Best Bluetooth Speaker

Bluetooth speakers come in all shapes and sizes. With the prevalence of portable speakers, it’s easy to enjoy your music anywhere throughout the house and on the go. However, you can find a whole host of different options, from cheap Bluetooth speakers to high-end audiophile-caliber devices. Check out the best Bluetooth speakers for all used and budgets in 2020!

What to Look for in a Portable Bluetooth Speaker

When you’re selecting a portable Bluetooth speaker to fit your needs, there’s much to consider. You’ll need to set a budget, seek out must-have features, and determine your most common use cases.

Price: Bluetooth speakers range in cost from under $20 budget picks to pricey several hundred dollar devices. How much you’re willing to spend on a portable speaker will ultimately dictate what Bluetooth speaker is right for you.

Connectivity: In addition to Bluetooth, you may want other connection options. For instance, a 3.5mm auxilary input (AUX) is convenient for non-Bluetooth devices. Wi-Fi listening is great for a whole-home audio configuration. Plus, you might want other inputs such as TOSLINK optical.

Sound quality: For serious music buffs, excellent sound quality is a must-have. While often premium speakers come with a premium price tag, you can find many good, cheap portable Bluetooth speakers that balance price and performance.

Audio profile: Aside from sound quality, it’s key to consider other factors such as loudness and bass performance. Particularly for using a speaker outdoors, you’ll want a loud party speaker. If you’re into hip hop, you may want a Bluetooth speaker with great bass performance, while jazz enthusiasts might seek a speaker with crisp mids and highs.

Rugged build quality: Because of the portability of many Bluetooth speakers, outdoor adventuring with your music is a breeze. However, for use poolside, at the beach, or while hiking, an IPX-rated waterproof and dustproof Bluetooth speaker is crucial.

Battery life: Particularly if you plan to use your Bluetooth speaker on the go, battery life is an important factor. Likewise, charging port such as USB-C or micro USB, and recharge time are both essential.

What to look for in a Bluetooth speaker:

• Price
• Connectivity (Bluetooth, 3.5mm AUX input, optical TOSLINK, Wi-Fi listening, etc.)
• Sound quality
• Audio profile (bass performance, loudness)
• Rugged capabilities (waterproof, dustproof, shock-resistant)
• Battery life, charging port (USB Type C, micro USB, etc.), recharge time

Best Value Bluetooth Speaker – Tribit XSound Go

The Tribit XSound Go punches well above its weight class. Sound quality is absolutely astounding for the price and despite its low cost, the Tribit XSound Go packss a slew of features typically found in more expensive Bluetooth speakers. Onboard, you’ll find USB-C charging, IPX7 waterproofing, a built-in microphone, and 12W speakers. The XSound Go supports stereo pairing for using two units in conjunction for dedicated left and right channels. Small, lightweight, and durable, the XSound Go can easily be thrown into a backpack for travel. Bass performance is solid yet not overpowering.Vocals come through crystal clear, and the Tribit can get shockingly loud considering its modest size.

A set of onboard buttons let you control the volume and music playback. Aside from Bluetooth 4.2, the Tribit XSound Go features a 3.5mm headphone jack. Its impressive IPX7 waterproofing rating means the XSound Go can survive up to a half hour in 1 meter of water. Although the Tribit can get fairly loud for its size, it can’t quite fill a large room and it’s not ideal for an outdoor party where you need sound to travel well. Alternatively, you might consider the Anker SoundCore that delivers similar features to the XSound Go but doesn’t quite match the Tribit’s sound quality. Nevertheless, the XSound Go absolutely trounces the other speakers in its class, even edging out many pricier Bluetooth speakers. If you’re looking for the best budget Bluetooth speaker in 2020, it’s hands-down the Tribit XSound Go.

Pros:

• Good, cheap Bluetooth speaker
• IPX7-rated: can survive 30 minutes in 1 meter of water
• USB-C charging
• Stereo pairing
• Excellent sound quality
• Gets loud
• Bluetooth 4.2
• 3.5mm input
• 66-foot Bluetooth range
• Onboard music/volume playback controls and built-in mic
• 24-hour charging

Cons:

• Can’t get as loud as other, larger Bluetooth speakers

Best Portable Bluetooth Speaker – UE Megaboom 3

The UE Megaboom 3 is a solid all-around portable Bluetooth speaker. Its cylindrical design remains attractive while affording immersive 360-degree sound. Rugged capabilities make the Megaboom 3 a go-anywhere speaker. Bass performance is fantastic and with a maximum sound level of 90dBC, the Megaboom 3 can crank up the volume without distorting.Using the Ultimate Ears app, you can pair up to a whopping 150 speakers for a party experience. A massive 20-hour battery life allows for all-day playback. What’s more, the UE Megaboom 3 boasts wireless charging. Unfortunately, the wireless charger is sold separately. Nevertheless, the UE Megaboom 3 is a versatile portable Bluetooth speaker that delivers loud, bass-filled distortion-free audio in a rugged package. You might also consider the UE Boom 3 as a slightly cheaper, less bass-heavy option.

Pros:

• Gets loud
• Excellent bass performance
• Great sound quality
• Rugged
• Immersive 360-degree sound
• Bluetooth
• Micro USB charging and wireless charging
• Onboard volume and playback controls
• 150-foot Bluetooth range
• 20-hour battery life
• Pairing up to 150 speakers

Cons:

• Wireless charging dock sold separately
• No USB-C charging

Best Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker – Tribit StormBox Micro

Proving that size doesn’t matter, the aptly-named Tribit StormBox Micro yields surprisingly large sound from a small footprint. The tiny StormBox Micro is an outstanding Bluetooth speaker with rugged IP67 waterproofing and dustproofing. There’s a long 100-foot Bluetooth range and built-in physical volume as well as playback controls. USB-C charging, an 8-hour battery life, and Bluetooth 5.0 make the Tribit StormBox Micro a solid speaker.

An included tear-resistant silicone strap lets you easily affix the StormBox to your bike handlebars or a backpack for use on the go. You’ll find dual speaker stereo or party mode pairing. In spite of its minuscule size, the StormBox Micro produces rich bass with its XBass feature. What’s more, you can crank the volume without worrying about distortion. In our review, we were impressed by the StormBox Micro’s sound quality and rugged built quality. The 8-hour battery life is a bit low, though that should be fine for most users. While Bluetooth 5.0 lets you stream music wirelessly, you won’t find a 3.5mm AUX input. Still, for an affordable speaker that can stand up to the elements in style, the Tribit StormBox Micro is hands-down the best waterproof Bluetooth speaker on the market.

Pros:

• Affordable
• Small and lightweight
• IP67 waterproofing and dustproofing
• Built-in tear-resistant silicone strap
• Bluetooth 5.0
• USB-C charging
• 8-hour battery life
• Outstanding sound quality, good bass response with XBass

Cons:

• No 3.5mm input for wired listening
• Only 8-hour battery life

Best Loud Outdoor Speaker with Bass – JBL Xtreme 2

If you need a speaker that can really get loud, the JBL Xtreme 2 truly lives up to the extreme in its name. Whereas most Bluetooth speakers come in small or moderately-portable sizes, the JBL Xtreme 2 throws it back to the days of massive boomboxes. But the large footprint ushers in several benefits. The JBL Xtreme 2 features a long 19-hour battery life, mind-boggling bass performance, and high distortion-free maximum volume. Sound quality is crisp and clean. Its IPX7 waterproofing rating makes the Xtreme 2 suitable for outdoor parties. There’s even a carrying strap. Yet, the JBL Xtreme 2 is a bit pricey at around $150 USD normal retail. Of course, you’re getting a phenomenal feature set and quite a lot of speaker for that price. Ultimately, the JBL Xtreme 2 is the best loud outdoor speaker with ample bass response.

Pros:

• Excellent sound quality
• Loud, distortion-free maxiumum volume
• Best-in-class bass response
• 19-hour battery life
• 110-foot Bluetooth range
• IPX7 water- and dust-proofing
• Carrying strap

Cons:

• Large and heavy
• Expensive

Best Bluetooth Speaker for the Beach – UE Hyperboom

For a large outdoor party or beach use, the UE Hyperboom is a loudspeaker that doesn’t compromise on quality. With a maximum volume over 100 dB, the Ultimate Ears Hyperboom can rock. And its IPX4 rating is more than enough to withstand a few splashes. Outfitted with dual tweeters, a pair of woofers, and a set of passive radiators, the Hyperboom delivers top-notch sound quality. In addition to Bluetooth and a 3.5mm AUX input, the UE Hyperboom boasts an optical TOSLINK input.

While you can charge with micro USB or a barrel jack, there’s a USB out as well for charging. Onboard touch controls make music and volume playback easy. Plus, you can connect to UE Boom and Megaboom speakers, so the UE Hyperboom is one of the best party speakers available. An adaptive EQ feature can automatically adjust to the acoustics of your environment. Although the IPX4 rating is good, it could be a bit better. Still, the UE Hyperboom can crank up the volume without sacrificing audio quality, positing the Hyperboom as one of the best tailgate speakers money can buy.

Pros:

• Gets extremely loud
• Excellent bass performance
• Fantastic sound quality
• 24-hour battery life
• 150-foot Bluetooth range
• Adaptive equalizer adjusts to the acoustics of your surroundings
• IPX4 splasproofing
• Connects with Hyperboom, Megaboom, and Boom speakers for party listening
• USB charge out for serving as a power bank
• Micro USB charging
• Bluetooth, AUX input, optical TOSLINK input

Cons:

• Expensive
• Large
• Only IPX4-rated rugged speaker

Best Sonos Speaker With Bluetooth – Sonos Move

Sonos speakers are incredibly popular with audiophiles. Indeed, the Sonos ecosystem is unrivaled for multi-room audio. However, while Sonos offers a superb whole-home audio solution, most of its speakers lack Bluetooth. But the Sonos Move is the best Sonos speaker with Bluetooth onboard. Aside from Bluetooth connectivity, the Move features Wi-Fi listening, Alexa built-in, and a battery with up to 11 hours of continuous playback. Its IP56 rating offers weather-resistance.

When it comes to sound quality, the Sonos Move is absolutely outstanding. However, the Sonos Move is pretty pricey. Sound quality is about on par with the Sonos One Gen 2 and Sonos SL both of which lack Bluetooth or a battery. Therefore, if you’re a Sonos user looking for a portable Bluetooth speaker to use, the Sonos Move is your best pick.

Pros:

• Bluetooth and Wi-Fi listening
• 11-hour battery (user-replaceable)
• IP56 weather-resistance
• Top-notch sound quality
• Works with Sonos whole-home audio ecosystem
• Amazon Alexa built-in

Cons:

• Expensive
• Heavy
• No 3.5mm input

Best Bluetooth Speaker With Lights – JBL PartyBox 310

Although sound is important, looks are key too, and the JBL PartyBox 310 certainly knows how to bring the party. Outfitted with lights, it’s a massive DJ-style party speaker replete with LED light rings, a slew of equalizer modes, and IPX4 weather-resistance. The front-facing LED rings may be set to a variety of different effects such as strobing and pulsing. Its battery allows for up to 18 hours of music playback and a convenient handle allows you to easily tote it around. Unfortunately, the JBL PartyBox 310 is fairly large, about the size of a rolling suitcase, and heavy. Moreover, it’s extremely expensive. But if you demand club-quality audio and fancy LED lighting, the JBL PartyBox 310 is the best Bluetooth speaker with lights.

Pros:

• LED rings built-in
• IPX4 weather resistance
• Built-in music playback and volume controls
• 240 watts
• 18-hour battery life
• Handle and wheels
• Speaker pairing for stereo listening

Cons:

• Heavy
• Expensive

Best Bluetooth Speakers for All Uses and Budgets in 2020 – Final Thoughts

There are tons of portable Bluetooth speakers on the market. On the budget end, Tribit offers several great options such as the XSound Go, StormBox Micro, and StormBox. Ultimate Ears is a solid manufacturer with the UE MegaBoom, Boom, and Hyperboom. JBL offers high-quality speakers that even rival Bose speakers like the Xtreme 2 and PartyBox 310. Overall, there are loads of Bluetooth speakers for every use in 2020.

Your turn: What Bluetooth speakers do YOU recommend?