Dựa vào các yếu tố như chất lượng âm thanh, độ bền và tính di động, việc lựa chọn loa di động tốt nhất có thể là một nhiệm vụ khó khăn với số lượng lựa chọn hiện có ngày nay. Dù bạn đang chuẩn bị cho chuyến cắm trại, một lần đi biển, hay một buổi tiệc ngoại ô, việc tìm ra loa phát ra âm thanh chất lượng, bền và di động là rất quan trọng. Chúng tôi đã thử nghiệm hàng chục loa Bluetooth ở các mức giá khác nhau để giúp bạn điều hướng trong thị trường đông đúc này. Trong khi nhiều trong số chúng âm thanh ấn tượng, việc so sánh chúng ngang hàng đã giúp chúng tôi xác định những tính năng làm nổi bật cho một số loa không dây di động.Hastag: #loadiđộng #loabluetooth #âmthanh
Nếu bạn đang tìm kiếm chủ yếu một loa mà hoạt động với trợ lý giọng như Alexa, Google Assistant hoặc Siri, hãy xem danh sách chúng tôi về các loa thông minh tốt nhất. Tuy nhiên, đối với những người tìm kiếm một loa Bluetooth di động linh hoạt, chúng tôi đã tổng hợp một số lựa chọn hàng đầu phù hợp với nhiều trường hợp sử dụng và sở thích. Cho dù bạn muốn bass mạnh mẽ, thời lượng pin lâu hoặc thiết kế chắc chắn, những đề xuất của chúng tôi sẽ giúp bạn tìm ra sự phù hợp tốt nhất với nhu cầu của bạn.Bảng thông tin: Các loa Bluetooth di động tốt nhất: Từ $50 đến $200Nếu bạn chỉ cần một chiếc loa Bluetooth nhỏ có thể tạo ra âm lượng tốt, Tribit StormBox Micro 2 đáp ứng yêu cầu. Chất âm ở đây là tốt; nó không nổi bật về độ trung thực, nhưng âm lượng bạn nhận được từ chiếc loa nhỏ giá cả phải chăng này là điều khiến nó trở thành sự lữa chọn tốt. Nếu bạn đang thảnh thơi ngoài trời trên chiếc xe đạp của mình hoặc thư giãn tại công viên, thì thường xu hướng là về di động và âm lượng. Dây đeo cao su phía sau hoạt động tốt trên các vật mảng như dây đai, balô và tay lái xe đạp. Mặc dù nó nhỏ gọn và giá cả phải chăng, chiếc loa mini này có cổng sạc USB-C cho thiết bị của bạn khi cần gấp và bạn có thể kết nối không dây hai loa để chế độ tiệc rời hoặc âm thanh stereo. Nó cũng hỗ trợ trợ lý giọng cho cả người dùng iOS và Android, và nếu bạn muốn nhận cuộc gọi trên điện thoại qua loa, điều đó rất dễ dàng. $60 tại Amazon
Soundcore
Đánh giá: IPX7 chống nước, cài đặt EQ cá nhân bằng ứng dụng đi kèm | Thời lượng pin: Lên tới 13 giờ | Hỗ trợ trợ lý: Không | Trọng lượng: 1.9 pounds | Phạm vi không dây: 120 feet | Sạc USB: Có Soundcore đã phát hành một số loa rất hiệu quả gần đây và một trong những loa mới nhất của họ là một sản phẩm di động cá nhân chất lượng. Motion 300 thuộc loại loa nhỏ gọn, nhưng cung cấp 30 watt âm thanh mạnh mẽ và sáng sủa. Nó được xếp hạng IPX7 vì vậy nó có thể xử lý một chút nước, và nó hoạt động với ứng dụng Anker Soundcore cho phép một lượng tương đối lớn tùy chỉnh từ cài đặt EQ đến độ sáng của nút bấm. Nó cũng hỗ trợ âm thanh chất lượng cao sử dụng mã codec LDAC cho người dùng Android có thiết bị tương thích. Kích thước và dải tần không thực sự cho phép nhiều bass, nhưng nó khá lớn và đầy tốt nhất, đặc biệt khi nó có bề mặt phản chiếu. Soundcore còn mở rộng dải tần cao của mình lên 40kHz, và mặc dù tính tiện dụng của nó đang dấy nhiều tranh cãi, Motion 300 nghe rất rõ ở dải tần cao. Bạn cũng có thể kích hoạt âm thanh điều chỉnh, giúp tối ưu hóa phát âm theo hướng loa (trên lưng, đứng lên hoặc treo từ dây đeo gài nút). Thiết kế của loa kết hợp một phong cách độc đáo với nét thanh lịch của máy văn phòng, từ bề mặt ngoại cảm dụa với hợp kim lên tới lưới loa kim loại, có in hơi vô ý. Trọng lượng 1.7 pound và kích thước clutch-purse khiến nó hoạt động tốt nhất là một cách cầm hoặc cất trong túi của bạn thay vì treo từ balô hay tay lái xe đạp. Cuối cùng, bạn sẽ có âm thanh tuyệt vời trong một gói nhỏ với các tính năng bạn có thể điều chỉnh theo sở thích của mình, tất cả với giá cả hợp lý $80. $80 tại Amazon
Ảnh bởi Jon Turi / Engadget
Đánh giá: Thiết kế chống nước IP67, hỗ trợ cặp stereo | Thời lượng pin: Lên tới 14 giờ | Hỗ trợ trợ lý: Không | Trọng lượng: 1.2 pound | Phạm vi không dây: 131 feet | Sạc USB: Có Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 là một chiếc loa di động nhỏ nhưng mạnh mẽ, cung cấp âm thanh lớn nhất trong phạm vi kích thước của nó mà chúng tôi đã thử nghiệm. Nó vẫn là một chiếc loa nhỏ hình thùng đáng yêu với một dây đeo nhỏ nhỏ có lẽ cần một móc khóa carabiner để giúp kết nó với hầu hết những vật phục tạp. Mẫu này cung cấp lên tới 14 giờ trên một lần sạc, và phía dưới, bạn có thể dễ dàng tiếp cận cổng micro-USB được bảo vệ mọi khi bạn cần nạp lại. Nhưng mẫu mới này bao gồm một số màu sắc mới sáng hơn, một giờ năng lượng pin bổ sung và phạm vi không dây cải thiện. Với chứng chỉ IP67 trên bộ ổn định sau năm feet của công ty, nó có thể đi cùng bạn hầu hết mọi nơi và sống sót để kể chuyện. Chất âm mạnh mẽ và sáng đủ cho những gì bạn mong đợi ở quy mô và phạm vi giá này. Mặc dù không có hỗ trợ ứng dụng hoặc kết nối với toàn bộ dòng loa của Ultimate Ears, bạn có thể dễ dàng ghép nó với các loa như Wonderboom 2 hoặc Megaboom 3 để âm thanh stereo. Cũng có một nút chế độ ngoài trời ở dưới tăng mạnh giữa và phạm vi cao để giúp âm thanh vượt qua một khoảng cách lớn hơn. $79 tại Amazon
Ảnh bởi Jon Turi / Engadget
Đánh giá: Chống nước IPX7, cài đặp EQ cá nhân bằng ứng dụng đi kèm | Thời lượng pin: Lên tới 12 giờ | Hỗ trợ trợ lý: Không | Trọng lượng: 2.3 pound | Sạc USB: Có Chiếc loa không dây hình cô đặc này có thể dễ dàng bị bỏ qua, nhưng đáng một lắng nghe. Nó có chất âm sáng và bass, được hỗ trợ bởi sự hỗ trợ aptX của Qualcomm cho âm thanh chất lượng cao. Thiết bị Anker Soundcore này có một cấu trúc chắc chắn, một chất ngoại cảm bằng cao su mềm (mà yêu thích vân tay béo của bạn) và chịu nước IPX7. Mặc dù nó không phải là loa nhẹ nhất hoặc dễ đem đi nhất, nó trang bị âm thanh tốt, đặc biệt là với giá cả phải chăng. Ngoài ra, ứng dụng cung cấp tùy chọn EQ, cho phép bạn điều chỉnh tới sở thích của mình. Cũng có một cổng aux 3.5mm cho kết nối dây. Bạn có thể sử dụng nó như một loa điện thoại khi nhận cuộc gọi hoặc dễ dàng phát nhạc từ thiết bị của bạn. Điều đó là may mắn, vì chúng tôi thấy rằng chiếc loa nhỏ này hoạt động tốt như một tùy chọn soundbar mini và đầu vào dây cung cấp một kết nối an toàn. Bên cạnh đó, bạn có thể dễ dàng sạc Motion+ nhờ vào cổng sạc USB-C tiêu chuẩn của nó và nó sẽ kéo dài lên tới 12 giờ trên một lần sạc. $100 tại Amazon
Ảnh bởi Jon Turi / Engadget
Đánh giá: Thiết kế chống nước IP67, hỗ trợ cặp stereo | Thời lượng pin: Lên tới 12 giờ | Hỗ trợ trợ lý: Không | Trọng lượng: 1.2 pound | Sạc USB: Có JBL Flip 6 xứng đáng nhận điểm cao về chất lượng âm thanh, độ bền và âm lượng xem xét đến kích thước của nó, và những tính năng đó khiến nó trở thành chiếc loa JBL tốt nhất cho hầu hết mọi người. Giống như hầu hết các loa JBL, nó có một phạm vi động từ bass đáng tin cậy đến treble sắc nét với âm lượng lệch về các dải cao hơn. Hình ống tròn hoạt động tốt khi nằm ngang hoặc thậm chí đứng lên để tiết kiệm không gian bàn làm việc. Nó có một dây đeo cầm (hoặc treo) có thể hoạt động và nút bấm nổi giúp bạn phân biệt trong bóng tối. Ứng dụng JBL Portable cung cấp cho bạn một EQ 3 dải để tùy chỉnh hồ sơ âm thanh nếu muốn và nếu bạn có hai loa Flip 6, bạn có thể chạy chúng như một cặp stereo. Nếu bạn tình cờ có một vài thiết bị JBL hỗ trợ PartyBoost khác nhau, bạn có thể kết nối nhiều loa để tạo ra âm thanh lớn hơn. Và với một cổng sạc USB-C, đó là thiết bị linh hoạt dễ dàng mang theo khi bạn di chuyển. $96 tại Walmart
Ảnh bởi Jon Turi / Engadget
Đánh giá: Mic tích hợp cho hỗ trợ trợ lý và cuộc gọi điện thoại, thiết kế IP67 chống nước | Thời lượng pin: Lên tới 12 giờ | Hỗ trợ trợ lý: Google Assistant, Siri | Trọng lượng: 1.3 pound | Phạm vi không dây: 30 feet | Sạc USB: Có Trong khi Bose SoundLink Micro giá $99 nhỏ gọn hơn nửa, chúng tôi thấy rằng đáng để trả thêm $50 nếu bạn nâng cấp lên SoundLink Flex. Mặc dù vẫn không phải là loa lớn, loa cung cấp một số sự tinh tế sáng sủa, động và bass đáng kể cho kích thước của nó. Nó tương tự như quy mô của một …
Choosing the best portable speaker can be a daunting task with the amount of options available today. Whether you’re gearing up for a camping trip, a beach outing, or a backyard barbecue, finding the right speaker that delivers on sound quality, durability, and portability is crucial. We’ve tested dozens of Bluetooth speakers across various price points to help you navigate this crowded market. While many of them sound impressive, comparing them head-to-head allowed us to identify the features that make certain portable wireless speakers stand out.
If you’re looking primarily for a speaker that works with a voice assistant like Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri, check out our top picks for the best smart speakers. However, for those seeking a versatile portable Bluetooth speaker, we’ve put together a selection of top performers that cater to a wide range of use cases and preferences. Whether you’re after powerful bass, long battery life or rugged design, our recommendations will help you find the best match for your needs.
Table of contents
Best portable Bluetooth speakers: $50 to $200
Features: Built-in power bank to charge other devices | Battery life: Up to 12 hours | Assistant support: None | Weight: 1 pound | Wireless range: 120 feet | USB charging: Yes
If you’re just looking for a small Bluetooth speaker that can kick out some decent volume, the Tribit StormBox Micro 2 fits the bill. The audio quality here is fine; it doesn’t stand out in terms of fidelity, but the volume you get from this affordable little speaker is what makes it a good choice. If you’re bopping about outdoors on your bike or chilling in the park, it’s usually more about portability and volume anyway. The rubbery rear strap works well on relatively thin things like belts, backpacks and bike handlebars.
While it’s small and affordable, this mini speaker features a USB-C charging port for your devices in a pinch and you can wirelessly connect two of them for party mode or stereo sound. It also supports voice assistants for both iOS and Android users, and if you want to take calls on your phone via speakerphone, that’s easy to do as well.
Features: IPX7 waterproof, custom EQ settings using companion app | Battery life: Up to 13 hours | Assistant support: None | Weight: 1.9 pounds | Wireless range: 120 feet | USB charging: Yes
Soundcore has been releasing some very able speakers lately and one of its newest is a quality personal portable. The Motion 300 is of the pint-sized variety, but offers 30-watts of punchy and bright output. It’s IPX7 rated so it can handle a bit of water, and it works with the Anker Soundcore app that allows a fair amount of customization from EQ settings to button brightness. It also supports hi-res audio using the LDAC codec for Android users with a compatible device.
The Motion 300’s size and frequency range don’t quite allow for a ton of bass, but it’s relatively loud and thumpy, especially when it has surfaces to reflect off of. Soundcore has even extended its high-frequency range to 40kHz, and while its utility is debatable, the Motion 300 does sound crisp in the high-end spectrum. You can also enable adaptive audio, which helps optimize its sound delivery depending on the speaker orientation (on its back, standing up or hanging from its removable button-fastened strap).
The speaker’s design merges a funky style with office-machine chic, from the playfully speckled soft touch exterior to the metallic, logo-emblazoned grille. Its 1.7-pound weight and clutch-purse size makes it better as a handheld or stowed in your bag rather than hanging from a backpack or bike handlebars. Ultimately, you get great sound in a small package with features you can tweak to your liking, all at an approachable $80 price tag.
Features: IP67-rated design, support for stereo pairing | Battery life: Up to 14 hours | Assistant support: None | Weight: 1.2 pounds | Wireless range: 131 feet | USB charging: Yes
The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 is a tiny yet powerful portable, delivering the biggest sound in its size range that we tested. It’s still a cute, barrel-shaped small speaker with a nubby little strap that probably needs a carabiner to help attach it to most things. This model offers up to 14 hours on a single change, and underneath, you can easily access the protected micro-USB port whenever you need to refill. But this refreshed model includes a couple of bright new colors, an extra hour of battery life and improved wireless range. With an IP67 rating on top of the company’s five-foot drop test durability, it can go with you almost anywhere and survive to tell the tale.
The audio quality is punchy and bright enough for what you’d expect at this scale and price range. Although there’s no app support or connectivity with the rest of the Ultimate Ears speaker lineup, you can easily pair it with speakers like the Wonderboom 2 or Megaboom 3 for stereo sound. There’s also an outdoor mode button on the bottom that boosts the mid and high range to help the audio carry over a greater distance.
Features: IPX7 waterproof, custom EQ settings using companion app | Battery life: Up to 12 hours | Assistant support: None | Weight: 2.3 pounds | USB charging: Yes
This nondescript wedge of a wireless speaker could easily slip under your radar, but it’s worth a listen. It has a bright and bassy output, which is helped along by Qualcomm aptX support for hi-res audio. This Anker Soundcore device has a solid, slightly heavy build with a metal front speaker grille, a soft-touch rubberized exterior (that loves your greasy fingerprints) and IPX7 water resistance. While it’s not the lightest or most portable, it has good sound, especially for the price. Plus the app offers EQ customization, so you can fine tune to your liking.
There’s also a 3.5mm aux input for wired connections. You can use it as a speakerphone when taking calls as well, or easily play music from your devices. That’s fortuitous, as we found that this small speaker works well as a mini soundbar alternative and the wired input offers a foolproof connection. Aside from that, you can easily charge the Motion+ thanks to its standard USB-C charging port and it should last up to 12 hours on a single charge.
Features: IP67-rated design, support for stereo pairing | Battery life: Up to 12 hours | Assistant support: None | Weight: 1.2 pounds | USB charging: Yes
JBL’s Flip 6 deserves high marks for overall sound quality, durability and volume considering its size, and those features make it the best JBL speaker for most people. As with most JBL speakers, it has a good dynamic range from solid lows to crisp highs with volume tipped towards higher registers. The cylindrical shape works well on its side or even standing on its end to save desk space. It has a capable carrying (or hanging) strap and raised buttons you can discern in the dark.
The JBL Portable app gives you a 3-band EQ to customize the sound profile if desired and if you have two Flip 6 speakers, you can run them as a stereo pair. If you happen to have a mix-and-match assortment of different PartyBoost-enabled JBL devices, you can connect multiple speakers for a bigger sound. And with a USB-C charging port, it’s a versatile device that’s easy to take with you on the move.
Features: Built-in mic for assistant support and phone calls, IP67-rated design | Battery life: Up to 12 hours | Assistant support: Google Assistant, Siri | Weight: 1.3 pounds | Wireless range: 30 feet | USB charging: Yes
While the $99 Bose SoundLink Micro is half the size, we found that it’s definitely worth the extra $50 if you trade up to the SoundLink Flex. While it’s still not a room filler, the speaker offers some bright, dynamic finesse to your tunes, along with a significant amount of bass for its size. It’s similar to the scale of a small clutch bag, with a very small strap for carabiner-type hanging. Much of the exterior is sheathed in soft-touch silicone, except for the powder-coated steel speaker grilles. Like others in this range, the speaker is IP67 rated so it can handle the elements and sound good doing it.
Setup and connecting to the speaker should be done from within the aptly named Bose Connect app. You can also turn off voice prompts (which can become annoying) and pair with similar speakers for either party mode or stereo.
Note: Some users running Android 12 may encounter connectivity issues with the Bose Connect app. The company is working to resolve the problem.
Read our full Beats Pill review
eatures: IP67 waterproof, lossless audio over USB-C | Battery life: Up to 24 hours | Assistant support: Yes | Weight: 1.5 pounds | USB charging: Yes
The new Pill has impressive bass performance due to the company’s decision to increase the size of the woofer rather than keep its previous arrangement that included two smaller ones. The speaker struggles at its loudest volumes, but it’s plenty loud enough well below that. The IP67 rating is more rugged than the Pill+ and over 24 hours of battery life will keep the tunes going for a long time. Plus, there’s lossless audio over USB-C and the ability to top off your phone or earbuds with the speaker’s battery.
This is a solid choice for anyone seeking crisp clarity with true low-end thump if a track demands it. The addition of lossless is also nice for times you’d like a little more quality in your tunes. And you can also put two Pills together for bigger sound or use them as a stereo pair. — Billy Steele, Senior Reporter
Features: IP67-rated design, support for stereo pairing | Battery life: Up to 30 hours | Assistant support: None | Weight: 0.26 pounds | USB charging: Yes
The recently released Emberton II Bluetooth portable from Marshall has a bumped up set of specs that make it a better value than the previous gen. This clutchable rectangular slab still has a pair of 10-watt full-range drivers and passive radiators to deliver the brand’s signature sound. It may not be the loudest in its size range, but it focuses more on balanced output than raw power. There’s still 360 sound as well, making it a good companion for small get togethers. Although, with its 60hz low end threshold, you’ll find a better bass response when there are surfaces to reflect off of, and not so much if it’s in the middle of a table.
This new model now offers up to 30 hours of listening on a charge (10 hours better than before) and a more rugged IP67 rating. There’s also a new ability to pair with another Emberton II or Willen II using the new “Stack Mode”. The range between them is limited, however, so stacking them probably is the best way to go. Additionally, Marshall is offering a more environmentally friendly product than before, using 50 percent post-consumer plastics in its construction.
Features: Built-in power bank to charge other devices, IP67-rated design, support for stereo pairing | Battery life: Up to 20 hours | Assistant support: None | Weight: 2.1 pounds | USB charging: Yes
If you’re willing to spend a little more for bigger sound, more hours of battery life and a USB-C charging port to charge your devices, the midrange JBL Charge 5 is a great upgrade over the Flip 6. It has the same bright output and capable low end, but in a slightly larger package. If you’re looking for a smallish portable speaker, but something capable enough to entertain a few guests, this works.
Best portable Bluetooth speakers: $200 to $450
Read our full UE Everboom review
Features: Waterproof, 360-degree audio, Outdoor Boost | Battery life: 20 hours | Assistant support: None | Weight: 2.11 pounds | USB-C charging: Yes
The Everboom is a decent mid-range option in the Ultimate Ears lineup. The best features are its high durability and Outdoor Boost for better sound outside. You’ll get loud, 360-degree audio, but like a lot of UE speakers, there’s a lack of overall fidelity due to subdued mid-range tone. There’s plenty to like here, especially if you’re looking for something to take on an adventure that won’t weigh you down too much. The price is, however, a bit on the high side with the limited suite of features. But, all of the basics, and slightly more, are covered. Plus, it floats! — B.S.
Features: Retro design with carry strap, 3.5mm aux input | Battery life: Up to 15 hours | Assistant support: None | Weight: 6.6 pounds | USB charging: No
The Orange Box portable Bluetooth speaker from legendary guitar amp maker Orange is essentially a no-frills product with great analog sound and ‘60s-era bohemian chic. For Orange Amp fans, it’s a faithful mini-version of a classic (although you can’t plug in your guitar). It’s not particularly heavy, but it is a bit chunky and the wooden frame means there’s no waterproofing or ruggedness rating. Battery life is average with up to 15 hours run time and you’ll want to keep track of that DC power cable since it doesn’t offer a USB charging port.
That said, we like this speaker in part for its natural charm and unique design (at least as far as Bluetooth speakers go). There’s a 3.5mm aux input, a mechanical power toggle switch, a cool domed power light and several dials for volume and EQ. The front-facing grille is audio transparent fabric emblazoned with the classic Orange logo. It’s also a proper piece of kit built for a long life, with authorized repair centers across the globe.
Most importantly, you get both analog and digital amps pushing 50 watts of bright, clear and unadulterated output with plenty of low end, at least for nearby listeners. It also supports aptX, so if you have high-quality files or hi-res streaming, you’ll get the most out of it.
This speaker is ideal for Orange Amps fans or those who like no-fuss operation, natural analog sound quality and generally want a mid-sized device they’ll keep close to home. Most styles of music sound great on the Orange Box, but the speaker really shines with songs that have live instrumentation or anything that can benefit from an analog touch.
Features: IP67-rated design, support for stereo pairing | Battery life: Up to 20 hours | Assistant support: None | Weight: 3.9 pounds | USB charging: Yes
Marshall launched the Middleton in January 2023 and positioned it as the new flagship for its portable Bluetooth speaker line. It’s the largest of the company’s IP67 rugged portables (measuring 4.3 x 9 x 3.75 inches) and offers a significantly louder output, with 50-watts of 360-degree sound. There are dual woofers and tweeters for the front and back, with passive radiators along each side. It also offers Stack Mode, which lets you pair with any other Middleton, Emberton II or Willen speakers nearby to expand your listening experience.
The Middleton can be managed through the Marshall Bluetooth app, but it also includes most of those same controls on the top. There’s a Bluetooth button (which doubles as the Stack Mode control) and a multi-use joystick for power on/off, volume control and track selection (forward or back). You also get bass and treble controls, which are a welcome addition and a first for one of Marshall’s speakers without physical knobs.
It has that traditional Marshall look, made with a soft-touch exterior composed of 55-percent post-consumer recycled plastic and is 100-percent PVC free. It also has a carry strap you can easily fit your hand through. Any dust, dirt or prints on the outside can be scrubbed off with a damp cloth, and even the exposed USB-C and 3.5mm input port components are waterproofed. That USB-C port can be used to recharge the speaker, or power up your other devices with its 9,600mAh battery.
Of course audio purists should know that it only supports SBC, but the sound quality is still top notch for most people. And while Marshall devices are usually priced at a slight premium, the good sound quality and decent low-end capability definitely makes this model worth checking out.
Features: IPX4-rated design, Wi-Fi connectivity | Battery life: Up to 12 hours | Assistant support: Alexa, Google Assistant | Weight: 2.3 pounds | USB charging: Yes
We did test a couple smart home speakers, including the Bose Portable Smart and I decided to compare it with its closest Bluetooth equivalent: the Revolve+ II. While that’s best suited for portability, has a loud bright sound that will carry outdoors and long battery life, its low end is a little less pronounced than its smart companion. If you’re willing to spend more and appreciate bass, the Bose Portable Smart speaker is a big improvement. It has a well-rounded low end and a bright dynamic sound with plenty of nuance that makes for a great listening experience.
This 360-degree portable comes as a combo WiFi/Bluetooth speaker primarily geared toward smart home use with the occasional outing. It’s rated IPX4, so not the most weatherproof, but good for casual outdoor listening. The battery is rated for up to 12 hours, but since this is an always-on smart device, you’ll need to be more attentive at keeping it topped up. There’s a charging dock accessory for use around the house, but as an away-from-home portable, you should power it down when not in use. To take the odd call and use the speakerphone function, it’s easy to navigate and produces clear sound, whether you’re at home or away.
Smart features: WiFi, voice and app control, support for Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Spotify Connect, Amazon Music, Chromecast (built-in), Apple AirPlay 2 and SimpleSync connectivity with Bose Bluetooth speakers.
Note: Some users running Android 12 may encounter connectivity issues with the Bose Connect app. The company is working to resolve the problem.
Features: IP67-rated design| Battery life: Up to 15 hours | Assistant support: None | Weight: 4.3 pounds | USB charging: Yes
If you’ve enjoyed any of the smaller JBL speakers out there and are willing to spend a bit more, the Xtreme 3 is a good all-around choice. It’s big enough to warrant a shoulder strap, but still only about the size of a football. There’s a pleasant dynamic sound here with hefty lows and a lively high end that seems slightly better balanced at this size than the smaller options from JBL in this range.
This is easily a favorite if you want something under $400 with a little more gusto than your average portable, but still being IP67 weatherproof. It has enough output to breathe life into a small soiree or backyard hang, although while it’s quite loud, it’s best when it’s close by or indoors where the bass can resonate to its fullest.
Best portable Bluetooth speakers: $450 and higher
Features: IPX2-rated design, support for multi-host functionality | Battery life: Up to 20 hours | Assistant support: None | Weight: 10.8 pounds | USB charging: No
If you didn’t know about Marshall’s history in amplifiers and rock music, the design should clue you in. The Tufton is the largest portable Bluetooth speaker from the company, looking much like an amp itself (as do most of them). It has physical knobs at the top and a carry strap to help move it about. While it may appear as rugged as concert gear, it’s less impervious to the elements as some with just an IPX2 rating, so it’s protected from light splashes from above.
Whether or not you’re a fan of the brand, the rich and distinctly thumping output may make you one. We felt pulled into the sound while listening to the Tufton, a bit more than most other speakers we tested at this scale. It’s dynamic, warm and, dare we say, analog in its audio presence. It’s also multi-directional with a supplemental driver on the back along with a bass port.
There’s no app to adjust the EQ, just the physical controls including a Bluetooth connect button, a power/volume knob and two for bass and treble. Once powered on, you can use the volume knob to set a max headroom and adjust volume on the fly from your source. The bass and treble knobs help you choose the tone of your adventure, from a purely flat soundscape to an enhanced one. We just wish you could see the dial indicators in the dark. Other features include aptX support and quick-charge capabilities that provide four hours of listening time in just 20 minutes, plus great standby battery life.
Features: IPX4-rated design, support for multi-host functionality | Battery life: Up to 24 hours | Assistant support: None | Weight: 13 pounds | Wireless range: 150 feet | USB charging: No
The UE Hyperboom is an all-arounder with good looks, portability, plenty of connectivity options and a loud and punchy (albeit compressed) output. The technical fabric exterior (which now includes a white option) lets it live among your furniture without screaming “party box,” while the optical input offers a possible TV speaker alternative. The large capacitive buttons on top let anyone adjust the volume, pause or play the music and select from two concurrent Bluetooth connections or a hardwired input (3.5mm or optical). On the edge with the silicone carrying handle there are the wired ports, plus one for charging USB devices and another for power. You can expect to get up to 24 hours of battery life, and the Hyperboom is good at holding a charge on standby.
This capable and loud (roughly 100dB) speaker will please most people as long as the party is of primary concern over fidelity. The ability to remotely power your device on or off using the UE app is also a welcome feature. Plus you can easily expand the sound to other Ultimate Ears Boom speakers (except Wonderboom) using the PartyUp feature. The IPX4 rating means a few spilled drinks won’t hassle it, but it’s not the best Bluetooth speaker choice for all-weather adventures.
Features: App connectivity with custom sound profiles, swappable battery | Battery life: Up to 40 hours | Assistant support: None | Weight: 20 pounds | USB charging: No
The Soundboks Go is a great speaker if you’re looking for a portable Bluetooth option that provides a big sound for larger spaces, although it comes at a high price. This unpretentious black rectangle is half the size of its more professional sibling the Soundboks Gen 3. It packs one 10-inch woofer and a 1-inch domed tweeter, both powered by two 72W RMS amps for massive sound and chunky bass, even at a distance.
At 20 pounds, this party speaker is fairly easy to lug around and looks about the size of carry-on luggage. You can even get the optional shoulder strap, which helps for longer missions. It has a flexible TPE handle on top, silicone bumpers around the edges and ABS+Polycarbonate exterior and grill. The IP65 rating also marks it as a resilient device in most environments.
The sound makes a big statement here. Output levels are rated at up to 121dB, with clear mids and highs projecting clearly across large areas. The low end also has a significant presence at a distance, matching up with 40Hz frequency response. It’s definitely capable enough to support large gatherings.
The speaker is easy to connect to via Bluetooth and the partner app offers EQ customization, audio profiles and OTA firmware updates. There’s a solitary 3.5mm stereo input on the Go, but its wireless expansion shines, letting you connect up to five Soundboks Gen 3 or Go speakers at the touch of a button with its built-in SKAA wireless support.
Lastly, the battery pack is removable, swappable and also long-lasting for a speaker this size; at low to mid volume, it’s rated at up to 40 hours runtime. For transparency, Soundboks also lets you know to expect around 10 hours of play at full volume. You can also run this while charging, but there are strict warnings about keeping the volume low while doing so (it’s not recommended unless you’re desperate).
Factors to consider in a portable Bluetooth speaker
Weather-proofing
IP ratings (Ingress Protection) are the alphanumeric indicators you often see in a product’s spec sheet that define water and dust resistance. It’s usually a combo of two numbers with the first indicating solid object ingress and the second being water. The former goes from 0 (no protection) to 6 (dustproof). The water-resistance rating goes from 0 (no protection) to 9 (protected against immersion and high pressure jets). When an X is used instead of a number, that means the product wasn’t tested for resistance. If it’s waterproof, it may have some innate resistance to solids, but there’s no guarantee.
IP67 is a common rating these days indicating highly resistant and potentially rugged speakers suitable for outdoor adventures. These are safe for quick dunks in the pool or tub and should be more than OK in the rain or in the shower. They’re also good options for the beach, playground and other rough environs.
Additionally, speakers with ports and a high rating will often include a tight-fitting cover over the charging or auxiliary ports. If you plan on using the ports, that may limit the product’s rated ability to fend off the elements.
When looking for the best portable Bluetooth speaker, consider the IP rating and also how you plan to use your Bluetooth speaker when making your decision. It may be worth splurging on a better sounding model with a lower IP rating if you’ll mostly be using it indoors, for instance.
Battery life
The focus of this guide is on the best. portable Bluetooth speakers, and while “portable” can be a relative term, these devices are generally for people who are likely to find themselves far from a power outlet. These days, around 12 hours of runtime seems to be the baseline but obviously, the more battery life you can get out of a speaker, the better.
That said, be careful when looking at battery specs, as they frequently list a maximum runtime (“up to” x amount of hours). This usually means they tested at a low to mid volume. If you like your tunes loud, it can often end up cutting the expected usage time in half or more. Luckily, some manufacturers also list the expected hours of battery life when used at full volume and that transparency is appreciated. Bear in mind, however, that not all of the best portable Bluetooth speakers use the same charging port. Some support USB-C charging while others use micro-USB.
Additionally, if your Bluetooth speaker also happens to have WiFi connectivity, they’re usually designed for always-on functionality. Unlike normal Bluetooth speakers that go to sleep after a short period without use, these will usually stay awake (to listen for your commands) and slowly run down the battery. If you’re out and about, you’ll want to remember to turn these speakers off manually when not in use to maximize battery life.
Range
Bluetooth range is tricky business. Some companies list their product’s longest possible range, usually outdoors and in an unobstructed line-of-sight test environment. Other companies stick with a 30-foot range on the spec sheet and leave it at that, even though they may be running Bluetooth 4.x or 5.x. That’s likely underselling the speaker’s potential, but unpredictable environments can affect range and there’s little point in promising the moon only to get complaints.
I’ve seen signal drop issues when crouching down, with my phone in the front pocket of my jeans, and barely 30 feet away from a speaker inside my apartment. I ran into this issue across several devices regardless of their listed Bluetooth connectivity range.
If you’re hosting a patio party and duck inside, it’s wise to keep any wireless Bluetooth speakers relatively close by just in case. It’s hard to gauge what aspects of any environment may interfere with a Bluetooth signal. In general, take range specs around 100 feet or more as a perfect-world scenario.
Latency
This is a minor mention for those out there who use a speaker for their computer output, or as a mini soundbar solution for setups like a monitor and streaming box. It’s annoying to find that your speaker’s latency isn’t low enough to avoid lip sync issues. Luckily, it seems that most speakers these days don’t often have these problems. Only a handful of the few dozen speakers I tried had persistent, noticeable lip-sync issues. Aside from occasional blips, all of our picks worked well in this regard.
If you plan to frequently use a speaker for video playback, look for devices with the most recent Bluetooth versions (4.x or 5.x) and lower latency codecs like aptX. Also make sure the speaker is close to the source device as distance can be a factor. To avoid the issue altogether, though, consider getting one with a wired auxiliary input.
Other portable Bluetooth speakers we tested
Sonos Roam
While there’s a lot to like about the Sonos Roam, there are plenty of other Bluetooth speakers with more features and better battery life. In our review, we gave the Roam a score of 87, praising it for its good sound quality, durable waterproof design and ability to work well within an existing Sonos speaker ecosystem. But the price is just fine at $180, and we found Bluetooth speakers that offer more at lower price points. Plus, the Roam taps out at 10 hours of battery life, and all of our top picks can run for longer than that on a single charge.
Monoprice Soundstage3
The Monoprice Soundstage3 offers relatively big sound at a midrange $250 price, with a variety of inputs rarely found on a portable Bluetooth speaker. The boxy, minimalist design is no nonsense, even if it’s more of a less-rugged, bookshelf-styled homebody. While the speaker puts out crisp highs alongside booming lows, we found the bass can overpower the rest of the output, so it’s not for everyone. And after using the speaker for many months, we also found the low-slung, poorly labeled button panel along the top can be a bit annoying to use. If you want a speaker for road trips, favor mids and highs, and plan on using physical buttons for volume control and input selections, there are better options out there.
JBL Boombox 3
Fans of JBL’s bluetooth speaker sound profile who want to crank up the volume, but also want a rugged and portable option, may enjoy the JBL Boombox 3. It’s a decent grab-and-go speaker with a very loud output, although it’s not as good as some of the loud-speaker styled options for long-throw sound and big outdoor areas. However, the price for this speaker line remains prohibitively expensive compared to other options with big sound that cover a bit more ground. If the JBL brand is your thing and you like the rugged, portable form factor, we recommend looking for discounts, or shopping around and exploring the available options including the (less portable) JBL PartyBox series.
Soundcore Motion X500
Soundcore speakers have generally been good and often reasonably priced. The Motion X500 loosely falls into that category. It has a tall, metallic lunchbox vibe with a fixed handle and pumps out a respectable 40 watts of crisp, clear sound for its size. It can get pretty loud and serves up a good dose of bass, although its primarily a front-facing speaker.
There’s LDAC hi-res audio support for Android users, but the main selling point on this is spatial audio. This is done through an EQ change and the activation of a small, up-firing driver. There’s a slight benefit from this if you’re up close and directly in front of it, but it’s not a total game changer for your listening experience. The original pre-order price of $130 made it a decent option in terms of bang for your buck. But it went up to $170 at launch, making it less appealing even if it’s still a good middle-of-the-road option if you want small-ish, clear and loud. If you can find one on sale for the lower price, it’s definitely worth considering. There’s also the larger and louder X600 ($200) if the overall concept is working for you.
Bluetooth speaker FAQs
How does a Bluetooth speaker work?
Bluetooth technology lets devices connect and exchange data over short distances using ultra high frequency (UHF) radio waves. It’s the frequency range that’s carved out for industrial, scientific and medical purposes, called the 2.4GHz ISM spectrum band. This range is available worldwide, making it easy for companies to use with devices for global markets.
Bluetooth speakers include this tech, which lets them communicate with source devices like smartphones, tablets or computers in order to exchange data. The two devices pair by sharing a unique code and will work within the proscribed range for the device and Bluetooth version.
Ever since Bluetooth 4.0 was released over a decade ago, new iterations usually improve on range, use less power and offer expanded connectivity with features like multipoint (allowing more than one device to be connected at the same time, for instance).
Who should buy a Portable Bluetooth speaker?
If you want to play music while you’re out-and-about on something other than headphones, a portable Bluetooth speaker is probably what you want. There’s a broad range of devices for all types of circumstances. Many adventurous people will want a relatively lightweight portable that’s rugged enough to handle the elements while also packing enough charge to play for hours on end. Others may simply need a speaker they can move around the house or use in the backyard. In this case, you can choose larger less rugged models that may offer better sound.
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