9 reviews for Anker PowerConf Speakerphone, Zoom
Certified Confe
Rated 5 out of 5
hgpilot – MM –
works great but not integrated with their software that runs the 4K AI Webcam
Rated 5 out of 5
Terry Waddell –
The speaker was purchased for our weekly progress meetings. The meetings are recorded, and person recording the meetings said the speaker was extremely clear and would pickup the most furthest away person in the meeting room.
Rated 5 out of 5
J. Talley –
Been using mine for a year and it works great. Even bought another one to give to a friend. Once you get the Blue Tooth working it reconnects when turned on. I use it every week for Zoom conference call. With Zoom i connect directly to the compute USB port; better audio clarity on conference calls
Rated 5 out of 5
STG –
My job is 90+% travel and has been for the past 8 years. I’ve used every iteration of Jabra portable speakerphones (410, 510, and now 710) and a number of Plantronics portable speakerphones as well. The PowerConf is a great v1.0 entry for Anker. For the purposes of this review, I’m comparing the Anker PowerConf against the Jabra 510 as I think that’s the closest 1:1 comparison.
Where the Anker PowerConf wins: – USB Charging: Adding the ability to charge other devices via USB is GENIUS. I previously carried a Jabra speakerphone and an Anker PowerCore in my bag, but now I only need the Anker PowerConf. Anker makes some fantastic batteries/chargers, and this device is one of them. – Cost: The PowerConf comes in about 33% less than the Jabra 510. Anker frequently has sales on their products, so I imagine it will be on sale at even greater savings than 33%. – Bluetooth Multipoint: The Anker allows for multiple concurrent connections (multipoint). Note: It will only play/send audio from one device at a time, but it’s much easier to switch the audio/mic from your PC (if you’re listening to music) to your mobile phone (if you get a call). – Carrying Case: The carrying case for the Anker PowerConf is a hardshell case, whereas the Jabra ones are all neoprene. I feel like this adds additional protection when it’s jostling around inside my bag.
Where it’s a tie: – Microphone Noise Isolation: Both speakerphones do a good job of isolating noise. I made recordings with a radio playing in the background. In both recordings my voice was clear and I was not able to hear the radio in the background.
Where Jabra Speak 510 wins: – Audio Quality: The audio quality on the Anker PowerConf is good, but the Jabra 510 sounds noticeably better when listening to music or on a call. – Microphone Quality: While both speakers do a good job of noise isolation, my voice seemed to increase and decrease in volume on the Anker PowerConf recording (as if I was walking away from the speakerphone and back to again – except I was sitting still the whole time). The microphone quality difference is much less noticeable than the audio quality difference, but it’s still there.
Summary: Choose the Anker PowerConf if… – You’re a minimalist and the thought of consolidating your portable battery charger and speakerphone is appealing. IMO, it’s nice to be able to reduce the space (and weight) in my bag by only having one device. – You’re looking for a good lower cost option (the Anker PowerConf is ~33% less than the Jabra Speak 510).
Choose the Jabra Speak 510 if… – You or your clients/colleagues are audiophiles (and if that’s the case, I’d recommend going with the Jabra Speak 710 as the speaker and microphone are significantly better). – You have other Jabra devices and enjoy customizing them using the Jabra Direct app.
My choice: I already own a Jabra Speak 710 and it’s going to stay in my bag moving forward (even though it means carrying a separate Anker PowerCore for charging). It’s by no means a 1:1 comparison against the Anker PowerConf (the Jabra 710 costs more than twice as much as the Anker PowerConf), but the audio and microphone are definitely better. Many of my colleagues also own Jabra 710s, so it’s nice to be able to daisy chain them together in large conference rooms. If money isn’t an issue, then I’d recommend the Jabra Speak 710. However, if you’re looking to stay in the sub-$200 price range, then my comments above stand.
Rated 5 out of 5
vacc76 –
Have used Anker speakers for a while. Clear sound and no noticeable issues with use.
Rated 5 out of 5
Chris –
This speakerphone is exactly what I was looking for. I dock my laptop with the screen closed, so I was unable to use my microphone for conference calls as a result. After several failed attempts to use my AirPods, I gave in and purchased the Anker PowerConf and haven’t looked back. The sound rivals my JBL Flip 5 and the microphone is crystal clear. Highly recommend this product.
Rated 4 out of 5
CaryDesi –
I have had this speakerphone for over two years now. It is a solid workhorse. I am on calls all day and the battery lasts for at least three days. The sound quality is good and noise cancellation works well.
The only annoying part of this speaker is that it’s buttons are soft but you have to push them hard. It should be other way round (hard buttons that need to be pressed gently). To power it on, you have push the soft button hard and hold it for 3 seconds or so – it’s quite annoying.
The other limitation is that the volume control is not very granular from the speaker – it just goes to silent if you try to reduce the volume. The lowest volume is quite loud.
Oh well, you get what you pay for. Other than the above two annoying “features”, this is a very good speakerphone for someone on budget.
Rated 5 out of 5
Amazon Customer –
Great device for conference calls. I almost always used this as a hard-wired speaker, though it is Bluetooth capable. The onboard battery pack for phone charging is a plus. Plenty of volume and good mic sensitivity. Rugged. Comes in a nice hard-shell case, though said case does not have a pocket for the charging cable. I opted to upgrade the charging cable to one of Anker’s braided-nylon cords, since the one that came with the device is rather thick and very stiff.
Rated 3 out of 5
Amazon Customer –
Speakerphone Comparison Anker Conference Phone vs Jabra 710
Speaker Quality: Tie: Both of these have very good speaker quality. Both reproduce clear and distinct. If you were to decide on speaker quality, you would not go wrong picking either one. Unfortunately, the speakers can only reproduce what the mics pickup and the signal sends.
Microphone Quality: Jabra wins: I own both of these and have tested both. At about 3-5 feet from the unit the Anker had acceptable quality, but it was not as robust and clear. The Jabra was clear and robust and comfortable to listen to. At 10′ you had to strain to understand the conversation with the Anker. At 10′ the Jabra was not quite as robust as it was at 5′ but there still was not a strain to hear what the other side was saying
Design: Jabra wins: The Jabra has more controls and they are laid out well. The volume is more incrementally adjustable. Anker’s controls are laid out well but there are fewer of them and they have bigger steps in their adjustment. With the Jabra it is easier to dial in a “just right” setting as opposed to the Anker. Both have good cases. The Jabra has a zippered cloth case vs the Anker has a zippered injected moulded case with a nice semi-textured finish. One of my pet peeves is the number of charging cables I have to carry independently. The Anker furnishes a nice USB-C to Type A charging cable, but you have to carry it separately and it will not fit in the case. Therefore, you have to carry it separately. Just hope when you need to charge it you remember where you stored it. The Jabra integrates the cable with the unit, and it stores neatly wrapped around a circular slot on the back of the unit.
Connectivity: Jabra wins: Jabra will allow me to have two devices connected at the same time and the Anker only lets me have one.
Build Quality: Tie: Both units are solid and well made. The Jabra is round and the Anker is square with rounded corners. Both feel solid in your hand and are of reasonably good weight.
Extras: Jabra Wins: Jabra’s integrated charging cable (mentioned above). Jabra furnishes a USB wireless dongle if you need to connect to a computer and you do not have your cable handy. Jabra has a pop-out stand integrated in the rear of the unit that holds the speaker in the vertical position if you prefer that. Unfortunately, the Anker comes with the unit, charging cable, and case. No stand, no wireless dongle and a USB-C to Type A charging cable.
Price: Anker wins: This is easy. Today on Amazon Anker costs $129.99 vs Jabra at $214.79. That is about a 40% price difference!
Summary: If you are looking for a good speaker phone and you are more concerned about price than call quality then you will be happy with the Anker. If you are more concerned about call quality, then go with the Jabra. You will be happier.
As for me I own both. One for home and one for office. I will probably buy a third to throw in my briefcase. I will buy another Jabra just because the call quality is important. If I am on a call with a customer and am making a sales pitch, I do not want my customer having to continually ask me “what was that you said” and I end up shouting and repeating myself. That is time consuming and gives the appearance of not being professional. Plus, at the end of the call I want to hear them say “You sold us, here is the purchase order”.
hgpilot – MM –
works great but not integrated with their software that runs the 4K AI Webcam
Terry Waddell –
The speaker was purchased for our weekly progress meetings. The meetings are recorded, and person recording the meetings said the speaker was extremely clear and would pickup the most furthest away person in the meeting room.
J. Talley –
Been using mine for a year and it works great. Even bought another one to give to a friend. Once you get the Blue Tooth working it reconnects when turned on. I use it every week for Zoom conference call. With Zoom i connect directly to the compute USB port; better audio clarity on conference calls
STG –
My job is 90+% travel and has been for the past 8 years. I’ve used every iteration of Jabra portable speakerphones (410, 510, and now 710) and a number of Plantronics portable speakerphones as well. The PowerConf is a great v1.0 entry for Anker. For the purposes of this review, I’m comparing the Anker PowerConf against the Jabra 510 as I think that’s the closest 1:1 comparison.
Where the Anker PowerConf wins:
– USB Charging: Adding the ability to charge other devices via USB is GENIUS. I previously carried a Jabra speakerphone and an Anker PowerCore in my bag, but now I only need the Anker PowerConf. Anker makes some fantastic batteries/chargers, and this device is one of them.
– Cost: The PowerConf comes in about 33% less than the Jabra 510. Anker frequently has sales on their products, so I imagine it will be on sale at even greater savings than 33%.
– Bluetooth Multipoint: The Anker allows for multiple concurrent connections (multipoint). Note: It will only play/send audio from one device at a time, but it’s much easier to switch the audio/mic from your PC (if you’re listening to music) to your mobile phone (if you get a call).
– Carrying Case: The carrying case for the Anker PowerConf is a hardshell case, whereas the Jabra ones are all neoprene. I feel like this adds additional protection when it’s jostling around inside my bag.
Where it’s a tie:
– Microphone Noise Isolation: Both speakerphones do a good job of isolating noise. I made recordings with a radio playing in the background. In both recordings my voice was clear and I was not able to hear the radio in the background.
Where Jabra Speak 510 wins:
– Audio Quality: The audio quality on the Anker PowerConf is good, but the Jabra 510 sounds noticeably better when listening to music or on a call.
– Microphone Quality: While both speakers do a good job of noise isolation, my voice seemed to increase and decrease in volume on the Anker PowerConf recording (as if I was walking away from the speakerphone and back to again – except I was sitting still the whole time). The microphone quality difference is much less noticeable than the audio quality difference, but it’s still there.
Summary:
Choose the Anker PowerConf if…
– You’re a minimalist and the thought of consolidating your portable battery charger and speakerphone is appealing. IMO, it’s nice to be able to reduce the space (and weight) in my bag by only having one device.
– You’re looking for a good lower cost option (the Anker PowerConf is ~33% less than the Jabra Speak 510).
Choose the Jabra Speak 510 if…
– You or your clients/colleagues are audiophiles (and if that’s the case, I’d recommend going with the Jabra Speak 710 as the speaker and microphone are significantly better).
– You have other Jabra devices and enjoy customizing them using the Jabra Direct app.
My choice:
I already own a Jabra Speak 710 and it’s going to stay in my bag moving forward (even though it means carrying a separate Anker PowerCore for charging). It’s by no means a 1:1 comparison against the Anker PowerConf (the Jabra 710 costs more than twice as much as the Anker PowerConf), but the audio and microphone are definitely better. Many of my colleagues also own Jabra 710s, so it’s nice to be able to daisy chain them together in large conference rooms. If money isn’t an issue, then I’d recommend the Jabra Speak 710. However, if you’re looking to stay in the sub-$200 price range, then my comments above stand.
vacc76 –
Have used Anker speakers for a while. Clear sound and no noticeable issues with use.
Chris –
This speakerphone is exactly what I was looking for. I dock my laptop with the screen closed, so I was unable to use my microphone for conference calls as a result. After several failed attempts to use my AirPods, I gave in and purchased the Anker PowerConf and haven’t looked back. The sound rivals my JBL Flip 5 and the microphone is crystal clear. Highly recommend this product.
CaryDesi –
I have had this speakerphone for over two years now. It is a solid workhorse. I am on calls all day and the battery lasts for at least three days. The sound quality is good and noise cancellation works well.
The only annoying part of this speaker is that it’s buttons are soft but you have to push them hard. It should be other way round (hard buttons that need to be pressed gently). To power it on, you have push the soft button hard and hold it for 3 seconds or so – it’s quite annoying.
The other limitation is that the volume control is not very granular from the speaker – it just goes to silent if you try to reduce the volume. The lowest volume is quite loud.
Oh well, you get what you pay for. Other than the above two annoying “features”, this is a very good speakerphone for someone on budget.
Amazon Customer –
Great device for conference calls. I almost always used this as a hard-wired speaker, though it is Bluetooth capable. The onboard battery pack for phone charging is a plus. Plenty of volume and good mic sensitivity. Rugged. Comes in a nice hard-shell case, though said case does not have a pocket for the charging cable. I opted to upgrade the charging cable to one of Anker’s braided-nylon cords, since the one that came with the device is rather thick and very stiff.
Amazon Customer –
Speakerphone Comparison Anker Conference Phone vs Jabra 710
Speaker Quality: Tie: Both of these have very good speaker quality. Both reproduce clear and distinct. If you were to decide on speaker quality, you would not go wrong picking either one. Unfortunately, the speakers can only reproduce what the mics pickup and the signal sends.
Microphone Quality: Jabra wins: I own both of these and have tested both. At about 3-5 feet from the unit the Anker had acceptable quality, but it was not as robust and clear. The Jabra was clear and robust and comfortable to listen to. At 10′ you had to strain to understand the conversation with the Anker. At 10′ the Jabra was not quite as robust as it was at 5′ but there still was not a strain to hear what the other side was saying
Design: Jabra wins: The Jabra has more controls and they are laid out well. The volume is more incrementally adjustable. Anker’s controls are laid out well but there are fewer of them and they have bigger steps in their adjustment. With the Jabra it is easier to dial in a “just right” setting as opposed to the Anker. Both have good cases. The Jabra has a zippered cloth case vs the Anker has a zippered injected moulded case with a nice semi-textured finish. One of my pet peeves is the number of charging cables I have to carry independently. The Anker furnishes a nice USB-C to Type A charging cable, but you have to carry it separately and it will not fit in the case. Therefore, you have to carry it separately. Just hope when you need to charge it you remember where you stored it. The Jabra integrates the cable with the unit, and it stores neatly wrapped around a circular slot on the back of the unit.
Connectivity: Jabra wins: Jabra will allow me to have two devices connected at the same time and the Anker only lets me have one.
Build Quality: Tie: Both units are solid and well made. The Jabra is round and the Anker is square with rounded corners. Both feel solid in your hand and are of reasonably good weight.
Extras: Jabra Wins: Jabra’s integrated charging cable (mentioned above). Jabra furnishes a USB wireless dongle if you need to connect to a computer and you do not have your cable handy. Jabra has a pop-out stand integrated in the rear of the unit that holds the speaker in the vertical position if you prefer that. Unfortunately, the Anker comes with the unit, charging cable, and case. No stand, no wireless dongle and a USB-C to Type A charging cable.
Price: Anker wins: This is easy. Today on Amazon Anker costs $129.99 vs Jabra at $214.79. That is about a 40% price difference!
Summary: If you are looking for a good speaker phone and you are more concerned about price than call quality then you will be happy with the Anker. If you are more concerned about call quality, then go with the Jabra. You will be happier.
As for me I own both. One for home and one for office. I will probably buy a third to throw in my briefcase. I will buy another Jabra just because the call quality is important. If I am on a call with a customer and am making a sales pitch, I do not want my customer having to continually ask me “what was that you said” and I end up shouting and repeating myself. That is time consuming and gives the appearance of not being professional. Plus, at the end of the call I want to hear them say “You sold us, here is the purchase order”.
Hope this helps.