Portable Bluetooth speakers are the easiest, most affordable way to spread music and podcasts across a room, backyard, or beach blanket. Because these speakers come in a variety of designs and sizes, no model is perfect for every situation.
Wonderboom 4
For over seven years now, The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom has been our top choice, and now it’s in its latest version. The Wonderboom 4 finally switches to USB-C charging to keep up with the times. The clear, spacious sound of this small, round speaker has been consistently ranked above the competition by our listeners and editors in brand-containment tests.
It’s also quite tough. With an IP67 water-resistance rating, it can withstand immersion in 1 meter of water for 30 minutes. Additionally, it is dustproof, can endure a 5-foot fall onto concrete, and is floatable. The speaker has 11 hours of battery life in our tests, and it is available in four colors.
W-King X10
If you’re looking for a larger, louder speaker with a long battery life, the W-King X10 is an affordable upgrade that’s worth considering. The Wonderboom 4 is almost 8 decibels quieter, resulting in it being easily heard even over a roomful of chatty partygoers. This speaker is clear and doesn’t lose bass even when cranked full blast.
The internal battery can provide 24 hours of playtime, which is not as long as the claimed 42 hours, but still impressive. USB-C charging is available, as well as an analog input and TF card slot, and a USB-A port for charging mobile devices.
The X10 is roughly the size of a football and is 6.5 pounds in weight. Although it’s not ideal for travel in a backpack or suitcase, the shoulder strap makes it easy to transport. The IPX6 certification means it can withstand being sprayed by a hose, but it’s not suitable for submersion in water like some of our other options.
Fender x Teufel Rockster Go 2
The Fender x Teufel Rockster Go 2 is by far the best Bluetooth speaker around the $100 mark, as it reminds us of a good bookshelf speaker. Compared to most other portable Bluetooth speakers, it reproduces voices more clearly and naturally, and it has satisfactory bass output.
The Rockster Go 2 has a relatively small size of 8.3 by 2.4 by 4.3 inches and weighs 1.6 pounds. Although it’s smaller than the Wonderboom 4, it’s still large enough to fit in most laptop bags, but it’s likely small enough to fit in your suitcase. It can be charged using USB-C and has an IP67 rating, which means it’s waterproof and dustproof. The speaker’s battery lasted 18 hours, and it can be attached to a post or hung from a hook.
JBL Go 4
The JBL Go 4 is the smallest and easiest to fit into a laptop bag, purse, or pocket. It is different from most ultra-compact Bluetooth speakers in that it produces a satisfying and reasonably full sound. The Go 4 has a size of 3.7 by 3 by 1.7 inches and a weight of just 11 ounces. It reaches a maximum of just over 80 decibels, which is approximately 10 decibels more than the speakers included in most smartphones. It’s worth taking with you, especially since it has the same weight as a typical smartphone.
The speaker’s IP67 rating makes it both waterproof and dustproof. It has USB-C charging and comes in a variety of colors. In standard mode, the battery lasts only 5 hours. The Playtime Boost mode extended this to almost 9 hours, but it had a slightly lower sound quality.
Tribit StormBox Mini+
The Tribit StormBox Mini+ is the most affordable Bluetooth speaker we’ve heard. Unlike almost all speakers in the low-two-figure price range. While it produced a full sound, it didn’t leave us craving more bass — although it didn’t sound quite as clear or play as loud.
It measures 4.7 by 3.6 by 3.6 inches and weighs 1.3 pounds. The beach bag makes it easy to transport, and its IPX7 certification means it can withstand being submerged for 30 minutes. The battery lasted for approximately 8 hours. Charging is possible through USB-C and three colors are available.
The StormBox Mini+ has been modified from our previous budget pick. The two models are practically identical in both physical and musical terms. However, the Mini+ enhances AAC decoding and accessibility to Tribit’s smartphone app, which offers predefined sound modes and a nine-band equalizer.
Brane X
If you want a powerful portable speaker with Wi-Fi and smart speaker capabilities. Although the Brane X costs more than the Ultimate Ears Hyperboom, it’s half the size and delivers comparable sound quality and maximum volume. In addition to Bluetooth, it can also act as an Amazon Alexa device. Streaming many services can be done directly through Wi-Fi, such as iHeart, Pandora, Prime Music, Spotify, and TuneIn Radio. The IP57 rating makes it more resistant to the elements than the Hyperboom. It requires a separate AC adapter for charging, and it typically runs for 11.25 hours on a charge.
Rofall D68F
The Rofall D68F sounds fuller and more natural, and plays louder than any other Bluetooth speaker under $25. Additionally, it has attractive internal lights that can be turned off, and it even features stereo pairing.
Ultimate Ears Miniroll
The Ultimate Ears Miniroll is more costly and slightly bigger than the JBL Go 4, but it gives off a more full sound. The integrated strap is useful for strapping it to a pole or chair or hang it from a hook, which the JBL doesn’t offer unless you add your own strap or carabiner clip. The IP67 rating means it is both waterproof and dustproof. The Go 4’s maximum volume is comparable to itss, and its battery usually lasts for about 8.5 hours in our tests.
