Tested: The 7 Best Portable Bluetooth Speakers to Take Anywhere

Heading out to the beach or into the woods for a weekend of camping has traditionally meant having to leave behind many of the amenities of our homes, though due to advancements in Bluetooth and battery technology, your music is no longer a luxury you have to forgo when going off-grid thanks to the portable Bluetooth speaker. And in the last decade or so, as this product space has steadily risen in demand, the market has been treated to an increasing number of these wireless portable speakers. And while this affords buyers an enormous number of options, it can also make it difficult to narrow down which speaker is best for you.

With this in mind, we’ve reviewed the last few years of releases and launches to generate this guide to the best portable Bluetooth speakers currently on the market. Below we’ll be exploring what factors and features to consider when in the market for one of these wireless speakers, as well as our choices for the dozen best items that are out there. So, whether you’re looking for a small personal speaker to take to the trails, or a larger amp to provide the soundtrack at your next party, this list has you covered.

How We Tested

These days, it seems like everyone and their mother is churning out a new portable speaker but with the field riddled with below-par options, we took it upon ourselves to hush all the extra noise, quite literally. The search for the best portable Bluetooth speakers required a bit of our own personal experience in the space to know which brands were worth our time and attention, and which ones weren’t. Aside from brand reputation, we looked at some other elements too, like weight, size, battery life, and even overall visual aesthetic.

Once we compiled our shortlist of options, we sourced our units for testing and got hands-on with each and every speaker. And what better way to test out Bluetooth speakers than to go around listening to music? Even more than the traits above, the most important aspect of good speakers is their sound quality and user functionality. We were really able to see these things first-hand through testing. Our findings are detailed below.

What to Look For

Because every portable Bluetooth speaker performs the same primary function of playing music, it can be a bit confusing on the surface to understand the finer points of what distinguishes the different available models on the market. Knowing this, we’ve put together this section to educate you on what to focus on when buying a portable Bluetooth speaker.

Intended Use: One of, if not the biggest guiding factor when shopping for a portable Bluetooth speaker, intended use will dictate what size product you want and what features and amenities you’ll need. Today’s market boasts everything from pocket-sized speakers with built-in carabiners all the way up to classic boombox-sized party speakers. Think about the setting and conditions in which you plan on using the speaker and use that as a starting point to help determine how much battery life you’ll need and what kind of volume outputs you’ll want your speaker to be capable of.

Size & Weight: Portable Bluetooth speakers come in a huge range of sizes, from items you can fit in the palm of one hand, to speakers that require two to hold. If you plan on using a speaker for camping or off-the-grid use, compactness and minimal weight are going to be king, though if you plan on using the speaker for rooftop kickbacks or backyard BBQs, compactness and weight are much less an issue.

Music Playback Time: Far more important than general battery life, music playback time gives you a realistic understanding of how long a speaker can blare out your tunes before needing to be reconnected to a power source. It is important to note that this metric can be affected by factors such as volume, boosted bass, or other supplementary features or functions.

Recharge Time: Just as important as how long a battery can last is how long it takes that battery to charge. Most modern portable Bluetooth speakers can be fully recharged within a few hours, though there are some that can yield several hours of music playback after only a few minutes of charging.

Materials & Construction: This area is also one of the more important ones, as it determines the materials used to house a stereo’s audio components as well as how they were pieced together. Manufacturers that use high-quality materials such as steel, aluminum, leather, etc., will seldom fail to highlight such.

Ruggedness & Waterproofing: Because portable Bluetooth speakers are designed for use outside of the home, they face a much larger number of potential hazards compared to indoor floor-standing or bookshelf speakers. As such, portable Bluetooth speakers are often designed and engineered to withstand some abuse, though to what degree can hugely vary. Another important element to keep an eye out for is a speaker’s waterproof/water-resistance rating, which is usually denoted via an IP/IPX rating.

Sound Quality: Just like with any other type of speaker or headphones, the different transducers and components used to comprise a speaker will massively affect said speaker’s audio quality (and clarity). The lion’s share of speakers will list specific specs that should help give you a general sense of a speaker’s sound quality.

Manufacturer: Even if you aren’t able to glean any meaningful info from looking at a given speaker’s frequency ranges and response rates, you can often get a general sense of how a speaker will perform in terms of sound quality and clarity based on who happens to be the manufacturer. While there are occasionally exceptions and outliers, you can typically trust that a speaker made by a reputable American, Scandinavian, or German brand will likely boast a level of audio quality roughly on par with the rest of that particular brand’s standards.

Extra Amenities: Every portable Bluetooth speaker on the market will provide you with an on-the-go means of listening to your music via a wireless connection, though some speakers also afford their users supplementary features such as built-in LED lights, internal power banks and USB ports for charging smartphones and other devices, and integrated microphones for taking calls or hands-free music playback controls.

Industrial Design: Aside from usually being fairly compact, portable Bluetooth speakers come in a myriad of shapes, designs, and colors. From simple cylindrical items to modern Scandinavian-designed speakers, to carabiner-style items, there’s a surprising amount of aesthetic diversity in this space, making it well worth researching what all is out there before pulling the trigger on your purchase.

Price: While construction and materials, battery life, and sound quality are all of utmost importance, they should all be viewed relative to a speaker’s MSRP. Just like any other modern gadget, portable Bluetooth speakers can vary hugely in price, and though there are some ridiculously-competitively-priced items out there, we’d argue it’s well worth investing a little extra to ensure you’re getting your hands on a quality product that will serve you for years.

UE Wonderboom 4

Best Sub-$100 Speaker: Great Bluetooth speakers don’t come cheap. And on the other hand, most cheaper options are fairly worthless. If you want to balance cost with quality, the $100 range seems to be the sweet spot for people on a budget. If this is you, check out Ultimate Ears’ popular Wonderboom line, with the latest generation improving on the previous models. Weighing less than a pound, this portable speaker is very small yet packs a serious punch and has a 40m wireless range for your convenience. IP67-rated, the Wonderboom 4 is also highly durable, surviving drops from 1.5m up.

The Good

Aside from the fact that the UE Wonderboom 4 can almost literally fit in your pocket (depending on which pants you’re wearing), the audio quality is quite impressive for such a small device. I enjoyed the three sound modes: Podcast, Outdoor Boost, and Standard. However, I pretty much never used Standard mode for either inside or outside listening; with music, it didn’t sound full enough and with podcasts, the voices sounded too rattly and bassy. Podcasts were able to sound great on both Outdoor Boost and Podcast modes, depending on who was talking and the nature of their voices. I found female voices to resonate better with Outdoor Boost but male voices were clearer on the designated Podcast mode.

The Not So Good

My biggest complaint is that the light on the bottom button used to switch modes doesn’t change color to let you know which mode it’s in. So whenever I wasn’t sure, I had to press the button for the voice to let me know. It was slightly annoying.

It’s a small complaint but the volume button requires you to pick up the speaker itself. Meaning, you can’t just increase or decrease the sound with a single finger as on other speakers. On the other hand, the large + and – buttons remove any confusion about where these buttons are on the device.

Verdict: Simply a great speaker for around $100, and with straightforward usability and easy pairing, the UE Wonderboom 4 adds a trio of playback modes to enhance the audio experience. Seriously lightweight, the portable speaker can fit in your pocket and has loads of durability with an IP67 rating and 1.5-meter drop resistance. The complaints are nominal and shouldn’t detract from the value you’re getting with this budget-friendly amp.

Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 2nd Gen

Best Waterproof Speaker: An even more refined version of the Danish company’s Beosound A1, the second generation of the speaker gains a host of updates and upgrades, including IP67-certification Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity, and bolstered (3,000mAh) battery life with a collective 18 hours of music playback. Debuting in May 2020, this new version of the Beosound A1 also gets a trio of internal microphones that allow for hands-free functionality and the use of smart voice assistants like Alexa. Bestowed with True360 omnidirectional sound, this Scandinavian speaker’s transducers consist of a 3.5” woofer and a 3/5” tweeter — with a frequency range between 55-20.000Hz – that is backed by a pair of 30W Class D amps, enabling the circular speaker to blare out at up to 92dB. The speaker’s sound is also adjustable, with four preset EQs, plus the option for full customization via the Bang & Olufsen app. Offer in Black Anthracite (seen here) and Grey Mist, this Cecilie Manz-designed speaker is constructed from pearl-blasted aluminum and polymer and is complemented via a custom aluminum-bead-adorned waterproof leather band.

The Good

Aside from the sleek, minimalist style of the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 and its slim, lightweight frame that’s super easy to carry around, which might win the award for best-looking speaker on this list, I noticed an immediate difference between the audio coming from this speaker and the others at or below this price point. Notably, it mixes sound really well. While it won’t have the same bass capabilities as ones with included subwoofers, it will typically sound better with less bass-heavy music (e.g., not hip-hop). I listened to the Eagles on here and it sounded better than on the Sony XG300 and arguably as good as on the similarly-priced Marshall Middleton (although there’s a definite sound trait that will be more desirable for some on the Marshall).

Even though it’s not required for listening, the downloadable Bang & Olufsen app is pretty great. The three-tab layout is super straightforward and easy to use. Aside from the four premade sound settings, you can create several of your own. I loved playing around with the four-quadrant graph as my music was playing to fine-tune what I was listening to. Like other speakers, there are also podcast-friendly settings. The app also connects with Tidal, a streaming service that lets you listen to high-quality lossless music. And there’s also a section where you can browse public radio stations.

The Not So Good

As I mentioned, the Beosound might not get as full of a sound with certain music types that have heavier bass. If this is your only option, it won’t sound terrible and won’t be too treble-loaded. Another complaint is the $300 price tag, which is a lot for a speaker with some limitations.

While I’m nitpicking, I didn’t love the button functions on the side. While they’re straightforward enough, there’s some obfuscation as to how long you press each button (e.g., power and Bluetooth pairing) in order for them to engage. Also, you have to press rather hard for each one, which isn’t ideal. I also noticed that while other speakers shut off automatically after prolonged idle time, the Beosound just stays on, which could seriously drain your battery if you don’t realize it’s on.

Verdict: Slim, lightweight, and oozing with sleek minimalist style, the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 is an ideal speaker for many, especially if you’re not a fan of digital bass. Blending sounds inherently better than other speakers here, the unit has a downloadable app that gives you manageable freedom for EQing yourself, even if you’re new to mixing. It has its limitations, sure, which makes the high price tag difficult to swallow but it does what it does really well.

Marshall Middleton

Most Versatile: Recently released, the Middleton is a cutting-edge portable Bluetooth speaker dressed up in the British brand’s signature style. The crisp booming sound comes from a quad-speaker design consisting of a pair of 3” 15W woofers, 3/5″ 10W tweeters, and two passive radiators set behind Marshall’s classic gold script badge and cross-wire grille. The Middleton’s timeless design has been paired with a minimalistic and intuitive control layout boasting only the bare essentials, with the top of the device sporting a brass multi-directional control knob, an LED battery level indicator, a Bluetooth pairing button, and basic EQ controls. The speaker also benefits from the London-based firm’s True Stereophonic 360-degree sound, which emits sound waves in every direction. The battery on the Middleton is no less impressive, offering more than 20 hours of music playback time and only taking three hours to fully recharge, though 20 minutes of charging allows for another 2 hours of playback. You can also charge your own devices from the USB-C port in the back of the speaker. Utilizing Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity, the Middleton also has a 30-foot range. Weighing 4lbs, the speaker is also IP67-rated.

The Good

What I loved most about the Marshall Middleton was its versatility. While some speakers served well for “party” music (like the Sony XG300 MEGA BASS) and others handled the instrumentation of rock music a bit better, the Middleton played both sides really well. It didn’t necessarily dominate in one music category over other speakers but went toe-to-toe with a few, with some slight advantages at times. If you have eclectic tastes, this might be the better pick. I should also mention that these speakers are designed for stacking and pairing with other Middleton models. And the sound comes from all four sides which allows you to place it in more places without blocking the sound.

The mixing is pretty straightforward here, which is perfectly fine. Often all we need is bass and treble controls. This gets the job done for switching between rock and rap, and everything in between. And best of all, you can scale each of them up or down right from the speaker itself, with an LED light letting you know its levels.

The Not So Good

Marshall prompted me to download the app once I paired the speaker, although it was not mandatory for using the speaker. However, upon exploring the app, I quickly noticed that it was pretty barebones. The EQ function consisted of just bass and treble –– the same two functions controllable from the speaker itself. I suppose this could be useful if you don’t want to stand up and walk over to the speaker every time you need to mix the sound.

The brass control knob on top of the speaker, while attractive, is a bit finicky as well; I almost wish there were brass buttons instead. Although I’m not sure how many people play, pause, and skip from the speaker itself. I personally do these functions exclusively from my phone. Also, even though it would slightly compromise the overall amp-like aesthetic here, the Middleton would have been much more favorable with some sort of handle. At least there’s a loop for a lanyard attachment. I should mention, too, that the 4.5-hour charge time is quite high, and the 20-minute quick charge only gives you 2 hours of playback as opposed to the 5 hours on Marshall’s Emberton model.

Verdict: Add a miniature version of an iconic rock speaker to your home with the Marshall Middleton. Featuring drivers that sound great regardless of your genre, the speaker has simple EQ mixing controls right on the unit itself, along with a play/pause/skip knob (even if it can be finicky at times). We wish there were a handle but you can essentially place this speaker however you want with four-sided sound amplification. If you’ve got eclectic taste, this is the speaker to get.

Sony XG300 MEGA BASS

Best for Big Bass: What the Sony XG300 MEGA BASS speaker lacks in portability, it more than makes up for with an extended 25-hour battery life (that requires 5 hours to replenish, with a quick charge of 10 minutes providing around 70 minutes of playback time) and enough volume and range to rock any party (with an added karaoke mood to boot). While this may be a bit harder to lug around at nearly 7lbs, it comes with an integrated carry handle and can easily be transported by one person. You’re getting powerful sound and deep bass activated with a designated MEGA BASS button on front, along with support for SBC, AAC, and LDAC codecs. Boasting IP67 resistance to keep water and dust at bay, this is super convenient for large gatherings, camping trips, and sing-a-longs, with even more convenience provided by the speaker’s ability to charge other devices with a USB out port. Adding to the party vibe, the speaker is equipped with LED indirect illumination lighting.

The Good

From a brand that’s not necessarily known for style, per se, the Sony XG300 MEGA BASS is a handsome unit with some surprising minimalism, furthered by its tucked-in handle up top. Sound-wise, I preferred this speaker for rap and R&B playlists, with its strong but not obtrusive bass mixing. I toggled the bass boost button on and off depending on the song. Certain songs I couldn’t notice much of a difference. The audio quality of the XG300 also made it better for outdoor listening. This thing can get really loud and is capable of projecting strongly in a single direction (more on that below). I found it worked better when placed a bit higher up off the ground.

In general, I loved the single-touch functionality of the XG300. There was none of this “press for 2 seconds” stuff that you get on other speakers in order to power it on or pair via Bluetooth. Everything was super concise when operating the unit. Anyone at your gathering could easily pop over to this speaker and use it.

The Not So Good

The biggest downside of the XG300 is its weight. At nearly 7lbs, the speaker isn’t necessarily easy to transport, made even more cumbersome by its 12.52-inch length; you can’t just toss this into your backpack. Some users might not love that you can’t really fine-tune your listening since there’s no EQ option aside from the “MEGA BASS” boost button.

Considering the weight, size, and round shape of the speaker, I do wish it had some better resistance to rolling. There is a pair of “feet” underneath but on certain surfaces and certain angles, this wasn’t too effective. Not only could it roll off of a surface but at the very least it could roll onto its frontside, which would cover the speaker. This is a good place to mention that the XG300 isn’t bidirectional, meaning it can only project from the front side despite its size (although the bass woofers are on the ends).

Verdict: Expectedly solid considering Sony’s reputation, this $200 portable speaker is great for types of music with strong bass. A fantastic outdoor and party option, the XG300 MEGA BASS has a bass boost button and can project very loudly, but lacks other EQ options besides that, which could be a flaw for some. We loved its straightforward, user-friendly interface and surprisingly handsome aesthetic, which offset any issues we had with its size and often cumbersome weight.

JBL Xtreme 4

Best for Camping: Building on the success of the 3rd model, JBL’s Xtreme 4 offers better sound with markedly better bass and AI-powered sound boosting while retaining the rugged construction and long-lasting battery life that made the earlier-gen Xtremes best-sellers for the American audio outfit. Built around a metal base and adorned in a hard-wearing fabric, this IP67-rated Bluetooth speaker packs built-in microphones for speakerphone and voice assistant use and a 5000mAh battery that now offers up to 24 hours of music playback and you can receive 6 more hours with a Playtime Boost mode turned on. For times when you just need to use the speaker for a short period, a 10-minute quick charge gets you 2 hours of playback. Offered in three colors currently, this stereo also features integrated hooks and a removable nylon carrying strap with an integrated bottle opener for easy carrying. Using the JBL Connect app, the Xtreme 4 can also have its sound parameters tweaked, or be linked up with other JBL Connect-linked speakers in the immediate vicinity. And, unlike some of the pint-sized items earlier on this list, this speaker can ring out at high enough volumes to keep a party going without suffering from any distortion.

The Good

What’s the difference between a $200 speaker and a nearly-$400 speaker of the same size? Well, from our vantage point, we say it’s the audio quality. The JBL Xtreme 4 is most comparable to the Sony XG300 above but it’s almost double the price. But is it almost twice as good? Sort of. You won’t get the sleek styling of the Sony box but the JBL unit is leagues above in terms of sound, and regardless of the genre you’re listening to. The bass doesn’t muddle your tunes, even when turned up. Instead, it warms your music without being too much. Luckily, you can also EQ five frequency ranges with the JBL phone app, which also has a handful of pre-made EQ options. The app is pretty straightforward but helpful.

If you’re looking to pair two of these speakers together (first you’ll need about $800 to spend), you simply press the button next to the on/off button. While the speaker only emits sound from the front side, along with the woofers on the ends, it doesn’t roll all that much thanks to the effective rubber foot on the bottom. Likewise, you can stand the speaker on either end with the rubber bumpers protecting either side.

The Not So Good

Aesthetically, the JBL Xtreme 4 won’t be as attractive as other options on this list. The similar Sony XG300, for instance, has a similar design but looks significantly more appealing. Also, while it comes with a detachable carrying strap, I’d much rather prefer the integrated handle of the Sony speaker. However, some may prefer the JBL strap due to the ability to carry it over your shoulder.

The other major downside here is the steep price. If you’re already spending $380 on the JBL, would you not just be willing to fork over the extra $50 or so for the Sonos Move 2? That’s a question only you can answer. The JBL is certainly more rugged and portable but the Sonos has a leg up in terms of audio quality.

Verdict: It won’t win many beauty competitions but the JBL Xtreme 4 is a rugged Bluetooth speaker with some nice features. While it’s a bit pricier than the similar Sony XG300, the improvement in audio quality is apparent, plus you can easily EQ your music or podcasts right from the phone app. We loved how you could stand the speaker on its end but wish that the shoulder strap were swapped for a more integrated handle. The only question is, is this the “middle-tier” option you desire between the Sony and the Sonos? We, however, are big fans.

Bose SoundLink Max

Best Compact Upgrade Speaker: Just because something packs a big sound doesn’t mean it needs to be big. Bose lives up to its reputation with the Soundlink Max, a potent little speaker that, despite its compact form, manages to cram high-end audio quality into the device. The gadget earns a rugged IP67 rating thanks to an entirely silicone-covered housing that makes it resistant to water and dust damage. Inside, custom-designed transducers have been paired with a set of silicone passive radiators that together afford shockingly crisp and clear sound considering the speaker’s size. Offering a generous range, the device can be linked to the Bose Connect app, where the speaker can be tweaked and adjusted, or set in “party” mode to link up with other nearby speakers. Another noteworthy element is the tear-resistant strap that makes this super easy to carry compared to the other ~$400 speakers in this guide.

The Good

Considering the compact size of the Soundlink Max, you still get the audio quality you know and love from Bose. Apt for the higher price tag, it doesn’t compromise sound quality, even if the profile fits some genres, like rock, better than others. While the JBL above is great if you want something loud, durable, and easy to pair, the Bose is worth the small upgrade if you don’t need something quite as big. And I personally loved the flexible handle up top, which is perfect for hanging this speaker on a hook, chair back, cooler, or (if you dare) tree branch.

Despite the 4.9-pound frame, the Soundlink Max feels much lighter for some reason. And it looks great to boot, blending the sleekness of a home speaker with the ruggedness of something you could bring to the outdoors. In terms of audio, I loved the quality of the music I listened to when it came to rock or oldies genres, although the speakers seemed to auto-dampen the bass on other types of music, even when you turned it down in the EQ control manually. While the app isn’t as well-planned as ones from other brands, it has good mixing capabilities, with notches for bass, mids, and highs. However, there aren’t any pre-set mixes for those who don’t really know what they’re doing. There’s also a cool “select” button on the device that you can customize to do one of two things (either swap from Bluetooth to aux or skip songs).

The Not So Good

You’ll notice pretty quickly that the Soundlink Max’s Achilles heel is how finicky it is when it comes to pairing your device. This was the only speaker that took me longer than about 30 seconds to connect to my phone. Even after it was paired, the Bluetooth light just kept blinking and alerting me that it was trying to pair with other devices. Once it was connected, the app kept lagging when it came to registering the speaker. For example, if I went to Spotify and then came back to EQ my selected track, I had to wait a few seconds.

Verdict: You may have trouble pairing the Bose Soundlink Max the first time around and finding consistency with its finicky phone app but this speaker is truly the best when weighing size against audio quality. Plus, it’s easy to carry, small enough, and super durable. While the Sonos Move is a superb indoor speaker and the JBL above works wonders outdoors, this Bose unit combines the capabilities of a home speaker and an outdoor speaker better than any on this list.

Sonos Move 2

Best for Your Home: Another option for those seeking something of an audiophile-grade experience, the Sonos Move 2 speaker offers incredible sound thanks to a cabinet-integrated mid-woofer and two tweeters (one more than the original) helped along by twin Class-D digital amplifiers. The speaker’s amazing sound quality also hugely benefits from the use of Trueplay tuning, which constantly adapts to the speaker’s surroundings to deliver optimized sound regardless of a location’s acoustics. The Move 2 is also fairly rugged, with a shock-resistant case and an IP56 rating. The speaker is also compatible with Apple AirPlay, the Sonos app (and the Sonos S2 and Sonos Radio apps), and Amazon Alexa, and can be connected via WiFi or Bluetooth. Another premium touch is the Move’s included wireless charging base, though additional charging bases are available for an additional cost. There’s also a 24-hour battery, capacitive touch controls, and a cabinet-integrated, sunken, ergonomic carrying handle. Once connected to your home’s WiFi, this smart speaker can automatically run software updates.

The Good

The beauty of the Sonos Move 2 –– and the reason why it’s so popular –– is its audio quality and versatility. In terms of listening to music, you get highly balanced sound with small volume intervals that help with trying to fine-tune listening, especially in an indoor setting. While I personally lean towards the audial profile of the JBL and Marshall, there are plenty who’ll want the softer tones of the Sonos. As much as there is some level of objectivity in playback, there is subjectivity there as well. For me, the Sonos plays all types of music really well but never really shines in one genre or another.

Of course, the Sonos Move has found ubiquity for the way it integrates into your home environment with seamless Alexa capability. Likewise, the Sonos app is easily the most sophisticated of the bunch, featuring integration with third-party services like Spotify, YouTube Music, and the like. This allows you to use the Sonos app as a music player hub (albeit with some limitations). Along with the custom EQ operations, there’s a cool Trueplay feature that uses your device’s microphone to actively adapt its sound to its environment. There’s also a way to put a cap on your volume, which I found interesting even though I wasn’t in need of that safety net during testing.

The Not So Good

In terms of portability, the Sonos Move 2 is arguably the worst on this list. There’s a cupped handle built into the back but paired with the 6-pound weight, this thing is not fun to lug around. However, the lack of a handle goes along with the idea of the Move 2 as a piece of furniture in your house. For camping or beachgoing, this hopefully won’t be your first pick.

As much as the app will appeal to most because of its wealth of features and customization, it also does a bit too much at times. I often found myself needing to take time to process exactly where I was in the app so I could navigate my way elsewhere. I actually opted out of using the app as a music player. I’m a Spotify user and the Spotify phone app is just too good. Plus, it was way easier to toggle between apps than to constantly back out of the music player section in order to change the bass setting.

While I utilized the Trueplay mixing feature most often, I do wish there were better custom EQ options. There’s only treble and bass, as though the folks at Sonos just assume most people will use Trueplay. They’re probably correct, but still…

Verdict: As a fan-favorite in the home speaker market, the Sonos Move 2 sounds as good as you’d expect it to. Though it won’t be as portable as the others on this list with its heavy weight and lack of actual handle, it makes up for it with superb audio quality and fun features, such as its Trueplay mixing which actively adapts to its environment and its sophisticated app which can integrate with third-party music players (with mixed results). It’s certainly costly at well over $400 but this sleek piece of furniture can make being at home a lot more fun.

Bluetooth Speaker Comparison Chart

Do You Need Wi-Fi to Use a Bluetooth Speaker?

No, as long as both devices (commonly your smartphone and the speaker) are Bluetooth-compatible, you can connect and start listening. Keep in mind that Wi-Fi will generally give you a better sound, but it’s not nearly as convenient because you can’t connect outside (without a Hot Spot), and the distance from the router will affect the quality of the experience. Some Bluetooth speakers may come with the ability to stream via Wi-Fi, and it helps to have multiple options at your disposal if you’re going to use the speaker at home as well as on the move.

Honorable Mentions

Bang & Olufsen makes a more at-home version of the uberportable A1 with the A5. If you’re a fan of the brand, this is still a notable portable speaker for those wanting something a bit more elevated.

The Roam 2 is the latest edition of Sonos’ “ultra” portable Roam Bluetooth speaker line. However, the Move is still their flagship in this category for good reason but this one makes up for the latter’s lack of portability.

Another great budget speaker is the Soundcore Motion 300, which won a Red Dot Design award for its sleek appearance and adaptive audio tech. It’s also a bit cheaper than the UE Wonderboom above, which is notable for those saving their shekels.

​ ​A lesser-known alternative to the Sony XG300 is the W-KING Portable Loud Bluetooth Speaker. It’s louder and cheaper than the one that made it into our list but might not be as notable in terms of audio quality.

Tested: The Best Portable Chargers & Power Banks for EDC

If you’re going out with a wireless speaker, you’ll need to ensure it doesn’t lose power. Head over to our latest guide to the best portable power banks and chargers where we got to test out our favorites.