Do you like to enjoy music but don’t want fixed and wired equipment? The solution to your problems is the best portable Bluetooth speaker. These devices have become extremely popular thanks to their simplicity and versatility of use.
We can transport them inside the house to listen to music in any room, in addition to taking them anywhere, and all this with the comfort and freedom that not using cables gives us.
Top 10 Best Bluetooth Speaker Reviews
The number of different models that we can find in the market is overwhelming, so it is easy to feel lost. For this reason, we have prepared this ranking and buying guide so that you know the main factors that you should take into account before buying Bluetooth speakers to make the best decision.
Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2
The UE Ears Wonderboom 2 is a small and lightweight wireless speaker, designed to be enjoyed especially outdoors. It is very compact, well-built, and with a nice touch. Besides, it has IP67 resistance to dust and water, making it ideal for taking to the beach or the pool.
On the auditory side, we find “spatial 360” sound, which means that it emits sound in all directions, so we will hear it just as well regardless of whether we are in front of or behind it.
This is very useful in meetings with friends outdoors, since you can leave the speaker in the middle and everyone will hear it just as well. It has an “outdoor mode” that changes the equalization to enhance the sound outdoors.
It has an unusual power in portable speakers of a price as low as this, which is undoubtedly surprising. Although indeed it does not have excessively marked or defined bass, which on the other hand is logical considering its price.
One function that we find interesting is that we can pair our smartphone with 2 UE Wonderboom 2 speakers to increase power and listen to it in stereo, thus improving the listening experience.
To achieve this, you would have to buy two speakers, but since they are Bluetooth speakers at such a competitive price, many people decide to buy two to be able to listen in stereo and have more power. However, it is only an alternative since a single speaker alone already gives us a very decent performance.
In terms of connectivity, it does not offer too many options beyond Bluetooth. We do not have a 3.5mm jack or NFC. We also don’t have the hands-free option.
Finally, in terms of battery, we have a decent 13 hours of autonomy, on the market average.
Pros
- Economical price
- Waterproof
- Compact and portable
- Possibility of connecting 2 in stereo mode
Cons
- Could have more connectivity alternatives
- Let’s not expect a very powerful bass
JBL GO 2
If you have a limited budget but do not want to give up having a Bluetooth speaker that improves your mobile’s sound experience, the JBL GO 2 is a great option.
It comes in a square design, where the front is metallic and the entire coating is rubber to absorb shocks. Plus, it comes in 12 colors to choose from. Its small size makes it very comfortable to transport.
It has IPX7 water resistance, which makes it an all-rounder to enjoy both at home and outdoors without fear of getting wet on the beach or pool or being surprised by the rain.
As for sound, for the price we are paying, we cannot ask for great power or a majestic presence of bass, but it does fulfill its mission, which is to improve our smartphone’s sound.
It has directional sound, that is, the sound is emitted from only one part of the speaker (the front), which means that we will hear better if we are in front of it than if we are behind it.
Regarding connectivity, in addition to Bluetooth, we can listen to it in an analog way through a 3.5 mm jack connection. It also has a microphone to be able to use it hands-free in calls.
Its battery life is 5 hours, one of the lowest in this ranking. But considering its price, its small size, and the versatility it offers us in terms of both indoor and outdoor use, we can ask a little more in this section.
Pros
- Best market price
- Waterproof
- Very small and portable
Cons
- Acceptable sound quality, but not comparable to other models
- 5-hour autonomy
Bose SoundLink Revolve
The Bose SoundLink Revolve is a compact and lightweight loudspeaker, and with its cylindrical shape, it is easy to lay on any surface. It also has good rubbers at its base that prevent slippage. On its body, we have a robust aluminum mesh to complete an excellent overall construction.
This, together with its IPX4 water resistance, makes it a perfect device to transport and enjoy in all kinds of situations, both indoors and outdoors. Thus, at the beach or pool, we will not have to worry about it getting wet.
The company also offers us the possibility of incorporating a tripod into the base. It is not something that we find too relevant, but it will surely be interesting for some users.
The sound it offers us is worthy of the Bose brand, so the most demanding of sound will be happy with their choice. It has ” 360 sound “, which, as we have already mentioned, allows the sound to be emitted the same in all directions.
This is ideal when we listen to it in meetings with friends, so that everyone hears the music equally well, regardless of where they are placed.
If we have 2 of these speakers, we can pair them to sound in stereo, which Bose calls “party mode.” In any case, the speaker by itself offers us a power that, for its size, is quite remarkable.
It is a very well-equipped device in terms of connectivity since it has a 3.5mm jack connection, Bluetooth 4.2, NFC, and micro-USB. It also has a microphone for hands-free use in calls. We can manage it through the Bose Connect application.
Finally, we have an autonomy of 12 hours, which is sufficient without being one of the largest on the market. We can charge it with a USB charging port.
Pros
- Sound quality
- Many connectivity options
- Elegant design
- Waterproof
- Small and compact, easy to carry
Cons
- Demanding price
50w Bluetooth speakers
This 50w Bluetooth Speaker has a plan that evokes the old radio cassette. Of course, the advantages of current technology allow us to have a magnificent portable speaker without cables.
It offers us a very decent audio quality, and what stands out the most is its 50 watts of power, which will allow us to enjoy high volumes without distorting. We miss equalizer, which is a resource that many users appreciate, to “test” and leave the sound to their liking.
Although it has dimensions somewhat higher than other models, it is perfectly designed to be a portable speaker. It has a handy strap to be able to move it anywhere. Also, being waterproof, dust and sand proof, we can enjoy it in any situation.
It should be noted that it has a button that, by activating it, we increase bass and treble, which gives more strength to the resulting sound and is an option designed so that the speaker gains “punch” when we use it outdoors with friends.
We also have Bluetooth, NFC, and an analog connection via a 3.5mm jack for the connection. It also includes a microphone to activate hands-free phone calls.
Ending on the battery side, the manufacturer announces 24 hours of autonomy. Although these values seem somewhat exaggerated and we may not get to that much, it certainly performs equally well in this section.
It also highlights that we can connect our mobile by USB to charge it. On certain occasions when we are caught out and we have forgotten the mobile charger, a utility can get us out of trouble.
Pros
- Great power
- Very good autonomy
- Possibility of connecting the mobile to charge it
Cons
- Although it is portable, it is larger than other models
- I design something special, not everyone likes it
Sony SRS-XB12
In terms of design, this Sony SRS-XB12 is around the product: they are very beautiful, small and light, super portable, and also have a delightful touch and very solid construction, which gives us the feeling of being in front of speakers that they will put up with it all.
This, together with their resistance to water and dust with IP67 certification, will allow us to enjoy them in any situation, both at home, on the beach, in the field, or in the pool.
It is also surprising that the audio quality is good despite its small size and low price. Logically we cannot demand the same from higher-end speakers, but it does not disappoint at all.
Indeed, it does not have excessive power, so, although they are beneficial to be outdoors with a few friends, perhaps it is not the product if you think of having a party with a larger group of people, where you will need a speaker with greater power.
An exciting possibility that they give us is that we can connect our smartphone to 2 Sony SRS-XB12 simultaneously so that they sound in stereo mode. This will allow us to enjoy higher quality music and also at a higher volume.
On the connectivity side, it has Bluetooth 4.2 and a 3.5 mm jack. It does not have NFC. It does have a microphone so that we can have hands-free conversations.
And in terms of autonomy, we have a battery life of 16 hours. The battery will be charged with the micro USB input that it includes.
In short, if you don’t want to invest a lot of money, you want a challenging and resistant device, and you value audio quality overpower, it is an exciting alternative.
Pros
- Very light and portable
- For the battle, it will take it all
- Possibility of connecting two in stereo
Cons
- It doesn’t have the power that larger speakers have
JBL Charge 4
The JBL Charge 4 is undoubtedly another portable Bluetooth speaker designed for “battle”, as it has excellent construction with rubber on the ends that protect it from shock.
This, together with the fact that it is impervious to water and has dimensions of little more than a hand, makes it ideal for transporting it and enjoying it in very different places such as camping, beach, parks, etc.
Its audio quality is outstanding, with a lot of basses, which can be equalized with the app for those users who find it excessive. It also offers us good power, which will allow you to listen to it at a high volume without distortion.
In terms of connectivity, it has an analog minijack connection, in addition to its Bluetooth position. It does not have NFC nor does it include hands-free microphones.
It also has a USB type c charging port. We can connect two devices simultaneously to launch the music from one or the other alternately. Also, note that we can connect our smartphone to more than 100 JBL Charge 4 simultaneously.
This may be very exaggerated, but it is useful if for example you have a speaker and your friend has another. If you organize an outdoor party, you can connect the 2 simultaneously to give more force to the sound and that they sound in stereo.
We have an autonomy of about 20 hours. Also, an exciting function is that we can charge our mobile by connecting it to the speaker.
Pros
- Good audio quality with bass presence
- Waterproof
- Very sturdy and portable
- We can charge our mobile by connecting it to the speaker
Cons
- Does not have hands free
Marshall Stanmore II
The Marshall Stanmore II has a merely spectacular design. Lovers of retro are in luck because this small speaker that simulates the typical appearance of Marshall guitar amps will look incredible in any cabinet in our living room.
Of course, precisely because of its retro-vintage line, it may not appeal to everyone, especially users looking for more modern design formats. Built-in a robust wooden structure exudes quality and careful finishes, which is obvious to the eye and the touch.
As for audio quality, it is possibly the best option of all those present in the ranking, and it is here that the Marshall tradition is noted. We get a clean sound, very well-balanced, and plenty of power for average use at home. We can also equalize it to leave the sound to our liking, both from the buttons on the speaker itself and from the app.
Regarding connectivity, we have an analog connection through a jack and a Bluetooth 5.0 connection. It should be noted that this model is a different concept from the rest of the speakers in this ranking: it does not have a battery, so we must always have it connected to the electrical network.
For this reason, it is not a speaker designed for outdoor use or to be carried around. But if you are simply looking for a home Bluetooth speaker, design and sound prevail, it is a pretty round product.
The Marshall app, it is true that it does not have excellent reviews among some users, but it does its job and offers us some attractive alternatives, such as activating the speaker, equalizing it, or putting it on standby.
It also has multi-host functionality, which will allow us to connect two devices simultaneously and alternate which of the 2 is the one that sends the songs to the speaker.
Pros
- Best audio quality
- Very nice retro design
- Robust and quality construction
Cons
- It has no battery, it is not portable
Bose SoundLink Revolve +
The Bose SoundLink Revolve + is the older brother of the Bose SoundLink Revolve, which we have already analyzed in this ranking. This version is bigger and less light than its little brother. Of course, that larger size allows us to obtain greater sound power and a bass frequency that its little brother does not reach.
Despite being larger, it is still very much geared toward portability. Proof of this is the flexible fabric handle that it incorporates, which will serve us to transport it and hang it anywhere.
We continue to have excellent construction, with a non-slip rubber base and a metal mesh body. We can choose it in silver or black. It also offers us 360 sound coverage to be perceived equally well from all positions, which is ideal for meetings with several friends or outdoor parties.
It has IPX4 water resistance, which will give you the peace of mind of using it at the beach or pool without worrying about getting wet.
The connectivity section offers us many alternatives since we have a 3.5mm jack, Bluetooth 4.2, NFC, and micro-USB connections. We can also use it hands-free for calls and we can handle it with the Bose Connect application.
We also have excellent autonomy, which lasts until 4:00 p.m.
In short, it is one of the best wireless speakers on the market and, compared to its little brother Bose SoundLink Revolve, it provides more sound power and bass power.
If you are looking for enough ability to use it frequently outdoors, it may be worth paying the price difference. But if you are going to use it mainly at home, you may need to consider whether the smaller version is a better option, since it is cheaper and has enough power for an average house.
Pros
- Good sound quality
- Powerful, you can tell the difference compared to his younger brother
- Waterproof
- Elegant design
Cons
- Although it is portable, it is a somewhat larger model
Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3
The Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 has one of the most appreciated designs by lovers of Bluetooth speakers. It has a cylindrical, discreet, and exquisite shape.
It is also an extremely compact and well-built speaker, a true shock-proof all-rounder that, despite not being too small, will allow you to transport it from one place to another, without worrying about carrying it in a case or having to take special care of your transfer.
It also has resistance to water and dust, being even submersible.
Its sound quality is quite good, with more pronounced bass than previous versions of this brand. It also has good power, which will allow us to listen to it at high volumes without distortion. It has 360 spatial sound, making sound come out of the speaker in all directions, allowing sound to reach all sides equally.
Moving on to connectivity, it should be noted that it does not have a jack or NFC connection, so those who want alternatives to the Bluetooth connection will find themselves somewhat limited in this section.
We can handle it with the app, which allows us exciting functions such as equalizing to put the sound to our liking or turning the speaker on and off from the application itself. It has a micro USB charging port.
On the autonomy side, it is one of the models on the market with the best battery performance, with 20 hours. In this type of product that is usually used without connection to the electrical network, having good autonomy that allows us to not worry about the unpleasant feeling that we will run out of battery is a joy.
In short, a practical and all-terrain speaker to take into account.
Pros
- Good bass presence
- It is submersible
- Very compact, shock resistant
- We can equalize it from the app
- Good autonomy
Cons
- We would appreciate more connectivity options
JBL Xtreme 2
With a modern and careful design, the JBL Xtreme 2 is presented as a solution for the most demanding of sound. It has a substantial and robust construction, with rubber protection at both ends.
It is not excessively small or light, so it is not as portable as other speakers, although, of course, you can take it with you (it comes with a carrying strap and you can also buy a case with a small handle).
Its audio quality makes it a clear candidate for the best portable Bluetooth speaker of the moment. And it is that it offers us a clean sound, without distortion and with well-pronounced bass. As we increase volume, it loses power. This is because increasing the volume lowers the bass’s weight, with the aim that it does not distort at any time.
This can cause that, although for meetings on the beach or in the pool it has more than enough power, in other circumstances such as outdoor parties with many people, if we need a high volume, it may fall short.
It has IPX7 certification for water resistance, so we can enjoy it in any aquatic environment: beach, pool, outdoors when it rains, etc. Regarding connectivity, we have Bluetooth 4.2 that will allow us to connect up to 3 devices simultaneously.
It does not have NFC or USB to play mp3 music. It does have an aux connection to connect analog with a jack cable. It also incorporates a microphone to make hands-free calls, being one of the best on the market in this section.
On the autonomy side, we have a battery with a durability of 15 hours, which is more than correct. With a charging time of 3 hours.
Pros
- Clean, distortion-free sound with good bass
- Very robust construction
- Waterproof
- The hands-free is possibly the best on the market
Cons
- It is portable but larger than other models
What to Consider When Choosing the Best Bluetooth Speaker
There are hundreds of models of Bluetooth speakers on the market, so it is easy to get lost in the vastness. The first thing you should assess is the use you want to give because, as we have seen, you will be more interested in one type or another of speakers depending on this. Once you have it clear, it is time to assess fundamental aspects: price, sound quality, connectivity, size, design, or autonomy.
Everything you need to know to buy the best portable Bluetooth speakers Connectivity
We review below the main connections that we can find in a portable speaker.
Bluetooth
- It is the quintessential connection that we need in our wireless speaker and can range between 10 and 50 meters. We find different versions of Bluetooth, from 1.0 to 5.0, with their corresponding variants (4.1, 4.2, etc). As we find more advanced versions of Bluetooth, we will obtain higher transmission speeds and lower battery consumption. Today, the best models incorporate an understanding of Bluetooth 4.0 onwards.
- We also find different “profiles” of Bluetooth. These profiles are the ones that tell us what functions the devices can perform. The most common are:
- HSP: Most used for the standard use of sending audio content to headphones.
- A2DP: The most widely used to send sound in stereo.
- AVRCP: Enables remote control, such as song skip, play-pause, etc.
- HFP: It is included in those that offer hands-free possibilities.
NFC
- It is an efficient alternative to Bluetooth. It is the acronym for Near Field Communication and is based on the connection by approximation. If you bring an NFC-enabled smartphone close to an NFC-enabled speaker, they pair automatically without confining anything. The advantage over the relationship with Bluetooth is that with NFC we do not have to connect or pair any device or go to the settings. It is, therefore, much more automatic. The downside is that, for it to work, both devices have to be together; that is, it does not have the range of Bluetooth.
Wifi
- Another way of wireless pairing is to connect our speaker through our home or office’s Wi-Fi network. This form of connection is less flexible than Bluetooth or NFC since it forces us to be connected to the network. For this reason, it is intended solely for sound equipment that we are going to use in our home and we do not plan to move them to use them in other environments.
Jack
- Having the possibility of having an analog connection gives us greater versatility. The jack connection (normally 3.5m) allows us to connect our smartphone to the speaker by cable and listen to the music we have in our device’s memory.
USB
- Although it is increasingly difficult to find it in this type of device, there are still models that include a USB port to connect our pen and play our favorite music. If you are one of those who continue to store your favorite music on a cell, then this type of connection will interest you. If this is not your case, then you can skip this option.
Freehands
- Many speakers include a microphone so that we can have hands-free phone conversations. If this is a utility that you value, you should be careful that the device you choose includes it.
Audio quality
As with any sound device, audio quality is an essential factor to consider before choosing your wireless speaker. If you are looking for a Bluetooth speaker, you are probably looking for a device that gives you freedom and versatility, but you do not want to give up on audio quality.
And it is that nowadays, manufacturers are getting more and more round products and, sometimes, it is hard to believe that such small devices can reproduce sounds with such good quality. We detail below some aspects that will influence the hearing quality of our machine.
Power
The power is marked by the watts. Although it is more complicated than this, the idea is that at higher power, we can enjoy our music at higher volumes without distorting it. Some manufacturers do not specify the speaker’s wattage so that the user does not rule it out as having less wattage than other models. It is also important to note that “peak” watts are sometimes advertised, which is not a correct reference. We must always pay attention to the nominal power or RMS, which will be the one that in practice our speaker will be able to reach without distorting.
Frequency Range
It is measured in hertz and indicates the maximum and minimum frequencies that the speaker can reproduce. It gives us an idea of the breadth of the spectrum of sounds that it is capable of producing.
The greater the frequency range, the richer the sound will be since we can enjoy good bass frequencies that give body to the sound and a treble one that adds color.
Conclusion
To transmit the audio via Bluetooth it is necessary to compress the audio file through so-called codecs. Some codecs compress music to a greater extent than others, thus having a clear impact on the resulting sound quality.
The most common codecs are SBC, MP3, AAC, or LDAC. One of the last to appear and one of the ones with the best sound quality is the aptX codec, which is already incorporated by the best Bluetooth speakers on the market.
If you are concerned about this section, you should review the codecs that the speaker supports in its technical sheet.
And so far our guide and recommendations. We hope you have found it useful and if you have any further questions, we are waiting for you in the comments.