A good portable Bluetooth speaker allows you to take your favorite music with you wherever you go. Whether you’re looking for a portable Bluetooth speaker to use at the beach, in the park, in your backyard, or in different rooms of your home, there are countless models to choose from on the market today. Ideally, you want a well-made speaker with long-lasting Bluetooth speaker battery life and an IP waterproof rating to be able to withstand moisture when you take it outdoors.
That said, it’s worth noting that smaller speakers are more likely to struggle with sound and reproduction of heavy, rumbling bass.
We’ve tested more than 130 speakers; here are our recommendations for the best portable speakers. If you want more options, check out our picks for the best Bluetooth speakers , the best-sounding Bluetooth speakers , or the best small Bluetooth speakers .
The JBL Boombox 3 is the best portable Bluetoothspeaker
we’ve ever tested. This mid-sized speaker is slightly larger than others on our list, but if you want the best sound possible, it’s a fair trade-off for you. Thanks to its sturdier construction, this speaker can reproduce deeper, more extended bass, letting you feel the rumble of bass-heavy genres like EDM and hip-hop. The rest of the range is also fairly balanced, so you get clear and accurate sounds and instruments in your mix. Additionally, its 3-band graphic equalizer lets you customize its sound.
Thanks to its built-in handle, this speaker can be easily moved from room to room. It’s even rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, so you can take it outdoors. This speaker is also louder than many of the smaller options on our list and has nearly 30 hours of battery life, making it easy to get through a long day. Music lovers and audiophiles alike will want to check out this great speaker, but if you’re looking for something smaller and lighter, keep scrolling to check out some of the more affordable options on our list.The Ultimate Ears EPICBOOM is another more affordable portable Bluetooth speaker
that comes in black or white. Due to its relatively portable design, the device is suitable for listening at home or on the go. It’s a bit heavy, but its built-in handle helps you carry it wherever you go. Plus, it’s rugged and has an IP67 dust and water resistance rating to protect it from the elements.
As for the sound, this speaker has many features to make the most of your listening experience. Its adaptive equalizer feature automatically adjusts the device’s sound to suit your room’s unique acoustics, which is a nice touch, and its graphic equalizer and presets let you perform some manual adjustments. However, it can’t reproduce as much bass compared to the more premium JBL Boombox 3 . Its 7.8 hours of battery life isn’t that impressive, and may be limiting for extended outdoor activities. Still, it’s worth a look if you want a great-sounding speaker for less.
The Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3 is a more affordable option that’s smaller and lighter than our top pick. This cylindrical High quality Bluetooth speaker battery is easy to carry around, and you can even hang it on your bag via the built-in hook. It’s a good choice if you want to use the speaker by a pool or lake, as it floats in the water and has an IP67 dust and water resistance rating. It also comes in a variety of colors, so you can find one that best suits your style.
Given its smaller size, it’s no surprise that this speaker’s low-frequency extension isn’t as impressive as the Ultimate Ears EPICBOOM. You’ll notice less bass in the mix, but it’s still great for conversational or instrumental-focused content, like podcasts or folk and pop music. Plus, its companion app has plenty of customization options for getting the most out of its sound, including a graphic equalizer and presets. It has a compact design and great sound, and it’s worth checking out, especially if you want to spend less money on your next speaker.
Best Budget Portable Bluetooth Speakers The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 3 is the best portable speaker
we’ve tested on a budget. Designed for both outdoor and indoor use, this neat little speaker is made from recycled plastic and is available in a variety of colors. Given its compact and lightweight design, it can be easily clipped to your bag using its b Built-in shoulder strap or carry with one hand on the go.
Since it floats in water, it’s also ideal for use in swimming pools, and its IP67 dust and water resistance rating keeps it safe when exposed to the elements.
The speaker also comes with an outdoor mode preset to make your audio clearer and crisper when you’re out and about. Beyond that, it has fewer customization features than more premium speakers like the Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3 . If you want an affordable speaker with a graphic equalizer and presets to switch up your sound, check out the Anker Soundcore Flare 2. While the Anker does, it doesn’t float in water, and its battery life isn’t quite as long as the Ultimate Ears, but it’s still a good choice if you want more control over your mix.
Best Mini Portable Bluetooth SpeakerSony SRS-XB100
Sony SRS-XB100 Dimensions Photo The Sony SRS-XB100 is a very small speaker, in fact, it’s one of the smallest speakers we’ve ever tested. This Sony portable Bluetooth speaker batteryis lightweight enough to take anywhere, and the included shoulder strap easily attaches to your bag or wrist. Additionally, it has an IP67 dust and water resistance rating and can float in water, which is great if you want to take it to the pool. It also comes in different colors to suit your style.
The size of this speaker means its sound quality isn’t as impressive as our top picks, but if you want something small and portable, that’s probably a fair trade-off. It’s still suitable for listening to most music genres, although genres like EDM have less bass rumble. Unlike the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 3, it has to downmix stereo content to mono for playback, which isn’t ideal for music lovers. Still, it does a pretty solid job for its size. You can even check out our recommendations for the best small Bluetooth speakers if you want something similar.
Sonos Roam Best Smart Portable Bluetooth Speaker
Want hands-free control of your speakers? Check out the Sonos Roam. It’s a portable smart speaker with built-in Alexa and Google Assistant. Both assistants easily understand your commands for hands-free control. The pocket-friendly Roam is designed for travel , as it can easily be thrown into a bag or backpack and taken with you. Additionally, it’s IP67 rated for dust and water resistance, and it floats in water, so it’s protected from the elements.
This speaker is also a great addition to your existing Sonos ecosystem in your home, as you can pair it with compatible devices to spread audio throughout the room. It’s especially useful because the smaller Roam doesn’t sound as good as some of the larger speakers on our list, and pairing it with other devices can help. If you want a bigger, louder portable smart speaker, you can always check out the Sonos Move 2 . However, its larger size means it takes up more space in your bag when transporting , and the speaker weighs more.
Bose Portable Smart Speaker: The Bose Portable Smart Speaker is a portable Bluetooth speaker with a carrying handle and built-in Alexa and Google Assistant. However, its Bluetooth speaker batteryife is not as long as the Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3. It’s also not well built.JBL Flip 6: The JBL Flip 6 is a well-built portable Bluetooth speaker with a balanced sound profile suitable for listening to different audio content. However, it has to downmix stereo content to mono for playback, which is less immersive.
Its JBL Flip 6 Bluetooth Speakers Battery also doesn’t last as long as the Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3.