Anker Soundcore Motion Q Review: Nearly Perfect

Anker Soundcore Motion Q Review Bluetooth Speaker 360 sound
Honor X9b Ad
Honor X9b Ad

Among the portable Bluetooth speaker from Anker that is officially available in Nepal, the Soundcore Motion Q has the heftiest price tag. But should you be spending your money that is already two years old? Check out our review of Anker Soundcore Motion Q before making the decision.

Anker Soundcore Motion Q Specifications:

  • Size: 3.5 x 3.5 x 4.3-inches
  • Weight: 416 grams
  • Power Input: 5V / 1A
  • Audio Output: 8W x 2, Stereo Speakers, 360-degree sound
  • Bluetooth version: Bluetooth 4.2 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate)
  • Wireless Range: 20m (66 ft)
  • Charging time: 3.5 hours
  • Play Time: 10 hours
  • Water-resistant: Yes, IPX7 certified
  • Price in Nepal: Rs. 6,399

Anker Soundcore Motion Q Review:

Design and Build

  • IPX7 rating against water splashes
  • Cylindrical form factor with hand strap mount

Anker Soundcore Motion Q sports a cylindrical form factor. The top and base of the device are made up of plastic. On the other hand, the curved surface of the speaker is covered with fabric-like material. However, the fabric layer is not that deep and one can feel the solid surface underneath it. The size of the speaker along with the cylindrical shape doesn’t make it ideal to carry around in a pocket.

Anker Soundcore Motion Q - Design [1]

And the Motion Q is therefore meant to be hooked to some surface or something like a bag, bike, etc. Anker has included a hand mount on the speaker which you can use to mount the lace that is provided in the box. If there is no space in the bag, you can use it to hang the speaker on the bag.

Connectivity

  • Bluetooth 4.2 with a range of 20m

Here, Motion Q supports Bluetooth 4.2 with a theoretical range of 20m. For the initial connection, turn on the Motion Q, enter the pairing mode by pressing the Bluetooth button. Once done, the LED will start flashing Blue and the speaker will appear on all nearby devices where you can connect it with your device. Once the process is completed, the LED will turn steady blue.

From next time, the speaker automatically connects to the last connected device. However, I found the connection to be slow. You will be left wondering why is your device still playing the music even when it has already been connected with the Motion Q. You can avoid it by connecting the speaker with the help of a headphone jack. Unfortunately, it does not ship with the speaker itself.

Controls

  • Circular control panel on the top of the device
  • Power button the middle with other four buttons on four side

Anker Soundcore Motion Q - Buttons

Talking about the controls, they are included on the top of the speaker. The power button is positioned in the middle with one button in each direction. The play/pause button jumps to the next song in the queue during a double-tap. Similarly, on triple tapping the button, the speaker plays the previous track. Additionally, taping and holding the button will summon the default voice assistant of the connected device.

While the multi-function button that does almost everything does sound good, the execution on the Soundcore Motion Q is far from perfect. For anything other than a single tap, you will notice the travel distance is not enough. The buttons feel stiff during multiple taps and tap and hold. Try to skip songs too often and you will end up hurting your fingertip.

The speaker has dedicated buttons for volume up and volume down as well. However, it is the only way one can toggle the volume level. Trying to do so with the connected device only brought disappointment for me during the whole review time of the Anker Soundcore Motion Q; as it was not possible at all.

 Sound

  • 2 x 8W speaker output
  • 360-degree coverage

Talking about the sound, the Motion Q is exceptionally loud. In addition to that, it offers 360-degree sound. Thus, we can enjoy the music to the same extent, no matter how you are positioned relative to the speaker. This makes it a perfect companion for a gathering such as a picnic. Though the speaker can get loud, you would want to enjoy it with the volume set around 50% when alone.

Anker Soundcore Motion Q - Design [2]

During the duration of this review of Anker Soundcore Motion Q, I found the speaker offered the best experience with the volume at around 50%. At higher volume, you can notice the sound creak. While I did not notice it quite as often as I did on the Icon Mini, I can’t deny that it is not there.

Even with the BassUp technology, the bass on the Motion Q is not something extraordinary. The bass hardly feels as if it’s boosted. If you listen to hip-hop and rap music a lot, you will wish that the kick drum packed in more punch. Other than that, the vocals sounded decent. I listened to “She Couldn’t” by Linkin Park, Chester’s vocal was distinct and clear. It was not overpowered by instruments, which is the case with most of the audio accessories I have used.

Battery

  • Difficult-to-access Micro USB port
  • Clumsy covering

The speaker sports a micro USB port which is quite outdated these days. Similarly, the positioning of the port makes it difficult to access it. You will scratch the area around the port trying to fit in the charger. Although there is a flap that covers the charging port and the AUX-in, the way it closes made me believe it was a last-minute addition other than a thought-out inclusion.

Anker Soundcore Motion Q - Ports

With volume between 50 and 70%, I was able to get around 9 hours of playback on a single great, which is actually great for a portable speaker. On the other hand, however, it takes around 3.5 hours to get the speaker from 0 to 100%.

Conclusion

While I had some minor problems with the controls and connectivity, the Motion Q compensates it with its performance and solid build quality. The vocals are clear and the 360 sound ensures you get the same experience no matter your position. It would have been a perfect portable speaker if it weren’t for the bass and the charging time.

Anker Soundcore Motion Q Review: Pros and Cons

Pros: 

  • Compact body with an IPX7 rating
  • Hand Strap Mount with lace included in the box
  • Exceptionally loud for the size
  • Clear, distinct vocals with 360º sound
  • Great battery life

Cons:

  • Dated Bluetooth 4.2 protocol
  • Buttons feel stiff during multiple taps and tap and hold
  • Can’t adjust volume from the connected device
  • Wished the bass was punchier
  • Micro USB port which is difficult to access
REVIEW OVERVIEW
Design and Build
Connectivity
Controls
Sound Quality
Battery
Value for Money
anker-soundcore-motion-q-reviewWhile it is not the most portable speaker in the market, the Anker Soundcore Motion Q stands out because of the 360 sound and audio is clear and distinct. Like other products from Anker Soundcore, it feels robust. The battery endurance is also great. If you can live with the price and the 3.5 hours charging time, the Anker Soundcore Motion Q is a great companion to have in both indoor and outdoor settings.