There’s plenty to love about the best Bluetooth speakers. While they may not surpass the sound quality expectations of strict Hi-Fi aficionados, Bluetooth speakers can still deliver impressive performance. Not only that, Bluetooth speakers are portable, usually waterproof, very convenient and can be more reliable than Wi-Fi speakers. After all, you don’t have to worry about a dodgy Wi-Fi connection ruining the flow of your favorite album.
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However, Bluetooth speakers aren’t a new phenomenon, with the first speaker entering the market in 2006. Since then, numerous brands such as Sony, Bose, JBL, and Sonos (among others) have consistently introduced improved options year after year. Fast-forward to today and there are hundreds of options for music lovers to choose from at every price point.
Having worked in the audio equipment realm for the last six years, it’s fair to say that I’ve come across a fair share of Bluetooth speakers. From bass blasting party speakers to waterproof backpack-sized travel companions, I’ve seen it all. This list is the cream of the crop in the Bluetooth speaker market. Whether you’re on a tight budget, have specific requirements, or need a speaker for a particular application, you’ll find a Bluetooth speaker that suits your needs here.
Our picks for the best Bluetooth speakers
JBL Flip 6
1. Best Bluetooth speaker overall
Rugged and waterproof
The JBL Flip 6 is a rugged and powerful Bluetooth speaker that punches above its weight, even if it doesn’t offer many useful features other than adjustable EQ.
- Powerful sound for size
- Clean, clear mid-range
- Rugged design
- Adjustable EQ
- Slightly harsh treble at volume
- Battery life could be better
For most people, the JBL Flip 6 offers everything you could want from a portable Bluetooth speaker — powerful sound, rugged design and an affordable price — and that’s why it’s our top pick.
A year later and the JBL Flip 6 still packs the perfect portable punch
The JBL Flip 6 thinks harder about sound rather than turning to smarter features, and it makes for an ideal everyday speaker.
It doesn’t go big on unnecessary features, instead it focuses all of its efforts into getting good quality sound into a small speaker that’s perfect for holidays or on the go.
There have been improvements to its predecessor, of course. It now has IP67 certification for improved protection from the great outdoors, and packs a new tweeter that helps bring improved clarity and detail to its punchy, energetic performance.
It’s not perfect — that newly ambitious high end can occasionally sound harsh at top volume, but considering this speaker can fill most rooms with toe-tapping sound with volume notches to spare, it’s easily avoided.
Bang and Olufsen Beosound A1 (2nd Gen)
2. Best premium Bluetooth speaker
Beautiful and expensive
$250 $280 Save $30
Bang & Olufsen’s second-generation Beosound A1 speaker is a sleek and minimalist Bluetooth device that’s waterproof and comes with support for Amazon Alexa voice controls built-in.
- Exemplary sound
- Far better low-frequency handling than many speakers
- Looks great
- Solid battery life
If you care for beautiful design and have the budget to back it up, B&O’s Beosound A1 2nd Gen is a premium choice that has a little more wow factor in the looks department than JBL’s rough-and-ready Flip 6.
Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 2nd Gen: The portable Bluetooth speaker king
The second-gen A1 Bluetooth speaker adds more battery, waterproofing, Alexa voice control, and more. Is it the best portable speaker?
But let’s immediately address the elephant in the room — the price difference is considerable. And when you consider the lack of Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2, and a 3.5mm port, you might feel like you’re getting taken for a ride.
However, the A1 (2nd Gen) oozes quality, from its build to its performance. There is more subtlety to how it sounds too, so you are getting improvements across the board. Plus, with added Alexa voice control and much-needed waterproofing, it’s clearly superior to the already awesome original.
It might be small, but the Beosound A1 packs a big punch that — if you have the budget — won’t leave you disappointed.
Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3
3. Best budget Bluetooth speaker
Great for saving space
$70 $100 Save $30
The UE Wonderboom 3 is a compact and durable Bluetooth speaker that offers a long battery life and stereo pairing with other UE speakers.
- Sound is superb
- Stereo pairing is great
- Even better battery life
- Really durable
- Still uses Micro USB
- No major upgrades on the last model
If you don’t need, or don’t want, something as big as the Megaboom, but are a fan of how UE does things — the Wonderboom 3 is a great little speaker, well worthy of consideration.
Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3: Still packing punch
UE hasn’t changed a huge amount for the new Wonderboom 3, but that’s not a huge deal as it’s still great.
It doesn’t come with any huge improvements to its predecessor, but you will get a bit better range and a bit more battery life. We’re disappointed to see the return of Micro-USB charging, though, when USB-C would be such an obvious upgrade.
Still, ignoring what might have been and taking it for what it is right now, the Wonderboom 3 is still a brilliant option for those in the market for a hardy, great-sounding compact speaker that will stand up to the elements while delivering excellent sound.
Ultimate Ears Epicboom
4. Best Bluetooth speaker with big, bassy sound
Like a Bluetooth-only Sonos Move
$300 $350 Save $50
The UE Epicboom is a highly durable and easy-to-use Bluetooth speaker that’s loud and bassy in all the right ways. The only downside is that it’s a little expensive.
- Sounds great
- Gets really loud
- Strap makes it easier to carry
- No Wi-Fi connectivity
- Expensive
Ultimate Ears’ speaker lineup has been largely unchanged for years save for the occasional numbered update, software improvements, and additional accessories. The UE Epicboom marks a significant new addition, and it’s well worth considering if you’re looking for a powerful Bluetooth speaker to use for outdoor parties or long days at the beach.
Ultimate Ears Epicboom: Keeping it simple
Ultimate Ears has a powerful new speaker — the Epicboom, and we’ve tested it thoroughly.
The Epicboom is not small, and in fact it’s most comparable to “portable” but not exactly backpack-sized speakers like the Sonos Move. It’s a good comparison, because UE hopes to offer the same level of sound quality as Sonos with the Epicboom.
Inside, there’s two 45mm mid-high frequency transducers and one 120mm woofer, for punchy sound that can be notably loud and bassy if you want it to. The speaker is relatively expensive at $350, and missing more connectivity options, like Wi-Fi support, but you’ll at least get 17 hours of battery life and quick pairing with Android phones for a higher price.
Sonos Roam
5. Best Bluetooth speaker for multi-speaker compatibility
Sonos’ premium features in an affordable package
Sonos’ Roam speaker is the only portable Bluetooth device in the company’s ever expanding family of audio devices. It’s waterproof, supports Google Assistant and Alexa, and sounds great for its size.
- Excellent sound quality for this size
- Water-resistant design
- Google Assistant and Alexa
- A little pricey
- Rubber ends dent
The Sonos Roam is a little pricey when compared to other Bluetooth speakers, but in the same breath, it does a lot more than most competitors.
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Its portable and lightweight design is met with excellent sound performance, plus all the features that come with the Sonos system, a choice of smart assistants, along with extra — and great — features like Sound Swap to seamlessly switch between other Sonos speakers and groups.
For those already invested in Sonos, the Roam is a no-brainer as an addition. It allows you to bring your Sonos system with you wherever you go, and sounds superb as well.
Soundcore Motion X600
6. Best spatial audio Bluetooth speaker
Handle included
$150 $200 Save $50
The Soundcore Motion X600 is a wireless Bluetooth boombox with drivers and amplifiers designed to surround you with sound and 12 hours of battery life.
- Able to recreate surround and spatial audio experiences
- 12 hours of battery life
- Aux-in for wired connections
- Audio features are a little gimmicky
Sitting somewhere in the middle of our Bluetooth speaker picks in terms of price, the Soundcore Motion X600 stands out because of its unique design and audio capabilities. The Motion X600 is shaped like a classic boombox, with front-facing speakers, controls on the top, and a handle for carrying it around. While it’s larger than some of our other picks, that does mean it gets 12 hours of battery and a design (that includes upwards firing drivers) that’s able to recreate the spatial audio experience you might get from modern wireless headphones.
The Motion X600 is shaped like a classic boombox, with front-facing speakers, controls on the top, and a handle for carrying it around.
The Motion X600 has five drivers and five amplifiers and is IPX7 waterproof. And if you’re looking for a physical way to connect to your device and play music, there’s even an Aux-in port on the back of the Motion X600 for wired connections.
Tribit XSound Go
7. Best budget waterproof Bluetooth speaker
A lot of bang for your buck
The Tribit XSound Go Bluetooth speaker includes premium features like waterproofing and excellent sound quality thanks to dual 8W drivers in a package that costs less than $100.
- IPX7 waterproof
- 24 hours of battery life
- Super affordable
If you were to just look at the features of the Tribit XSound Go, you might not assume it’s a $50 speaker, and that’s really its main charm. The pill-shaped Bluetooth speaker is IPX7 waterproof, which means it can survive being accidentally submerged or splashed in the shower, its battery can last up to 24 hours on a single charge, and it can produce clear highs, mids, and rich bass. There’s a carrying strap for taking the Tribit XSound Go out and about, Bluetooth 5.0 for 100ft of range, and even a built-in microphone for taking calls.
Bose SoundLink Revolve+ II Bluetooth Speaker
8. Best Bluetooth speaker for 360 degree dispersion
Rich Bose audio no matter where you’re standing
The SoundLink Revolve+ represents Bose’s endeavor to create a Bluetooth speaker with 360-degree sound dispersion, and they have certainly succeeded. Boasting a 17-hour battery life, convenient carry handle, IP55 rating for durability, and smart assistant activation, it leaves no feature unaddressed.
- Incredibly immersive sound
- Fantastic battery life
- IP55 rating
Bose is a household name in the audio world, and with the Revolve+, they’ve really outdone themselves. This Bluetooth speaker is packed with just about every feature you could ask for. First, let’s start with the audio. Thanks to a downwards-facing transducer and an omnidirectional acoustic deflector, the Revolve+ is capable of throwing out audio to every corner in the room.
True to Bose’s reputation, the audio quality of the SoundLink Revolve+ is rich and powerful, making it more than capable of leaving a lasting impression at any house party. If you like taking your parties outside, the Revolve+ is capable of 17 hours of audio playback from a single charge and the IP55 rating will keep it protected from any splashes of water it may encounter.
The Revolve+ can be controlled by the Bose Connect App, which allows you to link multiple Bluetooth devices, but it’s slightly disappointing that there is no EQ option to configure the audio to your taste. Also, not being capable of aptX high-res streaming is a let-down when you consider the price point. So there are plenty of options to consider with this Bose Bluetooth speaker.
The bottom line: What is the best Bluetooth speaker?
Bluetooth speakers come in all shapes and sizes, but for your money, our testing leads us to think the JBL Flip 6 is the best overall pick because of it’s relatively portable size and excellent audio performance. For something more premium, B&O’s Beosound A1 looks as good as it sounds, with a stylish minimalist design and support for the latest voice assistants. The most affordable option to consider, though, is UE’s Wonderboom 3, which is highly compact while still sounding like some of its bigger counterparts.
JBL Flip 6
Editor’s Choice
How we chose the best Bluetooth speakers
For the Bluetooth speakers in this article, the Pocket-lint team has tested most of them, and are deeply familiar with the manufacturers of the rest, so we can say with authority that all of these picks should be good ones.
To review Bluetooth speakers, the Pocket-lint team put each device through its paces in both indoor and outdoor environments. By listening to a range of different genres, we are able to evaluate sound quality, as well as consider each speaker’s level of portability, battery life and value for money.
Is there a way to connect multiple Bluetooth speakers together?
The beauty of Sonos’ system is that it makes it easy to add, group, and play audio from a variety of different speakers. The catch, is that Sonos does all of that over Wi-Fi, and most speakers, especially highly portable ones, only include Bluetooth.
Luckily, most Bluetooth speakers offer ways to pair at least two speakers together into a stereo pair. Ultimate Ears speakers can be connected using the company’s “PartyUp” feature via the Ultimate Ears app (the Wonderboom is oddly excluded). The Tribit XSound Go can also be connected to another Tribit with the right button presses and Bluetooth pairing mode enabled. Options exist, even if you’re not spending on a system that connects over Wi-Fi.
Does it matter what kind of Bluetooth my speaker uses?
In short, no, though it might be hard to find a new speaker that doesn’t at least support Bluetooth 5. Technically, Bluetooth 5.4 became available in 2023, but Bluetooth 5 made some of the most recent, most important improvements to the wireless audio specification, including expanding the range of Bluetooth LE devices like wireless earbuds, speakers, and “internet of things” devices. Know that if your device has Bluetooth 5 or above, it’s more energy-efficient and able to connect to your devices from further away.
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