Motion Boom vs. Trance Go: Is There Any Difference?

Summary

Comparing the Anker Soundcore Motion Boom and Trance Go is challenging, because the two bluetooth speakers are similar in many ways.

Both Motion Boom and Trance Go have boombox (“party speaker”) sound profiles, with booming bass at the forefront. Trance Go provides more volume and overall power, but the sound comparison is fairly even between the two.

Motion Boom and Trance Go both outperform their price tag, which generally hovers in the $100-$120 range. Trance Go has an aux port and the ability to pair with up to 100 other speakers, if either of these features are important to you.

Either speaker has exceptional battery life that surpasses the 24 hour rating provided by Anker Soundcore. And both speakers have the power bank ability, which allows you to use the speaker to charge your cell phone or other device.

Among portable waterproof speakers in the sub-$125 price range, both the Motion Boom & Trance Go rate well. But, because the devices are so similar, good luck trying to decide which one to buy! (Our advice: Trance Go for the extra volume or if you want an aux port, Motion Boom if you like the boombox design, and price shop the two if none of these features matter to you).

~~~ Check Price: Soundcore Motion Boom ~~~

~~~ Check Price: Soundcore Trance Go ~~~

Sound

Anker Soundcore speakers have built a reputation as great speakers at affordable prices, and that is largely true for both the Motion Boom and Trance Go.

The key item to know, for both speakers being discussed, is that the sound profile is designed as a boombox. So, you get lots of punchy bass, but with a somewhat inauthentic sound that lacks the clarity of a hi-fi speaker. 

This isn’t to say that either speaker is muddy, distorted, or lacking in quality. But the sound profile absolutely tilts toward bass rather than mid-range crispness. If you strongly prefer a speaker with less bass and a balanced, authentic sound profile, we like both the Motion+ and the JBL Flip in this price range. 

Trance Go has a total output of 50 watts, while Motion Boom has a total output of 30 watts. We have discussed before that total output in watts isn’t a great measure of a speaker’s power, but it does offer a point of comparison.

Many users comment that Motion Boom outperforms its listed output. The speaker gets loud, packs a tremendous amount of bass, and generally sounds more powerful than you would expect from a speaker in this price range.

Trance Go takes things even a step further. The volume is noticeably higher than Motion Boom, and it doesn’t muffle or distort even at 80% volume and above. For use in a workshop or outdoor area, I prefer the Trance Go over the Motion Boom just due to the higher speaker output. 

Considering the device size, Motion Boom is arguably more impressive for packing a similar punch into a smaller, lighter device.

Both devices have an equalizer that can be customized via the app. Both speakers can also be paired to other compatible speakers with true wireless stereo.

Ultimately, as long as you want a boombox sound profile rather than a hi-fi bookshelf speaker, you will be pleased with either speaker. The bass is powerful, and the mid-range is clear enough to make this an excellent workshop or party speaker.

Design

Neither device will blow you away with a great design. Each appears more utilitarian than stylish, but some users may like the simple appearance.

Motion Boom has a classic boombox appearance, complete with a handle atop the device. Trance Go has more of an upright, party speaker appearance, and also has a folding handle at the top.

Both speakers are heavy on plastic, yet have decent build quality overall. They fit into a size category that I call portable-ish. While the devices are small enough and lightweight enough to carry with one hand, they aren’t devices like a JBL Flip or UE Boom that can be easily carried like a soda can and thrown into a backpack or even a large purse.

Motion Boom is lighter than the Trance Go, which is nearly a foot tall and weighs more than six pounds. Motion Boom is over a foot in length, but feels smaller than the Trance Go due to its horizontal (rather than vertical) orientation.

Both devices feature Bluetooth 5.0, which is a fairly recent and reliable version of bluetooth connectivity. While the Motion Boom lacks any other input, Trance Go also has a 3.5 mm aux port.

Motion Boom can connect to another Motion Boom for a stereo pairing, while the Trance Go can actually connect with up to 100 other compatible speakers (rather than just 2).

Motion Boom and Trance Go both have a power bank, meaning they are capable of charging phones and other devices from the built-in battery. And because each device has an incredibly long battery life, you can use the power bank without fear of draining your speaker’s battery too quickly.

Each device has a built-in microphone, which adds some functionality but isn’t a game-changer by any means. The speakers really aren’t that “smart,” and the microphone quality is unimpressive, so you won’t have a lot of use for voice control or similar features.

Trance Go has a flexible handle at the top, while Motion Boom has a firm, fixed handle at the top. Either style works well, and makes the device more portable.

Durability

Both Motion Boom and Trance Go are IPX7 rated, meaning they should withstand water without issue.

The cover to the USB port can be finicky on the Motion Boom, so you want to be sure that you have a good seal if the device may be exposed to water.

Neither has a dustproof rating, but should hold up well to dust, dirt, and sand. 

A heavy plastic speaker that lacks shock-proofing is always a concern, but these devices both test well for drops from moderate heights. There aren’t many user complaints for durability, either, at least not related to build quality and drops.

Either device should provide a couple years of usable life, at minimum. Like most speakers in this category and price range, device failure is usually caused by electrical/power failure.

Battery

Trance Go and Motion Boom are each rated for 24 hours of playtime. Both also have a power bank that can charge phones and other devices. 

In other words, both speakers are nearly best-in-class for battery life and performance.

During testing, we were able to achieve 30+ hours of battery life from Motion Boom when it was used at moderate volumes. Some other reviewers and users have reported 40+ hours during their testing. Simply put, this is excellent performance from a portable speaker.

Trance Go tests just as well as Motion Boom. It is possible to exceed the 24 hour battery rating, and you can get 30+ hours as long as you keep volume below 70%.

Both devices also score points for the power bank capability. Because the battery life on both speakers is so absurdly long, you can use the power bank feature without worrying about your speaker running out of charge.

Software

Because both speakers are Anker Soundcore products with similar (2020) release dates, much of the software is nearly identical between the two.

Both speakers score points for having a user-friendly app with a customizable equalizer. Many competitors, even products from reputable brands, lack the EQ function.

Trance Go and Motion Boom both use Bluetooth 5.0 and connect reliably. 

Motion Boom has wireless stereo pairing, which allows you to connect two Motion Boom speakers to one another. Trance Go has Party Cast pairing, which actually allows you to connect up to 100 Trance Go speakers to each other.

The downside with pairing the Motion Boom is that you are capped at two speakers. Additionally, there isn’t compatibility with other speakers, so it has to be two Motion Booms. The downside with Trance Go is that the pairing has some reliability issues, and also lacks compatibility with speakers besides Trance Go.

The ability to sync up to 100 speakers (which only Trance Go provides) is good marketing but ultimately pretty pointless. With a ~$100 price tag per speaker, most of us won’t buy more than one or two of these speakers. 

If speakers had better cross-compatibility, the party mode feature could be a lot of fun. I would love to hook up a new speaker alongside an older model speaker, but the technology doesn’t allow it. And the technology just doesn’t accomplish much when the vast majority of users never purchase more than two of the same model speaker.

Neither speaker impressed us with microphone quality, but the presence of a built-in microphone still gives you the ability to use it as a speakerphone or with voice assistants. So, it is still better to have a microphone than to not have one at all.

Motion Boom lacks an aux port, while Trance Go has an aux port. This input comes in handy when using older devices (like an iPod), when bluetooth connection is finicky, and also for connecting multiple speakers.

Anker Soundcore offers an 18 month warranty, and has exceptional customer service.

Final thoughts

As mentioned in the summary, Motion Boom and Trance Go speakers are similar enough that it is tough to recommend one versus the other.

If you are looking for a bluetooth speaker in the ~$100 price range, either product is an excellent purchase.

For maximum volume and output power, Trance Go is the winner. It also features an aux port.

Motion Boom is lighter and has a classic boombox design, which makes it slightly more portable.

For the budget-conscious, keep an eye out for sales and just purchase the speaker that can be found for the best price.

Both speakers have a similar sound profile with booming bass. And either speaker can provide 24+ hours of playtime, along with a power bank to charge your cell phone. Because both products are 2020 releases from Anker Soundcore, most of the software and technology is similar.

Ultimately, if you want a speaker that is waterproof, powerful, portable, and less than $120, it is hard to beat either the Motion Boom or Trance Go.

~~~ Check Price: Soundcore Motion Boom ~~~

~~~ Check Price: Soundcore Trance Go ~~~