These are not really the same size class, and that is the honest framing here. The Soundcore Boom 3i ranks #31 of 179 medium speakers by sound quality at $118.99; the Zealot S97 ranks #66 of 120 large speakers by sound quality at $79.98.
The Soundcore Boom 3i is the longer-running, lighter option. A warm, punchy waterproof speaker that sounds great and is a strong value. It is rated for 16 hours of battery against 12 for the Zealot S97. At 1.7 lbs (783 g) it weighs much less than the Zealot S97 at 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg). It is rated IP68 against IPX6 for the Zealot S97. The tradeoff: Not quite as good as a JBL Charge 5, doesn’t go quite as loud or sound quite as balanced, but very very close.
What the Zealot S97 does well: A budget boombox with surprisingly deep bass for its size, waterproofing, power bank outputs, and microSD and aux playback. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Soundcore Boom 3i lacks. It links with other speakers (PartyAdd up to 100 speakers), which the Soundcore Boom 3i cannot. It plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the Soundcore Boom 3i. The catch: It is not especially loud for its size, battery life is only a claimed 12 hours, and the bass preset can swamp the rest of the music.
Buy the Soundcore Boom 3i ($118.99) for a medium speaker; the Zealot S97 ($79.98) suits a large speaker instead.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Prices on this page were last checked November 7, 2026 at 7:34 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 | Zealot S97 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $118.99 | $79.98 |
| Ranked | #31 of 179 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #66 of 120 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 56Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 16 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes | 3 EQ presets |
| IP Rating | IP68 | IPX6 |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (PartyAdd up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| 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) | 12.6” x 7.3” x 5.9” (321 x 185 x 151 mm) |
| Drivers | 94mm woofer + tweeter | 2x 76mm (3”) woofers + 2x 38mm tweeters + 2x passive radiators |
| Weight | 1.7 lbs (783 g) | 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg) |
| Amplifier Power | 50W | 80W |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| Strap | Yes (detachable strap) | - |
| MicroSD Playback | - | Yes |
| Power Bank | - | Yes (USB-A + USB-C) |
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