These days, it’s impossible to imagine life without wireless Bluetooth speakers. Everyone has one stashed away somewhere, and their reasons for using it range widely. Perhaps you listen to music while doing housework or when you’re washing your hair. Possibly you take it with you when you visit the park or the beach. There are also individuals who ride their bikes or walk around with backpack speakers, playing music for anyone who happens to be in earshot.
If the Bluetooth speaker you already own is functional, there’s no reason to rush out and get a new one. I know plenty of individuals who are still using speakers they bought years ago. On the other hand, Bluetooth speakers have greatly improved in quality in recent years. The battery life is getting longer, the build quality is getting better, and the sound quality is becoming better.
When looking for new speakers, it’s important to first decide on the desired size. In this list, I’ve avoided including anything that wouldn’t be convenient to bring along on the road and instead focused on portable Bluetooth speakers. Next, think about how important things like sound quality, user-friendliness, long-term reliability, and perks like a built-in speaker are to you while making a decision. You can create a stereo pair with two speakers, and some brands even have a “party mode” that allows you to join a bunch of them together. A little Bluetooth speaker can be had for as little as $25 if you don’t care about any of that. However, each of these recommendations takes things to the next level in terms of design and functionality.
Bose SoundLink Flex
There must be some sort of engineering magic in Bose’s Bluetooth speakers since, at least in my experience dating back to the SoundLink Mini II, they consistently outperform their similarly sized competition in terms of sound quality. Bose’s latest portable speaker, the $149 SoundLink Flex, lives up to the brand’s excellent reputation.
The SoundLink Flex provides room-filling music with surprisingly deep bass for a Bluetooth speaker despite having only a single driver. Plus, the bass isn’t sloppy or boomy, which is a huge plus. This person’s voice is full and very clear. Given that it only supports the rudimentary SBC Bluetooth codec and not the more modern AAC or LDAC, that’s even more shocking. Nonetheless, this presenter has a superb voice.
UE Boom 3
That I’m still writing about the UE Boom 3 in 2022 is, to put it mildly, baffling. Ultimate Ears has been riding high on the success of this speaker since it debuted in 2018. Maybe that tells something about how static the Bluetooth speaker market has grown, or maybe UE just hasn’t come up with anything that outshines the $149.99 Boom 3 in a meaningful way. Or it could just be an indication of how well the Boom 3 performs as a portable speaker.
Sonos Roam
With its robust sound, sturdy build, outstanding connectivity features, and smart home control, the Sonos Roam is our top selection for the best Bluetooth speaker on the planet. We found that its bass-heavy performance was perfect for use in the great outdoors since it was able to easily overcome ambient noise like the wind. Meanwhile, the automatic switching capability makes it easy to integrate into your existing Sonos Wi-Fi multi-room setup at home, where it will likely be enjoyed by all but the most discerning audiophiles due to the speaker’s booming bass frequencies and erratic rhythmic handling.
All of the Sonos Roam’s glitzy extras would be for naught if it didn’t produce high-quality sound, and we’re pleased to report that it does just that. Despite its diminutive size, the Roam produces powerful sonic performance, with remarkably prominent bass—though it doesn’t quite match the rhythmic accuracy of a dedicated audiophile speaker.
Tribit Stormbox Micro 2
We’ve tried a lot of different little Bluetooth speakers, and the Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 is by far the best sounding and most feature-packed. While it may not be the strongest or loudest Bluetooth speaker available, for the price and size, there is nothing better.
Brilliantly compact and pocketable, the Micro 2 portable speaker is surprisingly good for music and an excellent option for listening to podcasts or merely watching TV shows on a mobile device. You can get two of these for the price of one of its more well-known competitors, making them a fantastic choice if you need a stereo set of speakers for a compact room.
JBL Flip 6
If you want a Bluetooth speaker that does the basics right, go no further than the JBL Flip 6. This sturdy portable speaker is easy to set up, produces high-quality sound, and can be synced with a whole network of up to a hundred other JBL speakers to create an enormous stereo field.
The Flip 6 lacks frills like Wi-Fi and voice assistants, but the quality of its sound makes up for it. Even while the trebles might get a touch harsh at higher volumes, you’re still getting plenty of clarity and detail, and the audio performance is far more balanced and pleasant than you might anticipate from a speaker of this size.
This speaker is perfect for the beach or pool thanks to its long battery life (up to 12 hours) and durability in water and dust. The lack of a phone-charging connector is disappointing in comparison to larger JBL speakers but is ultimately inconsequential.
Conclusion
It can be difficult to choose a new Bluetooth speaker because there are so many options available. Even while it may seem like your options are unlimited, it’s important to keep an eye out for a number of key characteristics.
One must first decide where they will be using their new bluetooth speaker. Certain portable speakers are made to last, with rubberized exteriors to protect them from drops and compact, lightweight designs for portability.
