The 7 Best Bluetooth Speakers, Tested For Music, Podcasts And More

Of course you want your Bluetooth speaker to sound great, but that’s only part of the equation; a long battery life and ease of use—whether you’re controlling your music from the speaker itself or the accompanying app—is equally important. To find the best Bluetooth speakers on the market, I relied on my experience as a classically trained musician and self-professed music junkie (my Spotify Wrapped tells me I listened for more than 72,000 minutes annually) by putting over 20 Bluetooth speakers to the test. After hundreds of hours of testing and comparing their sound quality, design, battery and more, my favorite overall is the Bose SoundLink Max. It gives the best balance of everything I sought in a speaker: a rugged design, stellar audio quality, a long battery life and an intuitive app.

In addition to Bose, I tested other Bluetooth speakers that may better suit your needs. My best budget Bluetooth speaker, the Anker Soundcore Select 4 Go, punches above its weight and costs less than $50. Another one of my favorites, the Brane Audio Brane X, delivers an incredible amount of bass. Here are the best Bluetooth speakers, found after testing over 20 speakers by listening to hundreds of hours of music and podcasts for more than two months.

Best for:

• Great balance across all audio frequencies
• A rugged design with built-in flotation

Skip if:

• You want omnidirectional music
• You want a lighter, more portable Bluetooth speaker

The Bose SoundLink Max ticked all my boxes. Bose designs typically focus on a somewhat rugged aesthetic, and that branding is definitely on display here; its boombox build is built to resist bumps and scrapes, but visually, it doesn’t hold a visual candle to the Marshall Middleton, my midrange pick. Still, the rugged build is what helped cement it as a top pick, as I dropped it and it didn’t show any marks.

The speaker offers a convenient detachable rope handle, which made it easy to move around my home. If you want, you can add a shoulder strap, though that’s sold separately for an extra $45. The carry handle suffices, and you’ll need it—this speaker is 4.8 pounds, which is heavy for a portable speaker. Buttons on the top are easy to find and use, too.

Its stereo sound is exemplary; basses sound deep, mids and trebles balance wonderfully. One of my favorite examples of just how this speaker delivers is with Ashnikko’s “Daisy,” which at the very beginning hits deep, deep basses that I’ve found is difficult for speakers to play properly. The Bose hits this bass note with ease, while balancing the rest of the frequencies. For context, only a handful of Bluetooth speakers I tested hit that particular note.

Bose’s app is one of the best around, with easy-to-use controls and simple EQ software. You don’t get any presets, but you can adjust each frequency. I missed presets, but at least Bose makes it simple to tune your music to your preferences. The stereo only faces in one direction, but even so, still had robust audio that rivaled 360-degree speakers.

Another feature that sets this speaker apart from the pack? Its IP67 waterproof rating, which is great for pool parties—but it’s the fact that it floats that really wowed me. During a briefing, one of the Bose representatives tied a rope to its strap and threw the speaker smack dab into the middle of a pool. On the other hand, don’t expect it to float and play music. The speaker faces downward into the water, so you’ll get no audio. That said, it won’t sink to the bottom of the ocean, so that’s great peace of mind for beach parties.

Battery life gets you around 20 hours on a charge. Keep in mind that you’ll need to keep the original Bose cord, as it won’t charge with other cables, based on my testing. Even so, the speaker can charge your phone using any USB-C cable. It’s pricier compared to the other options on this list, but for that $400 price tag, its extra features make it worth that splurge.

---

Best for:

• Enjoying your music without spending three figures
• Taking on the go, as it fits in your hand

Skip if:

• You want much better audio quality

The Anker Soundcore Select 4 Go surpassed my expectations. Just larger than the palm of my hand, it has a strap hook to carry it via a carabiner. It only has a few buttons: play, pause, power, Bluetooth and volume. On the corner, you’ll find a single USB-C port with a silicone cover to block moisture. It can be placed horizontally or vertically with the help of four little feet on the bottom, which is a nice, unexpected feature.

To be clear, this isn’t the best Bluetooth speaker I tested for audio quality: Even with bass boost on, the lower frequencies simply can’t match that of its more expensive competitors. However, at this price point, the fact that it can hit as many of the frequencies is does is pretty darn impressive, and the quality is adequate for casual listeners. Soundcore has built a reputation for creating quality audio equipment for a fraction of the price. Once again, Anker hits the bullseye with this tiny speaker that’s less than $50.

Be sure that you play around with the EQs—odds are you’ll want to toss on the Bass Boost EQ over the Soundcore Signature Sound EQ. That said, it’s impressive that given this price point, it even has EQ presets (other speakers in this price range that I tested don’t offer any). Remember Ashnikko’s, “Daisy,” I mentioned I tested with Bose? The Select 4 Go can’t quite hit those bass notes, and they sound a couple notes higher than they should. That’s a problem for me.

The 20-hour battery life is impressive, but during testing, it fell a hair short. It’s not a big a deal, considering that it’s unlikely that you’ll play it for 20 continuous hours. It’s also a nice perk that it comes with IP67 waterproofing—and after tossing it in my kitchen sink filled with water, I can confirm it floats.

It’s easy to connect two speakers to make a more robust sound profile, too, thanks to the Soundcore software. During testing, they synced up nicely. Because it’s less than $50, it’s also great for teens and kids that want a speaker but you’re concerned about them getting tossed around. Overall, its simply impressive that Anker managed to pack all of these features plus a decent audio into such a compact, affordable package.

---

Best for:

• Robust 360-degree audio quality in a compact package
• The vintage mesh design
• Forgetting about battery life most of the time

Skip if:

• You want a more robust bass or lower frequencies in your audio
• You want a grab handle to carry this speaker around
• You want a customizable EQ

The Marshall Emberton III is the best small Bluetooth speaker you can get right now. Sure, the Anker Soundcore Select 4 Go is smaller, but at that size, you’re sacrificing some bass and lower frequencies. The Marshall Emberton III is a little bigger, and the boxy shape makes it easy to tuck into a bag or place it literally anywhere. On top, you’ll find a few buttons, including a volume control and a toggle that you move to the left and right for forward and rewind (admittedly, it takes some getting used to). I usually prefer colors other than black, but this design is simply lovely, giving me some serious nostalgia for my father’s vintage stereo speakers.

The EQs and audio quality sound on par with its sibling, the Marshall Middleton, and regarding lower frequencies, the Middleton edges it out—the bass is simply more powerful on the Middleton. Still, it can more than deliver lower frequencies and make them sound good. It doesn’t offer many EQ presets; choose between the signature Marshall, Push (which is essentially the dynamic mode) or Voice for your podcasts. I was disappointed that I can’t customize EQ, but it does a good job maintaining a rounded listening profile nonetheless. The sound passes through bidirectionally for 360-degree audio, which the company calls True Stereophonic audio. It does a solid job filling my living room, including when I sit far away from it.

The battery lasts up to 32 hours, which I was able to get in my own testing as long as I kept the volume on a medium setting. Like others on this list, it’s rated for IP67 so it can handle outdoor elements or pool parties. There’s no strap, but you can add your own thanks to a slot on the corner. Don’t expect any smart assistant compatibility, but the app is fairly straightforward. You can also elongate the lifespan in the app with small changes, like only charging to 95% and invoking adaptive charging.

---

Best for:

• Heart-pounding bass for all your beats
• A “set it up and forget it” speaker; it sounds good out of the box
• The outdoors—this speaker’s power works well in large spaces

Skip if:

• You are conscientious of your neighbors
• You don’t want to spend too much on a Bluetooth speaker

I first heard about the Brane X through word of mouth, when a colleague insisted I needed to make an appointment to see this new speaker at CES 2024. Not one to miss out on innovative audio technologies, I snuck in a last-minute appointment with the Brane team—and it was one of the best choices I’ve made at any CES show to date. That’s because the technology behind it is truly innovative. The company spent years redesigning the subwoofer blueprint, eventually landing on the magnetized Repel-Attract Driver (RAD) subwoofer blueprint its speaker, the Brane X, currently uses—and it’s very impressive.

The Brane X’s subwoofer, simply put, is one of the most powerful bass-focused Bluetooth speakers on the market. It blew almost every other speaker I tested out of the water for the raw power its subwoofers deliver. If you’re worried about the bass being too powerful, you can choose from three levels of bass to customize your listening experience. Even then, it’s pretty powerful, but I’m a fan as there have been plenty of times these frequencies sound muddled or get lost in the mix. Also, be prepared to feel the bass shaking every surface around where this speaker gets placed, which to me only enhanced the party. If you are mindful of your neighbors, this might not be the speaker for you; you simply won’t be able to draw on its raw power, and to me, as an apartment dweller, that’s a disappointment.

Press the power, and you’ll hear a buzzing sound to confirm that the speaker is turning on (it also does this when it turns off). You can connect it to Amazon Alexa—just make sure you take the time to set it up and log in, which can be tricky as my unit took a few tries. It’s also Apple AirPlay compatible. For the audio quality, I ended up finagling the EQ for a custom setting. Don’t get me wrong—it sounds pretty good out of the box, but I usually tweak any speaker to get the sound I crave. Get two, and you can pair them together, too.

There are some drawbacks to the Brane X that are worth noting. It doesn’t use USB-C for charging. This surprised me as every other Bluetooth speaker I tested offers this universal charging, and it makes it more difficult to charge if it runs low on battery. That leads me to my next point: Make sure that you charge your speaker the night before since I found that the battery tends to drain over time even when you’re not using it. A few times, I tried to turn it on and found the battery had depleted itself. And of course, it’s heavy thanks to that lovely subwoofer. The carry handle is nice, but I personally wouldn’t take this speaker with me for a day at the beach.

---

Best for:

• Its rugged build: Drop it, toss it, and it still works
• The intuitive, easy-to-digest app

Skip if:

• You want a prettier design
• You want more robust EQ presets

The JBL Charge 6 has a blatantly rugged build. On one hand, it’s drop resistant, so it’s going to withstand a ton of bumps and scrapes. It’s so sturdy that JBL jokingly recommends on its company website not tossing the speaker around to impress your friends, and there’s a certain degree of truth to that claim. My cat decided to test this for me by knocking it off a desk, and it still looks brand new. It’s rated IP68 for water- and dustproofing, and it can handle a 1 meter drop to concrete with ease.

The speaker’s rubber feet help it stay firmly in place on most surfaces, and on the top, there’s two grooves where a removable carry handle can lock into place. The strap is easy to add and remove, too. It makes it easy to carry around and set on most surfaces, and because it’s more lightweight compared to other speakers I tested, that helps cement its winner in the portable Bluetooth speakers category.

If you’re seeking an intuitive app, the JBL app was among the easiest I tested across all brands. Make sure you download the correct app—there’s the JBL Portable App, which is for Bluetooth speakers, and the JBL Headphones app, which is for their headphones, and they look similar in the app store. It’s easy to connect and there’s virtually no learning curve when you want to adjust the EQs. Choose from the JBL Signature, Chill, Energetic, Vocal or Custom (I personally recommend Energetic since it gives the music extra vibrancy), and the audio quality is pretty good out of the box. There’s an AI Boost feature that I felt made the music a little tinny, so I opted not to use it. I found some of the presets to be lacking (for example, I thought Chill muddled the quality too much for my taste).

Battery life is pretty solid; it can go up to 24 hours on a charge, with its Playtime Boost eking out another four hours in a pinch for a total of 28 hours. It takes up to three hours to charge, and you can also see battery life at a glance on the app’s home page, which was nice. You can connect a second JBL Charge 6, too, but don’t expect to connect with just any JBL speaker. I couldn’t get that feature to work with my JBL Flip 7, for example, despite the claim you can pair multiple Bluetooth speakers for a stereo sound with its Auracast technology. One more thing to note: A 10 minute charge gets you up to 150 minutes of playtime.

But the final feature that makes it a worthy pick for portability? You can use the Charge 6 to charge your phone in a pinch. If you are prone to running low on battery, make sure you pack a USB-C cable for peace of mind. The speaker doesn’t come with its own.

---

Best for:

• Its superb balance of aesthetics, audio quality and battery life
• Adjusting EQs on the fly, thanks to the physical buttons on the speaker

Skip if:

• You want EQ presets
• You don’t want a four-pound Bluetooth speaker without a carry handle

Bose may have landed at the top of the list, but that’s because in addition to making good quality audio, it knows how to make a rugged speaker. Marshall, on the other hand, knows how to up the ante with aesthetics. Like the Emberton III, the Marshall Middleton has a metallic mesh design. The lighter cream hue I received also gives off the vintage vibes with which I’m obsessed. For the aesthetic alone, this was my favorite speaker. You also get a strap to help carry the speaker, but it’s placed on the corner, and feels counterintuitive. I don’t want to swing my four-pound Bluetooth speaker around, and it would have been nice to have a detachable carry handle. Ultimately, I kept it stationary.

The app’s EQ presets leave a little to be desired for those that may not be as familiar with EQs. You can adjust bass and treble frequencies, but that’s it—you don’t get any EQ presets, which I found disappointing. That’s not to say that the audio needs adjustments—this speaker sounds so rich that during my testing, I didn’t feel the need to adjust either EQ frequency. You can shift between tracks in the app, which was nice if I didn’t feel like opening up Spotify. It’s also cool that Marshall added EQ adjustments right on the top of the speaker to make adjustments on the fly.

It was one of only four speakers in which I could distinctly hear the baritone saxophone blending alongside other instruments during Fitz and the Tantrums’ “I Just Wanna Shine,” and, more importantly, I could hear the musical notes well. That’s a huge distinction as some speakers I tested made that particular instrument sound like a squawking parrot. The same went for tracks like, “Ma Meilleure Ennemie,” by Strommae and Pomme, where some speakers muddled the layers; the Middleton balanced them beautifully. Out of all the Bluetooth speakers I tested, this one was my favorite if I was testing solely based on audio quality. It sounds significantly more expensive than it costs.

The speaker’s battery life isn’t as robust as I would have liked, as it only gets around 20 hours of playtime. 20 minutes of charging can get you another two hours, which is lower than the JBL Charge 6, but it’s still solid if you’re in a pinch. Like the Bose SoundLink Max and the JBL Charge 6, you can also charge your phone from this speaker, too. It’s also important to note that unlike the Bose SoundLink Max, this speaker doesn’t float in water, but it’s protected against water and dust with an IP67 rating.

---

Best for:

• Luxurious audio quality
• Controlling your audio’s direction
• Qi charging on the go

Skip if:

• You’re prone to forgetting to turning off your speaker
• You don’t need the slew of extras this speaker offers
• You don’t want to spend an eye-watering four figures

If you value a premium audio quality above all else, the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A5 is the one you should buy. The Bluetooth speaker costs an eye-watering $1,550, but for that premium price, it has a lot going for it. The unit I tested featured gorgeous wood paneling that fit nicely on my vintage 1900s leather top desk—not to mention in my modern kitchen. If you’re not keen on a wood finish, there is also a rattan, called Nordic Weave, and a silver modern look, too. The charge port is on the back but controls are conveniently placed on top—just make sure that you turn it off. The speaker only turns off after 90 minutes of inactivity, and there were a few times I forgot to turn it off and later found the speaker dead. You can disable this in the app.

Still, its audio quality is hands-down the most luxe I tested. The A5 comes with a list of EQ presets: Lounge, Party, Speech and more. If you really want to, you can make a custom EQ as well. It works well enough, but it’s not needed for this speaker—it sounds lovely unboxed. In addition, the Beosound A5 can play 360-audio or direct the sound toward the front, depending on your EQ preset. Some EQs, like Party, are only available with 360-degree audio, which surprised me.

The Beosound A5 still outperformed the competition. It can hit the lower frequencies with ease, and it balanced nicely with the mids and trebles. It sounds good, and some of the funk to Remi Wolf’s tracks truly shined across the EQs. This was built to handle all your genres with ease, and, “The New Yorker Radio Hour,” episodes showcased well on the Speech setting, though I could have easily left it on Party or Lounge, my two preferred EQs.

It’s also the only speaker I tested that offers a swappable battery. If your battery starts failing, Bang & Olufsen will help you replace it. For those with a focus on sustainability, this is a real boon. Its battery life clocks in at around 12 hours on a medium setting; during testing, I found that was mostly true, but noted that when I turned it up to higher volumes, the battery life does drop. Prior to testing and during my research, while I didn’t quite hit these low numbers, some customers commented that they got around five hours of battery life. I clocked in around 6-7, depending on how high I turned up the volume (and risked angering my neighbors), so mileage varies here. Another cool feature: It offers Qi charging on the top, which is unique in all the speakers I tested.

That said, while it’s portable, don’t expect to take this one on your next beach trip: It’s the heaviest speaker I tested. The handle is nice and the speaker holds up well to accidental bumps and scrapes, but I can’t imagine taking this outside of my home or backyard patio.

---

Other Bluetooth Speakers I Tested

I tested more than 20 Bluetooth speakers to find the best one. These are some that didn’t make the top cut, but were good enough to receive honorable mentions. Some include smart features, while others had impressive EQs.

• Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 (2nd Gen) ($187): I love the design of this speaker. Its small, rounded profile is easy to slip into a bag, and the metal mesh paneling looks gorgeous in any setting. That said, it’s $300—around $130 more than my current small-sized pick, the Marshall Emberton III. Also, I don’t fully trust its leather cord to carry or hold the speaker; it feels like an afterthought.
• Sony ULT Field 1 ($100): This speaker has a great audio quality, and I’m obsessed with the orange shade I received. However, I couldn’t find a specific category to slot this speaker into. It’s great value for the price, but the app may take some time getting used to. It’s not as intuitive as others on this list.
• Sonos Roam II ($175): The Sonos Roam II impressed me for multiple reasons: It has a compact build that easily slides into a backpack water bottle holder and its audio quality was arguably the best I tested in this size range. That said, the app is very, very counterintuitive, and I grew frustrated with it.
• JBL Clip 5 ($60): As one of the contenders for the best budget Bluetooth speaker, the JBL Clip 5 wowed me. For its size, it brings an impressive audio quality. However, I would have liked to have seen deeper basses. It also can’t stand on its own—you need to invest in a third-party case .
• JBL Flip 7 ($150): The JBL Flip 7 is another rugged “pint-sized” design that I had mixed feelings about. Like the JBL Charge 6, it has the built-in AI Sound Boost feature. It also has the same EQs. Still, the Charge 6 ever-so-slightly edges the Flip 7 out—it packs slightly more power and has the more convenient carry handle unlike the Flip 7.
• Sony ULT Field 3 ($200): The Sony Ult Field 3 has a ton going for it: The ULT bass boost button really makes it hit those deep basses with ease. I loved the removable strap as it makes it easy to carry around. That said, the speaker sounds tinny if you don’t turn on the ULT button which triggers a deeper bass, but that’s at the cost of battery life.
• Tribit StormBox Micro 2 ($55): The Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 speaker fits in the palm of my hand. While it’s bite-sized package makes it easy to carry, the EQ presets are weak for songs with lower bass frequencies. Another issue that cropped up? The strap on the bottom doesn’t keep it in place—strap it to a metal bar, and it slips.
• Ultimate Ears Everboom ($250): The Everboom’s aesthetic fits well into any space, and the buttons are intuitive to use—though putting the volume controls front and center was a bit of an odd choice. My only significant gripe, though, was that every time I used the speaker I needed to reconnect it in my Bluetooth speaker’s settings.
• Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen) ($120): Like the top pick the Bose SoundLink Max, the Flex packs a powerful audio, just in a more compact, waterproof and dustproof package. It’s a darn good speaker—but the Max can draw more power for lower bass frequencies because it houses larger equipment, including a driver and subwoofer.
• Treblab HD-Go ($35): The Treblab HD-Go is a tiny speaker that rivals the size of my budget pick, the Anker Soundcore Select 4. It’s great for portability, but it fell short in a couple areas of testing, namely the audio quality. The small speaker simply can’t hit the lower frequencies, and without EQ settings, it sounds flat.
• Treblab HD-360 Pro ($160): Another unit from Treblab, the HD-360 Pro gives off incredible 360-degree audio for the price, rivaling speakers that cost double as much. It’s a quality budget-friendly speaker that punches above its weight impressively, but it’s hard to carry around. I also didn’t like that I couldn’t manually adjust EQs to my liking.

---

How I Tested The Best Bluetooth Speakers

To find the best Bluetooth speakers, I put over 20 speakers to the test, narrowing down options to top-rated brands like Bose, Marshall and more. From there, I put my shortlist to the test.

Durability

The best Bluetooth speakers should be sturdy, with at least some level of water- and dust-resistance, especially if you plan to take them to the pool. For that reason, I compared the IP rating of each contender, carefully examining its ability to withstand everything from beach days to unexpected showers.

Design

Since the main draw of a bluetooth speaker for most is its portability, a good bluetooth speaker should either be lightweight and easy to carry or have a strap to help haul it around. To make sure each speaker on this list is easy to travel with, I started by noting and comparing the weight and size of each contender. I also took note of how easy each speaker was to carry around, and awarded extra points to options with built-in straps and handles.

Audio Quality

This was where the bulk of my testing came into play. No matter what genre you’re listening to, your audio quality should have a good balance of base, mids and treble frequencies. None of these frequencies should sound muddled or distorted during listening sessions, and so I looked for crystal clear clarity and smoothness amongst the frequencies. I cross-checked audio quality in Bluetooth speaker across a variety of songs, and I considered differences across multiple EQs, speaker direction and more. I also checked how far the speaker went, placing it on the opposite end of my large living room and seeing how each speaker sounded as the audio projected.

Some of the genres that I listen to include alternative, rock, classical, audiobooks/podcasts and more. Specifically, some of the songs I tested each pair of Bluetooth speakers include:

• Florence and the Machine’s “King,” “Cosmic Love” and “Dog Days Are Over”
• Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Scheherezade”
• Ashnikkos’ “Worms” and “Daisy”
• Chappell Roan’s “Good Luck, Babe” and “Red Wine Supernova”
• Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” and “The Chain”
• Fitz and the Tantrums’ “123456,” “Livin’ For The Weekend,” and “I Just Wanna Shine”
• Grandson’s “Eulogy,” “Dirty,” and “Bury Me Face Down”
• Kendrick Lamar’s, “DNA,” “Not Like Us,” “tv off (feat. lefty gunplay)” and, “luther (with sza)”
• The entire soundtracks to seasons one and two of the Netflix show Arcane

Battery Life

When you’re listening to your music, you want to be able to listen for hours without interruptions. I tested each speaker for 30 minutes each, logging battery percentages at the beginning and at the end. I also cross tested this across multiple frequencies and volumes to see if there were any changes as I shifted features. This way, I could get a sense of whether each pair lived up to its claims.

One more thing that stands out from the crowd: Most of the picks on my list allow for portable charging on the go. They also have quick charging where a certain number of minutes, say 10 to 15, get you a couple hours playback.

---

Why Trust Forbes Vetted

The Forbes Vetted team has published hundreds of tech and electronic guides that leverage our hands-on testing and research, including audio stories for all of your listening needs like wireless headphones, wireless earbuds, outdoor speakers and more.

• Consumer tech and electronics editor Rebecca Isaacs has been involved in tech journalism for over six years. In her time testing the best Bluetooth speakers, she focused on aspects of interest to everyone, from casual, occasional listening to serious audiophiles who want to enjoy every single guitar strum across a truly balanced EQ.
• This story was reviewed by executive editor Dave Johnson, a veteran tech journalist who has authored nearly three dozen books on technology and photography. He’s well-versed in the latest audio technology, regularly attends trade shows to learn about the latest audio trends, and served as the host of the popular podcast Battlestar Recaptica.
• Three additional experts were tapped to share their unbiased insights for this story: Nathan Green, New Level Radio CEO and Cofounder; Melissa Hoistion, audio expert and VP of Marketing and E-commerce at Altec Lansing; and Alexandre Fossier, iGaming Expert and Digital Specialist at iGamingNuts.
• We revisit this story to make sure our recommendations are still the best of the best. We last updated this article in June 2025 to expand on how we test Bluetooth speakers and add more guidance on the top factors to consider when searching for the best Bluetooth speaker for you.

---

How To Choose A Bluetooth Speaker

To choose the best Bluetooth speaker for your needs, you’ll want to focus on five key areas: portability, durability, sound quality, battery life and price.

Portability

Think about, “how and where you will be using the speaker,” says Green, and take a look at its size, weight and portability features. A smaller, lighter speaker is easy to take with you on the go, while a larger, heavier option is best for home use. If you’re planning to travel with your speaker, Hoistion says that you should consider how the speaker gets moved around. “A speaker with a built-in carabiner clip might seem like a small detail, but it makes a huge difference in how often you’ll actually bring it along,” she says, since you can clip it to a backpack or a bicycle basket.

Durability

If you are planning to take your speaker with you on the go, it’s important to consider it’s durability; Hoistion mentions checking, “waterproof rating and overall everything-proof capabilities.” Specifically, it’s a good idea to take a close look at the speaker’s IP rating, which scores its ability to protect itself against dust and water.

When looking at the IP rating of a speaker, the first number indicates how much it can withstand solid particles, such as dust and debris. The second number refers to its level of protection against liquids, whether that be indirect splashes or full immersion. Generally, the higher numbers mean more protection against the elements. “Especially during those summer months when you’re hanging by the pool or taking a boat trip, having a speaker that’s fully waterproof and can float if it falls in is a game changer,” Hoistion says.

Audio Quality

For audio quality, you want a robust audio across all frequencies and volumes. Fossier went further into detail, saying, “You’d be surprised how many speakers only perform well at low volume, but start to distort the second you turn it up. I always look for solid bass, clear mids and no harsh treble, especially if you’re planning to use it for more than just background noise.”

Be sure to take a look at where your audio’s direction will be projecting, too. If you want 360-degree audio versus a front-facing Bluetooth speaker, you’ll hear the difference. You can easily tell by looking at a speaker’s design, according to Hoistion, who says, “Looking at driver size and placement details can tell you a lot about how well the speaker will project sound and handle bass, mids and highs.”

You also want to make sure that there’s an EQ feature for customizing your audio, After all, Fossier says, “Everyone hears sound differently, and being able to tweak it to suit your preferences makes a big difference,” in your listening experience. Adjusting an EQ can mean the difference between enjoying your music or experiencing a flatness on your patio, as an example.

Battery Life

Additionally, you want a long battery life for hours of playback. “If you’re moving between setups like I do, you want a speaker that can go the distance without needing a charge every few hours,” Fossier says. Ideally, your Bluetooth speaker should get at least 6-10 hours of playback, though most of the speakers on this list can last for over 20 hours.

It’s not just about the playback, though; charging should also be a consideration here. Your charge shouldn’t take more than a couple hours, and in a pinch, a short amount of charging time should give you enough listening time for a couple hours minimum. “Try purchasing Bluetooth speakers with USB-C fast charging and enough battery life to fit individual lifestyle and listening preferences.” Also, some of the Bluetooth speakers we included not only can play music for hours, but they also can charge your phone in a pinch.

Price

Bluetooth speakers range in price from as low as $50 to nearly $2,000; however, most options fall somewhere around $100 to $400. As with most items, the more you spend, the more premium features and higher-quality sound you can expect, although you don’t need to overspend to get a quality Bluetooth speaker. Our testing showed the sweetspot (in terms of quality for the price) is typically around the $200 to $400 mark.

---