Short answer: the Soundcore Boom 3i. It ranks #29 of 150 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 4.0/5, at $118.99. The Dayton Audio Boost ranks #129, rated 2.4/5, at $29.98, $89.01 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
What the Soundcore Boom 3i does well: Looks to be designed as a direct competitor to the Charge 5 with a very similar sound profile, warm tuned with boosted bass. The catch: Not quite as good as a Charge 5, doesn’t go quite as loud or sound quite as balanced, but very very close.
The case for the Dayton Audio Boost: Compact soda-can design, dual passive radiators, IPX5 waterproof, wireless stereo pairing capability, MicroSD card support. The catch: Some midrange peaks, treble slightly rolled off.
Buy the Soundcore Boom 3i. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $89.01 saving on the Dayton Audio Boost is not enough to make up the difference.
There is a real battery-life gap here: the Soundcore Boom 3i is rated for 16 hours, the Dayton Audio Boost only 6 hours.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Soundcore Boom 3i | Dayton Audio Boost | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $118.99 | $29.98 |
| Ranked | #29 of 150 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #129 of 150 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 56Hz | 87Hz |
| Battery Life | 16 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 6 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes | No |
| IP Rating | IP68 | IPX7 |
| 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 | 5.0 |
| Dimensions | 8.3” x 3.3” x 3.1” (210 x 85 x 78.5 mm) | 3.5” x 3.5” x 4.3” (88.9 x 88.9 x 109.2 mm) |
| Drivers | 94mm woofer + tweeter | 2x 1.5” full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| Weight | 1.7 lbs (783 g) | 0.9 lbs (426 g) |
| Amplifier Power | 50W | - |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| Strap | Yes (detachable strap) | - |
| MicroSD Playback | - | Yes |
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Prices on this page were last checked September 30, 2026 at 2:57 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
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. Measured bass extension of 56Hz (-10dB).
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 →
| Amplifier Power | 50W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 56Hz |
| Battery Life | 16 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| 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 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | Yes (detachable strap) |
| 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 Cleer Audio Scene
- Soundcore Boom 3i vs Teufel Rockster XS
- Soundcore Boom 3i vs Bogasing G4
- Soundcore Boom 3i vs Tribit Xsound Plus 2
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Dayton Audio Boost: $29.98 Amazon eBay
Pros: Compact soda-can design, dual passive radiators, IPX5 waterproof, wireless stereo pairing capability, MicroSD card support. Measured bass extension of 87Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Some midrange peaks, treble slightly rolled off. Not much bass. Same hardware as the Boat Stone 350/352/358
Full Dayton Audio Boost review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 87Hz |
| Battery Life | 6 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 3.5” x 3.5” x 4.3” (88.9 x 88.9 x 109.2 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 1.5” full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs (426 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
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