Buying guide for best Bluetooth speakers
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Bluetooth speakers are some of the most popular audio tech available. People use them at the beach, the office, the pool and even the shower. The best Bluetooth speakers offer exciting sound quality, powerful bass, rock-solid connections and the ability to withstand drops, dust and splashes.
Given the popularity and affordability of the Bluetooth speaker, there’s no reason not to enjoy your tunes with one. But you may have a few questions first. For example, what’s the best size for a Bluetooth speaker? How long should a Bluetooth speaker battery last? Should you choose one with mono or stereo sound?
In the BestReviews Testing Lab, we evaluated these elements and more, judging the top portable speakers on sound quality, bass and battery life, among other characteristics. We found the Bose SoundLink Max to be the best Bluetooth speaker overall. It offers fantastic bass, excellent sound quality and top-notch durability, and it resists the negative effects of water exposure. There are other great Bluetooth speakers on the market as well. Let’s take a look.
Expert Tip
If you live in a larger home, look for a Bluetooth speaker that can be paired with others. Some Bluetooth speakers, like those made by Marshall, can be used in stereo pairs, or on a WiFi network with multiple other Marshall speakers for whole-home audio.
BestReviews Electronics Expert
Which Bluetooth speaker is best?
Bose SoundLink Max
Best of the Best
Product specifications
Battery life: 36 hr (tested) | Dimensions: 10.42" W x 4.13" D x 4.73" H | Connectivity range: 80’ (tested) | Weight: 4.9 lb | Bluetooth version: 5.4
The Bose SoundLink Max is our pick for the best Bluetooth speaker. It’s a compact, boombox-style speaker with a minimalist aesthetic, packing over 100 watts of high-quality stereo sound with punchy bass. What’s more, it can stand up to dust, drops and water immersion.
Out of the box, the SoundLink Max looks like a high-end product, and it’s weighty for its size. A flexible rope handle makes it surprisingly comfortable to carry. We tested its shock resistance by dropping it from 3 feet onto turf; it came through without a scratch. It’s IP67 dustproof and waterproof and floats when immersed in water.
The sound quality is top-notch with articulate mids and clear highs to go with its powerful bass. In our tests, the battery lasted over 36 hours playing white noise at 65% volume. While it can’t work as a speakerphone, it can charge other devices from its USB-C port. It’s not cheap, but we think it’s the best Bluetooth speaker available.
Anker Soundcore 3
Best Bang for the Buck
Product specifications
Battery life: 24 hr | Dimensions: 2.25” W x 2.25” H x 6.75” L | Connectivity range: NA | Weight: 13 oz | Bluetooth version: 5.0
For excellent sound in a Bluetooth speaker that costs just over $50, the Anker Soundcore 3 is tough to beat. Anker is a dependable brand, and the solid build quality of this handy little Bluetooth speaker is matched by its detailed stereo sound.
The mini Soundcore 3 speaker is about the size of a rolled-up folding umbrella, fitting nicely in a backpack or bag. It offers two titanium drivers capable of hitting 40 kilohertz for pristine treble with minimal distortion. A rear passive radiator takes care of the bass for a total of 16 watts of audio power. It’s IPX7 rated, making it waterproof for up to 30 minutes, and it comes with a lanyard for convenient carrying.
The Soundcore 3 can be controlled from a smartphone app that allows you to adjust its EQ to get the most out of its sound, especially the low end and mids. It offers multipoint pairing and has a battery life of up to 24 hours on a single charge from its USB-C port. We think it’s a terrific value for the money.
Sonos Roam
Trusted Brand
Product specifications
Battery life: 18 hr | Dimensions: 2.3” W x 2.5” D x 6.6” L | Connectivity range: N/A | Weight: 0.93 lb | Bluetooth version: 5.0
If you have a Sonos setup at home, the Sonos Roam is a natural choice. This canister Bluetooth speaker leverages the Sonos audio ecosystem for high-quality Wi-Fi audio while working as an independent, portable Bluetooth speaker on the go.
The Sonos Roam was a favorite during testing. Its dual amplifiers give its main driver and high-frequency tweeter outstanding sound quality. We were big fans of its adaptive Trueplay feature, which automatically adjusts the sound based on its surroundings. It can play in horizontal or vertical positions, shifting sound performance to match, and it’s IP67-rated dustproof and waterproof. Taking it along for outdoor recreation was no problem during our testing, and it never lost connectivity.
The Roam plays over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth so you get high-quality sound at home and on the go. It can serve as a smart speaker with Alexa and Google Assistant, and it supports casting over Apple AirPlay 2. (Sonos has released the Roam 2, a follow-up to the Roam, with a discreet Bluetooth button and more streamlined pairing.)
Soundcore Boom 2 Plus
Best RGB Lights
Product specifications
Battery life: 65 hr (tested) | Dimensions: 17.4” H × 5.94” W × 8.98” H | Connectivity range: 150’ (tested) | Weight: 8.34 lb | Bluetooth version: 5.3
If you want a boombox-style Bluetooth speaker for home and outdoors with plenty of party lights, we recommend the Soundcore Boom 2 Plus from Anker. When we tested it, we loved its powerful stereo sound, durable build, waterproof rating and ability to float. It’s a bigger Bluetooth speaker that sells for an appealing price.
The well-built Boom 2 Plus has a sturdy, structural handle that runs the length of the unit. Two bass ports on either end sport RGB lights that can pulse with the audio (there are eight different programs) or be left off. Two 50-watt woofers and two 20-watt tweeters provide energetic stereo sound. However, we recommend leaving the BassUp boost on when the volume dips below the 30% mark.
We got an astounding 65 hours of playback from a single charge during testing with white noise. We dropped the Boom 2 Plus from a height of 3 feet onto turf, resulting in only minor scuffs. We let it float for 30 minutes in a swimming pool, and it worked perfectly while wet. We liked how comfortable the handle was to grip and appreciated the shoulder strap.
JBL Charge 5
Popular Model
Product specifications
Battery life: 34 hr (tested) | Dimensions: 3.76” W x 3.67” H x 8.7” L | Connectivity range: 130’ | Weight: 2.11 lb | Bluetooth version: 5.1
The JBL Charge 5 is one of JBL’s most popular Bluetooth speakers. We tested it and found it a solid choice for those who love booming bass and a rugged, compact form. It’s one of the most compact Bluetooth speakers that can also serve as a power bank for devices.
The Charge 5 is a 40-watt canister Bluetooth speaker with a slightly football-shaped body. It contains a long-excursion driver and dual bass radiators at either end, allowing powerful bass output down to 60 hertz. A tweeter takes care of frequencies up to 20 kilohertz. The setup rendered impressive bass in our tests, though we would have liked more fullness in the mids.
We love the Charge 5's colorful, bold design. It felt good in hand, but a handle would have been nice. We liked that we could use it as a USB-C power bank, too. It gave us 34 hours of continuous play in our testing, which was 14 hours longer than JBL specified, and it survived drops and immersion in water.
Bose SoundLink Flex
Premium Sound
Product specifications
Battery life: 12 hr | Dimensions: 7.93" W x 2.06" D x 3.56" H | Connectivity range: 30’ | Weight: 1.3 lb | Bluetooth version: 4.2
The smaller sibling of the SoundLink Max, the Bose SoundLink Flex packs some of the best sound quality from a compact mono Bluetooth speaker.
A chic, minimalist speaker the size of a paperback book, the SoundLink Flex is rated IP67 dustproof and waterproof, so you don’t have to worry if it gets wet. (It doesn’t float, though.) Inside its sleek metal case is a single transducer with two passive radiators that create outstanding sound. The SoundLink Flex senses whether it’s upright or on its back and adjusts its sound accordingly.
The included removable cloth tab can be attached to a carabiner. Bose claims a battery life of 12 hours and a charge time of four hours via USB-C. It’s capable of acting as a speakerphone, and it can create a stereo pair with a second SoundLink Flex unit.
Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4
Most Portable
Product specifications
Battery life: 14 hr | Dimensions: 3.72” W x 4.09” H | Connectivity range: 141’ | Weight: 14.8 oz | Bluetooth version: 5.3
The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom has been one of the most recommended Bluetooth speakers for a long time. The UE Wonderboom 4 continues that legacy with a USB-C charging port and a case made partially of recycled plastic.
This mini Bluetooth speaker with oversized volume buttons is waterproof and buoyant, making it a great choice for the pool or tub. Inside its compact body is a pair of 40-millimeter drivers and a pair of bass radiators that render excellent audio depth and space. The speaker projects sound in a 360-degree fashion, filling the area with sound. According to Ultimate Ears, the Wonderboom 4 can get as loud as 83 decibels outdoors, which is about as loud as is comfortable.
Rated IP67, the Wonderboom 4 is fully waterproof and can float. It’s shock-resistant for drops of 3 feet, and it comes with a handy tab for hooking onto a carabiner or clip.
JBL PartyBox 110
Best for Large Spaces
Product specifications
Battery life: 12 hr | Dimensions: 11.6” W x 11. 8” D x 22.4” H | Connectivity range: N/A | Weight: 23 lb | Bluetooth version: 5.1
If a boombox Bluetooth speaker isn’t enough, consider the JBL PartyBox line, which includes the JBL PartyBox 110. This party speaker packs 160 watts of power plus RGB lights bright enough to turn any space into a club or dance floor.
The JBL PartyBox 110 is not the biggest PartyBox, but it’s big enough to fill an outdoor space with bass. It’s also portable enough to carry from place to place. Two big woofers dig down as low as 45 hertz, and two dome tweeters create high-end frequencies up to 20 kilohertz. It plays Bluetooth 5.1 and accepts aux line-in, a USB flash drive and mic and guitar inputs for use as an amp.
With an array of strobe and pattern effects, the speaker’s synced RGB lights create a party atmosphere. It’s rated IPX4, so it can withstand some splashes, and its battery can run for up to 12 hours.
JBL Clip 5
Customer Favorite
Product specifications
Battery life: 15 hr | Dimensions: 1.8” W x 3.4” D x 5.3” H | Connectivity range: N/A | Weight: 0.63 lb | Bluetooth version: 5.3
The JBL Clip line is a customer favorite, and it’s easy to see why: It’s a stylish mini Bluetooth speaker with an integrated carabiner that can clip to a bag, bike or anything else you can think of. The latest Clip 5 continues the legacy with improved power and a universal USB-C connector.
The Clip 5 fits comfortably in the palm of one hand. Despite its tiny size, it emits 7 watts of power from a single mono speaker and bass radiator with a frequency range of 95 hertz to 20 kilohertz. You can pair it with another Clip 5 or JBL's AuraCast feature for multiple-speaker playback. You can control it from the JBL smartphone app as well as its onboard controls.
JBL promises up to 15 hours of battery life and three hours of charging time over USB-C. It’s IP67 dustproof and waterproof and comes in several bright colors and patterns.
Expert Tip
There are a lot of competing wireless audio technologies, so if you’re willing to spend a little more for additional features, consider manufacturer-proprietary options like those from Apple and Sonos.
BestReviews Electronics Expert
How we tested
We surveyed the top Bluetooth speakers on the market, searching for excellent specs and reviews and evaluating user experiences. After determining our candidates, we acquired several for testing in our Testing Lab, evaluating them on sound quality, build quality, battery life and connectivity.
We used a standardized playlist to test audio quality with songs from major genres. We used smartphone apps to measure loudness in decibels at various volumes and tested for changes to audio quality at low and high volumes. For speakers with equalizers, we tested different EQ settings, noting changes in the quality of bass boost, treble boost and so on.
To test connectivity, we measured how long it took to set up and pair each Bluetooth speaker and how easy it was to use them with multiple source devices. We noted the stability of connections both in a crowded Bluetooth environment and on the go, and we measured the maximum range of each speaker before its Bluetooth connection dropped. We also tested speakerphone mode, when offered.
We fully charged each Bluetooth speaker and timed how long it lasted while playing white noise and mixed audio at 50%, 65% and 100%. We also timed how long it took to charge them from empty to full and noted whether they supported power-bank mode to recharge other devices.
We dropped the speakers from heights of 3 to 4 feet onto the grassy ground to test shock resistance and dust ingress. We immersed each speaker in water to test its water resistance. For those speakers that could float, we let them do so in a sink or swimming pool for up to 30 minutes.
What is Bluetooth?
Bluetooth is a wireless technology that connects devices over a short distance. For example, Bluetooth technology can wirelessly connect headphones or a headset to a smartphone. A wireless keyboard can connect to a computer via Bluetooth, too.
Bluetooth is one of the easiest wireless connection technologies to use. Simply turn on the Bluetooth capabilities of both devices to connect them. While the activation process for each device is different, most require only a few quick steps.
Expert Tip
When choosing a portable Bluetooth speaker, check reviews to see how long real-world battery life is.
BestReviews Electronics Expert
Key features of Bluetooth speakers
Design and aesthetics
Bluetooth speakers come in many shapes and sizes. Here are a few of the more common ones.
- Micro Bluetooth speakers are the smallest examples of this product. Most can fit in the palm of a hand. Due to their small size, they don’t have the best audio quality, especially when it comes to bass. That said, the best micro speakers offer solid sound and are small enough to carry around all day.
- Mini Bluetooth speakers have bigger drivers, often more than one. For their size, they provide surprisingly good bass and volume. They come in several styles, including bars, cans or canisters, and balls or discs. Mini Bluetooth speakers are great for personal listening at home, the office and on the go.
- Boombox speakers resemble the portable stereos of yesteryear. They have at least two large drivers and a handle for convenient carrying. They get louder than mini speakers and are excellent for outdoor entertaining.
- Party speakers are the biggest Bluetooth speakers. They resemble amps used by musicians and bands. They have the biggest drivers and offer the deepest bass, and they often come with built-in LED lights for synchronized light shows.
There’s a lot of variety when it comes to how Bluetooth speakers look. Some are understated and minimalist; others are bold and colorful. Some Bluetooth speakers can be customized to suit your personal style.
Durability
Using Bluetooth speakers outdoors or on the go has become second nature for many. As such, it’s important for these products to stand up to wear and tear: sun exposure, weather, dust and even falls or drops.
Resistance to water is paramount. The best Bluetooth speakers have an IP rating such as IPX7 (waterproof) or IP67 (waterproof and dustproof). Some Bluetooth speakers even float.
Our top picks: Design and Aesthetics
- The JBL Charge 5 is a bold, bright speaker with an appealing rounded design. It comes in several bright colors and patterns and has a helpful battery indicator light.
- The Bose SoundLink Max and Flex have understated designs and a sleek, minimalist aesthetic.
- The UE Wonderboom 4 is one of the most appealing Bluetooth speakers with its playful ball form factor and bright colors.
Sound
Most Bluetooth speakers are too small to create the sound you’d get from a pair of hi-fidelity, floor-standing or bookshelf speakers, let alone a 5.1 or 7.1 surround system. But the engineering of Bluetooth speakers is constantly improving, and some of the best products render sound that’s surprisingly full and accurate.
- Drivers: Bluetooth speakers may have one to four drivers or more. Many of the best-sounding Bluetooth speakers have two different kinds of drivers: a woofer to generate bass and mid-frequency sounds and tweeters for mid to high frequencies.
- Bass: Generating a lot of bass can be a challenge for a small Bluetooth speaker. The best ones use features such as passive radiators and bass boost circuits to enhance their low-end presence. This is especially helpful for small speakers with one or two drivers.
- Mono or stereo sound: It’s common for a mini or micro Bluetooth speaker to offer only mono sound. Some of the best Bluetooth speakers offer impressive audio quality despite only offering mono. The form factor of most Bluetooth speakers means their drivers are often placed so close together that you can’t hear substantial stereo separation, anyway. Bigger Bluetooth speakers can better show off stereo sound.
Our top picks: Sound
- The Bose SoundLink Max is the best-sounding Bluetooth speaker we tested. Its bass is loud and well-defined, mids and highs are clear and distinct, and it offers stereo sound.
- The smaller Bose SoundLink Flex uses innovative engineering and design to create full, impressive sound from a mono woofer and tweeter.
- The Sonos Roam is another mono speaker that uses advanced engineering and software to provide top-notch audio in a compact canister form factor.
Portability
You can take your Bluetooth device anywhere, indoors or out, allowing you to enjoy the benefits of your wireless speaker wherever you go.
Size and form differentiate Bluetooth speakers in terms of their portability. Party speakers, for example, are possibly the least-portable Bluetooth speakers. Some party speakers need built-in wheels and trolleys to help shift them from place to place.
On the other hand, micro Bluetooth speakers can be small enough to stick in a pocket. The best micro Bluetooth speakers often come with tags, loops, lanyards or carabiner clips. They’re light enough to carry all day.
Between these two extremes are boombox Bluetooth speakers with large built-in handles or shoulder straps. Mini and micro Bluetooth speakers are also quite easy to hold and carry, even without a handle or loop.
Our top picks: Portability
- The Soundcore Boom 2 Plus impressed us with how sturdy yet comfortable it was to carry. We liked the large handle's contoured grip and the included shoulder strap.
- The Soundcore 3 is small and slim and can be slipped neatly into a bag or the corner of a suitcase.
- The JBL Clip 5’s built-in carabiner lets you snag it anywhere convenient, including your bike handles or bag straps.
- The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 is comfortable to hold and comes with a tab for connecting to a strap or clip.
Connectivity options
Bluetooth speakers can connect with a variety of devices. For example, you can connect a smartphone, MP3 player, laptop or tablet to a Bluetooth speaker.
Different versions of Bluetooth are available. Most of the models we picked use some variety of Bluetooth 5. Introduced in 2016, Bluetooth 5 is more efficient, power-wise. It offers faster data speeds and has a longer range than previous versions. There are four versions of Bluetooth 5 in use: 5.1 through 5.4.
- Bluetooth 5.1’s main innovation is integrating better location information.
- Bluetooth 5.2 introduced low-energy audio (LE audio), providing better-quality audio over low-power connections. It also allows devices to pair simultaneously to a single source.
- Bluetooth 5.3 increased efficiency and data speed and enhanced connection efficiency.
- Bluetooth 5.4 adds Periodic Advertising with Response (PAwR).
The Bluetooth version before Bluetooth 5.0 was Bluetooth 4.2 and is still found in many devices, including some Bluetooth speakers. This version has a more limited range and data speed.
Additional connectivity
Aside from Bluetooth, some of the best Bluetooth speakers offer wired connections over a standard 3.5-mm aux plug. This lets them play higher-quality audio over an aux cable. Other Bluetooth speakers may also connect over Wi-Fi or offer audio over USB, either from a USB flash drive or over a USB-C cable.
Battery life
The Bluetooth speakers we looked at offered at least 10 hours of battery life. The smaller the speaker, the smaller the battery, but as with sound quality, the best Bluetooth speakers maximize their power efficiency through technology and design.
Bluetooth speaker battery life is affected not just by battery capacity and playback duration but also by loudness and even by what kind of audio you listen to. Bass-heavy music, when played at loud levels, can drain a Bluetooth speaker’s battery faster than soft, light music or white noise.
Heat and sunlight can also reduce the battery life of a Bluetooth speaker. As such, a speaker at a loud summer beach party will exhaust its battery sooner than the same speaker playing soft music in an air-conditioned room.
Our top picks: Battery life
- The Soundcore Boom 2 Plus lasted for 65 hours on a single charge in testing, playing mostly white noise and ambient instrumentals at 50% volume.
- The Bose SoundLink Max played ambient music and white noise for 35 hours at 65% volume. At 100% volume, it lasted 15 hours.
- The JBL Charge 5 lasted 34 hours in our testing at 50% volume using the same parameters. It was the smallest speaker we tested that could charge other devices from its battery.
Additional features
Smart features
Some of the best Bluetooth speakers integrate smart features, including voice assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant. In our experience, smart functionality like this is best left to actual smart speakers like the Amazon Echo or Apple HomePod.
A popular and common feature among the best Bluetooth speakers is intelligent pairing, or linking among multiple speakers. A pair of the same model of speaker, for example, can set themselves up as a stereo pair with dedicated left and right audio channels for fuller sound. Other Bluetooth speakers can chain or link themselves to as many as a hundred other compatible speakers to create a huge speaker system, all playing the same audio.
Controls
The best Bluetooth speakers are easy to control. It’s convenient for them to have a set of basic controls built in: power button, volume buttons, play/pause button and such. Other buttons, such as a dedicated Bluetooth-pairing button or a separate button for controlling lights and other effects, can also make things easier.
Audio feedback, such as tones or even voice prompts, can be helpful at times. However, some people consider this to be intrusive. It’s appreciated when this feature can be turned off.
You can use a smartphone app to control some of the best Bluetooth speakers. Quality and usefulness vary when it comes to these apps, but they can be useful when updating firmware or checking your status. We particularly enjoy apps that offer an equalizer. This lets users customize their sound to get the most out of their experience.
Bluetooth speakers FAQ
Q. Why do I get static and poor sound quality from my Bluetooth speaker?
A. Bluetooth speakers offer a maximum connection range of about 33 feet from the source. As you approach 33 feet, audio quality drops. You also may see lower quality when the speaker’s battery nears empty. Charging the battery while trying to play music may cause static as well.
Q. Why are some Bluetooth speakers called water-resistant and others called waterproof?
A. A water-resistant speaker can withstand splashing or light rain. A waterproof Bluetooth speaker can handle full submersion in water or heavy rain.
Look at the IP rating to figure out the resistance level. The first digit in the two-digit IP number is the dust-protection number. The second digit indicates water protection. On a 0-to-9 scale, the higher the number, the better the protection.
Q. Why won’t my Bluetooth speaker pair with my smartphone?
A. There could be a few different reasons. First, make sure you’re doing the process correctly. Turn on the Bluetooth capabilities on your smartphone. If the smartphone already has a few active Bluetooth pairings, disconnect a couple of them. If that doesn’t work, try turning off the devices and turning them back on after a few minutes to reset. Finally, make sure the batteries on both devices are charged.
Q. Are Bluetooth speakers safe to use outdoors?
A. You can use any portable Bluetooth speaker in dry outdoor conditions. Just keep it out of direct sunlight for extended periods to avoid damage to the case. If you want to use your speaker in wet weather or near water, you need a water-resistant or weather-resistant model.
Our expertise
Jmar Gambol has been writing for BestReviews since 2022. He has written extensively for BestReviews about audio products, including speakers and headphones, and has owned a Bluetooth speaker since 2014. He personally tested three of the speakers in this roundup.
