If you don't already have one in the AV Arsenal, a Bluetooth speaker is a must-have technology. They're the best way to take your music with you on picnics, beaches, and adventures, and some of the best of them sound just as good as just about any indoor speaker you could buy.
However, most of us can't afford a new speaker for every occasion, which means looking for someone to serenade us from the bedroom to the beach and everywhere in between. That's why we've put together this buying guide to help you find the right Bluetooth speaker for your needs (and your budget).
How to choose the best bluetooth speaker
There are so many new entrants on the market these days with big projects and the latest built-in appliances that it can be tricky to figure out what you need. While the choices may seem endless, there are many unique selling points to suit you.
First, some speakers are built with ultimate durability in mind, others are weather and waterproof for camping and poolside tunes; however, some of them are not suitable for outdoors and will look nice not inside your home.
If you're having trouble figuring out which speaker might be best for you, start imagining where you're going to use it and find a speaker that fits that environment. This means that if you are a beach lover, water and dust-proofing in your external speaker is a key.
Or, if you're a member, you might want to be able to connect two speakers or speakers from multiple pairing points, allowing multiple devices to connect at the same time. Battery life, sound quality, and design are of the utmost importance to all speakers, and we've done our very best to take this into serious consideration when creating our list.
That said, here are 10 of our favorite portable wireless speakers right now, sorted by price-performance ratio that will definitely work for you.
That's the Pro Sonos move - it's so good, you might want to consider it not only as your on-the-go side station, but as your main speaker at home too.
With two quality drivers, a solid app that unlocks playback from hundreds of wireless sources, multi-room capabilities and smart audio tuning tech that adjusts output based on the speaker's immediate surroundings, Sonos Move is engineered for your average Bluetooth speaker. It's a versatile speaker that stands firmly alongside the reason-for-home Sonos speakers that the company has made its name for.
It's not perfect - it's heavy as a by-product of its incredible sound, it's expensive due to its rich feature set, and it unfortunately can't be used as rear channels for a home theater setup. But if you've got the money, it's hard to blame Sonos for moving when it comes to hunting down the world's best announcer.
While we haven't been as impressed with the UE 3 boom since we were with its predecessor, this is still one of the best Bluetooth speakers money can buy. This is a speaker that can be noisy and doesn't distort at high volumes; be light enough to carry on a camping trip, but still strong enough to tumble into a bag without protection.
It's both water and dust-proof, and now features a one-touch blend button that lets you pull up your favorite playlists without picking up your phone.
There are, of course, more speakers out there, but at a price that's relatively affordable for everyone, UE Boom 3 hits all the right notes for the third year in a row.
Ultimate Ears now lets you customize the UE 3 Boom so you have even more options when it comes to color and pattern combinations.
The Bose SoundLink spins a great sounding speaker for those interested in true 360-degree sound. It's great for sharing music during a party, or for moving around a room without sound loss. However, the Bose SoundLink mini II sounds a little better and is a little cheaper than boots.
On the debit side, it's also not completely dustproof and waterproof, so you'll want to think twice before bringing a turn to the beach.
For half the price, this is an excellent speaker that is completely dust and waterproof and while it may not match Bose's sound or service, it's still great for on-the-go listening. If perch is gaming, the JBL Charge 3 is an excellent fully waterproof speaker that sounds great, but is big and heavy along with it.
For the money, the JBL Charge 4 is a definite no brainer. You get a speaker that lasts all day, sounds great, can put up with all sorts of abuse, and tops your phone in a pinch. Yes, there are better sounding speakers, but you will have to spend a lot more money.
While the JBL Charge 4 only offers minor upgrades to the previous generation, it's still excellent value for money in wireless speakers - and is one of the best waterproof speakers around.
Anker has a history of making great budget wireless speakers. Until we were completely impressed SoundCore 2 anchor's sound, we can't be too crazy since the speaker was so affordable.
So what happens if you can stretch the budget? Not much more you get the Soundcore Glare Anchor, a great waterproof Bluetooth speaker that can stand toe-to-toe with the competition.
The Soundcore Flare is an amazing value. Competitors like the following (listed above) give highlights a run for their money in terms of build quality, but we give highlights a slight advantage with sound quality. We recommend the flare for those looking for a wireless speaker that can do everything without breaking the bank.
portable speaker
The Bose SoundLink mini II is relatively ancient, having been released in June 2015. However, writing off the SoundLink mini II because of its age would be a mistake, as it remains one of the best-sounding wireless speakers around.
It is said to punch way above what its size would recommend, producing deep bass, sparkling highs and lush mids. While most wireless speakers sound OK, the Mini II proves that small speakers don't need to compromise on sound, and other Bose conveniences such as a charger.
While the next 2 looks nearly identical to the original, Ultimate Ears is packed with a host of upgrades to make the next 2 even better, like increased battery life (up to 30% over the original), better bass, and a new external boost feature that helps the speaker make it even louder than before.
UE Next 2 is a fantastic durable and waterproof speaker you'll actually want to take with you. Its small size does not mean small sound as the speaker is very loud and sounds great. While it may not match the bass from larger speakers like the UE Boom 3 or the Bose SoundLink revolve, the improved bass adds a warmth and intensity to the music that the original lacked.
Everyone has said the UP Wonderboom 2 is still one of the best waterproof speakers you can buy - and our recommended option for anyone looking to bring their speaker to the beach or pool.
The Tribit XSound Go shouldn't sound that good for the price, but it doesn't. The speaker is impressed with the balanced sound, near distortion at high volume, and lasting for an incredible 20+ hours of continuous playback at medium volume.
Plus, the speaker is IPX7 water and dust resistant, so it will put up with a day at the beach or by the pool without a hitch. While its design can be forgettable, you don't only care you hear how good the XSound sounds go.
Under the terms of the competition, you will have to spend a lot more for better sound quality. The UP Wonderboom is a great external speaker, but cost twice as much and doesn't last as long as the Tribit.
The SGD-XB501G is a great speaker that offers a light show, tripod, great sound, and Google Assistant. This is a speaker that you can use on the go and at home after a party. On the go, the speaker is brilliant, playing loudly and up to 16 hours. But at home, design and average voice detection are compromises compared to dedicated home speaker systems.
competitors like LG and PK7 sounds a little better and has a light show that actually responds to music, however it's not necessarily Google employees. If you are looking for a real portable speaker that can be put in a bag that also supports Google Assistant, JBL Link 20 - it's a good choice. Just don't expect to pump out as much bass or offer as wide a pavilion.
To that end, the XB501G is a good compromise that fills multiple targets. It's not the best wireless speaker, nor smart speech, but it's in both categories and one of the few to exist in both camps.
The newest speaker in the Denon line of devices offers powerful, room-filling sound that will sound great to most ears, plus comes with an IP67 rating, making it dust and water resistant. It's built like a tank, making it one of the most durable speakers we've ever put in our hands.
Despite near-perfect performance, Envaya's device isn't perfect. While the sound of which is full, powerful and full-bodied, it doesn't have some high-pitched biting, as the buttons located on the side can feel stiff and hard to operate. These are ultimately minor complaints, however, and Denon Envaya remains a great Bluetooth speaker - easily one of the best you can buy this year.