Short answer: the Tribit Maxsound Plus V1/V2/Thunderbox Plus. It ranks #21 of 136 medium speakers by sound quality at $79.99; the Soundcore Boom 3i ranks #27 and costs $110, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
On the Tribit Maxsound Plus V1/V2/Thunderbox Plus side: Use Xbass mode for flattest frequency response. V1/V2/Thunderbox Plus sound exactly the same. The catch: Slightly less deep bass than the best in category.
The case for the Soundcore Boom 3i: Looks to be designed as a direct competitor to the Charge 5 with a very similar sound profile, warm tuned with boosted bass. Watch for: Not quite as good as a Charge 5, doesn’t go quite as loud or sound quite as balanced, but very very close.
Buy the Tribit Maxsound Plus V1/V2/Thunderbox Plus. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Soundcore Boom 3i and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| Tribit Maxsound Plus V1/V2/Thunderbox Plus | Soundcore Boom 3i | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $79.99 | $110 |
| Ranked | #21 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #27 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 58Hz | 56Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 16 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built in Microphone | No | Yes |
| EQ | No | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IP68 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 160ms | - |
| Max Volume | 99dB | - |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs / 595 g | 1.7 lbs / 783 g |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.3 |
| Drivers | 2x 44mm full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators | 94mm woofer + tweeter |
| Output Power | 24W | 50W |
| Dimensions | 2.6" x 7.8" x 2.7" (65 x 198 x 68 mm) (2.56 x 7.79 x 2.68 inches) | 8.3" x 3.3" x 3.1" (210 x 85 x 78.5 mm) |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Party Mode | - | No |
| Power Input | - | USB-C |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC, AAC |
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More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Tribit Xsound Mega vs Bose Soundlink Flex
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The Two Speakers In Full
Tribit Maxsound Plus V1/V2/Thunderbox Plus: $79.99 Amazon
Pros: Use Xbass mode for flattest frequency response. V1/V2/Thunderbox Plus sound exactly the same.
Cons: Slightly less deep bass than the best in category.
Full Tribit Maxsound Plus V1/V2/Thunderbox Plus review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 58Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Latency | 160ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 2.6" x 7.8" x 2.7" (65 x 198 x 68 mm) (2.56 x 7.79 x 2.68 inches) |
| Drivers | 2x 44mm full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Max Volume | 99dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 24W |
| Power Bank | No |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs / 595 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
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- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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Soundcore Boom 3i: $110 Amazon Bhphotovideo
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 |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Soundcore Boom 3i vs JBL Charge 5
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