When you think of beach-ready gadgets, most minds drift to rugged smartphones or waterproof cameras. But Anker’s audio arm, Soundcore, has decided it’s high time your tunes get the same vacation treatment. Enter the Soundcore Boom 3i, a wireless Bluetooth speaker that doesn’t just shrug off splashes—it dances them away.

Imagine lounging poolside or paddling out on a kayak, only to realize your speaker has taken a plunge. With the Boom 3i, that’s an opportunity, not a disaster. This speaker boasts IP68-rated water- and dustproofing, meaning it can be submerged in up to 1.5 meters of water for 30 minutes without batting an LED light. But Anker didn’t stop at mere waterproofing—they’ve added a specialized coating that promises to keep the Boom 3i corrosion-free for up to two years, even in saltwater.

One of the Boom 3i’s cleverest tricks is its industry-first floating playback. Thanks to an internal layout and buoyant design, it automatically rights itself if tossed into water. “No distortion, no sinking—just loud, clear audio for kayaking, pool parties, and every water adventure,” the company boasts. It also means your stereo drivers always face you, not the murky depths, so your soundtrack never goes underwater.

Sand and dust are the mortal enemies of any outdoor speaker. To vanquish them, the Boom 3i introduces “Buzz Clean” mode. Hit a button on the device (or tap in the Soundcore app) and the speaker vibrates intensely, literally shaking grit out of the grill. It’s an ingenious riff on the self-clearing mechanics seen in devices like smartwatches—and it actually works.

Under the hood, the Boom 3i packs 50W of output (a 40W woofer and 10W tweeter), pushing deep bass down to 56Hz courtesy of Soundcore’s BassUp 2.0 and DSP technology. It hits up to 96dB of volume, which is more than enough to soundtrack a lakeside barbecue or an impromptu dock dance-off. Around the sides, syncable LED accents pulse in time with your tunes—choose from presets or fine-tune colors and brightness in the app.

Beyond party mode, the Boom 3i can turn into a safety beacon. A built-in emergency alarm leverages its 96dB output to signal for help, while a megaphone mode lets you broadcast your voice through the speaker via the Soundcore app and your phone’s mic. It’s a thoughtful nod for hikers, boaters, or anyone who might find themselves in sticky situations far from earshot.

Given its rugged feature set, you might wonder about endurance. Anker rates the Boom 3i at up to 16 hours of playback at 50% volume with BassUp and lighting off. That’s respectable, but it trails peers like JBL’s Flip series, which can stretch beyond 20 hours on a single charge. If marathon listening is your priority, you might look elsewhere—but if you prize durability and worry-free use, the Boom 3i’s stamina will likely get you through most day-long adventures.

At CA$189.99 (around $139 USD), the Boom 3i sits near the top of Soundcore’s lineup, just below the heftier Boom 2 Plus. It’s priced above many basic “float and forget” speakers, but its combination of saltwater resistance, drop resistance up to 1 meter, floating playback, and self-cleaning tech makes a compelling case for your beach bag—or boat deck.

Right now, it’s available only through Soundcore’s Canadian online store, with other markets expected to follow. U.S. shoppers will have to keep an eye on the Soundcore website for its stateside debut.

Whether you’re splashing around at the pool, trekking down a river, or simply living life without a care (or concern) for sand in your speakers, the Soundcore Boom 3i is engineered so you won’t have to. In a market crowded with “tough” options, it stands out by not just surviving the elements—but by actively fighting them, one buzz and bob at a time.