Bluetooth speakers have always been a great addition to any music lover’s kit bag and a budget option is a must for lazy days at the beach (or more energetic afternoons weeding the lawn). Perhaps dropping a significant sum on something with multi-room capabilities, Roon-ready smarts or a plethora of inbuilt streaming platforms simply isn’t justifiable right now. Whether you want full-on portability or a speaker to move occasionally from your bedroom to the kitchen, check these out for size: you’re sure to find something you – and your current budget – can truly enjoy.
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).
Ultimate Ears has really made a splash in the Bluetooth speaker market with a number of colourful, fun-sounding and portable models on its books. 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 produced a budget belter of a Bluetooth speaker.
Amazon Echo Dot (4th Generation) The new Echo Dot is the most compelling and affordable case for choosing Alexa Specifications Dimensions: HxWxD (cm): 10 x 10 x 8.9 Power: 15W Features: Alexa inbuilt, Bluetooth, music over wi-fi Connections: 3.5 mm stereo TODAY’S BEST DEALS £28.99 View at argos.co.uk £28.99 View at Currys £34.99 View at Amazon Reasons to buy + Expansive sound + Packed with features + Premium design Reasons to avoid – No JBL Connect support – Fussy over placement But by updating its most popular and affordable Echo device with this degree of skill, Amazon has laid down the most compelling case yet for choosing Alexa. If you like the idea of a smart assistant combined with a simple music speaker, it’s hard to argue against the Amazon Echo Dot. For not a lot of money, you get a whole load of smart voice functionality and decent sound with this slightly older (and thus, quite heavily discounted!)
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 And the sound is surprisingly good given its diminutive dimensions, providing an open, three-dimensional listen – though obviously it doesn’t pack much bass. Ultimate Ears has a knack for finding the right combination of sound, design and features in its portable Bluetooth speakers, and it does so again with the waterproof Blast. It’s a beefed-up version of the Audio Pro T3 – however, unlike the smaller model, the T5 doesn’t have a in-built battery, so this isn’t a speaker to be taking out and about.
Specifications Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.2, 3.5mm Water resistance: IPX7 Battery life: 15 hours Power: 2 x 20W Weight: 2.4kg TODAY’S BEST DEALS Prime £241.90 View at Amazon 8 Amazon customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Reasons to buy + Clean, clear sound + Balanced bass + Solid design Reasons to avoid – Big – No wi-fi or multi-room – Presentation too grown-up for some At first sight, the it might appear a little brash and out of place – an unashamed boombox in an era of reserved smart speakers dressed in grey fabric. The speaker has a decent heft – it feels more substantial than the similar-sized Google Home, for instance – but it can still be held in the palm of your hand. An iPX4 water-resistance rating is handy if you’re worried about it getting wet, and for such a small speaker, the Bose Revolve delivers a surprisingly big and bold sound.
Specifications Connectivity: Bluetooth 3.0, 3.5mm Battery life: 20 hours Full-range driver: 6.5cm Passive driver: 7.7cm DSP equalization: 24-bit TODAY’S BEST DEALS Prime £184 View at Amazon £189 View at Peter Tyson 1 Amazon customer review ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Reasons to buy + Fast, agile, musical sound + Premium feel and build Reasons to avoid – Not much at this price The Tivoli Andiamo manages to pull off the seemingly impossible: it’s a beautifully put-together ‘lifestyle’ product, but at the same time it provides a sound that comfortably matches its price. The result is a spread of sound that has to be admired, combined with excellent timing – it snaps along with that same intensity and intelligent organisation we’ve come to expect from Audio Pro.
The best cheap Bluetooth speakers in 2021
They might not match the hardware, specs, or feature set of the best Bluetooth speakers overall, but that doesn’t mean these portable music systems can’t deliver top-tier performance for a bargain. Some of the latest low-cost speakers have stepped up their game, boasting audio-sharing capabilities, longer battery life, and even waterproofing that’s on the level of what premium models like the Sonos Roam and UE Megaboom 3 offer. Below is our list of the best Bluetooth speakers based on performance and value, helping you find something that will suit your budget very nicely.
The Soundcore 2 delivers on the things we think are most important in an affordable wireless speaker: it produces well-balanced sound, is water-resistant, and plays for an amazing 24 hours on a full charge. This sequel in JBL’s popular Bluetooth speaker series improves on its predecessor in several ways, including design, sound, and battery life. Anker Soundcore 2 The best cheap Bluetooth speaker overall Specifications Size: 6.5 x 2.2 x 1.8 inches Weight: 14.6 ounces Battery: 24 hours Waterproof: Yes (IPX5) TODAY’S BEST DEALS Prime View at Amazon View at Walmart 67 Amazon customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Reasons to buy + Great battery life + Excellent sound quality Reasons to avoid – No app The 6.5 x 2.1 x 1.77-inch wireless speaker is small enough to be easily toteable, and its fantastic 24-hour battery life means you can listen for a long time between recharges. The attachable carabiner installed at the top makes the speaker simple to carry around by easily clipping onto any item: backpack, bike handle, carry-on bag…you name it.
The waterproof exterior (IPX7) is another major hallmark that offers peace of mind when tossing the speaker into the pool or cycling with it through the park during a surprise rainstorm.
Cambridge SoundWorks Oontz Angle 3 The best cheap Bluetooth speaker under $40 Specifications Size: 5.3 x 2.8 x 2.6 inches Weight: 9 ounces Battery: 14 hours Waterproof: Yes (IPX5) TODAY’S BEST DEALS Prime View at Amazon Prime View at Amazon View at Walmart 27 Amazon customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Reasons to buy + Big sound for its size + Good battery life Reasons to avoid – No app
It produces bright, clear vocals and crisp treble, and it even delivers a bit of bass—something missing from other cheap speakers. Sound quality is good rather than great, with thick bass but less of an ear for detail than the Soundcore 2, but on the whole this is an outstanding bargain.
For a few dollars less than the Anker SoundCore 2, the Tribit XSound Go comes pretty close to matching the specs for our top budget Bluetooth speaker: 24-hour battery life, excellent wireless range and auxiliary input. However, while the Tribit delivers very good overall sound for a small speaker, it can’t match the bass output of the SoundCore 2. Tribit StormBox Micro The best cheap Bluetooth speaker for portability Specifications Size: 3.9 x 3.9 x 1.4 inches Weight: 9.6 ounces Battery: 8 hours Waterproof: Yes (IP67) TODAY’S BEST DEALS View at Walmart Prime View at Amazon Prime View at Amazon Reasons to buy + Small and lightweight + Decent bass + Water- and dust-proof Reasons to avoid – No app – Short battery life This is a much more compact speaker than its cousin, the XSound Go, and it’s both fully waterproof (in depths up to 1 meter) and protected against dust and dirt.
Unlike a lot of very small speakers, it also sounds great, producing clear vocals and some surprisingly strong bass. The only drawbacks are the lack of an app 9though you can pair with two devices at once) and a relatively low battery life, which sees the StormBox Micro run dry after 8 hours.
Doss SoundBox A desk-friendly cheap Bluetooth speaker Specifications Size: 6.6 x 2.9 x 2.7 inches Weight: 19.7 ounces Battery: 12 hours Waterproof: Splash-resistant (IPX4) TODAY’S BEST DEALS View at Walmart Prime View at Amazon Prime View at Amazon 905 Amazon customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Reasons to buy + Good bass + Good battery life Reasons to avoid – Doesn’t project sound well But it’s 1.2 pounds, so the 6.6 x 2.9 x 2.7-inch unit isn’t really a great fit for the outdoors, even with its impressive 12 hours of battery life and water resistance.
It comes in black, white, blue, pink and red to better match your personal style, and has a touch-sensitive dial on top for controlling volume. The unit produces clear vocals and sharp treble thanks to its two drivers, though the bass comes across a bit muddy. To make it easier to tote, you can attach it to your bike using a tripod mount or buy the Aomais Sling Cover to give it a handle. JBL Clip Plus An old-timer with plenty of value Specifications Size: 4.2 x 3.5 x 1.7 inches Weight: 5.3 ounces Battery: 5 hours Waterproof: No (water resistant) TODAY’S BEST DEALS Check Amazon View at Amazon 47 Amazon customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Reasons to buy + Impressive audio quality for its size + Convenient integrated clip + Built-in speakerphone Reasons to avoid – Limited battery life – Not waterproof
Almost six years since its original launch and this ultraportable speaker remains a popular item to take on bike rides and hikes. SoundBot SB510 HD The best cheap shower speaker Specifications Size: 12 x 8 x 6 inches Weight: 1.6 ounces Battery: 6 hours Waterproof: Yes (no IP rating stated) TODAY’S BEST DEALS Prime View at Amazon Prime View at Amazon View at Walmart 9 Amazon customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Reasons to buy + Good vocals and treble + Sharp treble Reasons to avoid – Made of flimsy materials – Limited bass If you know you’ll want to take the speaker with you on hikes and to the pool, opt for one that is light, offers waterproofing and ideally gets loud enough to be heard over environmental noise.
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 cheap Bluetooth speaker deals and sales for December 2021
Bluetooth speakers are ten-a-penny these days, with everyone from JBL and Bose to Sony and Sonos getting in on the action. The promise of wireless speakers you can take on the move, often even in all-weather conditions, is simply too good to pass up – especially at these prices.
With Cyber Monday deals having kicked off, too, many Bluetooth speakers will be at record-low prices, or at least seeing the kind of discounts usually reserved for these annual sales events.
Google’s getting in on the smart networks for speaker – this model sounds pretty good, but is better at listening to voices.
So instead, spread music around your house with Alexa on board but getting this well-priced bundle during Cyber Monday. Generally speaking, Bluetooth wireless speakers are awesomely convenient and extremely portable powerhouses that provide the sound of a small Hi-Fi.
If you want to bring your Bluetooth speaker to the beach or campsite, seek something with a durable, waterproof build. Meanwhile, if you want an indoor Bluetooth speaker to add to include as part of a wider multi-room system, high-end audio brands such as Bose and Sonos can provide that along with great style and balanced sound. Creative Muvo Mini Capable, durable – and very affordable Weight: 0.6 lbs | Battery life: 10 hours | IPX rating: IP66 dust/water-resistant | NFC: Yes | Aux-in: Yes Today’s best Creative Muvo Mini deals $57.72 View Deal at Amazon 623 Amazon customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Weatherproof exterior Good battery life Bluetooth and NFC Doesn’t charge devices Can’t submerge it underwater The Creative Muvo Mini is highly recommended for audiophiles with a limited budget who don’t want to sacrifice sound quality. The design may be reminiscent of a decorative heat vent cover, but the Muvo Mini is quite durable with a weatherproof casing and a IP66 rating for dust and water resistance. In addition to jamming to your favorite tunes or listening to your weekly podcasts, you can also use the Muvo Mini as a speakerphone, which boasts a very good call quality.
It’s completely waterproof – you can submerge it in three feet of water for up to 30 minutes – which makes it a perfect companion for a pool or a day at the beach. Other noteworthy features include a speakerphone, built-in line-in cable, and a carabiner so you can, well, clip it to your bag or belt loop. The Sony SRS-XB23 is an entry-level portable Bluetooth wireless speaker with good sound quality and even more impressive features.
For instance, the SoundLink Color II now supports Apple’s Siri and Google Assistant for hands-free operation. This makes the SoundLink Color II more capable of enduring any bumps and scrapes out on the trail. However, there’s no marked difference in audio quality between the two speakers – and the Boom 2 costs considerably less, so it’s a no brainer which one we’d recommend.
The UE Boom 2 offers 360-degree immersive sound, simple-to-use tap controls, a competent speakerphone, and a feature-laden companion app.
The 7 Best Cheap Speakers – Fall 2021 Reviews
It has a somewhat boomy sound profile, with a fairly balanced mid-range, so vocals and lead instruments are clearly reproduced in the mix. It was also able to last over 11 hours from a single charge in our tests, making it suitable for long listening sessions, though this can vary depending on your usage habits.
The Best Bluetooth Speakers For Any Budget in 2021
Then it’s down to prioritising extras like waterproofing and dustproofing, stereo pairing, aux in (old-school but helpful), plus more new-fangled features in the category such as Alexa voice controls and USB for charging devices. If a smart assistant is your main focus then you could opt for an Amazon Echo or Google Nest speaker, but these are typically limited in their portability.
Fewer speakers, but still quite a lot, are also built to withstand being thrown in a bag or, in more extreme cases, take a bash on a hard surface as you plonk it down ready for some outdoor listening. The benefits are obvious, allowing your favourite tracks to play from multiple speakers for a more immersive sound – rather than a single fixed point.
Our top pick is the Ruark R1 Mk4 (£229) – offering DAB and FM options in a stylish, living room-friendly design. So, if you see a device referred to as a wireless speaker then you’ll often find a lack of Bluetooth support but it’s always worth double checking.
Our top budget pick, the Tribit StormBox Micro (£32), offers stellar sound and gets remarkably loud with just 9W.
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 Cheap Bluetooth Speakers 2021: Budget Wireless Speakers
Cheap Bluetooth speakers are one of the best affordable pieces of technology you can get, giving you a quick and easy upgrade to the sound on your phone, laptop or various other things. Luckily, there are loads out there that don’t cost the earth and still provide a decent amount of boom – and they’re not all unknown brands. It doesn’t quite manage to get under the £50 mark but the EarFun Uboom is worth the money, offering all the key things we look for in a cheap Bluetooth speaker. There might not be aptX and AAC codecs but sound quality is good and like the UE Wonderboom 2, there’s a dedicated outdoor mode. Furthermore, latency is low making it suitable for video, there’s a microphone so for hands-free calls and you can create a stereo pair if you buy two. For the money sound quality is outstanding, benefiting from Tronsmart’s own SoundPulse algorithm and a dual-passive radiator to deliver balanced and clearly defined audio, with no sign of distortion.
And getting audio to the speaker couldn’t be easier, with support for microSD, USB flash drives and Bluetooth streaming. We like the compact design which means the Play is super portable and is even IPX7 waterproof, which isn’t a given at this price point – the mesh just takes a while to dry out.
Creative offers decent punchy sound for not much money here thanks to a pair of full-range drivers and a couple of passive bass radiators. Although the speaker is suited well to a lot of music and podcasts, it does struggle a little bit at the bass end, only able to reach down to 70Hz – when human hearing goes to 20Hz. Though the Tribit StormBox Micro comes in at a low price and a small size, it still produces a very admirable sound quality – especially when it comes to bass-levels. Its portable design means that it can fit in the palm of your hand with ease, and the fixed strap is also handy for attaching it to your bike should you wish.
The sound quality is loud enough to fill a room, though if you’re hosting a large gathering we’d recommend purchasing two of these to use in stereo mode. Most of the Bluetooth speakers we test at Tech Advisor are portable but the Edifier D12 is an interesting option if you have a shelf or desk space in mind. Sound quality is good but there’s no stereo field and the speaker can’t automatically switch between different paired Bluetooth devices. With a lithium-ion battery inside, the Lava BrightSounds 2 Bluetooth speaker and smart lamp can offer a whopping 36 hours of music playback.
Despite the budget price tag, we had the Lava BrightSounds 2’s 5W ultra-wide stereo speaker on full-blast and didn’t hear a hint of distortion. It’s loud enough to fill a room with sound, and for a budget Bluetooth speaker, audio quality is more than acceptable with decent bass and a clear mid-range, although there’s a slight compromise at the top-end. 9 Tronsmart Force – Best Connectivity Pros Waterproof Digital assistant support Long battery live The Tronsmart Force is a Bluetooth speaker built for the outdoors, sporting a robust design with a shockproof grippy rubber surround and a black metal grille on the front and rear. The outdoors-y design doesn’t mean it skimps on smarts though; you can access Siri or Google Assistant, and there’s a number of ways to connect too. Alongside Bluetooth 5.0 and NFC support, the speaker sports a 3.5mm jack for non-Bluetooth devices and a microSD card slot for standalone music playback. While the tone goes on the sharper side when the volume is blasted, this doesn’t make for an unpleasant listening experience, especially when the music is mostly for ambient purposes. The Diggit is ideal for outdoor gatherings, like barbecues and picnics; though it’s versatile enough to be used for indoor shindigs too, like in a dorm or living room.
Also, it’s worth keeping an eye out for speakers that double up as portable battery chargers, as it’ll probably come in handy when using your smartphone to play music. Traditionally, using a Bluetooth connection (5.0 is the latest version) will give you a 10m range, which means that you’ll only be able to play music from a speaker in the same room as you – any further and you’ll probably experience the audio cutting out.
While it doesn’t need an IPX7 rating to be used outside, it’s always a good idea to have some kind of protection against spills, rain, and general damage or you’ll quickly find yourself buying another! A Bluetooth speaker should provide you with multiple days of moderate usage, while it must be durable enough to be thrown in a bag or on the ground without too many issues.
Best cheap Bluetooth speakers under $50
Editor’s note: this list was edited on July 12, 2021, to update links, images, and mention the JBL Clip 4. The Anker SoundCore Flare line of Bluetooth speakers are best known for the combination of design and solid sound quality, with different models catering to different price brackets.
With its two 5W back-to-back neodymium drivers, the Flare Mini delivers 360˚ sound for an immersive music listening experience.
An IPX7 rating ensures that the party won’t stop, even if the speaker is out in the rain, or taking a leisurely 30-minute dip in the pool.
Extra features include a modest 12-hour battery life, Bluetooth 4.2 support (connection range of up to 20 meters), and the ability to pair two Flare Mini speakers together. Plenty of these speakers are water-resistant, so here’s a quick rundown of Ingress Protection (IP) ratings and what they mean to your specific model. It’s not the best option for building your dream home theater system, but it’s a perfectly fine under-monitor speaker that makes listening to music, watching videos, or playing games that much more enjoyable. Like most speakers of this price, the Creative Stage Air has fairly limited features so don’t expect to plug in HDMI and optical cables from your gaming console.
It has a few annoying quirks, like automatically turning off to save power after 15 minutes of non-usage, but overall it’s a solid option for the price.
The Clip 3 comes with the same familiar fabric covering and remains IPX7-rated, as well as a redesigned carabiner for easier attachment to a bag. It allows for loud volumes and strong bass reproduction, which is ideal for outside, where ambient noise may easily mask midrange and treble frequencies. The smart home is more relevant than ever, and companies are running with even the most ridiculous Internet of Things (IoT) product ideas.
The latest Amazon Echo Dot features the company’s new AZ1 Neural Edge Chip, resulting in a smart speaker that takes less time than its predecessor to process voice commands. However, the larger, spherical design of the 4th generation Echo Dot produces less vibration in the body of the speaker, which helps reduce distortion when listening at higher volumes.
Anker Soundcore Icon Mini: With a form factor smaller than a deck of cards, paired with an IP67 water and dust resistance rating, this speaker is designed for the adventurer looking to take their playlist along for the ride. Anker SoundCore Motion Q: It falls in the same category as the JBL Clip 2, but its more traditional stout shape isn’t quite as portable.
Anker SoundCore 2: With a 24-hour battery life, an IPX5-rating, and 12W total sound output, you can’t go wrong with this sub-$50 Bluetooth speaker. Sony SRS-XB12: The “XB” in the product’s name stands for Extra Bass, delivering a powerful low-end in a compact form factor.
Its battery life is pretty poor, unfortunately, but if you’re not planning to use it to blast music at maximum volume all day, it shouldn’t be too much of an issue. A simple search on Amazon yields hundreds of options from a myriad of manufacturers, and that’s just for cheap Bluetooth speakers.
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