Different classes, so treat this as a step-up-or-not question rather than a head-to-head. The Zealot S97 ranks #66 of 120 large speakers by sound quality at $79.98; the Soundcore 2 ranks #105 of 179 medium speakers by sound quality at $29.99.
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 has an adjustable EQ, which the Soundcore 2 lacks. It charges over USB-C rather than Micro USB. The tradeoff: 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.
The Soundcore 2 is the longer-running, lighter choice. A cheap, light waterproof stereo speaker with a long rated battery, an aux input and pairing with a second unit. It is rated for 24 hours of battery against 12 for the Zealot S97. At 0.7 lbs (318 g) it weighs much less than the Zealot S97 at 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg). The tradeoff: Bass is specified only down to 70Hz, so the low end is limited.
Buy the Zealot S97 at $79.98 if you want a large speaker. Buy the Soundcore 2 at $29.99 if you want a medium 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
| Zealot S97 | Soundcore 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $79.98 | $29.99 |
| Ranked | #66 of 120 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #105 of 179 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | 3 EQ presets | No |
| IP Rating | IPX6 | IPX7 |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyAdd up to 100 speakers) | - |
| Power Input | USB-C | Micro USB |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| Weight | 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg) | 0.7 lbs (318 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A + USB-C) | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 5.0 |
| Dimensions | 12.6” x 7.3” x 5.9” (321 x 185 x 151 mm) | 6.6” x 1.9” x 2.2” (168 x 47 x 56 mm) |
| Amplifier Power | 80W | 12W |
| Drivers | 2x 76mm (3”) woofers + 2x 38mm tweeters + 2x passive radiators | 2x 38mm fullrange |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Frequency Response | - | 70Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Strap | - | No |
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