Short answer: the Soundcore Boom 3i. It ranks #31 of 177 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 4.0/5, at $118.99; the B&O Beosound Explore ranks #142, rated 2.5/5, and costs $294.99, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
The Soundcore Boom 3i is the better-sounding, deeper-bass option. A warm, punchy waterproof speaker that sounds great and is a strong value. Its bass reaches about 56Hz before falling 10dB, against 70Hz for the B&O Beosound Explore. It supports AAC Bluetooth, which the B&O Beosound Explore lacks. Watch for: Not quite as good as a JBL Charge 5, doesn’t go quite as loud or sound quite as balanced, but very very close.
The B&O Beosound Explore is the longer-running choice. A rugged waterproof speaker with an anodized aluminum design, a strap and carabiner, and a long real world battery. It is rated for 27 hours of battery against 16 for the Soundcore Boom 3i. It plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the Soundcore Boom 3i. The tradeoff: Huge lack of bass extension compared to competitors, overly hot ringing treble.
Buy the Soundcore Boom 3i. It is rated higher for sound quality than the B&O Beosound Explore and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
A warm, punchy waterproof speaker that sounds great and is a strong value.
A rugged waterproof speaker with an anodized aluminum design, a strap and carabiner, and a long real world battery.
Prices on this page were last checked October 31, 2026 at 7:11 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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Specifications Side By Side
| Soundcore Boom 3i | B&O Beosound Explore | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $118.99 | $294.99 |
| Ranked | #31 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #142 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes (Bang & Olufsen app) |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 56Hz | ~70Hz |
| Battery Life | 16 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 27 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes | Yes (App EQ) |
| IP Rating | IP68 | IP67 |
| Party Mode | No | - |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.2 |
| Dimensions | 8.3” x 3.3” x 3.1” (210 x 85 x 78.5 mm) | 3.2” x 4.9” x 3.2” (81 x 124 x 81 mm) |
| Drivers | 94mm woofer + tweeter | 2x 1.8” (46mm) full-range drivers |
| Weight | 1.7 lbs (783 g) | 1.4 lbs (631 g) |
| Amplifier Power | 50W | 60W |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No | Yes (USB-C) |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| Strap | Yes (detachable strap) | Yes (carabiner) |
| Power Bank | - | No |
| Maximum SPL | - | 91dB (Manufacturer specified) |
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