A high-quality Bluetooth speaker is one of the best devices for enjoying your favourite music. They are relatively small, can be turned up loud and offer sound quality that is far superior to that of a phone or computer.

They also make the best portable speakers as they are wireless and battery-powered so you can take them with you wherever you go.

The reviews below will help you find the best speaker for you, whether you are looking for one you can travel with, one for relaxing at home or one that’s made for partying, we’ve got you covered.

If you’re still stuck on which is the best Bluetooth speaker for you, check out the buyers guide at the end of the article for helpful buying tips.

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1. Bose SoundLink Revolve+ Bluetooth Speaker – Best Overall

The best Bluetooth speakers are compact, powerful and offer great sound quality and the Bose SoundLink Revolve+ ticks all the boxes.

This is a high-performance portable speaker that delivers loud sound with 360 degree coverage.

This speaker delivers an immersive, high-quality experience. It has a rechargeable lithium ion battery that offers up to 16 hours of play time.

You can connect your device to the Bose SoundLink Revolve+ using Bluetooth pairing and there are voice prompts that make sure the process is easy.

You can access Siri and Google Now from the speaker and can also take hands-free calls thanks to the built-in speakerphone.

This model allows two wireless speakers to be paired together so you can up the ante at the party or simply enjoy stereo or multi room playback.

The Bose SoundLink Revolve+ has a flexible fabric handle for easy transport and has a durable and water-resistant aluminium body. The ports include a 3.5mm auxiliary input and a micro B USB.

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2. UE Wonderboom 2 Bluetooth Speaker – Best For Outdoors And Travel

The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 is a rugged, waterproof and dustproof speaker that is ready for adventures.

It is a compact size making it perfectly portable and it is even drop-proof too. This small speaker produces big sound that is crisp and rich in bass.

The Wonderboom 2 produces 360-degree sound and features outdoor boost that produces louder, more powerful sound perfect for outside listening.

You can connect your device wirelessly from across the room and it has a playback range of up to 100ft for ultimate convenience. You can control the music directly from the speaker too as it has play, pause and skip buttons on top.

This device gives you up to 13 hours of sound and it comes with an IP67 rating meaning it is fully waterproof and dustproof. It can also float making it perfect for pool parties and beach days.

For even more sound you can pair two Wonderboom speakers at the touch of a button.

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3. Sonos Move Portable Bluetooth Speaker – Best Sound Quality

The Sonos Move Portable Bluetooth Speaker is a battery-powered speaker that’s ideal for indoor and outdoor use. This durable model is weatherproof and drop-resistant.

The automatic Trueplay tuning makes sure the sound is perfectly balanced for where you are and what you are listening to. The sound produced is excellent, it is rich, detailed and fills the room.

The bass is deep and you can crank the volume up high without losing quality. The Sonos Move includes two Class-D digital amplifiers that are tuned to match the speaker drivers and acoustic architecture.

You can connect your device through Bluetooth or Wi-Fi and the wireless speaker can be voice-controlled via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant or controlled through the Sonos App and Apple AirPlay 2.

The far-field microphone uses smart voice capture and noise cancellation technology to ensure you are always heard clearly even when you aren’t right next to the microphone.

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4. UE Boom 3 Bluetooth Speaker – Best Value

This rugged, powerful Bluetooth speaker offers balanced 360-degree sound and an impressive 15 hours of battery life. It is a portable option that can go anywhere with you.

The Ultimate Ears audio processing makes sure the audio is clear and balanced so you can enjoy your favourite music at any volume. The speaker produces sound that is true to your music, so you won’t experience any distortion or exaggeration.

The set up is simple, you can connect devices through Bluetooth and will quickly be enjoying powerful, punchy sound. You can play, pause and skip tracks using the one touch button on top of the Ultimate Ears speaker.

Long-pressing this button will access imported playlists from Apple Music or Deezer Premium.

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5. UE Hyperboom Bluetooth Speaker – Best For Parties

The Ultimate Ears Hyperboom delivers loud sound and extreme bass perfect for taking parties to the next level. The detail is fantastic at every level and the adaptive EQ customises the speaker’s sound to the space you are in.

One of the best features of this portable Bluetooth speaker is the multiple connection options.

You can connect two devices via Bluetooth, one via auxiliary and there is also an optical input so up to four devices can be connected and you can switch between them.

The Boom app also allows you to connect your Hyperboom to the Ultimate Ears Boom or Megaboom speaker if you need more music coverage. The IPX4 splash-proof rating makes sure accidental spills won’t damage the speaker.

You don’t need to worry about the music stopping while the party is still going strong either as the battery can last up to 24 hours.

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6. JBL Charge 4 Bluetooth Speaker – Best With Built-In Power Bank

If you’re looking for an excellent value for money speaker that can also charge your phone, look no further than the JBL Charge 4. This is a hardy mid-sized speaker that produces full-spectrum sound.

This wireless speaker can connect up to 2 smartphones and offers up to 20 hours of playback time on one charge. It is also water-resistant making it perfect for beach and pool parties.

For multi-room use or for large parties you can wirelessly connect JBL speakers together (you can connect up to 100 JBL speakers together so there’s certainly no shortage of sound if you have the speakers).

The sound produced is refined with consistency and clarity. The audio is balanced with the highs and the lows coming through loud and clear. In addition to all of this, you can plug in your phone and charge it while still enjoying your favourite songs. No more worrying that your phone will lose battery power halfway through the party when you’re supposed to be in control of the playlist!

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7. Anker Soundcore Bluetooth Speaker – Best Budget Option

The Anker Soundcore offers stereo sound with deep bass and high clarity. It provides an impressively long battery life of 24 hours on a full charge.

This wireless speaker uses Bluetooth 4.0 for instant device pairing and it can maintain a connection for up to 66ft. This is a portable option that is small in size, boasts a drop-proof build and uses a unique spiral bass port design to ensure you can still enjoy a clean bass sound.

The Soundcore design is minimalistic and it has control buttons along the top of the unit. The side of the speaker also has an aux input which is very handy if you have a device that is not Bluetooth compatible.

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8. JBL Xtreme 2 Bluetooth Speaker

The JBL Xtreme 2 is an immersive Bluetooth speaker that offers high-quality stereo sound wherever you go. It is ipx7 waterproof so it can handle rain, pool parties, beach days and drink spills. The carry strap makes it easy and convenient to take the speaker with you.

There is a built-in noise and echo cancelling speakerphone so you can use this for phone calls too.

The rechargeable battery lasts up to 15 hours and has a dual USB charging port so you can keep the party going. Fully charging the Xtreme 2 portable Bluetooth speakers takes 3.5 hours.

The speaker includes four active transducers and two JBL bass radiators so you can enjoy bold sound. You can connect up to 2 devices to the speaker and the JBL Connect+ allows you to connect more than 100 speakers together.

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9. JBL Flip 4 Bluetooth Portable Stereo Speaker

The JBL Flip 4 is a powerful, portable stereo speaker that offers excellent sound playback with strong bass. The dual external passive radiators demonstrate the power of the speaker so you can hear, feel and even see the bass.

The compact rechargeable battery offers up to 12 hours of playtime. The materials used are durable and waterproof making this an ideal all-weather option.

This speaker is intuitive to use and has a 3.5mm input as well as a micro USB port for when you don’t want to use Bluetooth wireless. The JBL Flip 4 also features a speakerphone so you can use it for clear voice calls. You can also activate Siri or Google Now.

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Bluetooth Speaker Buyer’s Guide

The best bluetooth speakers are a combination of convenience and high sound quality. There are a number of factors that are worth considering when you are choosing a new speaker.

As you can see from the above reviews, there are lots of great models available and you will easily be able to find quality speakers for taking with you on the go, for kicking back and relaxing at home or for partying into the night.

Finding the perfect option for you will depend on what you are looking for from the speaker, the following factors will help you compare options to figure out which product is best:

Connection Options

While these portable speakers all offer Bluetooth, find out which Bluetooth version is being used and see if the speaker offers any other ways of connecting devices. Go for Bluetooth speakers that use Bluetooth 4 or higher as this is the newer Bluetooth technology that offers improved range, a lower energy profile (meaning an improved battery life) and better data transmission.

Some speakers also offer an aux-in port which can be a great feature for saving battery life when your device is going to be located near the speaker anyway. Sometimes, using an aux cable can provide a better sound quality too so it is always good to have this option. However, not all portable bluetooth speakers offer additional ports so keep this in mind when comparing different models.

Wi-Fi Connectivity

Some products also offer the option of connecting through Wi-Fi, these wireless options tend to be designed more for being kept at the house rather than for being taken outside. If you find a model that offers both Bluetooth and wi-fi connectivity this can be great as you may benefit from more features when using the speaker at home.

Features such as Google Assistant or Alexa are common on wi-fi models. However, you may find that many of the features are not available when the wi-fi is off so this is important to keep in mind. It can also be more complicated to connect devices to wi-fi as oppose to Bluetooth and the initial configuration of the device can be confusing.

Charging Method

Most portable speakers will use a USB or micro-USB port for charging. These are generally the best options as they are convenient and the cables are widely used and easy to find (if you go to a friends house but forget the charger for example, they are more than likely going to have a micro-USB charging cable on hand).

In addition to the charging method, consider the battery life that is offered on a full charge. The battery life can vary considerably between speakers, the best Bluetooth speakers offer around 20 hours from one charge but some smaller models offer far less (around 10 hours).

Some of the speakers that have a USB port can also be used as a power bank to charge your smartphone or USB-charged device if needed. This can be extremely useful if you are going to be away from a power source for the day or night. Wireless speakers that double up as a power bank (such as the JBL Charge 4) let you keep your devices charged while listening to music at the same time and are worth looking into if this is a feature you will utilise.

Durability

Wireless speakers aren’t exactly cheap so you want to choose one that will last. Take some time to think about where you will be using the portable speaker. Will you be using it in the shower, at the beach or is it going to be mostly for home use? Where the speaker will be used will impact which model is going to be best suited to your needs.

There are many options that are designed to be rugged and are even waterproof (the Wonderboom 2 being an excellent example) and this makes the portable speaker perfect for outdoor adventures or use by the pool.

If you are going to be using it mostly at home you may be more interested in finding a model that will fit in with your home decor and space. You may also be less concerned about the size and portability if you will be using the wireless speaker around the house.

Waterproofing Explained

Having a wireless speaker that is waterproof, or at least water-resistant, can go a long way in keeping it in good condition when using it at parties or days at the pool or beach. It’s all too easy for a drink to be spilt or for the speaker to be splashed or rained on. The last thing you want is for something so simple to kill the music. If you will be taking the speaker with you on adventures, it is definitely worth taking a look at the waterproofing information. On a waterproof speaker you may see the information listed as “IP” followed by 1 or 2 numbers e.g. IPX(number) or IP(2 numbers).

The first number refers to how protected the speaker is against dust or solids. The second number refers to how protected it is against liquids.

For dust, the scale goes from 0 (no protection) to 6 (completely dust tight). For water, the scale goes from 0 (no protection) to 8 (complete protection from high-pressure water). If the speaker is listed as IP67 it means the speaker is fully dustproof and waterproof. If the specification says IPX(number) for example IPX7 this tells you how waterproof the speaker is but means it has not been tested against dust. So IPX2 means the speaker is drip-proof and IPX7 means it is fully waterproof and can survive full submersion in water for up to 30 minutes. The X will be replaced with a number if the speaker has been tested against dust/ solids too.

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Audio Quality

One of the main reasons to look for speakers that use Bluetooth is so you are able to listen to your favourite music in a high-quality, convenient way. However, it can be very difficult to know how good the sound quality is when you’re buying a speaker online. We’d recommend reading user reviews and keeping an eye on the specifications. When looking at the specifications of Bluetooth speakers, consider the harmonic distortion, frequency response and output power figures as these can give you an idea of how good the audio quality is:

• Total Harmonic Distortion – try to find a speaker that offers less than 1% harmonic distortion (the lower, the better). If the Total Harmonic Distortion is higher it will compromise the sound.
• Frequency response – the range of frequencies the device can emit is important too. The human ear can hear sounds between 20 – 20,000 Hz. The greater the range coverage the Bluetooth speaker offers, the more clearly the sound will be heard and there will be fewer sounds that will be missed.
• Output power (Watts) – the output power is important as it can give you a good indication of the volume level. A speaker that offers between 15-20 watts will likely reach around 80dB which is loud enough for outdoor use.

360° Coverage?

Some of the best Bluetooth speakers now offer 360° coverage which produces an immersive sound with full coverage no matter where the speaker is positioned. These speakers can project sound in all directions rather than just projecting in one or two directions like many older speakers do.

You can put a 360° speaker in the middle of the room and everyone will be able to hear and enjoy the music. These are great for parties and situations where there are groups of people listening to the music.

Size & Style

There is a wide range of speakers available and they vary greatly in their size and style. Generally, you will want the speaker to be small and light enough to pick up, move around and take outside with you. However, very small portable speakers don’t offer the best sound quality, battery life or volume output so finding the best size and style tends to be a balancing act between these factors.

When comparing options, always look at the dimensions and the weight as well as the shape and style of the model. Even though you may need to compromise on some factors (e.g. size) to get more of what you want in other areas (e.g. battery life), you will definitely be able to find an option that suits your preferred style.

Ease of Use

The best Bluetooth speaker is going to be easy to set up and have user-friendly controls. Connecting devices should be quick and it should be easy to see if the devices are connected or not (indication lights are often used to let you know the status of the speaker).

Some products allow you to connect more than one device at a time so you can switch between phones/ playlists etc. as you like without needing to disconnect and reconnect different devices.

Some speakers don’t have any control buttons on the unit itself so consider whether this is a feature you think you would benefit from or not. When using advanced models, there may be an app available that controls the speaker.

Additional Features

• Microphone – some speakers have a built-in microphone which can be useful for answering phone calls and using your phones voice control features while it is connected to the speaker.
• Voice assistants – some speakers have a voice assistant such as Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa or Siri included but these tend to be featured on Bluetooth speakers that also have wi-fi capabilities. Having this built-in voice control can be beneficial and convenient as you can control the settings (change the volume level, change the track etc.) and get the latest news or access internet radio without needing to move.
• Multi room/ speaker pairing – some wireless speakers can be paired together which is perfect for larger parties or when you’re outdoors. One speaker sometimes isn’t enough so this is a great feature for enjoying stereo sound. If you’re using the speakers at home this pairing feature can be great for multi-room use. Pairing is usually only available between speakers of the same model but sometimes you can pair speakers of the same brand together too.
• Price – when you buy a new Bluetooth speaker it is important to get one that meets your needs. The most expensive option is not necessarily the best option, it is much better to get the one that offers what you need rather than the one that costs more. There is a lot of available choice so take a look at deals, read reviews and base your final decision on the speaker that will give you the best experience for your uses.