If you want to bring your music everywhere, the humble Bluetooth speaker is your best bet. Youâll lose some audio quality compared to bookshelf speakers, but these days, Bluetooth speakers sound pretty great, and let you blast the tunes wherever you goâthe backyard, the beach, and beyond.
Since they first appeared on the audio scene back in 2010, the team at WIRED has reviewed hundreds of Bluetooth speakers at every price range. My top pick for most use cases remains the portable, durable, and affordable JBL Flip 7 ($150), but Iâve got specialized recommendations for nearly every use case and budget. From outdoor parties, beach days and poolside fun, to at-home listening in every room, these are the best speakers for everything you do.
Donât forget to check out WIREDâs other audio guides, including the Best Soundbars, Best Wireless Earbuds, and Best Computer Speakers.
Updated September 2026: Iâve added the LG xboom Stage 501 and JBL Go 5 to my recommendations, refreshed the Honorable Mentions list, and updated pricing and copy with the most up to date information.
WIREDâs audio experts have spent countless hours listening to, carrying, charging, dropping, and dunking Bluetooth speakers. Iâve been testing audio equipment for more than 20 years and remember the excitement surrounding the launch of the industry-changing Jawbone Jambox way back in 2010. It helped take wireless speakers mainstream and kick-started an entire industry. Since then, Iâve lost count of the number of Bluetooth speakers Iâve tested, but looking around my office today, I count at least 20 cluttering up the place.
Every speaker gets extensive listening with a wide mix of music, podcasts, and recordings of varying quality, including basic Spotify streams and high-resolution lossless audio from Qobuz and Tidal. This guide focuses on portable, battery-powered speakers, so there are inevitable compromises in sound compared to hi-fi speakers, but the difference between the best and worst is still remarkable.
Where possible, I compare similarly priced and sized speakers directly. A $50 speaker does not need to compete with a $500 one, but it does need to outperform the alternatives you might realistically buy instead.
I also test portability, controls, apps, Bluetooth reliability, useful extras, and battery life against manufacturersâ claims. The latter takes increasingly ridiculous amounts of time these days, especially with many speakers breaching the 50 hour mark.
And if a brand says its speaker is built for the beach, backyard, or pool, I test that too. Admittedly, WIRED doesnât get as many pool days as it would like, but thereâs always the bath.
What Should I Look for in a Bluetooth Speaker?
That entirely depends on what you plan to use it for. The best advice we have is to start with how and where youâd like to listen to music and work backwards to a specific model from there. Speakers include tiny keychains, larger boomboxes, and everything in between. We select speakers based largely on how they perform in their specialty, whether thatâs audio quality, durability, or some other particular niche.
As far as durability, we look for speakers with solid IP ratings for dust and water resistance and tend to prefer long battery life; batteries with larger capacities tend to still work well even after a few years of degradation.
Small enough to go almost anywhere but big enough to let you properly enjoy your music, the JBL Flip 7 hits a sweet spot that makes it an easy recommendation. It sounds remarkably good for something this compact (and affordable), with plenty of bass and punch, clear vocals, and refined detail. Build quality is excellent too, with IP68 water and dust protection and some drop-proofing (within reason)..
JBL keeps improving the Flip with every iteration. It now has 14 hours of battery life (or 16 with the bass-reducing Playtime Boost mode), and Auracast lets you link newer compatible JBL speakers together for a surround sound experience. The app also has a useful seven-band EQ if you like to tinker with your tones.
As a nice bonus for those who care about bit rates, the Flip 7 can play 24-bit/96kHz lossless audio if you plug it into a source via the USB-C, which is a surprising extra feature at this price point. JBL continues to be the brand to beat in the land of Bluetooth speakers.
If your house is already full of Sonos speakers, the Sonos Play is an easy addition to justify, with ample smarts and connectivity built-in. It sounds significantly better than the smaller Sonos Roam 2, with an audio performance closer to the brandâs excellent Sonos Era 100, despite being battery powered.
Wi-Fi connectivity means access to the full Sonos ecosystem and app, including more than 100 streaming services, voice control, automatic Trueplay tuning, and multiroom playback. Leave it on the supplied charging base and itâs a great Sonos speaker. Pick it up and switch to Bluetooth, and you have a portable speaker with a huge 24 hours of battery life and IP67 protection.
At 2. 9 pounds, itâs just about portable enough for travel, although I was very aware I was carrying it in my backpack. You can also charge your phone from it or add an analog source using Sonosâ optional line-in adapter. If youâre already invested in Sonosâ ecosystem, and donât mind a regularly-changing Sonos app, itâs hard to think of a more smart speaker.
Great looks, cute size, and instantly stolen by my tweenage daughter, the Go 5 is my ideal tiny speaker. It weighs next to nothing and fits in the palm of my hand, but the 4. 8 watt output sounds considerably less weedy than it has any right to.
The already excellent JBL Go 4 is a little cheaper, but the Go 5 brings fuller, deeper bass, clear mids, and enough punch to make music sound good. Its tough little enclosure is drop-proof and IP68 dust and waterproof. Connectivity is also impressive with Bluetooth 6. 0, Auracast, 7-band app EQ, and clever pairing (where you bump two Go 5s together to create a stereo pair).
Itâs speakers like this that remind me just how weâve come since the days of sticking my phone in a mug to amplify the tiny built-in speaker. If only I knew where my daughter had put it.
Iâm happy to admit when Iâm wrong, and for a few years, I dismissed Marshallâs mini guitar amp aesthetic as a good looking gimmick. But having spent time with the Kilburn III, I hold my hands up. Itâs not "serious" hi-fi, but the design and attention to detailâthe tactile, spring-loaded, knurled metal power lever, and illuminated control knobs are a joyâstand apart. It just looks fantastic, and with 50 watts of power and 50 hours of playtime, it plays loud and long. I love being able to charge devices from the speakerâs USB-C port too.
Marshall does not include the charger needed for the fastest recharge, which is a bit annoying, although most laptop users will have one already. Thereâs no stereo pairing option either, but I find it hard to imagine needing two of these in the size of room itâs designed for.
In his Marshall Kilburn III review, reviewer Simon Cohen was ebullient about the speakerâs performance, and I agree. Itâs loud enough for small- to medium-sized rooms, and cut through when used outdoors, with weighty bass, decent balance, and no obvious distortion when pushed. The 360-degree presentation spreads music evenly too, so it feels less directional than many rivals.
Paying $250 for a portable Bluetooth speaker is hard to justify if all you need is something loud enough for a picnic blanket, but the Kef Muo feels more like a compact hi-fi component. The seamless aluminum body is beautifully tactile and flawless, although it looks almost identical to the model they first launched in 2015. Maybe Iâm just feeling old because I remember that launch like it was yesterday.
While the Muo is getting on a bit aesthetically, its connectivity is bang up to date. The drivers have been rebuilt around a new racetrack-shaped 2. 5 x 5-inch mid/bass driver, paired with a 0. 74-inch (19mm) tweeter and 40W of Class D amplification. A neat pleated edge to the drivers does brilliant things to the bass too, which is beyond impressive given the size.
Audio quality is seriously impressive here and you may be surprised by how often you reach for it. I heartily recommend plugging in a hi-res streaming (24-bit/48 kHz) source via USB-C and enjoying all the speaker has to offer.
The app is a basic affair, and some might lament the speakerâs lack of Wi-Fi, but with IP67 protection and 24-hour battery life itâs a great buy when fidelity matters.
Part of LGâs xboom collaboration with producer, Black Eyed Peas star, and tech obsessive will.i.am, the Stage 501 is a mighty 25. 8-pound party starter. Its 2. 2-channel setup combines twin 5. 25-inch woofers with two 2. 5-inch full-range drivers. Together theyâre capable of 160 watts on battery or 220 watts plugged in. In simpler terms: It easily filled a huge workshop space with rave-ready bass, and enough volume for a proper party.
What surprised me more than the party capabilities was that it also sounds acceptable at low volume in my office. I was expecting a pint-sized PA system, but dialled back to casual listening volume and it remained composed. Often, speakers designed for loud really struggle with quiet, and just sound muddy, but that wasnât the case here. Yes, it prefers it when people are dancing, but it manages well when youâre chilling out too.
The xboom app is excellent, with EQ, AI Karaoke, synchronized lighting, and some cheesy but irresistible DJ punch buttons. LG has also included two very sensible smartphone/tablet stands that position your device at the perfect angle for karaoke nights. It comes with two mic inputs, but you will need to buy microphones separately.
Battery life is âup toâ 25 hours, and the battery itself is replaceable. Itâs big, and not as grown-up sounding as the Soundbox Mix, but it is cheaper and has a surprisingly good LED light show feature that I expected to hate, but didnât. Party on dudes.
Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 (Gen 3) for $399: Gorgeously designed, flawlessly finished, and one of the most covetable Bluetooth speakers around. The brushed aluminum puck has barely changed since 2016, which says plenty about the strength of Cecilie Manzâs original design. The latest version adds a richer, more powerful 360-degree sound from its 3. 25-inch woofer, 0. 6-inch tweeter, and 60 watts of amplification. It is IP67 rated, lasts up to 24 hours, and is appreciably more repairable and upgradable. I love it, but itâs just a little too expensive when the KEF Muo exists and sounds as good as it does.
Soundboks Mix for $799: The 21. 4-pound Soundboks Mix is tremendously loud, with a 10-inch woofer, 1. 2-inch tweeter, and 40-hour replaceable battery. WIRED writer Parker Hall measured 111 decibels from a meter away, and was surprised at how musical it remained rather than just battering you with volume. IP65 protection, sturdy handles, and rubberized tennis-ball style corners make it particularly well suited to outdoor parties. Itâs expensive and heavy compared to the new breed of party speakers from brands like LG and Sony, but it is superb at what it does.
JBL Charge 6 for $150: Itâs just too big to be our absolute favorite Bluetooth speaker, but it was a close run thing between two superb JBL options. The great sound and portability of the Flip 7 won out, but the 40 watts from the Charge 6 deliver more bass and scale, while maintaining detail. Battery life stretches to 24 hours, and you also get IP68 protection, Auracast, app EQ, USB-C lossless playback, and reverse charging. Currently on sale too, making it a real bargain at $150.
Bose SoundLink Plus for $269: Sitting neatly between Boseâs little Flex and chunky Max, the Bose SoundLink Plus weighs 3. 37 pounds but produces surprisingly substantial sound, with excellent detail, robust bass, and plenty of power without any rawness at volume. IP67 protection is solid, the 20-hour battery is replaceable, and it can also charge your phone over USB-C. Thereâs multipoint Bluetooth, app EQ, stereo pairing, and aptX Adaptive for Android too. It takes an irritating five hours to recharge, however. Bose could do with a refresh soon, as the competition has caught up with them.
Sonos Roam 2 for $179: The Sonos Roam 2 is a superb little speaker and if the hugely versatile Sonos Play didnât exist, it would be one of my top picks. It lacks a bit of punch and scale compared to the larger option, but can still be connected over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, so it remains ideal at home, in the garden, or out and about. IP67 protection means beach sand and bathroom splashes arenât a concern. Battery life is a meager 10 hours, though, and it costs considerably more than similarly sized Bluetooth-only rivals, but if youâre a Sonos fan, you wonât be disappointed.
Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 for $200: If you donât mind something a bit large, the 9-inch tall Megaboom 4 is one of the best outdoor speakers you can get, according to former WIRED writer Ryan Waniata. It blasts sound in 360-degrees, with enough bass in every direction to please most listeners. Itâs also IP67 dust and waterproof, and it floats, making it especially suited to pool and beach days. Like other Ultimate Ears speakers, you can pair multiple Megaboom 4s together through the app and adjust settings like EQ.
Beats Pill for $150: Remember the Beats Pill? WIRED loved the revived 2024 model when it launched, and it remains an excellent choice if youâre wedded to Appleâs ecosystem. You get one-touch pairing, Find My support, and a friction-free setup Apple does so well. Android gets similarly easy pairing and Find My Device support too. Sound is unmistakably Beats, with crisp treble, impressive clarity, and a whole pile of bass, although thereâs still no EQ adjustability (you need to use your streaming serviceâs settings) to tame some occasional brightness. The 24-hour battery, IP67 protection, reverse USB-C charging, lossless playback over USB-C, and stereo pairing keep it competitive, especially since itâs often on sale.
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