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Bluetooth speakers make it easy to stream your favourite music, podcasts, and audiobooks from your mobile devices. Unlike speakers with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth-compatible speakers don't rely on an internet connection to stream audio. As a result, they're ideal for on-the-go listening, so you can rock out all around your home or in the great outdoors.
With so many different Bluetooth speakers on the market, it's difficult to choose. That's why we've tested everything from the sound to the battery life to the voice assistant performance to see which are the best on the market.
If you're looking for a powerful Bluetooth speaker with great sound quality, the JBL Boombox 3 is for you. Whether listening to bass-heavy hip-hop or vocal-centric folk music, this speaker provides a clear and accurate reproduction of your favourite tracks. It has impressive volume, with plenty of bass to bring out the thump and rumble in songs. Plus, the graphic EQ in the JBL Portable companion app means you can customize its sound however you want.
In our tests, this speaker lasted almost thirty hours off a single charge, so you can keep the party going all day (and all night). Plus, it's rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, so it can handle some light exposure to the elements. It's a little bigger than other portable Bluetooth speakers on our list, though. It also lacks voice assistant support—if you want a speaker that's activated with your voice, you'll want to check out our best smart pick, the Sonos Roam.
If you're looking for a smaller and more lightweight speaker to take with you on the go, the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 is worth looking into. This Bluetooth-compatible speaker comes in several colour options, each with a built-in hook to clip it onto your bag or backpack for easier transport. With such a portable design, it's easy to take to the park or on your next camping trip. It's even rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, which is great if you run into rain or snow while out and about.
You won't have to sacrifice sound quality with this speaker, either. It reproduces lead instruments and vocals with clarity and accuracy. There's a little extra boom in the high bass, too, which livens up genres like EDM and hip-hop. There's also a graphic EQ in its companion app to help you customize its sound. It doesn't reproduce as much low bass as the larger and more powerful JBL Boombox 3, but the trade-off's worth it if you're shopping with portability in mind.
The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 offers great sound for the price. With a clear and accurate reproduction of voices and other instruments in the mix, it's more than suitable for listening to different genres, especially compared to other models at this price point. Of course, it doesn't have as many features as the more premium options on the list, so you're pretty limited in customizing its sound. Still, the outdoor preset brings more clarity and crispness to the mix when you listen in larger, more open spaces like your backyard.
Made of recycled plastic, you can find this speaker in various colours to suit your style. It's small and lightweight, too, so it's easy to bring it along with you on the go. Certified IP67 for dust and water resistance, it can also float in water, which is great for your next pool party. Plus, it lasts 22 hours off a single charge, so you can listen all day without worrying about having to recharge.
There are lots of Bluetooth speakers available for even less, and the Anker Soundcore 3 is the best of the bunch. Like most speakers in this price range, its sound quality is decent, though it lacks a lot of punch in the bass to bring genres like rock and hip-hop to life. What makes this speaker stand out from the pack is its wide array of sound customization tools, including a graphic EQ available through its companion app. As a result, you have a lot of control over its sound, which is unusual for such a wallet-friendly model.
This small and lightweight speaker is another great choice for listening on the go. It's rated IPX7 for water resistance, though it's not certified against dust exposure like the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3. Its battery life is around fourteen hours, which is fine for most listening sessions, though you'll have to recharge it more often than some of our more premium picks. Still, if you're new to the speaker space and don't want to break the bank, it's worth a look.
More and more speakers on the market are integrating support for smart features like voice assistants. Not all support Bluetooth, but the Sonos Roam is an exception. This portable device has built-in Alexa and Google Assistant for hands-free control wherever you go. Both assistants are more than capable of understanding your commands from far away, so it's easy to check the weather, set an alarm, or add a reminder with only your voice.
Given its smaller size, it's no surprise that this speaker can't bring the deep thump and rumble in the low bass like some more premium picks on our list. Still, it has a decent sound, with bass and treble adjustments on hand for easy customization. It's rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, too, so you can take it with you outdoors. A roughly five-hour battery life isn't the most impressive, but it should still be enough to get the job done.
There are lots of different Bluetooth speakers on the market to improve your at-home listening experience. With our recommendations, we've factored everything from price to performance to user feedback to find the best ones for most people. Of course, your personal preferences will play a role in your ultimate decision, too. Whether you love to rock out to music, keep up with the latest podcasts, or take advantage of voice assistant technology, rest assured that there's something out there for you.
Written by Becca Fischer, RTINGS.com
Disclaimer: The prices displayed are accurate at the time of publication. We'll do our best to keep them as up-to-date as possible, but you may see slight changes. The products in this list are ranked by independent third parties. Rankings are based on both reviews and independent testing.