Depending on your needs, the category of Bluetooth speakers can feel quite specific. These multipurpose gadgets occupy a space between your home audio system and your cell phone (which likely has decent built-in speakers all on its own). Instead of requiring a complex, expensive speaker system, Bluetooth speakers offer a compact, inconspicuous solution to increase the loudness and richness of the music you wish to listen to.
The Bluetooth speaker market has expanded significantly in recent years, including options like waterproof, adventure-safe gadgets that you can take to the beach or simple smart speakers that look great on your bookshelf. You’ll discover a couple of excellent options from each of those categories in this roundup at a range of different price ranges.
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1. Bose Home Speaker 500: Smart Bluetooth Speaker
Bose dominates the premium audio market, especially with customers who want amazing sound without having to worry too much about it. Fair enough, Bose doesn’t offer stunning audiophile quality or even minute detail. The Home Speaker 500 does offer a contemporary smart speaker experience with nearly flawless audio quality.
The Home Speaker 500 is a gadget that will appear at home in your office as it will on the kitchen counter. It takes up less than a square foot of space and is available in either a sophisticated white or a sleek black hue. Bluetooth 4.2 is used for connection, which is absolutely competent but isn’t nearly as fluid as Bluetooth 5.0.
Although Bose’s use of the term “wall-to-wall” doesn’t reveal much about the technical details, it does convey the impression that the company is attempting to deliver rich, potent sound. The device’s touch controls are simple to use and even have six preset buttons for calling up previous listening sessions. The speaker has built-in voice assistants that you can use to operate it, and if you want to further customize your experience, you can also utilize the Bose app.
If you prefer Apple Airplay, the speaker supports it because it can connect to Wi-Fi. Additionally, when listening to music, the colorful built-in LCD offers some excellent visual touch points. Although the speaker costs roughly $300 and doesn’t have many native app integrations, it is still a good option based only on appearance and sound quality.
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2. JBL Charge 4
JBL is a prominent audio brand, especially in the market for portable Bluetooth speakers. In many ways, the JBL Charge 4 is the company’s premier portable speaker. This is due to the fact that it has many of the same capabilities as the Flip series but also doubles as a power bank, hence the name “Charge.” When completely charged, that 7500mAh battery provides roughly 20 hours of playback; however, it’s crucial to note that this number will probably decrease if you frequently charge your phone or listen to loud music.
Even more so considering the small, the sound quality is rather good. Its length is around 8.5 inches. On either end of the cylindrical speaker, JBL has installed its “passive bass radiators,” which are essentially just two rubbery subwoofer ports that actually move and pulse in time with your music. The speakers from JBL are always very loud, and this one is no exception. JBL completes the package with IPX7 water resistance (ideal for beach days) and an incredible 10 color variations, including outlandish choices like fluorescent mint green or mustard yellow.
3. Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 Portable Bluetooth Speaker
The Beoplay A1 portable speaker from Bang & Olufsen tries to take the eponymous design language of the luxury audio company and scale it down to a portable size. To be fair, even though the speaker is only slightly larger than a typical household smoke detector and is approximately 2 inches thick, it still feels very hefty even if it fits neatly into a backpack. However, the speaker does feel upscale because to the high-quality materials, brushed surface (B&O calls it “pearl-blasted aluminum”), and leather-like strap. Even IP67 dust and water resistance are present to safeguard the gadget.
Of course, the sound quality is perhaps more of an issue at a $250 price point than it would be for speakers that cost under $100. Manufacturers of high-end portable speakers frequently prioritize balance and detail over volume and bass. This is unquestionably the situation. Although it isn’t the loudest, the 360-directional playback gives the speaker the impression of being louder than it actually is. The speaker has two 30W Class D speakers with a frequency response that ranges from 55 to 22,000Hz. 18 hours of battery life, Bluetooth 5.1, and voice assistant features are all included.
4. Sonos Roam
If you’re considering purchasing the Sonos Roam, it’s critical to maintain realistic expectations. The company’s more prominent speakers frequently produce an audio performance that sounds larger and more expansive than you’d anticipate, but the little Roam doesn’t always do that. Without a doubt, it can produce a clear, dynamic sound whether you are sitting close by or using it as a shower speaker, even though it won’t fill the entire room with music.
The Roam’s intelligence and close interaction with Sonos’ whole-home audio platform are its key selling points. The Roam broadcasts music over Wi-Fi when used at home, giving you more fidelity than Bluetooth. If your turntable supports Bluetooth, adding a Roam to your Sonos system is a cheap way to add a turntable. You can smoothly switch music from the Roam to another nearby Sonos speaker with the push of a button. For multi-room listening, you may also group it with other Sonos speakers with ease.
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5. Anker Soundcore 2
One of the portable speakers in this category with the highest sales is the Soundcore 2. And it makes sense because Anker produced an amazing product for an affordable price. This little rectangular powerhouse, which comes in black, blue, or red, produces a surprisingly potent 12W of volume. It is supported by Bluetooth 5’s capable connectivity as well as a tough, robust construction. With an IPX7 classification, that design is also reasonably water-resistant, making it ideal for outdoor use. Although the rubberized outside shell increases durability, pushing the controls can be a little difficult.
The 24 hours of battery life—which easily outperforms most other speakers in the class—is arguably the most impressive aspect of this device. Additionally, because it costs around half as much as mid-tier speakers and even less when compared to premium brands, buying this speaker is essentially a no-brainer for anyone who needs a portable speaker they can grab and go without breaking the bank.
6. JBL Clip 3 Bluetooth Speaker
Functionality, portability, and passably loud sound are all combined in JBL’s Clip line to provide an intriguing Bluetooth speaker option. However, considering its low price, excellent build quality, and trusted JBL sound quality, we’re actually awarding it our top rank for affordability. Let’s explore the real reasons behind that.
Although the enclosure is very small, a reasonably large speaker driver occupies most of the construction, thus the playback has plenty of power and bass. Additionally, JBL fits a 1000mAh battery within the device, which it claims will allow for around 10 hours of playback on a single charge. If you are loudly playing music, your results may differ, but that is to be expected. The battery life is adequate but not exceptional in either case.
The design, which offers about ten color options and a distinctive carabiner-style clip, is arguably the other most intriguing feature. This function makes it possible to attach the speaker to a backpack or keychain, making it ideal for listening while traveling. The speaker will endure the weather thanks to its IPX7 water resistance. Overall, this is a good product for the price. The device is a little too big for genuinely portable use, and the sound could be stronger if there were more of a ported design.
7. JBL Flip 5
The JBL Flip range is probably the first thing that comes to mind when you think about portable Bluetooth speakers as a category. For a number of reasons, The Flip 5 is one of our favorite entries in the market. First off, this thing can pump some very full sounds thanks to its 20W of power and reasonably hefty 44mm primary driver.
The fact that it also has JBL’s renowned pulsing bass ports on either end of the cylinder makes it an excellent playback device. Despite the 4,800mAh battery being present, the battery life is just about 12 hours, which is much less than we had hoped.
The manufacturing quality comes next. It isn’t the lightest speaker available, weighing well over a pound, but that weight is a result of its tough construction. This speaker can endure being banged around in a bag and will survive modest drops thanks to the extremely strong, rubberized bumpers on either side. The speaker grill has a mesh covering over a rigid shell.
Due to its IPX7 classification as well as the fact that it feels remarkably well sealed, this speaker takes the top spot in our rankings for water resistance. Just holding it in your hand reveals how sturdy and protected it is. Given that the features aren’t really at the luxury end of the spectrum, the $120 price tag is a little hard to swallow. But if dependability and sound quality are your primary concerns, the cost can be justified.
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8. JBL Pulse 3
One of the most distinctive-looking Bluetooth speaker options on the market is the JBL Pulse 3, to put it simply. This is so that it may be more than just a Bluetooth speaker. Although they aren’t quite as large as the drivers featured in JBL’s Flip and Charge lines, the multi-directional firing speakers at the base of the design nonetheless deliver plenty of power.
The pulsing bass ports at the cylinder’s end provide a ton of low-end assistance. It matches the rest of JBL’s portable speaker lineup regarding water resistance (IPX7), and JBL Connect+ compatibility enables you to combine it with other speakers from the same line.
However, the speaker’s use of light is where it really shines (figuratively speaking). There are rows of RGB LED lights under the opaque plastic shell that covers the remainder of the chassis. The wonderfully adaptable light shows that these lights produce moves, morphs, and pulses to the beat of your music and follow you around. When the speaker is connected to the JBL app, you can choose the light patterns you like and even leave the speaker on as a night light or decorative feature even when no music is playing.
