With remote working now more standardized than ever, a speakerphone like the AnkerWork S600 can be a reliable way to improve the quality of your audio calls, no matter your environment. However, the S600 goes a step further and adds artificial intelligence into the mix, which can pick up individual sounds and block unwanted noise.
The S600 is currently available for crowdfunding via Kickstarter, where you can back the device at a limited early bird price of $113. Based on the discount percentage listed on AnkerWork's Kickstarter, the regular price will end up being around $180 when sold through retailers and Anker's website. It's a great option if you need a hands-free phone with these features, but is artificial intelligence really worth it? I think so.
AI is more than just a gimmick
While there are certainly other Bluetooth speakers and speakerphones out there, some of which can block out background noise like barking dogs, the S600 is one of the first speakerphones to feature AI voiceprint recognition. The technology uses built-in algorithms and neural networks to hone in on a specific person's voice, eliminating the noise of other voices.
It was an ambitious pitch, but one that actually worked surprisingly well. I conducted multiple call tests in a variety of environments, including outdoors, in kitchens, in smaller echo chambers, and in offices where background noise was fairly constant.
Voiceprint technology can quickly identify my voice and the voices of people around me. It reduces background noise in two ways: First, it mutes the microphone where I'm not speaking. Second, it applied noise cancellation to audio sources that were not mine. The end result doesn't cover everything up, but it does make everything sound cleaner.
While noise cancellation is nothing new, the ability to quickly identify audio sources is. AnkerWork claims that the VoiceRadar 3.5 technology in the S600 can identify more than 300 different types of background noise, and it certainly seemed to perform well in the environments I tested it with, although I couldn't possibly test every possible scenario. There's also echo cancellation, which was helpful when I was testing it in a small room and should be fine for a cramped home office.
Design and portability
The S600 features a minimalist design that makes it very portable. Although my device is a pre-release model, I'm told it should be identical to the real thing. Essentially, the S600 looks like someone turned a coffee shop cup over and added a speaker and some buttons on top. It's a simple enough design that doesn't distract too much from the functionality it offers. There are only two physical buttons, one for power and one for pairing with the device via Bluetooth. It also has some touch controls that let you pause or play music, answer and reject calls, change the volume, and even mute or sample someone's voiceprint.
The S600 also has two USB-C ports, one for charging the internal battery, which Ankerwork claims offers up to 16 hours of battery life, and another port that lets you connect it directly to a device like a computer or smartphone. The top of the device features an articulated MagSafe Qi2 wireless charger that can charge your phone at up to 15W while you take calls. The charger can move up to 70 degrees, so you can place your phone in a comfortable position for video calls or anything else you need.
The S600's speakers surround the device, and four microphones on the bottom capture noise and sounds from 360 degrees around the device. Music playback is okay, but the lack of real bass might make you choose a more music-focused speaker.
Speakers available
Overall, I'm very impressed with the S600. Very early on after receiving the device, I did have to go through some hoops to install a beta version of the software to take full advantage of the voiceprint technology, but once that was done, the initial setup was actually pretty easy to follow. The final unit should not cross these barriers.
By the way, don’t worry about the safety of this device. Everything it records, including your voiceprint, is stored entirely on the speakerphone and never goes to the cloud.
Pairing my smartphone to the speaker was easy, and changing volume and other settings via the touch controls was a breeze. I didn't experience any connection issues while using the speaker, and the quality was clear enough for any important business calls you might need to take.
The device itself is quite attractive, if not a little plain, so you don't have to worry about it being an eyesore on your desk. In addition, you can charge your phone directly while using the device, which is very convenient. If you frequently answer calls on your phone, the AnkerWork S600 will be a great addition to your daily work gear. Units will begin shipping after the Kickstarter campaign ends on May 20th.
