If you’ve ever taken a Bluetooth speaker to the beach, you know the risks: water splashes, sand getting into the speaker grille, or even that moment of panic when it falls in the pool. Anker’s new Soundcore Boom 3i is clearly designed with those situations in mind. Built for rugged outdoor use, this portable speaker doesn’t just survive water and dust—it actually floats and keeps playing, with the speaker drivers facing upward the whole time.

It’s currently available in Canada for CA$189.99 (about $139). There’s no word yet on when it’ll launch in other countries.

Let’s start with the basics: the Boom 3i is waterproof and dustproof, with an IP68 rating. That means it can be fully submerged in water, and it’s sealed against fine particles like sand. So whether it’s floating in your pool or buried halfway in a beach towel, it’s built to keep playing.

And if you’re dealing with salty environments—like oceans or coastal areas—Anker says the Boom 3i has an outer coating that helps protect against corrosion for up to two years. That’s a nice extra layer of reassurance, especially compared to some other speakers that don’t hold up well in salty air or seawater.

The Boom 3i has also been drop-tested to survive falls from about a meter (a little over three feet). It’s not indestructible, but it should be able to handle bumps and knocks during hikes, camping trips, or beach days.

Plenty of waterproof speakers will float, but not all of them do it in a useful way. The Boom 3i is designed to float upright, keeping its speaker grille pointed toward you, not the water. That means it still sounds decent even while it’s drifting around in a lake or pool.

It’s not just a party trick either. The design helps maintain audio clarity even when the speaker is jostled by waves. If you're using it in a fast-moving river, you might want to secure it by attaching something heavy to its strap, just to keep it from floating away.

Sound-wise, the Boom 3i delivers 50 watts of output, with a maximum volume of around 96 decibels. That’s loud enough to fill a decent-sized space outdoors. There’s also a BassUp 2.0 feature for more low-end thump, which can be toggled off if you prefer a more neutral sound.

Using the Soundcore app, you can customize settings, pair two Boom 3i speakers for stereo sound, and even activate some of its more unique features.

One of the quirkiest? A self-cleaning feature called Buzz Clean. It vibrates the speaker to shake off sand or dust—kind of like how the Apple Watch ejects water after a swim. And because it’s so water-resistant, you can literally rinse it off under the faucet if needed.

There are a couple of bonus features that might come in handy, especially if you’re heading off-grid. One is a 96dB emergency alarm, which could help you signal for help in the wilderness or on the water. The other is a voice amplification mode that lets you turn the speaker into a megaphone using your phone’s mic and the app.

These additions make the Boom 3i more than just a music speaker—it’s also a basic emergency tool and communication aid when you're out in the wild.

The built-in battery is rated for up to 16 hours of playback, though that’s with the volume set to 50% and without the LED lights turned on. You’ll likely get less runtime if you crank it up or use some of the extra features. Still, it should last through most day trips without needing a recharge.

Size-wise, it’s fairly compact at 210 x 85 x 78.5mm, and it includes a detachable strap to make it easier to carry or clip onto a backpack.

At around $139 USD, the Boom 3i lands in the middle of the portable speaker market. It’s not aiming to compete with ultra-premium audio gear, but it’s not a budget speaker either. What it offers is peace of mind for people who spend time outdoors—and don’t want to worry about treating their speaker delicately.

Right now, the Boom 3i is only available in Canada, but it’ll likely expand to more countries soon. Once it does, it’s probably going to catch the eye of beachgoers, hikers, campers, and anyone who likes their gadgets to be a little tougher than average.