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Best Bluetooth Speakers

Updated January 2024
Bottom line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Marshall Stanmore II Bluetooth Speaker
Marshall
Stanmore II Bluetooth Speaker
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Stylish Yet Practical
Bottom Line

Our tech expert appreciates the way Marshall’s Bluetooth speakers show off their classic looks and live up to the legendary sound.

Pros

Conveniently lightweight and compact, yet remains powerful enough to fill the entire room. Multi-host functionality allows users to connect multiple devices at the same time. Black shell and gold accents add both practicality and style. Use the included app to remotely control your speaker.

Cons

Too bulky for easy traveling. One of the more expensive models on the market.

Best Bang for the Buck
Soundcore Motion Boom
Soundcore
Motion Boom
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Surprising Power
Bottom Line

This speaker impressed us thanks to its ability to provide heavy sound at an affordable price point.

Pros

Has powerful output with consistent sound quality that we found to rival speakers twice the price. The built-in handle makes it easy to take on the go if needed. Has a good variety of settings including a "bass-up" feature. Has almost 24 hours of battery life on a single charge.

Cons

We wish the speaker was a little more compact.

Bose Soundlink Revolve+ (Series II)
Bose
Soundlink Revolve+ (Series II)
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All-around Sound
Bottom Line

A great speaker that our tester found to be perfect for users who want to take it on the go to beaches, parties, and everything in between.

Pros

Our tester said the sound quality was great for a speaker of its size and found the battery life to be as good as or better than “any speaker they’ve used before.” Has a modern design that looks great in any room that it exists in. Can be connected to an app that provides EQ settings to improve sound quality.

Cons

Our tester noted that pairing to two or more devices can effect how well it performs.

JBL Xtreme 3
JBL
Xtreme 3
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Trusted Brand
Bottom Line

Based on our tests, this portable wireless speaker is waterproof, making it great for the outdoors and even showers.

Pros

Our tester found the battery life lasted up to 15 hours, and it took roughly 3 hours to fully charge. They also found the bass to be of good quality. It can pair with other speakers to create a mesh of sound in your home or outdoor location.

Cons

It’s larger than a football and weighs roughly 5 pounds, so it’s not suitable for backpacking.

Sony SRS-XB13 Compact Speaker
Sony
SRS-XB13 Compact Speaker
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Portable Convenience
Bottom Line

Our tech expert notes the professional quality of the built-in strap, bass booster, and color themes found with this model.

Pros

Lightweight construction and USB charging make this an excellent choice for individual listening. Offers exceptional bass despite the miniature size. Arrives with a strap for easy traveling. Offered in a variety of themes, including black, coral, powder blue, and more.

Cons

Still quieter than most other models, even at full volume.

Why trust BestReviews?
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

After going through an intensive research process to narrow down our short list of top products in this space, we tested most of our top five to be sure that these products are worth your time. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter and test to verify manufacturer claims.

30
Models
Considered
149
Consumers
Consulted
22
Hours
Researched
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Buying guide for Best Bluetooth speakers

Smartphones and tablets are amazing devices, but they all have one major flaw: their speakers stink. Music from streaming services, or even your personal MP3 collection, will sound fantastic through a good set of headphones, but if you want to play music out loud, you’ll be stuck listening to your device’s subpar, tinny speakers.

Thankfully, there’s hope — in the form of Bluetooth speakers. Using a Bluetooth speaker, you can connect your smartphone or tablet and enjoy your music as it was meant to be heard: with proper bass and treble, and wire-free. Bluetooth speakers come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from kid-oriented models that are just a few inches tall to boom-box-sized behemoths perfect for the beach.

If you’re ready to set up wireless streaming in your home, or you just want to set your music free, a Bluetooth speaker is your best bet.

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The Bluetooth standard requires only a small amount of battery power. This is the biggest advantage Bluetooth has over other wireless communication technologies.

What is Bluetooth?

Bluetooth is a wireless technology that connects devices over a short distance.

Bluetooth technology can connect headphones or headsets to a smartphone wire-free, for example. Wireless keyboards can connect to a computer over Bluetooth, too. Bluetooth is one of the easiest wireless connection technologies to use. Simply turn on the Bluetooth capabilities on both devices to make the connection. While the process for each device is different, most require only a few quick steps to confirm the connection. 

Bluetooth speaker designs

Most Bluetooth speakers fit into one of four design categories. Think about how you’ll use the speaker before picking the best design for you.

Indoor/home Bluetooth speakers

Indoor Bluetooth speakers offer better sound quality than portable speakers. Large, high-quality indoor speakers can approach the audio quality of traditional wired speakers. Some indoor Bluetooth speakers run from battery power or an AC adapter. For a Bluetooth speaker you’ll use primarily at home and indoors, an AC adapter works great. The battery option allows you to take the speaker outdoors if you want.

However, unless the speaker specifically carries a rating for weather protection, only use indoor speakers outdoors on a dry day.

Outdoor Bluetooth speakers

If you want to take your Bluetooth speaker to a picnic or poolside, look for a unit rated to work outdoors. Such speakers will offer water- or weather-resistant capabilities to protect them from the elements.

Some outdoor speakers are large enough to deliver high-volume sound while still providing good battery life.

Outdoor speakers sport a rugged design, too, which allows you to toss a speaker into a bag and carry it anywhere.

Portable Bluetooth speakers

Portable Bluetooth speakers are extremely small. As such, they don’t deliver top-end audio quality. They especially tend to struggle with loud bass sounds. However, they’re great for walking or biking while listening to music if you don’t want to use headphones.

Some portable speakers are small enough to clip onto a backpack or belt.

If you want a portable unit that also delivers good audio quality, consider an outdoor-rated Bluetooth speaker. It will probably be too large to clip onto a backpack, but it will fit inside a backpack and stand up to rugged treatment during a hike or bike ride.

Specialty Bluetooth speakers

Some Bluetooth speakers have a specific task incorporated into their design. For example, some showerheads come with tiny Bluetooth speakers that fit into them. If you want to connect multiple Bluetooth speakers to one source, you’ll need a speaker with this particular feature built into it.

Some specialty Bluetooth speakers also have battery-charging capabilities. With this option, you plug a USB cable into the speaker and use the extra battery power stored in the speaker to charge another device, like a smartphone.

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Expert Tip
If you live in a larger home, look for a Bluetooth speaker that can be paired with others. Some Bluetooth speakers, like those made by Marshall, can be used in stereo pairs, or on a WiFi network with multiple other Marshall speakers for whole-home audio.
BestReviews Electronics Expert

Types of Bluetooth speakers

Single speaker

Most Bluetooth speakers are a single unit, though those units range in size from as small as a stick of butter to as large as a toaster. All sizes can sound fantastic, just be sure to pay attention to how many actual speakers are onboard--some have just one, so your music only gets produced in a single (mono, not stereo) channel.

360-degree sound

Some speakers are cylindrical and amplify sound in every direction, which can fill up an open-concept room or fit easily in awkward locations. As with single-speaker units, 360-degree speakers often lose some of the sound separation offered by traditional stereo speakers, but they can still sound fantastic and are often paired with smart assistants like Alexa.

Stereo speakers

Many sets of powered desktop speakers also support Bluetooth connectivity, which is great for listening to your phone’s music from your desktop computer’s speakers. Stereo speakers have separate left and right speakers, so you can place them in different locations for the best effect.

Expert Tip
There are a lot of competing wireless audio technologies, so if you’re willing to spend a little more for additional features, consider manufacturer-proprietary options like those from Apple and Sonos.
BestReviews Electronics Expert 

Why choose Bluetooth?

A large wired speaker typically outperforms a small Bluetooth speaker in terms of overall audio quality. However, Bluetooth has quite a few advantages over wired speakers in other areas.

Sound

A serious audiophile won’t get the type of high-end audio quality he or she wants with a Bluetooth speaker. But for many people, amplifiers built into Bluetooth speakers deliver more-than-adequate sound quality.

Ease of use

Bluetooth connectivity is one of the easiest ways to make a wireless connection. Just place the two devices in proximity of each other, turn on Bluetooth, and the devices pair with each other.

Expert Tip
When choosing a portable Bluetooth speaker, check reviews to see how long real-world battery life is.
BestReviews Electronics Expert

Portability

Perhaps the best aspect of Bluetooth speakers is their portability. You can take them anywhere, indoors or outdoors, allowing you to play music wherever you go with no wires needed. Bluetooth speakers run from either a battery or AC adapter. The battery gives them even more portability.

Connectivity

Bluetooth speakers can connect with a variety of different devices. You can connect a smartphone, MP3 player, laptop, or tablet to a Bluetooth speaker.

And considering the poor-quality speakers built into these devices, connecting a Bluetooth speaker greatly improves the audio quality of these devices.

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Testing Bluetooth Speakers
We spent 8 hours researching Bluetooth speakers before picking our top 5. We then purchased our top model and tested it in our lab.
STAFF
BestReviews

Bluetooth speaker tips

  • Many Bluetooth speakers include a battery that can power other devices. This means the speaker can charge your smartphone while you’re on the go.

  • A Bluetooth speaker has a maximum connection range of about 33 feet. A WiFi speaker has a maximum connection range of about 125 feet.

  • Some speakers can make use of both WiFi and Bluetooth wireless connectivity options.

  • Bluetooth speakers designed to be used at home use an AC adapter that plugs into a wall outlet.

  • Portable Bluetooth speakers run from a battery for on-the-go power. Some speakers offer both battery and plug-in options.

For those who struggle with making Bluetooth connections, look for a Bluetooth app. An app manages your Bluetooth connections from your smartphone automatically.

Bluetooth speakers FAQ

Q. Why do I get static and poor sound quality from my Bluetooth speaker?

A. Bluetooth speakers offer a maximum connection range of about 33 feet from the source. As you approach 33 feet, the audio quality drops. You also may see lower quality when the speaker’s battery nears empty. Charging the battery while trying to play music may cause static as well.

Q. Why are some Bluetooth speakers called water-resistant and others called waterproof?

A. A water-resistant speaker will stand up to splashing or light rain. A waterproof Bluetooth speaker can handle full submersion in water or extremely heavy rain. Look at the IP rating to figure out a speaker’s resistance level. The first digit in the two-digit IP number is the dust-protection number, while the second digit shows water protection. On a zero-to-nine scale, the higher the number, the better the protection.

Q. Why won’t my Bluetooth speaker pair with my smartphone?

A. There could be a few different reasons. First, make sure to turn on Bluetooth capabilities on the smartphone. Next, if the smartphone already has a few active Bluetooth pairings going, disconnect a couple of them. If that doesn’t work, try turning off the devices and turning them back on after a few minutes to reset. Finally, make sure the batteries on both devices are charged.

Q. Are Bluetooth speakers safe to use outdoors?

A. You can use any portable Bluetooth speaker in dry outdoor conditions. Just keep it out of direct sunlight for extended periods of time to avoid damage to the case. However, if you’ll be using your Bluetooth speaker in wet weather or near water, you need a water- or weather-resistant model.

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