells new for $118.99.
The B&O is a lighter 589g mono speaker with claimed 24-hour battery life, a microphone, analog and USB-C audio inputs, 50Hz bass extension, and up to 99dB output. The 783g Boom 3i has IP68 protection, a 50W amplifier, a claimed 16-hour battery, and TWS pairing, but it lacks analog or digital aux input and uses a warmer, boosted-bass tuning.
On the B&O Beosound A1 side: Deeper bass than the A1 2nd gen. Watch for: Not stereo. Not quite as neutral as the A1 2nd gen.
What the Soundcore Boom 3i gets right: Looks to be designed as a direct competitor to the Charge 5 with a very similar sound profile, warm tuned with boosted bass. The tradeoff: Not quite as good as a Charge 5, doesn’t go quite as loud or sound quite as balanced, but very very close.
One note: the B&O Beosound A1 is no longer sold new, but at #9 of 142 medium speakers by sound quality it still outranks most current models, so used is worth considering.
Buy the Soundcore Boom 3i for a new IP68 speaker with app EQ, TWS pairing, and a 50W amplifier at $118.99, especially if a warm bass-forward sound suits your listening.
Buy the B&O Beosound A1 only when a good used price makes sense and its higher rank, lower weight, longer claimed battery life, microphone, and analog aux input are more useful than the Soundcore’s warranty-backed availability and IP68 rating.
There is a real battery-life gap here: the B&O Beosound A1 is rated for 24 hours, the Soundcore Boom 3i only 16 hours.
Specifications Side By Side
| B&O Beosound A1 | Soundcore Boom 3i | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $200 Discontinued | $118.99 |
| Ranked | #9 of 142 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #29 of 142 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 50Hz | 56Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 16 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | Yes | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP68 |
| Max Volume | 99dB | - |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | No |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs / 589 g | 1.7 lbs / 783 g |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Drivers | 15mm tweeter + 83mm mid/bass driver | 94mm woofer + tweeter |
| Output Power | 60W total (30W each driver) | 50W |
| Discontinued | Yes | - |
| Party Mode | - | No |
| TWS | - | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | - | 8.3" x 3.3" x 3.1" (210 x 85 x 78.5 mm) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How B&O Beosound A1 compares with other leading options:
- Soundcore Motion 300 vs B&O Beosound A1
- Soundcore Motion+ vs B&O Beosound A1
- Soundcore Boost “upgraded” 2021 vs B&O Beosound A1
- Denon Envaya DSB-250BT vs B&O Beosound A1
- B&O Beosound A1 vs Minirig 3
Prices on this page were last checked September 11, 2026 at 8:40 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
B&O Beosound A1: $200 Discontinued eBay
Pros: Deeper bass than the A1 2nd gen.
Cons: Not stereo. Not quite as neutral as the A1 2nd gen. Pumping sound artifacts above 60% volume, only good for lower listening levels. Discontinued.
Full B&O Beosound A1 review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 50Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 15mm tweeter + 83mm mid/bass driver |
| EQ | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 99dB |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Output Power | 60W total (30W each driver) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs / 589 g |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- JOY‘s 🎧3D🔈Audio-Show: B&O Beoplay/Beosound A1 - all 3 generations compared More from Oluv’Sone →
- Alan Ross Reviews: Beoplay A1 Denon 250bt JBL Flip 5 Anker Flare 2 More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: Bose Soundlink Flex or Beosound A1 (1st gen) - ultimate compact speaker 😇
- Oluv Patreon: B&O Beosound A1 2nd gen vs Beoplay A1 outdoors with a bit of Anker Soundcore Motion+ too
- techkiste.net: B&O Beosound A1 (2nd Gen) vs Bose Revolve 2 vs Bose Revolve+ 2 sound-comparison
- techkiste.net: B&O Beosound A1 (2nd Gen) vs Bose Revolve 2 vs Bose Revolve+ 2 sound-comparison
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: JBL, Bose, B&O, Sonos, Earfun, SoundCore… which portable speaker sounds best?
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- B&O Beosound A1 vs B&O Beosound A1 2nd gen
- B&O Beosound A1 vs Minirig 2
- B&O Beosound A1 vs Minirig 3
- B&O Beosound A1 vs JBL Charge 6
- B&O Beosound A1 vs JBL Flip 6
- B&O Beosound A1 vs Denon Envaya DSB-250BT
- B&O Beosound A1 vs Soundcore Boost “original model” pre-2021
- B&O Beosound A1 vs JBL Flip 7
- See all 20 comparisons
Soundcore Boom 3i: $118.99 Amazon B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: Looks to be designed as a direct competitor to the Charge 5 with a very similar sound profile, warm tuned with boosted bass. Better value for the money than the Charge 5.
Cons: Not quite as good as a Charge 5, doesn’t go quite as loud or sound quite as balanced, but very very close. An earlier firmware version had some bass distortion, update your firmware in the Soundcore App
Full Soundcore Boom 3i review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 56Hz |
| Battery Life | 16 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8.3" x 3.3" x 3.1" (210 x 85 x 78.5 mm) |
| Drivers | 94mm woofer + tweeter |
| EQ | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP68 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 50W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.7 lbs / 783 g |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Soundcore Boom 3i vs JBL Charge 5
- Soundcore Boom 3i vs JBL Charge 5 Wifi
- Soundcore Boom 3i vs Teufel Rockster XS
- Soundcore Boom 3i vs Tribit Xsound Plus 2
- Soundcore Boom 3i vs Harman Kardon Luna
- Soundcore Boom 3i vs Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen
- Soundcore Boom 3i vs Tribit Maxsound Plus/Thunderbox Plus
- Soundcore Boom 3i vs Bose Soundlink Flex
- See all 77 comparisons