“Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links.”
With the ability to deliver sound that’s infinitely more powerful and of higher quality than the speakers inside your phone, a standalone Bluetooth speaker is a must-have. These essential gadgets let you enjoy your favorite music or a podcast in any indoor or outdoor setting.
Bluetooth speakers are as widely available as wireless headphones and earbuds, and the transparent number of choices (hundreds, even thousands) is overwhelming. They range from affordable and compact models costing under $30 to pricey and feature-rich options with powerful, rich sound. Most portable models are also water resistant to varying degrees and have straps or carabiners for attaching to your backpack or bike.
I spent weeks testing portable Bluetooth speakers from brands like Beats, Sony, and Soundcore, to name a few leading ones, to save you time and effort parsing through listings and decoding hardware specs. I also included a couple of excellent home Bluetooth speakers by Bose and Marshall, whose designs and specs are tailor-made for indoor use. These are the best Bluetooth speakers I recommend.
The Best Bluetooth Speakers
-
Best Overall: JBL Charge 6
-
Best Bass: Sony ULT Field 3
-
Best Budget: Soundcore Motion 300
-
Best Compact: Beats Pill
-
Best Smart Speaker: Sonos Roam 2
What to Consider
The key specifications and features to consider when making your decision should focus on sound, design and durability, connectivity, and battery life. Additional extras, such as app-enabled controls and bundled accessories, are also worth considering.
Sound
The first thing to know about the acoustic capabilities of portable Bluetooth speakers is that the vast majority of them don’t output stereo sound with left and right channels. Such a setup requires the speaker to have at least two equally sized audio drivers, and the best way to experience its benefits is to place the product in front of you.
Portable Bluetooth speakers are designed to cover a wider, often outdoor area with powerful sound, so their audio driver layout differs from that of traditional stereo. It usually includes a larger woofer for producing low- and mid-range tones, a tweeter for delivering treble, and passive radiators to enhance the bass.
You can get a stereo experience by linking two Bluetooth speakers and placing them like traditional bookshelf units. Better yet, many of today’s top Bluetooth speakers can connect with multiple additional units, creating a party atmosphere anytime, anywhere.
Design and Durability
Weight should be one of the first design features to consider when selecting a portable speaker. A top-tier offering with good sound and long battery life should weigh below three pounds, ensuring it’s easy to put in a bag or a backpack before heading outside.
Larger Bluetooth speakers with boombox-style handles and superior sound are also available. Due to their size and heavier weight (six pounds and up), I wouldn’t take one with me when I’m heading out, unless the trip to the final destination involves driving. These are great for delivering entertainment to larger groups in the backyard, around the swimming pool, or during a block party.
Water- and dust-resistance, with an official rating, has long become standard for this product category, ensuring you can take it to the beach, in the garden, or on a camping trip without worrying about damaging it. Look for speakers with an IP67 or IP68 rating — the highest in the product category — if you plan to use them primarily outdoors.
Many speakers with the above durability ratings can also float in water and even survive accidental drops. Choosing a speaker that’s only rated for water resistance is acceptable if you’re shopping on a tight budget. Home speakers like the Bose SoundLink Homeand the Marshall Stanmore III compensate for their lack of extra durability with a more luxurious design and finish.
Battery Life
A portable Bluetooth speaker should be able to entertain during a day’s worth of outdoor activities between charges. Look for a battery life rating that’s in double-digit territory, even if you’re shopping for a mini speaker like the UE Miniroll.
Top-shelf offerings from Beats, JBL, and Sony can all deliver more than 20 hours of wireless playback. That’s the number to have as a reference if you want the best. The same goes for the speaker’s ability to charge quickly and provide hours of music in just a few minutes.
Additional Features
A companion app for customizing the sound and features of your portable Bluetooth speaker is mandatory. Products like the ultra-compact UE Miniroll and the luxe Bose SoundLink Home lack this functionality, but their unique design and features make up for the omission.
Having an integrated or removable carrying strap or handle is another feature to look out for in a portable speaker designed for outdoor use. Mini speakers have an advantage over their larger siblings in this department, as their built-in elastic straps or carabiners make them easier to attach to just about anything.
How I Tested
I’ve been testing audio gear, including headphones, soundbars, surround sound systems, and portable Bluetooth speakers, for over a decade. For this guide, I focused on portable speakers from leading manufacturers at accessible price points. I wanted to ensure that the majority of products I suggest are reasonably sized and equally easy to take outside or move around your home or workspace. Up-to-date Bluetooth connectivity was also a key factor in my selection.
My testing process included playing an eclectic selection of tracks from Apple Music to judge the ability of each speaker to reproduce audible bass, treble, and mid-range tones. Where available, I tinkered with the app controls or the integrated buttons to customize the sound of the speakers. I also made calls on products with built-in microphones to experience their speakerphone capabilities.
Regarding battery life testing, I monitored the ability of every outdoor-ready Bluetooth speaker to last me for 10-12 hours between charges — enough to last through a day at the beach, a weekend backyard gathering, and a pool party, to name a few scenarios.
Of course, I also scrutinized the size and ergonomics of every speaker I tested, including the carrying and attachment options it has. I also looked for unique features, be it design- or performance-related, that set each product apart from its competitors.
With all of the above tips in mind, choose the Bluetooth speaker that suits you best from the picks I’ve tested and vouch for below.
Charge 6 Portable Bluetooth Speaker
The Charge 6 by JBL is the portable Bluetooth speaker I’d recommend to most consumers. It weighs roughly two pounds and offers powerful sound and excellent battery life.
When I played my go-to playlist for testing audio gear on this speaker, it delivered deep bass, harmonious mid-range, and crisp treble. Using the app, I was able to customize sound, including boosting or toning down the bass when I wanted to.
Compared to the bassier Charge 5 speaker that precedes it, the sequel sounds more balanced, without skimping on power. JBL equipped the Charge 6 with distortion-reducing tech, and its presence makes quite a difference. Another bit I like about the newer model is its ability to deliver lossless audio over a wired USB-C connection.
The 28-hour maximum battery is another JBL Charge 6 upgrade that helped it earn a spot at the top of this list, and so is its removable and incredibly versatile fabric handle. Like the Charge 5, the follow-up can double up as a backup battery. Another plus is its high water-resistant rating though it lacks a speakerphone, something much of the competition offers.
$199.95 at amazon.com
ULT Field 3 Portable Bluetooth Speaker
Sony’s ULT 3 Bluetooth speaker has good looks, a tough build, great audio quality, and long battery life. Priced to compete directly with the JBL Charge 6, the Sony ULT Field 3 sets itself apart by pumping out a deeper bass, available with the press of a hardware button.
With ULT mode disabled, the Sony speaker delivers a balanced sound that’s customizable, if not as entertaining, as the JBL Charge 6. The ULT Field 3 is also a surprisingly proficient speakerphone. When I tested the gadget, I enjoyed being able to use it as a work tool and a primary source of audio entertainment.
The ULT Field 3 can double up as a portable battery, just like its direct rival from JBL. You can order it in black, off-white, and forest gray colors. A Sony ULT Field 1, with a smaller size and price tag, is also available, as is a larger and more expensive ULT Field 5 speaker.
Perhaps the most significant difference, though, is that the Sony doesn’t offer wired playback, whereas the JBL does. If that isn’t a dealbreaker and you don’t mind a bit less battery life, the Sony ULT 3 is a smart pick for bass heads.
$148.00 at amazon.com
Motion 300 Portable Speaker
Anker’s Soundcore Motion 300 is the Bluetooth speaker to get if you are shopping on a tight budget. Spending $80 before additional (and frequent) deals and discounts on the product gets you a compact speaker with a no-nonsense design, waterproof construction, and sufficient battery.
Sporting a pair of audio drivers, the Soundcore Motion 300 impressed me with crisp and detailed sound, accompanied by remarkable stereo separation. Such functionality is noticeably missing from most portable Bluetooth speakers because it requires a pair of speaker units of equal size to correctly reproduce left and right audio channels.
The speaker also allowed me to stream lossless audio from an Android phone during my testing. Alongside tools for customizing the sound, the Soundcore app offered modes that adjusted the Motion 300 audio output for optimal performance, depending on whether I placed it facing up, hung it from its strap, or left it on my desk like a traditional speaker.
The 13-hour battery life of the Soundcore speaker is a lot less compared to pricier offerings, but it’s solid for its size, capabilities, and price range. Anker offers the speaker in black, blue, or green.
$79.99 at amazon.com
Pill Portable Bluetooth Speaker
The Beats Pill is the best compact Bluetooth speaker worth your attention. Weighing a pound and a half, the Pill is lighter and more compact than the JBL and Sony models on this list. The Beats speaker is much easier to slip into a bag or a backpack, as well as to carry it using its bundled strap.
Like the brand’s headphones and earbuds, the Pill produces a balanced sound that serves any style of music well. I found the speaker to be equally proficient at streaming classical jazz with rich instrumentals and bass-forward downtempo tracks.
Compared to my top pick from JBL, the Beats Pill is behind in the bass department, certainly due to its lack of passive bass radiators. The JBL Charge 6 and other rivals also offer app-enabled sound customization tools, which audio buffs appreciate.
Thankfully, and like the JBL Charge 6, the Beats Pill can power up other gadgets and deliver lossless audio via its USB-C port.
$126.99 at amazon.com
Roam 2 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker
The Sonos Roam 2 speaker stands out in this product category by having Wi-Fi connectivity alongside Bluetooth, as well as integrated support for Amazon’s Alexa virtual assistant. The additional functionality lets you begin streaming music on the Roam 2 at home using the Sonos app, Amazon Alexa voice commands, or via Apple AirPlay 2 from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. It makes the speaker equally great for home and, as its name suggests, on-the-go use.
Like all Sonos speakers, the Roam 2 delivers a balanced and entertaining sound that’s customizable through its companion app. During weeks of testing, I enjoyed its audio performance equally when I used it at home and during multiple outdoor outings. The Roam 2 is handily one of the best compact speakers in this critical department.
The Roam 2 is as uncompromisingly durable as any top-rated Bluetooth speaker in its form factor. Its 10-hour maximum battery life is underwhelming, but the Wi-Fi connectivity, Amazon Alexa support, and wireless charging capabilities sufficiently make up for this shortcoming. Unless you plan to use it strictly on the move in Bluetooth mode, this is the compact speaker to get.
Sonos offers a larger, pricier, and thoroughly excellent Move 2 speaker with the same wireless connectivity features as the Roam 2. The Move 2 can blast more powerful audio, last for 24 hours between battery charges, and link to devices via a USB-C to 3.5-millimeter adapter.
$158.99 at amazon.com
Boom 3i Portable Bluetooth Speaker
Anker’s Soundcore Boom 3i Bluetooth speaker is the toughest on this list, despite being lower-priced than its big-name rivals. Unlike most water- and dustproof competitors, the Boom 3i can survive exposure to saltwater. To top things off, the speaker is designed to stay upright when floating in water, ensuring it can blast tunes during pool parties without interruption. Available in four colors, it also has customizable lights and a removable shoulder strap.
I like that Anker equipped the Boom 3i speaker with cool and useful additional features that perfectly complement its outdoorsy nature. These include an emergency alarm and a voice amplifier, as well as a unique buzz clean mode, all of which are accessible via the Soundcore app or, in the case of the emergency alarm, a dedicated button shortcut. They make the Boom 3i more suitable for camping.
The self-cleaning functionality mentioned above keeps the Boom 3i in top shape after outings by literally shaking off dust and debris from its audio components. Those are covered by a polycarbonate shell with wide openings, rather than denser fabric, making the functionality incredibly helpful.
On the audio front, the Boom 3i performs admirably, pumping out a powerful sound that’s customizable via its companion app. I like the gadget’s BassUp mode that enhances its low-end performance. Without activating it, the speaker sounded too ordinary for my taste.
$139.99 at amazon.com
MINIROLL Mini Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker
The Ultimate Ears Miniroll is the best mini Bluetooth speaker available today, offering big sound for up to 12 hours between charges in a palm-sized package that weighs less than ten ounces.
Equipped with a large audio driver and a passive bass radiator, the Miniroll impressed me by pumping out a surprisingly deep bass. Its low-end output made my beach day playlist sound livelier, and that’s quite a feat for a speaker that’s about two-thirds smaller than my top picks. The highs and vocals the speaker produced were also clear, if not on the same level as those of larger speakers.
Unlike its larger Boom 4 and Everboom siblings, the UE Miniroll doesn’t have a companion app for tweaking its sound and settings, but, frankly, I didn’t need it. The speaker is designed to provide good sound, ultimate portability, and simplicity, and, considering its size and affordability, it excels in all three.
Like other UE speakers, the Miniroll has a characterful design, with a fabric exterior and oversized volume buttons. An integrated elastic strap makes the speaker easy to attach to things like your backpack or bicycle. It can float in water, too.
$79.19 at amazon.com
Stanmore III Bluetooth Speaker
Marshall’s Stanmore III Bluetooth speaker is the best for home use. It weighs almost ten pounds, and it lacks a built-in battery, so you can’t move it as easily as the other entries on this list. However, the Stanmore’s beautiful retro design, inspired by the brand’s iconic guitar amps and powerful stereo sound make it worth every penny of its hefty price tag.
Featuring a pair of tweeters and a large subwoofer between them, the Marshall Stanmore III delivers detail-rich sound whose transparent fidelity is the best on this list, before factoring in the elaborate set of hardware and app controls for customizing it.
The former include old-school rotating knobs with a brass finish for adjusting the volume, bass, and treble. Every interaction with them was satisfying during my testing, and so was the click of the speaker’s power button.
In a manner befitting its stationary nature, the Marshall Stanmore III Bluetooth speaker also features hardware connectivity options that other speakers in this guide don’t offer. They include a standard 3.5-millimeter audio input and a RCA input for connecting a turntable.
Consider the Marshall Emberton III portable Bluetooth speaker if you love the Stanmore’s design but need something more portable. It offers good sound, tactile button controls, and up to 30 hours of battery life in a smaller and more affordable package, with an official rating for water and dust resistance.
The brand’s Killburn II portable Bluetooth speaker, on the other hand, features a similar design to the Stanmore III but with a more compact footprint, a built-in carrying strap, and up to 20 hours of battery life.
$399.99 at amazon.com
SoundLink Home Portable Bluetooth Speaker
In addition to being an excellent portable Bluetooth speaker, the Bose SoundLink Home is also a bona fide beautiful object. Available in silver or gray, its anodized aluminum and high-quality fabric exterior looks amazing in a variety of indoor settings, such as a bookshelf, coffee table, or desk.
When it comes to sound, the SoundLink Home, rather than delivering a bass-forward affair that’s customizable through an app, produces a more balanced acoustic experience. When I streamed my go-to selection of music on the speaker, I noticed that a melodious mid-range and vibrant treble complemented its tastefully enhanced bass output.
The speaker’s audio tuning faithfully reproduced any audio content I played on it. There’s an option to link a pair of SoundLink Home speakers in a stereo setup, and I gave it a try. The rich sound I experienced is worth spending extra on two speakers, especially if you are looking for a low-key yet excellent stereo system.
The product’s battery life isn’t great by today’s standards for outdoor speakers, but this isn’t a deal-breaker, as this speaker has been designed to be in close proximity to a charger.
Strangely, the speaker is not compatible with the Bose app, so I couldn’t customize its audio. I didn’t feel a need to, however. Being an indoor model, the SoundLink Home performed admirably as a speakerphone during my testing as well.
$229.00 at amazon.com
You Might Also Like
-
The Do’s and Don’ts of Using Painter’s Tape
-
The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere
-
Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
