With its Bass Boost feature set to ‘1’, it has a boomy sound profile to help you feel the thump and punch in your music. It has an impressive dynamics performance that can make it very loud and great for parties, although there are slight compression artifacts at max volume.
Best waterproof speakers 2021: the top outdoor speakers for any budget
The best outdoor waterproof speakers can protect the circuitry from splashes, rain and water-based wear such as being dropped in puddles or pools. This high rating signifies that the speaker can be submerged in a body of water – up to 1 meter – for roughly half an hour. And while we’re sure you most likely won’t be listening to your tunes underwater (although no judging from us if you do), the rating means that your speaker will be protected from sudden splashes or downpours. While these outdoor speakers are designed with waterproofing in mind, that also means they’re incredibly robust, and impressively resistant to wear and tear. The best speakers still need to offer solid feature sets, so expect more than just build quality and safety ratings from our picks below. Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 The best portable waterproof speaker Specifications Weight: 0.93 pounds Battery life: 10 hours Wireless range: 100+ feet Frequency response: 80Hz – 20kHz Drivers: Two 40mm active drivers, two 46 x 65mm passive radiators NFC: No Aux-in: No USB charging: Yes 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 for some tracks
Sonos Roam The best waterproof speaker for indoors and out Specifications Weight: 0.95 pounds Battery life: 10 hours Wireless range: 100+ feet Frequency response: N/A Drivers: One tweeter, one mid-woofer NFC: Yes Aux-in: No USB charging: Yes (USB-C) TODAY’S BEST DEALS View at Crutchfield View at Walmart Prime View at Amazon Reasons to buy + Powerful audio performance + Easily portable design Reasons to avoid – Fairly pricey compared to others on the list – Bass can be overwhelming The Sonos Roam is our pick for the best Bluetooth speaker on the planet, and with an IP67 dust and water resistance rating, it can handle the great outdoors with ease.
The mini Sonos speaker boasts 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. JBL Flip 5 A fun, no-frills waterproof speaker Specifications Weight: 1.2 pounds Battery life: 12 hours Wireless range: N/A Frequency response: 65Hz – 20kHz Drivers: 40mm NFC: No Bluetooth version: 4.2 Aux-in: No USB charging: No TODAY’S BEST DEALS View at Walmart Prime View at Amazon View at Sweetwater Sound Reasons to buy + Engaging, entertaining sound + Easy to use compared to others on the list Reasons to avoid – No 3.5mm input – No mic for hands-free calls 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.
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 USB charging: 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 While it lacks a built-in voice assistant, its sound, build quality and excellent app make it a great value.
This is a speaker that can get loud and not distort at higher volumes; be light enough to carry on the move but remain durable enough to tumble in a bag unprotected. It’s waterproof as well as dust-proof, and has a one-touch mix button that lets you pull up your favorite playlists without needing to pick up your smartphone.
There are certainly more detailed outdoor speakers out there (see: Bowers and Wilkins Zeppelin down below), but at a price that’s relatively affordable to all, the UE Boom 3 hits all the right notes for the third year in a row. Ultimate Ears Megablast The best outdoor speaker for battery life Specifications Weight: 1.93 pounds Battery life: 20 hours Wireless range: 100+ feet Frequency response: 65Hz – 20kHz Drivers: Two 2” drivers and two 2” x 4” passive radiators NFC: Yes Aux-in: Yes USB charging: Yes TODAY’S BEST DEALS Prime View at Amazon Prime Low Stock View at Amazon View at Walmart 1 Amazon customer review ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Reasons to buy + Convenient Alexa integration + Bigger sound, better battery Reasons to avoid – Expensive compared to rivals – Charging dock sold separately Bass is stronger and richer than its smaller UE Boom 3 and Wonderboom 2 brothers, and this is the speaker for anybody who wants to really blare their music at a party. For people who want to save some cash, however, the other Ultimate Ears outdoor speakers cost much less and sound nearly as good.
For the money, you get an outdoor speaker that sound great, is tough as nails, acts as a charger for your phone, and lasts all day. JBL Boombox 2 The best waterproof party speaker Specifications Weight: 13 pounds Battery life: 24 hours Wireless range: N/A Frequency response: 50Hz – 20kHz Drivers: N/A NFC: N/A Aux-in: Yes USB charging: Yes TODAY’S BEST DEALS View at Walmart Prime View at Amazon View at Harman Reasons to buy + Loud, distortion-free sound + IPX7 water-resistant + Great 24-hour battery life Reasons to avoid – Expensive compared to rivals – No smartphone charging It’s a hefty tag to pay for a pretty one-dimensional product, but if you need an outdoor-ready speaker for a family gathering and don’t care about hi-res audio, the JBL Boombox 2 has you covered. Thankfully, that adage has never been less applicable: the speaker gets loud enough to fill up a medium-sized room, and at full volume, there’s only a little distortion on the highs.
Braven Stryde 360 A versatile, weatherproof speaker at an affordable price Specifications Weight: N/A Battery life: 12 hours Wireless range: N/A Frequency response: N/A Drivers: 2 x full range driver, 2 x passive radiator NFC: No Aux-in: No USB charging: Yes TODAY’S BEST DEALS View at invisibleSHIELD Prime View at Amazon 286 Amazon customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Reasons to buy + Syncs with a second speaker + Great price-to-performance ratio Reasons to avoid – No 3.5mm aux jack – Average battery life compared to rivals
The best waterproof speakers in 2021
Waterproof speakers make the perfect companion at the beach, pool parties, and even the shower, producing lively sound to keep yourself or small crowds entertained. We’ve compiled a list of the best waterproof speakers that our experts ranked based on testing, factoring in all key categories (e.g., battery life, IPX rating, sound).
This IP67-rated speaker is capable of blasting bass at a high volume, costs a fraction of the Roam’s price, and is super compact to carry anywhere. UE Megaboom 3 The best waterproof speaker overall Specifications Size and Weight: 8.9 x 3.4 x 3.4 inches, 2 pounds Battery Life (Rated): 20 hours Water Resistance: Yes (IP67) Voice Controls: No TODAY’S BEST DEALS Prime View at Amazon View at Dell View at Walmart 23 Amazon customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Reasons to buy + Big bass and full vocals + Good battery life + Can pair with older Megaboom and Boom models for stereo sound Reasons to avoid – Big and heavy for a portable – No speakerphone
Its cylindrical design allows for high-quality sound to pump out in all directions, and with a healthy rated battery life of 20 hours it can keep going all day. The JBL Go 3 can be submerged, blasted with a showerhead or rolled around in wet sand and it will still keep on playing; it hold an IP67 rating, and held up to those standards in our own testing.
It’s extremely portable, weighing less than half of a Sonos Roam, and while it doesn’t sound as sophisticated still delivers more bass than its size would suggest. Sonos Move A more powerful alternative to the Sonos Roam Specifications Size and Weight: 9.4 x 6.3 x 5 inches, 6.6 pounds Battery Life (Rated): 10 hours Water Resistance: Yes (IP56) Voice Controls: Yes (Alexa and Google Assistant) TODAY’S BEST DEALS View at Crutchfield Prime View at Amazon View at Walmart 689 Amazon customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Reasons to buy + Superb audio quality + Built-in Automatic TruePlay technology + Easy Wi-Fi-to-Bluetooth connection conversion Reasons to avoid – Pricey – No smart features in Bluetooth mode
The Wi-Fi-equipped Sonos Move is on the pricey side, but this speaker is portable and smart, complete with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant support. Even if it’s not as smart as the Sonos Roam or doesn’t sound quite as superb as the UE Wonderboom 3, the JBL Charge 5 is still one of the best waterproof speakers on the market.
It’s easy to use, audio performance improves on the Charge 4 and there’s a handy phone-recharging feature that enables the speaker itself to top up your mobile device if it runs low. Anker Soundcore 2 Another of the best cheap waterproof speakers Specifications Size and Weight: 6.5 x 2.1 x 1.77 inches, 12.6 ounces Battery Life (Rated): 24 hours Water Resistance: Yes (IPX5) Voice Controls: No TODAY’S BEST DEALS Prime View at Amazon View at Walmart 67 Amazon customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Reasons to buy + Great battery life + Waterproof Reasons to avoid – Not ideal for larger rooms
This diminutive speaker blasts out well-balanced sound that’s more than enough for an intimate BBQ or pool party, and with around 24 hours of battery life you probably won’t need to worry about running out of juice. You will need to be a bit careful around bodies of water as IPX5 only represents protection against splashes and low-power jets, not total submersion should someone get careless. UE Wonderboom 2 A portable waterproof speaker at a great price Specifications Size and Weight: 4 x 3.7 x 3.7 inches, 14.4 ounces Battery Life (Rated): 13 hours Water Resistance: Yes (IP67) Voice Controls: No TODAY’S BEST DEALS View at Dell Prime View at Amazon View at Walmart 5 Amazon customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Reasons to buy + Full bass for a small speaker + Waterproof and dustproof Reasons to avoid – No app – No visual battery life indicator The UE Wonderboom 2 is one of the best waterproof speakers that crams a surprising amount of bass-rich sound into a small, go-anywhere enclosure. It even floats in water, so fishing it out of a pool or bathtub is no problem at all, and a respectable level of solid ingrees protection should keep it safe around mud and dust too. The Flip 5 matches its predecessor’s IPX7 rating, so is fully waterproof even if it lacks dust protection, and can turn up a bit louder too.
It can distort at louder volumes, something we wish was fixed from the Flip 4, but otherwise this is a good bet if you want something similar to the UE Megaboom 3 at a more affordable price. LG XBoom Go PL7 A water-resistant speaker with sleek styling Specifications Size and Weight: 9.7 x 3.9 x 3.9 inches, 3.2 pounds Battery Life (Rated): 24 hours Water Resistance: Yes (IPX5) Voice Controls: No TODAY’S BEST DEALS Prime View at Amazon View at BHPhoto Prime View at Amazon Reasons to buy + Crisp treble and defined bass + Good battery life + LED lights add to the fun Reasons to avoid – No integrated voice assistant – Few sound adjustments available
In fact it’s one of the most exciting-looking speakers around, with a stylish soft-touch finish and integrated LED lighting that add some visual pop to your playlists. Still, that’s enough protection for all but the most serious of aquatic accidents, and with good-quality sound put plus 24 hours of battery life, LG clearly hasn’t forgotten the essentials.
While most of the devices on our best waterproof speaker list are portable enough to easily toss in a bag, only the Tribit StormBox Micro is truly tiny. Measuring 3.9 x 3.9 x 1.4 inches and weighing a relatively featherweight 8 ounces, the StormBox Micro is a Bluetooth speaker that will fit in your palm, never mind a carry case.
Its hefty drivers and vicious loudness make this the best waterproof speaker for parties, and the quality of clarity of the audio hasn’t been sacrificed at the altar of volume. Fugoo Sport 2.0 A simple, easy-to-use waterproof speaker Specifications Size and Weight: 7.5 x 3 x 2.5 inches, 14.1 ounces Battery Life (Rated): 10 hours Water Resistance: Yes (IP67) Voice Controls: No TODAY’S BEST DEALS Prime View at Amazon Reasons to buy + Bright, crisp treble + Wide soundstage + Fully waterproofed Reasons to avoid – Reduced battery life – No app – Limited bass
Tough plastic edges add further protection against drops, and despite the portable dimensions the Sport 2.0 can play detailed, balanced audio at very high volumes. JBL Link 20 A waterproof speaker with Google smarts Specifications Size and Weight: 8.3 x 3.7 inches, 33.5 ounces Battery Life (Rated): 10 hours Water Resistance: Yes (IPX7) Voice Controls: Yes (Google Assistant) TODAY’S BEST DEALS View at Musician’s Friend View at Musician’s Friend View at Walmart 216 Walmart customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Reasons to buy + Powered by Google Assistant + Portable and rugged + Well-balanced overall sound Reasons to avoid – Can’t make calls – Expensive Smart Bluetooth speakers are becoming a dime a dozen, but the JBL Link 20 manages to stand out from the pack by being one of the few to prioritize Google Assistant. Add in a rugged, IPX7-rated design built to endure a dunk in the pool or a spell in the shower, and you’ve got one of the top speakers out there in the $200-$250 range.
Smaller, lighter speakers are easier to carry out to the park but might not deliver the space-filling volume output of bigger, heavier models. We’ll also test any special features to make sure they work, like voice commands, and will judge the connectivity and controls of each speaker based on how easy they are to use.
Best waterproof speakers 2021: budget, portable, smart
These little beauties are often photographed by a pool, thus letting you know that you can blast tunes while getting in your 40 lengths (or walking in the pouring rain) without fear of malfunction. (Remember, the ‘X’ in IPX7, IPX5, or indeed any IP rating just means the product wasn’t tested for resilience against that particular issue; in this case dust ingress.)
All of the models mentioned below are Bluetooth waterproof speakers, so you can play your tunes wirelessly while keeping your smartphone or tablet away from the wet stuff.
Tribit Stormbox Micro A fun and bubbly Bluetooth speaker that’s serious when it comes to sound Specifications Dimensions: HxWxD (cm): 9.8 x 9.8 x 3.5cm Power: 9W Features: water/dustproof, Bluetooth 5.0, stereo-pairing mode Connections: 3.5 mm stereo TODAY’S BEST DEALS Prime £42.99 View at Amazon Reasons to buy + Mature, musical sound + Surprisingly weighty bass + USB-C charger Reasons to avoid – Short battery life
It’s hard to imagine a home decor, backpack or personal taste that the Tribit Audio Stormbox Micro couldn’t merge in with happily. Although a speaker of such dimensions is obviously limited in terms of bass weight, it does remarkably well; close your eyes while listening and you’ll picture a bigger product. Similarly, if you only have a small zip compartment in the top of your backpack for a sonic travel companion, this speaker is worthy of that space. Take note, Ultimate Ears: a little-known brand called Tribit Audio has produced a budget belter of a Bluetooth speaker. JBL Charge 5 Updated specs and subtle tweaks for JBL’s fifth-generation Charge Specifications Dimensions: HxWxD (cm): 22 x 9.6 x 9.4cm Power: 30W + 10W tweeter Features: waterproof, Bluetooth v5.1, power bank, voice assistant integration Connections: USB-C, USB-A TODAY’S BEST DEALS Prime £159 View at Amazon £159 View at Richer Sounds £159.99 View at argos.co.uk Reasons to buy + Clearer and more detailed sound + Wider soundstage + Updated dustproofing Reasons to avoid – Nothing at this level
Its predecessor carried an IPX7 rating, meaning it could handle being submerged in water to a depth of 1.5m, but the IP67-rated Charge 5 builds on that durability by also being fully dustproof.
Thanks in part to a new 10W tweeter and racetrack-shaped driver, the Charge 5 is currently as good a sound as you can get in a portable Bluetooth speaker design for under £200 ($200, AU$300). JBL Xtreme 3 JBL’s rugged wireless speaker serves up a sonic surprise Specifications Dimensions: HxWxD (cm): 13.9 x 29.8 x 13.4cm Power: 100W Features: Bluetooth v5.1, PartyBoost for multiple connections to PartBoost enabled JBL speakers, IP67 rated Connections: 3.5mm, USB-C, USB-A out TODAY’S BEST DEALS Prime £279 View at Amazon £299 View at Richer Sounds £299.99 View at argos.co.uk Reasons to buy + Rugged build + Impressive detail and dynamics + Strong sense of timing Reasons to avoid – No smart features – No hands-free for phone calls
The JBL Xtreme 3 is a versatile, talented wireless speaker that’s as happy chilling at home as it is being the life and soul of a party. Yes, it’s rugged, it’s IP67 dust- and waterproof certified and you’d be forgiven for thinking at first glance that it might be more preoccupied with the amount of bass it’s producing rather than musical quality. But let us reassure you: the JBL Xtreme 3 proves to be a careful and considerate performer from the lowest of lows to the highest highs. The JBL Xtreme 3 gained five stars across the board during our rigorous in-house testing, never appearing out of its depth no matter how complicated the musical arrangement.
JBL Charge 4 A fun and bubbly Bluetooth speaker that’s serious when it comes to sound Specifications Dimensions: HxWxD (cm): 22 x 9.5 x 9.3 Power: 30W Features: waterproof, Bluetooth v4.2, power bank, voice assistant integration Connections: 3.5 mm stereo TODAY’S BEST DEALS Check Amazon 148 Amazon customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Reasons to buy + Rugged and water resistant + USB port for charging + Great sound quality Reasons to avoid – Perhaps too subtle for some JBL Link Portable For a great, affordable, durable home smart speaker, you’ll be hard-pushed to find a product that can match JBL’s Link Portable Specifications Dimensions: HxWxD (cm): 17 x 8.8 x 8.8 Power: 20W Features: waterproof, Bluetooth v4.2, Google Assistant built-in, Chromecast, AirPlay 2, music over wi-fi Connections: 3.5 mm stereo 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 Suddenly, much of that competition seems to melt away – its connectivity brings a plethora of rarely-seen streaming options to the table at this level, including AirPlay 2, Chromecast and hi-res support. If all you want is a portable, waterproof Bluetooth speaker that sounds as good as £100 can currently buy, you’ll be hard-pressed to better the Flip 5. Specifications Waterproof: IP67 Battery life: 16 hours Connections: Micro USB, Wireless charger Wireless: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi Dimensions (HWD): 237 x 88 x 88mm Weight: 1,200g TODAY’S BEST DEALS Check Amazon 338 Amazon customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Reasons to buy + Empty List Reasons to avoid – Empty List
Amazon’s Alexa virtual assistant still comes as standard, giving you smart skills around the home, but the battery life is a little better. The button on top is surprisingly versatile – it can skip tracks, play and pause, and even summon a playlist – and you can pair hundreds of the blighters to create quite a din. JBL Go 3 JBL’s newest soap-sized speaker sounds good – but the finish and battery life won’t wash with today’s class leaders Specifications Dimensions: HxWxD (cm): 8.8 x 7.5 x 4.1 Power: 4W Features: Water/dustproof IP67, Bluetooth 5.1 Connections: USB-C TODAY’S BEST DEALS £29.99 View at O2 Mobiles £34 View at Richer Sounds Prime £34.99 View at Amazon Reasons to buy + Sensible treble + Fuller bass + More volume Reasons to avoid – Poor battery life – Not very durable finish
The diminutive, soap on a rope-styled Go 3 features Bluetooth 5.1 instead of 4.1 plus a maximum power output of 4.2W, up from 3W in the Go 2 (which we also liked) and now, an IP67 water- and dust-proof rating.
Best Bluetooth speakers 2021: portable speakers for every budget
It’s nothing to do with shortage of options – every online manufacturer from Apple to Ultimate Ears is vying for a bite of the Bluetooth cherry and by association, your hard-earned cash. We’ve done the heavy lifting and rounded-up our pick of the best Bluetooth speakers across all shapes, sizes and prices to ensure you discover a product you’ll be over the moon with.
It may sound obvious, but the number one piece of advice we always offer when looking for a Bluetooth speaker is to avoid opting for the first model that catches your eye. JBL Xtreme 3 JBL’s rugged wireless speaker serves up a sonic surprise Specifications Dimensions: HxWxD (cm): 13.9 x 29.8 x 13.4cm Power: 100W Features: Bluetooth v5.1, PartyBoost for multiple connections to PartBoost enabled JBL speakers, IP67 rated Connections: 3.5mm, USB-C, USB-A out TODAY’S BEST DEALS Prime £279 View at Amazon £299 View at Richer Sounds £299.99 View at argos.co.uk Reasons to buy + Rugged build + Impressive detail and dynamics + Strong sense of timing Reasons to avoid – No smart features – No hands-free for phone calls
Yes, it’s rugged, it’s IP67 dust- and waterproof certified and you’d be forgiven for thinking at first glance that it might be more preoccupied with the amount of bass it’s producing rather than musical quality. The JBL Xtreme 3 gained five stars across the board during our rigorous in-house testing, never appearing out of its depth no matter how complicated the musical arrangement.
Specifications Dimensions: HxWxD (cm): 13.8 × 26.9 × 4.7cm Power: : 2 x 25W Features: Bluetooth 5.0 with aptX, apt X HD, USB-out for device charging, battery life of 30 hours Connections: 3.5mm aux, dedicated mains charging port and adapter with UK, EU and US adapter plugs TODAY’S BEST DEALS £299 View at Richer Sounds £299 View at Peter Tyson Low Stock £329 View at Audio Visual Online Reasons to buy + Excellent clarity + Impressive bass weight + Classy build and finish Reasons to avoid – No daisy-chaining for multiple Katch G2s Although portable enough to be your travel speaker (and boasting a stylish retractable travel handle and a 30-hour battery) the Katch G2’s dedicated mains charging port and adapter with bundled UK, EU and US adapter plugs makes it an easy fit for your lounge too – and once there, it’ll sound as detailed, clear and expansive as this money can buy.
It’s at the pricey end of the market, yes, but it’s a stone cold stunner, delivering excellent clarity, impressive bass weight and good looks in spades – so much so that we recently handed it a What Hi-Fi?
If all you want is a portable Bluetooth speaker that sounds as good as you can currently buy for around £100 ($100, AU$119), you’ll be hard-pressed to better the fantastic Flip 5. Assuming you don’t mind the lack of an aux-in port or inbuilt microphone (as seen in the Flip 4), you’ll almost certainly be wowed by this speaker’s sonic chops. Tribit Stormbox Micro A fun and bubbly Bluetooth speaker that’s serious when it comes to sound Specifications Dimensions: HxWxD (cm): 9.8 x 9.8 x 3.5cm Power: 9W Features: water/dustproof, Bluetooth 5.0, stereo-pairing mode Connections: 3.5 mm stereo TODAY’S BEST DEALS Prime £42.99 View at Amazon Reasons to buy + Mature, musical sound + Surprisingly weighty bass + USB-C charger Reasons to avoid – Short battery life
It’s hard to imagine a home decor, backpack or personal taste that the Tribit Audio Stormbox Micro couldn’t merge in with happily. Although a speaker of such dimensions is obviously limited in terms of bass weight, it does remarkably well; close your eyes while listening and you’ll picture a bigger product. Take note, Ultimate Ears: a little-known brand called Tribit Audio just produced a budget belter of a Bluetooth speaker. JBL Charge 5 Updated specs and subtle tweaks for JBL’s fifth-generation Charge Specifications Dimensions: HxWxD (cm): 22 x 9.6 x 9.4cm Power: 30W + 10W tweeter Features: waterproof, Bluetooth v5.1, power bank, voice assistant integration Connections: USB-C, USB-A TODAY’S BEST DEALS Prime £159 View at Amazon £159 View at Richer Sounds £159.99 View at argos.co.uk Reasons to buy + Clearer and more detailed sound + Wider soundstage + Updated dustproofing Reasons to avoid – Nothing at this level
Its predecessor carried an IPX7 rating, meaning it could handle being submerged in water to a depth of 1.5m, but the IP67-rated Charge 5 builds on that durability by also being fully dustproof. Thanks in part to a new 10W tweeter and racetrack-shaped driver, the Charge 5 is currently as good a sound as you can get in a portable Bluetooth speaker design for under £200 ($200, AU$300).
Throw in its classy, well made design, easy to use operation and the bonus of Alexa, and you’re looking at a Bluetooth speaker sequel that has very much been worth the wait. JBL Go 3 JBL’s newest soap-sized speaker sounds good – but the finish and battery life won’t wash with today’s class leaders Specifications Dimensions: HxWxD (cm): 8.8 x 7.5 x 4.1 Power: 4W Features: Water/dustproof IP67, Bluetooth 5.1 Connections: USB-C TODAY’S BEST DEALS £29.99 View at O2 Mobiles £34 View at Richer Sounds Prime £34.99 View at Amazon Reasons to buy + Sensible treble + Fuller bass + More volume Reasons to avoid – Poor battery life – Not very durable finish
Specifications Dimensions: HxWxD (cm): 22 x 9.5 x 9.3 Power: 30W Features: waterproof, Bluetooth v4.2, power bank, voice assistant integration Connections: 3.5 mm stereo TODAY’S BEST DEALS Check Amazon 148 Amazon customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Reasons to buy + Rugged and water resistant + USB port for charging + Great sound quality Reasons to avoid – Perhaps too subtle for some
Not only is this one of best-sounding Bluetooth speakers around at this end of the market, it serves up a whopping 20 hours of playback from a single charge and, thanks to the arrival of its newest sibling, you’ll find this slightly older model discounted across several retailers.
Ultimate Ears has really made a splash in the Bluetooth speaker market with a number of colourful, fun-sounding and portable models. When pressed, it restricts the bass frequencies, allowing the UE to play louder through the midrange, which in turn makes the sound easier to hear when the unit is used outdoors.
Specifications Connectivity: Bluetooth and wi-fi Power: 250W (mains powered) Inputs: analogue audio jack, Toslink optical digital audio Battery life: N/A Dimensions (hwd): 20 x 66 x 18.5cm : Weight: 5.4kg TODAY’S BEST DEALS Check Amazon Reasons to buy + Expansive, weighty and accurate + Great for larger rooms + Top-notch build Reasons to avoid – No AirPlay 2 – No Spotify Connect While the Award-winning Naim (below) just edges it for both subtlety and a slightly livelier sound, there isn’t much in it – and the Dynaudio Music 5 boasts superiority in other ways.
Open up the Dynaudio app and you’ll discover NoiseAdapt, a feature that helps sound cut through a noisy room – useful during loud parties.
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 (also listed, below) adds AirPlay 2 and Google Cast to complete a multi-room home run – and gets itself 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 miss the leather handle and fun, slightly rock’n’roll aesthetic and 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. The Audio Pro Addon C3 isn’t just the best Bluetooth speaker at this price, it’s a stylish, wi-fi connected, multi-room capable centrepiece – plus it’s a What Hi-Fi?
It has an fantastic sense of refinement for such a small speaker, not to mention a rear-firing bass reflex port that delivers plenty of low-end grunt. This model won’t charge your smartphone but it does feature an ethernet port, giving you the option to hardwire it to your home network.
The C3 supports streaming services such as Spotify, Tidal, Qobuz and Apple Music, and while there’s no built-in voice assistant, you can control the speaker via the Alexa app. Remove whatever colour grille you’ve gone for and you’ll be rewarded with upgraded and optimised midrange and bass drive units, all powered by a total of 300W of amplification.
Specifications Dimensions: HxWxD (cm): 11.5 x 21.5 x 13.5 Power: 2x 5W + 15W Digital class D Features: Bluetooth V4.0 Connections: 3.5mm stereo, USB TODAY’S BEST DEALS £179 View at Currys Check Amazon 411 Amazon customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Reasons to buy + Full sound + Expressive and dynamic + Faultless build Reasons to avoid – Size won’t suit everyone Audio Pro tends to ignore gimmicks in favour of high-quality sound but this speaker does have the facility to charge up your smartphone or tablets via a USB port. Specifications Connectivity: Bluetooth Power: Battery Inputs: 3.5mm Battery life: 15hrs Dimensions (hwd): 13.6 x 28.8 x 13.2cm Weight: 2.39kg TODAY’S BEST DEALS Prime £241.90 View at Amazon 8 Amazon customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Reasons to buy + Clean, clear sound + Balanced bass + Robust build Reasons to avoid – Hefty design – No wi-fi or multi-room smarts
The rugged, IPX7 waterproof exterior, 15 hour battery life and ability to charge your phone from its USB port mean it’s a great option for the beach – and you’ll probably find deals on this model thanks to the arrival of the latest iteration, the Xtreme 3 (above).
And it won’t let you talk to Alexa or Google Assistant, just set a button to activate them in the manner of an earphone’s in-line remote. You get Bluetooth, wi-fi and Alexa smart assistant voice controls, meaning you can turn up the volume or play songs through Amazon Music Unlimited without lifting a finger.
The 360-degree sound and bass output is far better than one might expect for this kind of money; throw in Alexa smarts and you have a fun, energetic speaker that offers plenty of bang for your buck. Yes, it is intended to get us all invested in its virtual assistant, Alexa, but where much of the Alexa-enabled kit out there is audio based and concentrated on the Bluetooth speaker market in particular, the Echo Show 5 embraces both sound and video in its abilities to communicate.
Specifications Connectivity: Bluetooth and wi-fi Power: Battery Inputs: N/A Battery life: 16hrs Dimensions (hwd): 23.7 x 8.8 x 8.8cm Weight: 1.19kg TODAY’S BEST DEALS Check Amazon 338 Amazon customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Reasons to buy + Dynamic, detailed sound + Enthusiastic, punchy rhythms + Precise, taut basslines Reasons to avoid – Presentation is slightly lean – Not fully featured just yet The Roam works perfectly well as a standalone Bluetooth speaker but it’s also designed to be immersed in the company’s burgeoning multi-room ecosystem.
Features includes support for AirPlay 2, voice controls and Sonos’ Trueplay tech, which uses the built-in mic to tune bass and treble to suit your surroundings. Other Bluetooth speakers offer a more expressive and detailed sound but if you’re invested in the world of Sonos, the Roam is a smart buy.
Best waterproof speakers
Editor’s note: this list was updated on September 3, 2021, to include more products in the notable mentions. The JBL Flip 5 is a happy-medium speaker when it comes to portability, sound quality, and convenience.
If you don’t need USB-C charging and the slightly upgraded drivers, you can pick up the older JBL Flip 4 instead. The clever design of the UE BOOM 3 is impressive, earning it a top spot on this list.
Not only does the UE BOOM 3 design make it appealing, but it’s fairly lightweight and isn’t a hassle to toss into a bag. Battery life is roughly 15 hours of constant playback which isn’t great, but it does have an IP67 waterproof build.
The JBL Charge 5 has an IP67 rating, so you can drop it in the sand or dunk it in the water with no problem. The short, pudgy build is adorned with UE’s signature + and – volume buttons.
If you need, you can switch Outdoor Boost mode on, which increases the loudness at the expense of clarity. As is the case with waterproof speakers, durability is key and the UE WONDERBOOM 2 is as strong as it is stout. The WONDERBOOM 2 features an updated elastic loop to hook it onto a tree limb. While battery life has greatly improved from the previous version, it still falls short of UE’s claimed 13-hour stamina.
Battery life is just okay at about 12 hours, but it’s enough to power the dual LED halos on the top and bottom. Limit: Device max tilt of 60° from sprays IPX4 ✓ Splashes, omnidirectional IPX5 ✓ Water jets (12.5 L/min) Besides the obvious advantage of not having to worry about water damage, waterproof speakers are generally durable and often shock-resistant. You should avoid dropping any electronics because it could loosen internal components, but these devices are made with adventure in mind.
Sure, there are beefier options out there for those of you who prefer sound quality over portability, but most are small enough to easily toss in a bag on your way out of the house. Worst case, you can always clip the speaker to the outside of your bag or toss it into your pack’s water bottle holster.
Drivers need to be protected from water and dust to varying degrees which means they don’t sound as clear as their non-waterproof competitors. This isn’t always the case, but most of the time waterproof speakers will be a bit more expensive because of the added feature. Each writer at SoundGuys has accumulated years of experience reporting on the consumer audio market. This coupled with hands-on experience has allowed us to quickly discriminate between the good and not-so-good products out there. At SoundGuys, none of our writers will benefit from recommending one brand over another, so you can trust that our opinions are unbiased.
Best Bluetooth speakers under $100
These aren’t cheap, and though they’re not the most expensive or best sounding speakers you’ll ever hear, you still want to get your money’s worth. It’s also missing high-quality Bluetooth codec support, but you can use the PartyBoost button on the speaker to pair it with another compatible JBL product for stereo output.
However, you will get a few improvements over the fifth-generation model like an IP67 dust- and water-resistant rating, a new multi-driver sound system, and Bluetooth 5.1. Although we’re looking at speakers to reproduce your favorite songs, it’s important to remember that a $100 USD budget won’t buy the best sound quality on the market. If you want something that sounds incredible, you’ll have to compromise on portability for a good pair of desktop speakers or a home theater soundbar setup. Bose is a company that you can usually count on the make some pretty good audio products, and the SoundLink Micro is no exception.
This durability, paired with the longer battery life, and the fact that it floats make this an ideal option for summer adventurers, people who want a decent shower speaker, and those trying to spice up a pool party. Prioritizing a bassy thump in a small package, this speaker also sports Bluetooth and NFC, making pairing with your phone just a bit more seamless.
If out-of-the-box tuning of the SRS-XB23 is not your taste, you can use the Sony Music Center app to adjust your EQ settings, which is especially helpful when transitioning from a quiet living room to a park, for example. If you’re set on getting one of the best quality codecs, the SRS-XB23 is LDAC compatible, which makes it easier to forgive the lack of an auxiliary input port. Bonus points for Sony’s reliable warranty, some cool color options, and a carry cord to attach to your pack. That success continues with the Flare 2, which features new drivers that result in even louder bass and improved treble reproduction.
The Soundcore app allows you to adjust settings such as EQ, or control the speaker’s dual-LED halo lights. However, for its durable and stylish build, coupled with its decent sound quality, the Flare 2 is a worthy adversary in the affordable Bluetooth speaker category. If a speaker made it onto this list, then you can be sure we’ve had firsthand experience with it, and in many cases put them through our entire review process. Whittling down an entire product category to only a handful of recommended items takes a lot more work than you might expect. For most of us, that means a speaker that sounds good, isn’t too expensive and can withstand being used in a setting where anyone might want to listen to music. Anker Soundcore Flare+: At a slightly higher price point than the Flare 2, you get a more powerful speaker with significantly increased bass reproduction.
Anker Soundcore Select Pro: It’s new, so we haven’t tested this boombox style speaker yet or found enough reviews to wholeheartedly recommend it, but with an IPX7 rating, 16 hours of music on a single charge, and fun lights, there’s no reason to not consider the Anker Soundcore Select Pro. Jam Hang Up: This compact speaker looks a bit like the Bose SoundLink Micro but instead of a semi-elastic strap, it features an adhesive pad that sticks to nearly any flat surface.
The integrated carabiner makes it easy to attach the Clip 4 to any bag, and its IP67 build means you can take it anywhere without worrying about breaking it. In addition to the fact that this site is all of our day jobs, each writer at SoundGuys has accumulated years of experience reporting on the consumer audio market. We do this because we genuinely want you to be happy with your purchases—none of our writers see a dime from partnership deals or referral purchases—and nobody here is allowed to benefit from steering you towards one product or another. While this site does make money from referrals, the individual writers are paid based on their work regardless of whether or not people clicked that “buy” icon.
Best Bluetooth wireless speaker for 2021
So while there are plenty of mini Bluetooth speakers that deliver bigger sound than you might expect, they do have their sonic limitations. For a lot of people it’s a question of finding a speaker that’s not too big or too small — one that travels well but also is capable of producing good sound for its size.
David Carnoy/CNET When it launched, Bose made some bold claims about its new SoundLink Flex Bluetooth speaker, particularly its extra bass performance.
Available in three color options — black, white smoke and stone blue (pictured) — it’s equipped with Bose’s PositionIQ technology to automatically detect the speaker’s orientation and deliver optimized sound based on whether upright, hanging or flat on its back.
The Flex also floats and Bose says it can survive drops and bumps, with a soft silicone back and powder-coated steel grille that “won’t peel or flake and is resistant to corrosion and UV light.” Aside from its great design, Bose’s SoundLink Micro stood out because it was able to deliver more bass than every Bluetooth speaker in its size class, and it also managed to have limited distortion at higher volumes.
It’s IP67 dust-proof and water-resistant (it can be fully submerged in shallow water for a short time) and has up to eight hours of battery life at moderate volume levels with USB-C charging. Like the Bose, this portable Bluetooth speaker has an integrated strap so you can clip it to your backpack or bike’s handlebars.
But for the fourth-gen Clip 4, JBL has moved to a more oval shape, bulked up the speaker slightly and added USB-C charging. It’s kind of a poor man’s version of JBL’s well-regarded Xtreme 2 speaker, which currently sells for around $200 though its list price is higher. Equipped with a handle and weighing a little over 4 pounds, the speaker reminds me of one of those giant flashlights or “floating lanterns” that were in vogue about 30 years ago. Anker says the Motion Boom delivers “huge stereo sound” and yes, it plays pretty loud and has a decent amount of bass with reasonable clarity.
According to JBL, the speaker is equipped with a “racetrack-shaped driver,” with a separate tweeter and dual passive radiators, which improves both clarity and bass performance over the Charge 4. The Charge 5 comes in six color options: black, blue, gray, red, teal and “squad” (which looks like a kind of camo). There’s an integrated handle for toting the speaker, but the PartyBox 110 is pretty hefty, weighing in at 23 pounds and measuring slightly more than 22 inches tall.
I didn’t test the stereo mode, but I was impressed with the sound of a single PartyBox 110 — it puts out lots of well-defined bass with good overall clarity in the highs and mids — and I suspect that pairing two of these together would be pretty awesome.
But it does deliver enough volume to fill a spacious living room with sound and also plays loud enough for a small pool or beach party. This is your best bet if you want a portable speaker that can deliver big, quality sound and operates on battery power.
This portable Bluetooth speaker is both dust- and waterproof with an IP67 certification and is rated for 16 hours of battery life at moderate volume levels (it has USB-C charging while the older XB12 didn’t). David Carnoy/CNET Ultimate Ears Boom Bluetooth speakers come in a few different sizes, but none of them are as big as the all-new Hyberboom. A supersize wireless speaker that tips the scales at a hefty 13 pounds, the Hyperboom makes the UE Megaboom 3 look unquestionably puny. UE Boom reps told me the Hyperboom was created after the company got feedback from its customers looking for a bigger speaker that could play loud enough and have deep enough bass to power a party.
Besides sounding decent for streaming your favorite music and more, this affordable Bluetooth speaker is also fully waterproof. Like its predecessor, the fully waterproof Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 with Bluetooth connectivity carries a list price of $100, but often sells for less.
This Bluetooth device also has 30% better battery life — lasting up to 13 hours at moderate volume levels, according to Ultimate Ears — and you can link two together to create a stereo sound pairing by pressing a button on each speaker. Sarah Tew/CNET The Tribit MaxSound Plus ($50 with an instant coupon) is about 30% bigger than its sibling XSound Go and costs about $25 more, but it performs substantially better and is one of the best-sounding speakers in its size and price class. It’s also worth noting that the A1 has multipoint Bluetooth pairing so you can connect this to your PC and smartphone at the same time and easily switch back and forth between the two if a call comes in on your phone. Additionally, the smart speaker is Alexa-enabled, meaning you can activate Amazon’s voice commands assistant by just saying “Alexa.”
Sarah Tew/CNET Although a little pricey, Bose SoundLink Micro sounds remarkably decent for its tiny size, delivering more bass than other pocketable speakers. It’s a fully waterproof Bluetooth speaker and available in three color options, although the blue version appears to be hard to find.
9 Best Waterproof Bluetooth Speakers of 2021- Water-Resistant Speaker Reviews
So, in order to find the best waterproof Bluetooth speakers out there, we spent weeks scrutinizing and testing products from leading brands like Bose, JBL, and Sony, to name a few. Our process included reading reviews from other tech publications and sifting through consumer feedback, as well as consulting with industry experts. Sound quality — evaluating the ability of each speaker to deliver audible bass, treble, and mid-range come rain or shine.
— evaluating the ability of each speaker to deliver audible bass, treble, and mid-range come rain or shine. Battery performance — observing how many hours’ worth of wireless playback the device is capable of, as well as its charging methods. Ease of use and additional attributes — evaluating the product’s controls, any supplemental features it offers, and, when available, app-enabled functionality.
Regardless of the type of outing you take it on, a high-quality product should be able to deliver a stellar sonic experience for many hours between charges. If you plan to make the gadget a true party centerpiece, consider an offering that’s capable of delivering multidirectional, 360-degree audio. Every speaker on our list has an official rating for water resistance (some can even float on the surface), and it is important to know the .
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