Soundcore Motion X500 Bluetooth Speaker

toastedwhitebread

Pro

Jan 27, 2026 9:11 AM

2.5K Comments

Joined Mar 2011

toastedwhitebread

Pro

Jan 27, 2026 9:11 AM

2.5K Comments

Bought two, paired with my phone and set them up on the sound core app. Then I realized the sound core app only works with my phone and none of the other several android devices we have. This makes it impossible to use 2 at once for better stereo sound with anything other than my phone.

So, I'm returning one (Edit: No I am not). Anker needs to make their app function on more devices.

Audio quality is alright for the office, but it'd be better if I could have 2 going to fill the whole room with sound. I hate when 1 small issue keeps me from enjoying a product like this. Perhaps Apple ecosystem people will be happier.

EDIT: I am an idiot, they work on all my devices now. I had to hard reset them but after they started to behave properly. Followed this tutorial: https://youtu.be/hsKB40TXkpM?si=qmjk3d7YNkCXKXEs

So now, the only thing I need to use a phone for are the soundcore app functions.

Last edited by Surrounded January 27, 2026 at 10:24 PM.

1

NightMan_77

Jan 27, 2026 9:15 AM

15 Comments

Joined Dec 2015

NightMan_77Jan 27, 2026 9:15 AM

15 Comments

(:Frequently returned ? ? ?

Vorinclex

Jan 27, 2026 1:45 PM

778 Comments

Joined Mar 2021

VorinclexJan 27, 2026 1:45 PM

778 Comments

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank

Quote from NightMan_77

:

(:Frequently returned ? ? ?

If you ask the Amazon AI (Rufus) why is it frequently returned it will give a small explanation, in this case this is what it said:

"The Soundcore Motion X500 has a mix of positive and negative feedback. While many customers praise its immersive spatial audio, Hi-Res sound, and durable build with a convenient handle, some report that it frequently drops the Bluetooth connection when turned off (a known issue mentioned in multiple reviews). This connectivity quirk appears to be the most common reason for returns. If you're concerned about this, you might want to consider a model with more stable Bluetooth retention or look into the return policy for this item."

4

5

1

koby333

Jan 27, 2026 2:24 PM

644 Comments

Joined Jul 2012

koby333Jan 27, 2026 2:24 PM

644 Comments

if you have to pair this to your phone every time you want to use it, that's a deal breaker

1

toastedwhitebread

Pro

Jan 27, 2026 2:37 PM

2.5K Comments

Joined Mar 2011

toastedwhitebread

Pro

Jan 27, 2026 2:37 PM

2.5K Comments

Quote from koby333

:

if you have to pair this to your phone every time you want to use it, that's a deal breaker

I can pair 1 at a time to my tablet and Chromebook, but I want to pair 2. I like a wide stereo separation and was looking forward to putting them on either side of my office and letting them play L&R channels. Works fine with my phone, but nothing else. Sucks because I hate streaming through my phone, I take calls on that thing and don't want them to interrupt my background music.

If you just want 1, I guess it works well enough. Though you also can't update firmware (mine needed it) without the sound core app. Also, when I don't connect with my phone, but use something else without soundcore app, the Ambience mode button doesn't do anything when I press it. Not sure what that's all about, and thankfully I don't switch modes too often.

It shouldn't be this frustrating to use Bluetooth speakers.

Update: I decided on a whim to buy a cheap TrackFone and use it through wifi just for streaming music to my Bluetooth speakers. It works out well. I spent $30 for a Motorola. I have the phone all set up on my wifi and it's working great. It's ridiculous that Anker can't make their app work on anything besides a phone, but thankfully they sell phones for about the cost of a tank of gas.

Final update: I am an idiot. I was able to get the speakers to link together and play audio through my Chromebook. I did have to hard reset them both to make it work, so maybe something was goofed up somehow inside the speaker.
I followed this tutorial to hard reset my speakers:
https://youtu.be/hsKB40TXkpM?si=qmjk3d7YNkCXKXEs
All works now. I will update my first comment to make sure I don't steer anyone else wrong.

Last edited by Surrounded January 27, 2026 at 10:22 PM.

1

RyanS3695

Jan 27, 2026 4:05 PM

49 Comments

Joined Dec 2017

RyanS3695Jan 27, 2026 4:05 PM

49 Comments

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank

Quote from Surrounded

:

I can pair 1 at a time to my tablet and Chromebook, but I want to pair 2. I like a wide stereo separation and was looking forward to putting them on either side of my office and letting them play L&R channels. Works fine with my phone, but nothing else. Sucks because I hate streaming through my phone, I take calls on that thing and don't want them to interrupt my background music. If you just want 1, I guess it works well enough. Though you also can't update firmware (mine needed it) without the sound core app. Also, when I don't connect with my phone, but use something else without soundcore app, the Ambience mode button doesn't do anything when I press it. Not sure what that's all about, and thankfully I don't switch modes too often. It shouldn't be this frustrating to use Bluetooth speakers.

The manual says this has TWS mode where you first pair one speaker to the device then you pair the second speaker to the first. This should work with any device without requiring the app.

TWS (True Wireless Stereo) Mode

With one speaker connected to a smartphone, press and hold the Bluetooth button for 2 seconds on two speakers to enter TWS pairing mode.

1

4

a.stewart4242

Jan 27, 2026 6:39 PM

32 Comments

Joined Apr 2016

a.stewart4242Jan 27, 2026 6:39 PM

32 Comments

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank

The X500 and X600 are amazing speakers... At full price, they are very competitive to even slightlyu more expensive JBLs. $50 for the X500 is a great deal!

2

1

elimoon8

Jan 27, 2026 7:04 PM

178 Comments

Joined Dec 2007

elimoon8Jan 27, 2026 7:04 PM

178 Comments

Note that these don't have an audio jack (3.5 mm).

2

thesybarite

Jan 28, 2026 1:40 AM

1.1K Comments

Joined Apr 2015

thesybariteJan 28, 2026 1:40 AM

1.1K Comments

I returned mine because the bass made the casing rattle, even at low volumes.

lotusstyle

Jan 28, 2026 2:40 AM

88 Comments

Joined Aug 2014

lotusstyleJan 28, 2026 2:40 AM

88 Comments

Quote from RyanS3695

:

The manual says this has TWS mode where you first pair one speaker to the device then you pair the second speaker to the first. This should work with any device without requiring the app. TWS (True Wireless Stereo) Mode With one speaker connected to a smartphone, press and hold the Bluetooth button for 2 seconds on two speakers to enter TWS pairing mode.

Yup, if you pair both speakers to your phone, you will have a very bad time getting stereo mode to work.

1

lotusstyle

Jan 28, 2026 2:41 AM

88 Comments

Joined Aug 2014

lotusstyleJan 28, 2026 2:41 AM

88 Comments

This is by far the best Bluetooth speaker deal right now. Nothing comes close at this price. Pretty sure they are blowing them out because something new is about to come out.

2

toastedwhitebread

Pro

Jan 28, 2026 2:59 AM

2.5K Comments

Joined Mar 2011

toastedwhitebread

Pro

Jan 28, 2026 2:59 AM

2.5K Comments

Quote from lotusstyle

:

Yup, if you pair both speakers to your phone, you will have a very bad time getting stereo mode to work.

I paired one, then press and hold the pair buttons on both speakers to make them connect together. Works if I have the sound core app installed, hasn't worked on anything without it. I'll have to try again just to make sure I haven't inadvertently messed it up sometimes, but I followed a short YouTube video and it worked easily with my phones. Didn't work with my Chromebooks or my tablets. EDIT: Actually it did, I had to do a hard reset on the speakers, but now they behave correctly every time.

Last edited by Surrounded January 27, 2026 at 10:27 PM.

1

fieryarcade

Jan 28, 2026 7:11 AM

2.3K Comments

Joined Mar 2005

fieryarcadeJan 28, 2026 7:11 AM

2.3K Comments

Quote from lotusstyle

:

This is by far the best Bluetooth speaker deal right now. Nothing comes close at this price. Pretty sure they are blowing them out because something new is about to come out.

Would you say this is better than the Sony Ult Field 5 for ~$70-80?

mer063

Jan 28, 2026 12:17 PM

1.3K Comments

Joined Mar 2015

mer063Jan 28, 2026 12:17 PM

1.3K Comments

Quote from fieryarcade

:

Would you say this is better than the Sony Ult Field 5 for ~$70-80?

Its less then half of the size of ult5
update: so i received this x500 yesterday and tested it for briefly. sony ult5 is obviously louder but it is also about 2.5 times bigger and heavier. this one is perfect for my needs. smaller, has handle, while sony has carry belt. so both speakers are very good, it just comes down to what you need it for.

Last edited by mer063 January 28, 2026 at 07:33 AM.

1

RobertL5359

Jan 28, 2026 2:12 PM

419 Comments

Joined Mar 2013

RobertL5359Jan 28, 2026 2:12 PM

419 Comments

Got one last time it was at this price. For $50 the sound is amazing.

2

Soundcore Motion X500 Bluetooth Speaker

$50

$170

Editor's Notes

Original Post

Editor's Notes

Original Post

Community Voting

Top Comments

Join The Conversation

25 Comments

Join The Conversation

Related Searches