This portable speaker offers a very versatile overall performance, and it supports both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity. It’s well-built and offers a very neutral sound profile out-of-the-box, so it’s suitable for listening to lots of different audio content.
Best Bluetooth speakers for iPhone, iPad, and Mac 2021
There are many Bluetooth speakers for iPhone on the market, but the Ultimate Ears Boom 3 shines above most of the competition by offering exceptional performance in portability, sound quality, and price! It’s also protected against dirt and mud, but you can hand-wash the speaker with warm, soapy water just in case it gets messy.
Best overall Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 Portable Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker – Night Black The whole package! The Ultimate Ears Boom 3 offers fantastic sound quality, and due to its IP67 water resistance, it’s perfect for the pool or beach.
The Marshall Stanmore II has vintage looks that I love, making it look like an old tube guitar amp. The knobs on the top of the speaker allow you to adjust the bass and treble to your liking, and the fantastic companion app you can get for your phone has a 5-band equalizer.
This allows the Marshall Stanmore II to be used for a wide variety of music and makes it great for people who like their sound a particular way. Anker leads the pack for inexpensive accessories, and they have four great cheap speakers to choose from.
This compact speaker offers 24 hours of battery, 12 watts of sound, and surprisingly good bass for the size. Long Bluetooth range Cons: Slightly distorted sound at max volume Whether you listen to your music directly from your iPhone via AUX input or send audio wirelessly via Bluetooth, the sound quality of the SoundLink Revolve+ is impeccable. The built-in FM tuner on the Sbode Bluetooth speaker makes it easy to catch your favorite local station.
Plus, if you have two Sbode Bluetooth speakers, you can pair them together, which increases your sound output and creates a true wireless stereo system.
The best Bluetooth speakers 2021: the top portable speakers for any budget
The best Bluetooth speakers in 2021 all tick three key boxes: they’re portable, durable and they offer superb audio quality in all kinds of environments. Last year, the Sonos Move was discounted by $100 / £100, and we saw lots of excellent deals on models like the JBL Flip 5 and the UE Boom 3 – so it’s well worth shopping the sales. Save $50 – This Bluetooth speaker boasts excellent sound, a lovely water resistant shell and a powerful rubberised finish – and it’s at a great price for Black Friday. Save $20 – This cute Bluetooth speaker comes with an IPX7 water resistance rating, so you can take it in the great outdoors without a worry. Save £6 – This tiny Bluetooth speaker sports Micro SD support and AUX capability to provide endless audio options, a 15-hour battery life, and a 66ft wireless range. Well, portable speakers that stream music from your devices via Bluetooth are a great idea if you want high quality audio at home.
They’re also a solid option if you like to listen to music outside, whether that’s while you’re entertaining outdoors or working out, as well as if you like to be able to take a speaker to social events – like a party in your local park or down at the beach. Many of the best portable speakers you can buy today are multi-functional and may also feature voice assistant integration alongside audio playback.
This device can seamlessly switch from Wi-Fi to Bluetooth, integrate into a Sonos system, and it comes with both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant onboard.
The Sonos Roam is our pick for the best Bluetooth speaker on the planet, with a powerful sound, rugged design, excellent connectivity features, and smart home control. A bass-heavy audio performance makes it ideal for use outdoors, while a clever Automatic Switching feature means it’s easily used indoors, too – though audiophiles may dislike the overwhelming low frequencies and rhythmic handling. Its slick design means the Sonos Roam won’t look out of place in your home, while a rugged, waterproof and dustproof build and a decent battery life make it ideal for listening to music outdoors.
Sonos Move The best-sounding Bluetooth speaker Specifications Weight: 6.61 pounds (3kg) Battery life: 10 hours Connectivity: Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n, 2.4 GHz, and 5GHz) and Bluetooth 4.2 Drivers: One down-firing tweeter, one mid-woofer, two Class-D digital amplifiers NFC: No Aux-in: No USB charging: Yes (USB-C, and comes with charging dock) TODAY’S BEST DEALS View at Crutchfield Prime View at Amazon View at Walmart 689 Amazon customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Reasons to buy + Integrates with a home Sonos speaker network + Great for on-the-go tunes Reasons to avoid – Not as feature-rich when using Bluetooth – Cant be used as rear cinema speakers It’s not perfect – it’s heavy as a byproduct of its incredible sound, it’s expensive due to its rich feature set, and it sadly can’t be used as rear channels for a home cinema set-up. This is a speaker that can get loud and not distort at higher volumes; be light enough to carry on a camping trip but remain durable enough to tumble in a bag unprotected.
JBL’s Flip 5 is a simple soul with Bluetooth-only playback and modest features, but if you desire a rugged, great-sounding portable speaker and can sacrifice voice control or hands-free call functionality, you won’t be disappointed. Coming in a range of cool colors – including an eye-catching camo print – there’s now a limited Eco Edition that’s made from 90% recycled plastic, while the portable speaker’s entire packaging is biodegradable. [Update: Don’t miss our JBL Boombox 2 review – we were mightily impressed by this portable speaker’s IPX7 waterproof rating, long battery life, and distortion-free sound.]
It doesn’t quite meet the sonic dexterity of the Sonos Move, or the value for money of the UE Boom 3 and JBL Charge 4 – but if you love that Bose sound and build quality, this is the portable speaker for you. Anker Soundcore Flare 2 The best budget Bluetooth speaker Specifications Weight: 1.29 pounds Battery life: 12 hours Wireless range: 20m / 66ft Frequency response: N/A Drivers: Dual drivers and passive radiators NFC: No Aux-in: No Bluetooth version: N/A Weatherproofing: IPX7 Charges devices over USB: No TODAY’S BEST DEALS View at Walmart Low Stock View at Walmart Prime View at Amazon Reasons to buy + Great sound quality + Speakerphone feature + IPX7 water-resistant Reasons to avoid – No 3.5mm AUX jack
UE Wonderboom 2 The best outdoor speaker gets a refresh Specifications Weight: 0.93 pounds Dimensions: 104 x 95.3mm (H x D) Battery life: Up to 13 hours Wireless range: 100 ft (33 m) Frequency response: 75 Hz – 20 kHz Drivers: two 40 mm active drivers and two 46.1mm x 65.2mm passive radiators NFC: No Bluetooth version: N/A Aux-in: No USB charging: No TODAY’S BEST DEALS View at Dell Prime View at Amazon View at Walmart 5 Amazon customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Reasons to buy + Great sound for its size + IP67 dustproof/waterproof rating + 30% better battery life than its predecessor Reasons to avoid – Restrictive soundstage JBL Charge 5 The best mid-range speaker Specifications Weight: 2.11 pounds Dimensions: 8.7 x 3.76 x 3.67 (W x D x H) Battery life: Up to 20 hours Wireless range: 30 ft (10 m) Frequency response: 65Hz–20kHz Drivers: N/A NFC: No Bluetooth version: 5.1 Aux-in: No USB charging: Yes TODAY’S BEST DEALS Low Stock View at Walmart Prime View at Amazon View at Crutchfield Reasons to buy + Balanced sound quality + Gets extremely loud + Long battery life up to 20 hours Reasons to avoid – Takes a while to charge – No more Aux jack UE Hyperboom Powerful sound for parties both big and small Specifications Weight: 13 pounds Battery life: 24 hours Wireless range: Approx. In terms of features, the Ultimate Ears app allows you to connect the Hyperboom to other UE speakers and use them together, you can switch audio source and adjust volume, and you can select four different playlists in Amazon Music, Deezer or Spotify that can be started by holding down the Play button in three seconds.
Sony SRS-XB23 A powerful canister of sound for all your outdoor adventures Specifications Weight: 1.3 pounds Battery life: Up to 12 hours Wireless range: 30 feet Frequency response: 20 – 20,000 Hz Drivers: X-Balanced Speaker, dual passive radiators NFC: Yes Aux-in: Yes USB charging: No TODAY’S BEST DEALS View at Walmart Prime View at Amazon View at Best Buy Reasons to buy + Good sound quality + IP67 rating (waterproof) + Stereo pairing and Party Mode Reasons to avoid – Lower peak volume In terms of performance, it can get pretty loud without a massive amount of distortion and the passive radiators help the bass to sound clearer than it has on any of Sony’s previous models. That’s because the XB23 uses Bluetooth 5 and supports three major codecs – SBC, AAC and LDAC, the latter of which you’ll find on newer Android devices and sounds absolutely great.
Outdoor adventurers will love the ruggedness of this Sony Bluetooth speaker while us kick-back-and-relax folks will enjoy how snugly it fits into a lawn chair’s cup holder. Visually near imperceptible from the original A1, the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 (2nd Gen) is an appealing and highly portable Bluetooth speaker that comes with (admittedly flawed) Alexa support. Urbanista Brisbane Scandi design meets decent sound Specifications Weight: 1.5 pounds Battery life: 10 hours Wireless range: 30m (100ft) Frequency response: 80-20,000Hz Drivers: 2 x 52mm NFC: No Aux-in: No USB charging: No TODAY’S BEST DEALS Check Amazon Reasons to buy + Great audio performance + Second speaker pairing Reasons to avoid – Could be more rugged – Boring design
Loud and rich-sounding, it’s a well-priced addition to anyone’s home, with a good battery life and the option to pair it with another Brisbane for true stereo sound. 1MORE Portable BT Speaker A luxurious Bluetooth speaker for the office and the home Specifications Weight: 268g Battery life: 12 hours Wireless range: N/A Frequency response: N/A Drivers: N/A NFC: No Aux-in: Yes USB charging: Yes TODAY’S BEST DEALS Prime View at Amazon View at Walmart Reasons to buy + Great sound quality for the size + Impressive bass response at low volume Reasons to avoid – Limited IPX4 rating – Average battery life
Some portable speakers are built with durability in mind, and will feature rubberized builds to prevent damage from drops and lightweight designs to make them easy to carry around.
Of course, you can absolutely use your new portable Bluetooth speaker solely inside your home – and that means you can choose from a wider range of designs that will look great with your decor. Sonos Bluetooth speakers are great if you want to bridge the gap between indoors and outdoors, with the ability to form part of a wider multi-room system – and you can be sure that they’ll sound fantastic, too. If waterproofing is a priority then look out for models from Ultimate Ears, which combine fun, colorful designs with rugged builds – many of which can withstand a dip in the pool.
Consider high-end audio brands such as Bose and Bang & Olufsen if you want a combination of stylish design and great sound – but be prepared for relatively high prices. If you want to save money then Urbanista, Tribit, and Anker offer brilliant speakers that won’t break the bank.
The Best Bluetooth and Wireless Speakers for 2021
Big, small, portable, expensive, cheap, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi…the sheer amount of choice can seem overwhelming. Bluetooth is a point-to-point wireless system, pairing a transmitter (your phone or computer) with a receiver (your speaker) to play music. It’s very direct and easy to set up, and can stream pretty high-quality music thanks to technological advancements that have greatly improved audio fidelity over what it was a few years ago.
It can also integrate into your home network, so you can easily play audio from any device connected to your Wi-Fi without pairing anything.
It’s worth noting that the new Sonos Move supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth streaming, so compatibility isn’t an issue at all. They let you easily stream from your iPhone or iPad at better quality than Bluetooth, but if you’re an Android user, you won’t find much utility in it. Like Chromecast, setting up multi-room Echo audio is performed through the same app as your voice assistant and smart home devices, only it’s all Alexa instead of Google. These usually aren’t as complex or robust as Wi-Fi multi-room systems, but they’re a simple option that can provide an alternative to using your home network to stream music.
Larger speakers generally offer fuller sound and richer bass, but they can be more expensive and are often not portable.
These speakers are obviously not portable at all, but if you want a centerpiece sound system for your living room or office they’re likely your best choice.
For a speaker to be portable, it needs to both be small and light enough to easily carry around, and be equipped with a battery so it can run without being plugged in. Since Wi-Fi speakers rely on a separate network to enable multi-speaker and multi-room audio playback, they’re rarely portable.
Look for speakers with IPX ratings and guarantees of water and shock resistance if you want to carry them around to the beach, the lake, the slopes, or the sewers. Our guide to IP ratings explains what those numbers mean, so you can know whether your speaker can handle getting dunked in the pool, or if it simply will stay intact in a light drizzle. Big bass isn’t for everyone, but unless your speaker is downright tiny, it should be able to reproduce low frequencies accurately without distorting at high volumes.
Clarity is more important than sheer power, and a balanced, clean sound should be your goal when shopping for a speaker. They also generally support third-party skills that let you do anything from order pizza to play trivia games. The most prominent first-party voice assistant speakers like the Amazon Echo and the Google Home don’t have batteries.
Don’t be afraid to look for similar speakers to the ones on this list, either; a number of the options included here have solid predecessors that you can now find for much less since they’ve been replaced.
The 10 Best Portable Speakers for iPhone & iPod of 2021
While iPhone speakers might be pretty good for watching videos and listening to audio in a pinch, they’re not designed to fill a room with sound or entertain at a party. For our money, the JBL Flip 5 at Amazon is the best overall portable speaker for iPhone and iPod Touch, delivering great sound, waterproofing, and even the ability to personalize the design when you order it.
The 5 Best Portable Bluetooth Speakers 2021
Portable Bluetooth speakers are the easiest, most affordable way to spread the sound from your phone or tablet across a room, backyard, or beach blanket. With clear vocal reproduction and a decent amount of bass for its size, it offers satisfying sound for a small area, such as across a picnic table or a couple of lounge chairs on a patio.
It has an IP67 rating and is one of the most rugged Bluetooth speakers we’ve tested, able to survive a 5-foot drop and a dunking in 1 meter of water—but because it floats, it’ll probably never dive that deep. The JBL Xtreme 3 is a great choice if you want a Bluetooth speaker that sounds bigger and bolder than our top pick yet is still portable enough to take to the beach or the tailgate.
This speaker is built for adventure: The IP67 rating means it’s waterproof and dustproof, the strong carrying strap makes it easy to lug along anywhere, and in our testing the Xtreme 3 ran for 17 hours on one charge. If you need something that sounds a little louder and fuller than the UE Wonderboom 2 but is more portable and affordable than the JBL Xtreme 3, the Sony SRS-XB33 finds a nice middle ground.
Best AirPlay speakers 2021: wireless streaming for Apple devices
If you’re not quite ready to give up one technology for the other, then you’ll be pleased to note that most AirPlay speakers will also offer Bluetooth, so you won’t miss out on any functionality and it means you can use them with non-iOS source devices too. Despite its five-star rating (and the fact that it’s a belter of an AirPlay smart speaker) in March 2021 Apple announced it was discontinuing it to focus its efforts on the HomePod Mini – which is absolutely on our list. While the Apple HomePod Mini (below) comes with all the company’s signature technologies, if you want top quality sound from an AirPlay 2 speaker – and have the budget to stretch – it is well worth looking at the Naim Mu-so Qb 2nd Generation. Capable of hi-res playback up to 24-bit/384kHz, the new Qb betters its predecessors performance with even greater clarity, precision timing and stunning dynamic range.
Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII Audio Pro adds Google Cast and AirPlay 2 to a winning recipe Specifications Dimensions: HxWxD (cm): 16.6 x 32 x 18cm Power: 2x20W + 40W Digital class D Features: wi-fi, multi-room, Bluetooth, Spotify Connect, Apple AirPlay 2 Connections: RCA, sub out TODAY’S BEST DEALS £349 View at Electricshop Prime £349.62 View at Amazon £359 View at Richer Sounds Reasons to buy + Levelled-up streaming support + Greater clarity + Cleaner and tighter bass Reasons to avoid – Lacks the fun of the original The 2021 update (sensibly titled MkII) to the three-time Award-winning Audio Pro C10 (below) adds AirPlay 2 and Google Cast to complete a multi-room home run – and snaps up a What Hi-Fi?
We’re happy to report that it’s still the case today – if £500 ($500) is your maximum budget, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a speaker that comes close to the Audio Pro C10 MkII. We sort of miss the fun leather handle and the sonic presentation of the original, but we can’t argue with three options for multi-room streaming (AirPlay 2, Google Chromecast and Audio Pro’s own slick and functional app) or the levelled-up grippy bass and improved hi-fidelity performance. Audio Pro currently makes some of the best wireless speakers on the market and the Addon C10 is another impressive Award-winning model – even if it has been superseded by the MkII above. Specifications Dimensions: HxWxD (cm): 17 x 8.8 x 8.8 Power: 20W Features: Bluetooth V4.2, Spotify, wi-fi, AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Google Assistant Connections: wireless only TODAY’S BEST DEALS £139.99 View at Acer UK Check Amazon Reasons to buy + Expansive sound + Packed with features + Premium design Reasons to avoid – No JBL Connect support – Fussy over placement
An IPX7 rating means it’s fully waterproof (to a depth of one metre, for up to 30 minutes) and, once USB-C-charged, you’ll get eight hours of wireless music out of it. Apple HomePod Mini Apple’s new Siri-powered smart speaker is small but mighty Specifications Dimensions: HxWxD (cm): 8.4 x 9.8 x 9.8 Power: 20W Features: Bluetooth 5.0, Siri, Apple Music, AirPlay 2, music over wi-fi Connections: None TODAY’S BEST DEALS £69 View at John Lewis £89 View at argos.co.uk £99 View at O2 Mobiles Reasons to buy + Sophisticated, engaging sound + Substantial smart skills + Impressive music discovery Reasons to avoid – Limited third-party service support – Lacks a full control app
Get its swirling orb of coloured light up and running (when Siri is listening or processing) though, and you realise you’ve got a classy performer on your hands. From the moment we start playing music, it’s clear that the HomePod Mini comfortably outperforms its size and price, quite frankly embarrassing its direct competition with the sophistication and maturity of its sound. Specifications Dimensions: HxWxD (cm):25 x 29.6 x 20.6 Power: : 2x100W Features: Wireless integrated Linn DSM player, Exakt digital crossover Connections: Ethernet, USB, HDMI ARC TODAY’S BEST DEALS £2,690 View at Peter Tyson £2,999.99 View at Selfridges Check Amazon Reasons to buy + Wonderfully articulate + Luxury design + HDMI ARC for TV connection Reasons to avoid – No analogue inputs – No Tidal Masters support What’s striking is the stunning midrange clarity and low-end agility which make the Series 3 a sharp performer and far more insightful than its more affordable competitors, too.
Specifications Dimensions: HxWxD (cm): 25.4 x 28 x 26cm Power: 2x40W tweeter + 2x40W midrange + 80W sub Features: wi-fi, multi-room, Bluetooth V4.1, Spotify Connect, Apple AirPlay, Roon Ready, DSP Connections: Ethernet TODAY’S BEST DEALS £749 View at Richer Sounds £899 View at Sevenoaks Check Amazon Reasons to buy + Detailed, balanced sound + Multi-room integration + Quality build Reasons to avoid – Limited B&W app – Expensive Roon-ready, this elliptical multi-driver speaker is one of the company’s Formation multi-room products and allows you to stream 24-bit/96 kHz hi-res audio through its tweeters, woofers and sub.
The Audio Pro C3 sports the same minimalist look that the Scandinavian company is known for, with textured surfaces and embossed leather carry handle, but the wireless tech adds a whole new dimension to your listening. The big bottom portion of the Drumfire houses a 20cm subwoofer powered by a 200W Class D amplifier to pump bass into the room.
Add in multi-room connectivity and the option to extend the Audio Pro family and you have an enticing, excellent high-end speaker. Specifications Dimensions: HxWxD (cm): 25.5 x 25.3 x 34.3 Power: 3000W Features: Bluetooth, wi-fi, Spotify Connect, AirPlay 2, UpNP Connections: Optical cable TODAY’S BEST DEALS Check Amazon Reasons to buy + Huge sound for its size + Rhythmically good fun + Innovative technology Reasons to avoid – Lacks some subtlety Packing huge amounts of power inside a sleek cabinet complete with side-firing drivers, it can go louder than the average motorbike and thankfully sounds much sweeter on the ears.
Best Bluetooth Speakers for iPhone X and 8 Plus in 2021
Whether we are on a long drive, taking rest, working out in the gym or having a blast at a bachelor party, we love to jam through music. If you are planning a wonderful beach party or getting ready for a memorable trip, take a peek at this distinct collection of the best bluetooth speakers for iPhone X and 8 Plus to handpick a fabulous asset for your music. Due mainly to the latest Bluetooth (5.0), it’s able to instantly connect with your iPhone or any other compatible device from up to 66 feet away.
The inclusion of dual high-performance drivers along with the spiral bass port, it delivers astonishing sound quality. Built-in Li-ion battery offers 24 hours of playtime, while the top-quality mic is great for hands-free calling. The speaker is waterproof, dustproof, sand proof, and also floats on water; making it a perfect companion for an adventurous trip.
It offers a wide 30-feet range to stay connected with your device and has a long battery life of 8 hours. The cylindrical shape of JBL’s Bluetooth speakers for iPhone looks incredible when you place it in standing position on your workstation.
You can wirelessly connect two smartphones with this JBL speaker and play an impressive stereo sound. Play your favorite albums or tracks for twelve hours as the speaker boasts 3000mAh powerful Li-ion battery. SoundLink comes in multiple color variants like red, black, white to let you choose an ideal match for your home décor. What makes DOSS Touch a trusted bet for your chilled out music time is the ability to deliver high-definition stereo sound.
The Bluetooth speaker comes with DSP chips that help it automatically adjust EQ mode by different music style. HD microphone with the support of Siri enhances your hands-free calling experience through clear sound.
Don’t go by the small and ultra-portable design of A2 LENRUE Bluetooth speaker as you could be in for a big shocker. Besides, LENRUE is available in 8 eye-catching color variants including rose gold, silver, ever gorgeous red, etc. The last but not least, OontZ Angle 3 is designed to be a reliable asset for your endless music time. The top-notch dual stereo drivers offer excellent sound and strong bass.
Comiso Bluetooth speaker for iPhone is also waterproof and features a 4400mAh battery for long playback times.
portable speakers for iphone
Whether you’re relaxing at the beach or taking in the views on an adrenaline-filled hiking expedition, your Bluetooth speaker can be confidently placed beside you thanks to the non-slip rubberized base. The dual 1.8” full range drivers deliver a huge musical punch and rich bass for such a small speaker. You can place your Beosound on a rock behind you, in the middle of a circle of people, or use the strap to hang it from a tent pole and the sound performance will be equally authentic.
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