Bluetooth speakers are a huge deal these days, with everyone wanting better ways to enjoy their music. After all, who enjoys getting caught in wires or worrying about missing chords? Thanks to the wireless connectivity of Bluetooth speakers, those worries are a thing of the past.
And all without compromising on sound quality. That said, you can only enjoy these versatile sound boxes when it’s right. But how can you tell which is the best for you?
This product buying guide is just what you need. We’ve scouted the market, tested many, and found the best Bluetooth speakers you can choose from. These speakers are affordable, durable, and produce high-quality sounds. So let’s delve right into it.
10 Best Bluetooth Speakers Reviewed
TOP PICK
This JBL Bluetooth speaker isn’t called extreme for anything.
Rugged to the core, this Bluetooth speaker was built for any outdoor adventure. Whether using it at the pool, the beach, or taking a hike, you can rest assured thanks to its IP67 waterproof rating.
The quality of sound you get from this speaker is worth every penny. The speaker captures and delivers every sound as clearly as possible. From the highs to the bass, you’ll never miss a note.
“Powerful” is the best word to describe this music machine. But we can’t expect less from a speaker with four drivers and two JBL Bass Radiators.
And, of course, you’ve got to appreciate the thoughtful add-ons on this speaker. By add-ons, we mean the detachable strap for easy carrying and the convenient bottle opener.
1st Runner Up
The Sonos Roam Bluetooth speaker is a portable speaker that integrates nicely with your Sonos home system. Over a WiFi connection, you can connect it to the other Sonos speakers and enjoy multiple-room playback. All this with just the push of a button, and now that’s what we call ‘seamless.’
Another selling point for this speaker is that it features hands-free voice commands with Google Assistant or Alexa. It also has a balanced sounding system with an automatic true play setting. And its Bluetooth feature, of course, allows you to stream directly from your smartphone or computer.
Now for a small speaker, the sound is incredible, providing clarity and depth that is true to Sonos speakers. It may not be like the prominent speakers, but it does know how to hold its own.
To seal the deal, the Sonos Bluetooth speaker is water and dust resistant with an IP67 rating. And you also enjoy 10 hours of uninterrupted playback.
2nd Runner Up
If you see a sound box floating on water and playing loudly, it might be the UE Boom 3. Few speakers are as safe as or possess ultimate durability like UE Boom 3, and it’s perfect for a poolside party, a day at the beach, and an all-around adventure.
Beyond that, its 360-degree clear sound and thundering bass are what’s got us drooling over this Bluetooth speaker. You can hear every distinct sound for the best party experience. The rechargeable battery stays powered for up to 15 hours, giving you plenty of grooving time.
It also features a shiny two-tone material built for extreme circumstances.
Its newest magic button feature makes the UE 3 stand out even more. With this button, you can play, pause, or skip to any music directly from the speaker.
So for overall sound and fun, the UE Boom 3 is as sure as it gets.
The tribit storm box is as rugged as it gets. For a small speaker, it sure knows how to get your heart thumping with its bass sound.
This powerful speaker delivers a clear 360° sound with thundering bass thanks to its Xbass technology.
It also has a wireless dual pairing feature that allows you to pair two tribit speakers, and that’s twice the fun.
With IPX7 waterproof, this speaker can withstand up to 3 ft submersion. This way, the party never ends.
It also allows you to connect to your smart assistant effortlessly. So grab a tribit surround sound speaker and enjoy 20 hours of playtime.
The JBL charge 5 is an excellent option if you’re looking for stamina. This powerful speaker features 20 hours of battery life on one charge and even comes with a built-in power bank for charging your phone.
A mono driver, dual JBL bass radiators, and a separate tweeter make up the JBL charge 5.
With an IP67 rating, this Bluetooth speaker is fully waterproof and dustproof. So you don’t have to worry about the elements when you take them out with you.
You know what they say – great things come in small packages. And with this Bluetooth speaker, ‘they’ couldn’t be more right.
This Bluetooth speaker is our pick for the best budget. But even at that, It still does a great job as a speaker. It is a portable, lightweight speaker with an IPX5 waterproof rating for safe outdoor use.
When it comes to sound, this speaker offers incredible audio and deep bass with dual full-range drivers. Its Bluetooth 5.0 feature enables connection up to 66 feet away from your phone or device.
Add a 24-hour playtime, and you’ve got a solid Bluetooth speaker.
It might be called Sonos move, but at 6.61 pounds, there are more convenient speakers to move around. However, with these prominent speakers, you can expect massive sounds and many other amazing features. By the way, you can get away with moving it around the house or in the backyard. So its weight isn’t a problem.
Out of its load of features, we’ll mention a few while you discover the rest as you use it.
The first fantastic feature is its Trueplay effect which is excellent for the outdoors. With this, the speaker adapts and adjusts the sound based on your surroundings and the music you’re playing. Talk about a smart automatic equalizer.
Come rain or shine, the Sonos move has your back thanks to its weatherproof feature. But you can expect nothing less when your Bluetooth speaker has an IP56 rating.
You also get to enjoy 11 hours of uninterrupted use on one charge. And it comes with a wireless charging base for a quick supply of unending music. Its wireless connection isn’t limited to Bluetooth, but you can stream via WiFi and connect it to your Sonos home system.
Enjoy an incredible listening experience with the Sony SRS.
This Bluetooth speaker produces a powerful stereo sound with a deeper, richer bass sound. And that’s not even all the bass you can get out of it. If you switch on the extra bass mode and add the customizable light show, you’ve got yourself a perfect outdoor party speaker.
An exciting feature of this speaker, which you’ll hardly see nowadays, is its aux jack feature. So whenever you’re not up for a Bluetooth connection, you can plug in and play.
It also has a speakerphone function for conference calls or chats with friends.
Like the JBL charge 5, you can also charge your phone with this speaker. Plus, it has a battery life of 24 hours. Designed with IP67 water, dust, and rust-proof rating, this speaker is built to last.
Indeed, with Sony SRS, you get the best of both worlds.
For an ultimate outdoor experience, the UE Wonder Boom 2 has just what you need. Its outdoor boost feature adjusts to any outdoor space, increasing the sound and delivering more clarity.
The Wonderboom 2 levels up from the Wonderboom 1 version with additional bass and a bigger 360° sound. You’re sure to love this Bluetooth speaker if you’re a bass lover.
It’s also super compatible with any Bluetooth-supported device.
So, enjoy this Bluetooth speaker on the go or at home.
A Bluetooth speaker that only has the baseline SBC Bluetooth codec and sounds this good must be truly magical. Or simply the work of pure engineering genius. Whichever way, the Bose SoundLink Flex has an undeniably excellent sound.
This sturdy Bluetooth speaker is perfect for any adventure. And with its IP67 rating, water or dust has nothing on you.
How Do You Know A Speaker Is Good?
The best way to know a good speaker is to hear its sound. But where you can’t, you should look out for the following:
Loudness or sensitivity: This is the first thing to check. There’s no point buying a speaker if your phone could have done a better job. It’s usually measured in decibels. So the higher the decibel, the higher the loudness. Anything at 90db is an excellent speaker.
Impedance or resistance: This has to do with the amount of current that passes through the speaker, measured in ohms. If your speaker has low resistance, more current will flow. And more resistance means less current will flow. Now, as a rule of thumb, your speaker should neither have low nor high resistance but rather optimum resistance. This means you should be looking out for a speaker with 6-8ohms.
Power handling: This is usually measured in Watts and has to do with how much power your speaker can handle without any damage caused to it. To check this out, ensure the power rating mentioned is RMS instead of peak power rating. The RMS rating depends on how much power the speaker can take continuously without damage. On the other hand, the peak power rating has to do with the highest amount of energy the speaker can take in a moment.
Speaker’s exterior: The body of the speaker also matters. It’s best to opt for a speaker made of dense material, as this affects the bass sound.
The frequency range depends on how high or low a speaker can play. And it is usually measured in Hertz (hz). For example, 60Hz-20kHz. The soft sound is the bass, and the high sound is the treble. Any speaker with 50hz low or lower still will give you tremendous bass.
Signal to Noise Ratio: This refers to the ratio of sound to the noise included in a speaker, also measured in decibels. Every sound a speaker delivers consists of some level of noise. So this means when getting a good speaker, opt for one with a higher decibel number. The higher the number, the less the noise delivered and the better the sound quality.
Battery life: This is super important in choosing a great Bluetooth speaker. You want one that can last for many hours so you can enjoy a lot of hours of playtime.
OUR PICK
Standing tall as our top pick is the JBL Extreme 3.
And it’s no surprise because, without a doubt, the JBL Extreme 3 has proven to be an absolute stunner. And this is not just in looks but also in sound.
The speaker’s JBL original pro sound gives you the most precise sound without compromising the bass.
To think such pleasure is given to you on a 15-hour battery capacity. And to cap it off, you can also use this speaker as a power bank. Of course, with great power comes great responsibility. And this is why the detachable straps are a nice touch to this speaker, allowing for convenience and easy carrying.
