Anker PowerConf S500 Review - Portable Powerhouse Speakerphone!

 

The Anker PowerConf S500

At A Glance

More and more people are opting to work remotely. A couple of years ago, it was considered more of an exception compared to the norm it is now. With this transition, expanding the office arsenal has been a growing need to improve the working experience and output no matter the location. 

One predicament of working remotely is the increase in online meetings. Anker aims to provide a robust solution to this with the PowerConf S500. 

Don't worry, they didn't disappoint.

Unboxing/Accessories

Carrying Case, Charging Cable, Documentation, USB Dongle, and the Anker PowerConf S500

The box comes in a cool grey colorway with the Anker Logo and Anker Work Slogans in blue. It is pretty bulky due to the padding. Inside you would see the black Carrying Case, USB-C charging cable, documentation, the USB-A Dongle, and the PowerConf S500 Speakerphone. Everything is well-padded and protected. 

 Build Quality/Design

Side Panel and Playback buttons

The PowerConf S500 boasts a very solid body while maintaining a sleek, rounded design. The device is mostly made of hard plastic and weighs in at approx. 4.5 ounces. The device is 13cm x 13cm and stays true to the Anker colorway of cool grey and black. 

It can fit in any home or office setup. 

The speaker and mic arrays can be found on top along with the touch-LED display just below. The power, Bluetooth, and buttons are found on one side of the PowerConf S500 and are very responsive. The power and Bluetooth buttons have LED indicators as well. On the other side is the USB-C port. 

USB Dongle Housing

At the bottom part of the device are the product label and the USB-A Dongle compartment. The bottom is fully rubberized to prevent the device from tipping or sliding on surfaces.

Sound Quality/Microphone

The 4-mic array of the Anker PowerConf S500 applies the VoiceRadar technology Anker developed to determine and isolate the person's voice while filtering the surrounding noise. This makes the device ideal for round table calls/conferences. From my experience using the device, the isolation and clarity have been superb. All my calls and conferences went on without any issues. One noticeable aspect was that the voice quality was better when the device was connected using wired mode or Bluetooth via a USB dongle. 

Both Mic and Speaker functions are beyond expectation!

In terms of audio output, the PowerConf S500 was amazing. The volume and base are emphasized and offer better quality compared with other speakerphones in the market. To be honest, I have used the S500 as a Bluetooth speaker when I am not on calls. There are also equalizer templates that can be selected in the AnkerWork App. Overall, the sound quality was more than I thought the device was capable of.

Connectivity and Other Features

The device features 3-ways to connect: 

1. Wired mode which tethers the PowerConf S500 directly to your computer
2. Bluetooth
3. Bluetooth via the dongle.

As with most devices with a dongle option, The Anker PowerConf S500's audio quality and connectivity are better established using the dongle rather than a direct Bluetooth connection. 

AnkerWork App

The AnkerWork App seamlessly connects your mobile phone or tablet to the PowerConf S500. The AnkerWork App also has some features like transcribing meetings, and audio mode configurations that add a personalized touch to your conferencing experience. 

Seamless Connectivity

An impressive feature of the PowerConf S500 is while using the wired mode, the Bluetooth connections are maintained. This enables users to quickly switch between devices with just a few steps. The key thing to remember is that the wired mode takes priority. To switch from a wired to a wireless device, simply remove the USB-C cable from the PowerConf S500. To switch the other way, pause the audio from your wireless device and connect the USB-C cable. Volume can be controlled from both the AnkerPowerConf S500 and the connected device. 

We touched upon the buttons and the touch capacitive LED panel earlier. The buttons on the side of the device are self-explanatory. They provide power, playback, and connectivity functions.

The capacitive panel controls the volume, mute, and answer calls if supported. The PowerConf S500 works well with conferencing apps such as Zoom and MS Teams. 

The third button with a link icon enables link mode. In this mode, another PowerConf S500 can be connected and used simultaneously. Anker suggests that one device can handle between 10 - 12 users. 

Battery

The power Indicator turns Red while charging

The PowerConf S500 boasts portability and a 16-hour battery life puts this device in good standing in that regard. We are talking about Anker here so a strong battery performance is expected. 

Charging takes about 4 hours from zero to 100 percent. Some portable speakers/speakerphones double as a power bank on the go. It might be a good feature for the future. double

Verdict

The Anker PowerConf S500 is a powerhouse speakerphone. The mic's noise-canceling and VoiceRadar technology are amazing features. The device is also Zoom Room Certified and compatible with several conferencing apps and tools like MS Teams and Google Meet. Not to mention that it looks sleek and nice.

It is a great option for those working from home as it is a better option in both portability and quality. The multipoint feature plays a big role in this as it allows you to pair both your laptop and phone on the same device. It is also a recommended product in office conference rooms due to the link mode between 2 S500 devices.

Using a speakerphone also alleviates the need for a headset when meetings just don't have an end in sight. It definitely beats having a smartphone overheating in your ear. 

The 11K price tag might be a bit higher than people want and the process to change from wired to wireless connections is still a bit taxing but overall the PowerConf S500 is as complete a package as a professional speakerphone should be.

Pros: Amazing Sound and Mic Quality, Voice Radar Isolation is Solid, Great build and sleek design. Compact, Portable, Good Battery Life 

Cons: a bit expensive. Connectivity change between wired and wireless is a bit of a hassle.

Specs

Bluetooth Version: Bluetooth 5.0
Features: Noise reduction, VoiceRadar technology
Weight: 422 g
Dimensions: 13.3 cm * 13.3 cm
Battery Capacity: 6700 mAh
Battery Life: 16 hours

Supported Apps: MS Teams, Zoom Room, Google Meet

AnkerWork App Enabled: Yes
Price: Php 11, 595