April 2024

Portable Bluetooth Speakers: MetaRanking

This page highlights the aggregate summary of portable bluetooth speakers rankings posted by key online experts, as of April 2024.

Summary

On 2 Apr 2024, ReviewFinder team examined a total of 115 bluetooth speaker endorsements from 10 reputable publishers.

65 bluetooth speakers were endorsed in total, only 27 made it into this month's ranking. (ReviewFinder requires a minimum of 2 endorsements to be included)

As of 2 Apr 2024, JBL Charge 5 takes the cake as the most critically-acclaimed bluetooth speaker with 6 expert endorsements. 2 experts out of 6 recommended it as the '#1 bluetooth speaker' this month.

Brand breakdown
Show all brands

Price breakdown
As can be seen in the chart below, lowest high-ranking portable bluetooth speakers start at $21.99 (Anker SoundCore) and go up to $1664.95 (Bang & Olufsen Beosound Level). Median bluetooth speaker costs $199.89 (Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 (2nd gen)).
$21.99
$1664.95

At a glance - April Ranking

Scroll horizontally to browse this ranking table
Rank Change Price Bluetooth Speaker
What Hi-Fi
SoundGuys
PCMag
Popular Mechanics
TechRadar
Rtings.com
Tom's Guide
WIRED
TechHive
Digital Trends
3
- $179
Sonos Roam
A great speaker that can be taken anywhere
-
-
-
-
1
-
11
10
-
3
4
- $48
Tribit StormBox Micro 2
3
-
-
-
2
-
-
9
-
8
5
- Check price
Jbl Boombox 3
-
-
7
-
-
1
9
-
-
-
6
- $68
Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3
-
5
-
-
-
4
8
-
-
6
7
- $200
Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 (2nd gen)
A good-looking speaker that produces beautiful acoustics. Compatible with Amazon Alexa and can be paired with multiple devices.
4
-
-
7
4
-
-
16
-
-
8
- $400
Ultimate Ears Hyperboom
A beast of a speaker that is built for parties
-
4
-
-
9
-
13
15
-
-
9
- $80
Anker Soundcore Motion 300
-
-
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
10
- $100
JBL Flip 6
2
-
-
-
3
-
-
-
-
7
11
- $106
UE Boom 3
A Bluetooth speaker good enough for any user. Portable, protected, and loud.
-
-
-
9
-
-
-
1
-
-
12
- $229
Sonos Era 100
6
-
-
-
-
-
2
11
-
-
13
+7 $300
Ultimate Ears Epicboom
-
-
-
-
11
2
-
7
-
-
14
-1 $170
Ultimate Ears MegaBoom 3
-
-
-
-
-
3
6
-
-
12
15
-1 $271
Marshall Middleton
-
-
12
-
-
-
-
-
3
9
16
-1 $150
Soundcore Motion X600
-
3
-
-
-
-
-
-
4
-
21
+1 $80
JBL Clip 4
-
-
-
3
-
-
-
8
-
-
22
-1 $424
Sonos Era 300
-
-
8
-
-
-
3
-
-
-
23
- Check price
UE Wonderboom 2
A Bluetooth speaker small in size but big in performance. It’s the perfect speaker for active users who loves the outdoors.
-
-
-
5
-
-
-
6
-
-
24
- $51
Anker Soundcore 3
-
-
-
-
-
5
7
-
-
-
25
New * $80
Tribit Stormbox Flow
-
-
-
-
8
-
-
5
-
-
26
-1 $599
JBL Authentics 500
-
-
-
-
-
6
-
-
7
-
27
-1 $200
Tribit Stormbox Blast
-
-
-
-
5
-
10
-
-
-
28
-1 $319
Marshall Stockwell II
-
-
-
4
-
-
-
14
-
-
29
-1 $699
Soundboks Go
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
8
10
30
-1 Check price
Sony SRS-XG300
-
-
9
-
-
-
-
-
-
11
31
-1 Check price
LG XBoom XL7
-
-
11
-
-
-
-
-
-
14

; ; ;
#4 $47.99 Tribit StormBox Micro 2
#24 $50.99 Anker Soundcore 3
#6 $68.25 Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3
#23 $77.85 UE Wonderboom 2
#21 $79.95 JBL Clip 4
#9 $79.99 Anker Soundcore Motion 300
#25 $79.99 Tribit Stormbox Flow
#10 $99.95 JBL Flip 6
#11 $105.99 UE Boom 3
#16 $149.99 Soundcore Motion X600
#14 $169.99 Ultimate Ears MegaBoom 3
#3 $179 Sonos Roam
#7 $199.89 Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 (2nd gen)
#27 $199.99 Tribit Stormbox Blast
#12 $229.36 Sonos Era 100
#15 $271 Marshall Middleton
#13 $299.99 Ultimate Ears Epicboom
#28 $319.10 Marshall Stockwell II
#8 $399.99 Ultimate Ears Hyperboom
#22 $424.09 Sonos Era 300
#26 $599 JBL Authentics 500
#29 $699 Soundboks Go

We ranked Sonos Roam #1 in April 2024 because:

  • 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best portable bluetooth speakers” rankings.
  • Out of those, 1 expert ranked Sonos Roam as #1.
Expert Consensus
(as of 17 Sep 2021)
A great speaker that can be taken anywhere
Experts Praise For:
  • Highly portable
  • Good sound quality
  • Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant compatibility
  • Connectivity features
Experts Criticise For:
  • Quite expensive
A more detailed summary:

The Sonos Roam offers an ultra-light and ultra-portable Bluetooth speaker that delivers impressive sound, wireless connectivity, automatic tuning, and some level of protection against the elements. It delivers high-quality acoustics that is crisp and clear. It offers Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity to pair with devices and connect to AI assistants, such as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. The device’s TruePlay feature tunes the sound to better fit any environment, to enhance listening anywhere. It works great on its own, but it can also be connected to other Sonos speakers nearby for an even greater music experience. The Sonos Roam also supports wireless charging, which is another plus. It comes with water and dust protection, which makes it the perfect companion for outdoors. However, as experts pointed out, it can only offer 10 hours of continuous operation, so that’s quite a lot smaller than others on the market. Overall, it is an excellent option that will appeal to most music lovers.

Critic endorsements:
TechRadar

The best Bluetooth speaker for most people

Big, booming, room-filling sound
Rugged design for max portability

Average battery life
Bass can be overwhelming indoors

Go to ranking

Tom's Guide

Sonos' best go anywhere pocket speaker

Lightweight
Extensive connectivity
Auto TruePlay sound tuning

No Bluetooth multipoint
Middling battery life

Go to ranking

WIRED

Best Smart Bluetooth Speaker With a Battery

Go to ranking

Digital Trends

The best portable Sonos speaker

Excellent design
Lightweight and portable
Totally water and dustproof
Very good sound for its size
Choice of smart speaker assistants
Wireless charging

No Bluetooth stereo pairing
Doesn’t work as a speakerphone
Less battery life than some other speakers

Go to ranking

We ranked Tribit StormBox Micro 2 #2 in April 2024 because:

  • 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best portable bluetooth speakers” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
What Hi-Fi

Small and mighty, the Stormbox Micro 2 is possibly the most wallet-friendly Bluetooth speaker we’ve tested.

Enjoyable sound for the size
Excellent portable design
Plenty of extra features

Can sound unwieldy at higher volumes

Go to ranking

TechRadar

The best cheap Bluetooth speaker

Surprisingly big sound
Doubles as a phone charger
Unbeatable value

No 3.5mm jack
Audio quality is easily beat

Go to ranking

WIRED

Handlebar Ready

Go to ranking

Digital Trends

Best budget Bluetooth speaker

Excellent 120-foot Bluetooth range
IP67 weather resistance
Can be paired with another Micro 2
Doubles as a portable charger

The sound is what it is

Go to ranking

Methodology: combine opinions of key experts

Identify Experts

We identify key publishers and experts that consistently review and recommend portable bluetooth speakers.

Capture Rankings

For each publisher we find a currently recommended "top 10" list of portable bluetooth speakers, it must be updated in the last 9 months.

Aggregate Rankings

We put all those lists together and aggregate them. The more frequently a product is recommended, the higher it is in our ranking

Experts chosen for April 2024 ranking

We ranked Jbl Boombox 3 #3 in April 2024 because:

  • 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best portable bluetooth speakers” rankings.
  • Out of those, 1 expert ranked Jbl Boombox 3 as #1.
Critic endorsements:
PCMag

Best Boombox / Editor's Choice

Good bass depth and crisp highs
Gets extremely loud
App includes adjustable EQ
Waterproof and dustproof build

Heavy
Expensive
Only supports SBC codec

Go to ranking

Rtings.com

Best Bluetooth Speaker

Go to ranking

Tom's Guide

Big sound and long battery life in a chunky portable

Large-scale sound
Booming bass
Rugged design and long battery life

Heavy for a portable
Treble can sound harsh

Go to ranking

We ranked Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 #4 in April 2024 because:

  • 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best portable bluetooth speakers” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
SoundGuys

Bang for your Buck

Build quality
Nice sound
Made for outdoors

No USB-C

Go to ranking

Rtings.com

Best Budget Bluetooth Speaker

Go to ranking

Tom's Guide

An impressive portable Bluetooth speaker for under $100

Impressive bass for its size
Waterproof design
Can pair two together
14 hours battery life

No USB-C connector

Go to ranking

Digital Trends

Best floatable speaker for the pool

Excellent durability
Light and portable
Balanced, 360-degree sound
Affordable price point

Somewhat lacking in bass
Not as slim as other competitors
Some minor connectivity issues

Go to ranking

We ranked Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 (2nd gen) #5 in April 2024 because:

  • 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best portable bluetooth speakers” rankings.
Expert Consensus
(as of 17 Sep 2021)
A good-looking speaker that produces beautiful acoustics. Compatible with Amazon Alexa and can be paired with multiple devices.
Experts Praise For:
  • Stunning acoustics
  • Alexa-ready
  • IP67 rating
  • Looks sturdy
Experts Criticise For:
  • Pricey
A more detailed summary:

The Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 (2nd gen) is a portable Bluetooth speaker that looks as good as it sounds. It produces stunning acoustics paired with decent bass delivery. The speaker appears durable enough and also offers protection against the elements with its IP67 waterproof rating. It is also equipped with a battery that can provide 18 hours of uninterrupted operation. The device includes a speakerphone system that can be used to issue Alexa commands and can be linked to two Bluetooth devices simultaneously. It can be charged using a USB-C cable, which, luckily, comes included when purchased. A useful strap provides further convenience for transportation. Overall, the experts were quite satisfied with the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 (2nd gen).

Critic endorsements:
What Hi-Fi

One of the weightiest and most refined little speakers we’ve ever heard.

Expansive sound, weighty bass
Competent Alexa integration
Stunning build and finish

Not exactly a budget option

Go to ranking

Popular Mechanics

Sleek Design

Built-in Amazon Alexa
Compact, durable design with great audio

Pricey

Go to ranking

TechRadar

The best small portable speaker for audiophiles

Exceptional, audiophile level sound
Solid but lightweight design

Alexa but no Wi-Fi
Buttons not raised

Go to ranking

WIRED

Elegant Accessory

Go to ranking

We ranked Ultimate Ears Hyperboom #6 in April 2024 because:

  • 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best portable bluetooth speakers” rankings.
Expert Consensus
(as of 17 Sep 2021)
A beast of a speaker that is built for parties
Experts Praise For:
  • Fantastic sound with good bass
  • Amazingly loud volume capability
  • IPX4 rating
  • Useful EQ
  • Extended battery life
Experts Criticise For:
  • Costs a lot
  • Large and quite heavy
A more detailed summary:

The Ultimate Ears Hyperboom is a massive 14-inch speaker that plays music loud enough for any social setting. Being the largest speaker in Ultimate Ear’s lineup, it can perform well both indoors and outdoors. It has absolutely no problem filling large, open spaces with high-quality sound, according to experts. It produces a balanced output that works with any track. It also allows Bluetooth connectivity, and two devices can connect to the speaker system simultaneously. With this feature, two people can control the music lineup, alternating tracks between two devices for an uninterrupted music stream. The overall product quality is excellent. It looks well-built and durable enough to withstand some abuse. On average, the battery lasts around 23 to 24 hours, which is more than enough time to spice up a party with great sounds. It comes with a shoulder strap and is also splash resistant.

Critic endorsements:
SoundGuys

Best for Parties

Splash-proof IPX4 build
Dual Bluetooth inputs with seamless switching
Aux and optical inputs

Price
SBC only, no aptX or AAC
Large and bulky
No high-quality Bluetooth codec support

Go to ranking

TechRadar

The best Bluetooth speaker for huge sound indoors and out

Tectonic shifting power
Smart dual-connection function

Not the lightest at 13lbs
It's not cheap

Go to ranking

Tom's Guide

The best Bluetooth speaker for parties

Powerful sound
Goes loud
Good battery life

Most expensive model on test
Bulky size and heavy to carry

Go to ranking

WIRED

Porta Party

Go to ranking

We ranked Anker Soundcore Motion 300 #7 in April 2024 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best portable bluetooth speakers” rankings.
  • Out of those, 1 expert ranked Anker Soundcore Motion 300 as #1.
Critic endorsements:
PCMag

Best Speaker Under $100/ Editor's Choice

Impressive power for its size
Waterproof build
Supports the LDAC codec
Speakerphone
Custom EQ in app

Digital signal processing thins out bass at top volumes

Go to ranking

Digital Trends

The best overall Bluetooth speaker

Under $100
Full stereo sound
Totally waterproof
Speakerphone built-in
Handy carry strap
Illuminated controls

No battery level indicator
Bigger, heavier than alternatives
Hi-res audio is underwhelming
Sound gets rough at higher volumes

Go to ranking

We ranked JBL Flip 6 #8 in April 2024 because:

  • 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best portable bluetooth speakers” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
What Hi-Fi

compact and affordable speaker that won't leave you penniless.

Clear, precise and enjoyable sound
Punchy bass for size
Useful equaliser feature

Can be critical of recording and source quality

Go to ranking

TechRadar

The best Bluetooth speaker at a mid-range price with no frills

Brilliantly balanced bass
Extremely easy to use

Pairing restricted to Flip 6 speakers
No Alexa or Siri support

Go to ranking

Digital Trends

The best rugged speaker for outdoorsy types

Solid build quality
Loud and clear sound
Lightweight and portable
Excellent water and dust protection
EQ offers some sound tweaking
Works with JBL Portable app and PartyBoost

Can't stereo pair with non-Flip 6 JBL speakers
Doesn’t work as a speakerphone
Not drastically different from Flip 5

Go to ranking

We ranked UE Boom 3 #9 in April 2024 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best portable bluetooth speakers” rankings.
  • Out of those, 1 expert ranked UE Boom 3 as #1.
Expert Consensus
(as of 17 Sep 2021)
A Bluetooth speaker good enough for any user. Portable, protected, and loud.
Experts Praise For:
  • Can reach loud volumes
  • Highly portable
  • IP67 rating
Experts Criticise For:
  • Quality of sound is not that impressive
A more detailed summary:

Experts reviews of the UE Boom 3 found that while it is a good speaker overall, it doesn’t really compare to its competitors. The sound is powerful enough to fill a room when the volume is cranked up, with no noticeable distortion. There is decent sound output also, but it’s nothing spectacular. However, the wireless range is actually rather impressive, reaching potentially around 100 to 150 feet. The battery impresses as well as it can provide 15 hours of continuous operation. It comes with IP67 water and dust protection and additionally comes in multiple colors to suit anyone’s preference. Overall, the UE Boom 3 is a decent enough Bluetooth speaker that can get loud when needed.

Critic endorsements:
Popular Mechanics

Great Pool Speaker

Stunning color options
360-degree sound

Physical buttons only control volume

Go to ranking

WIRED

Best Overall

Go to ranking

We ranked Sonos Era 100 #10 in April 2024 because:

  • 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best portable bluetooth speakers” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
What Hi-Fi

Sonos' much-heralded Era 100 is the smaller of the new Era range - but in no way is it any less mighty.

Large, open sound presentation with crisp detail
Fantastic, simple-to-use app
Great sense of rhythm, timing and tone
Vast catalogue of streaming features

Adapter for wired connection costs extra
Apple HomePod 2 is more natural with voices

Go to ranking

Tom's Guide

Best entry-level Sonos speaker with stereo sound

Dual tweeters for stereo sound
Larger woofer pumps out more bass than Sonos One
Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth wireless support
USB-C line in for external audio sources
Alexa and Sonos Voice enabled

No Google Assistant support
More expensive than Sonos One
No battery

Go to ranking

WIRED

Best for Home

Go to ranking

We ranked Ultimate Ears Epicboom #11 in April 2024 because:

  • 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best portable bluetooth speakers” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
TechRadar

Best for big sound plus looks

Gifted, room-filling audio
Boom app adds useful features
UE's strong design aesthetic

No wi-fi streaming support
PartyUp isn't compatible with key UE speakers
Strap doesn't really aid portability

Go to ranking

Rtings.com

Best Upper Mid-Range Bluetooth Speaker

Go to ranking

WIRED

A Medium-Size Speaker

Go to ranking

We ranked Ultimate Ears MegaBoom 3 #12 in April 2024 because:

  • 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best portable bluetooth speakers” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Rtings.com

Best Mid-Range Bluetooth Speaker

Go to ranking

Tom's Guide

The best portable Bluetooth speaker overall

Big bass and full vocals
Good battery life
Can pair with older Megaboom and Boom models for stereo sound

Big and heavy for a portable
No speakerphone

Go to ranking

Digital Trends

Excellent sound for its size

Loud, dynamic sound
Easy to use
Waterproof
Great battery life

Some functionality only supports Apple Music/Deezer

Go to ranking

We ranked Marshall Middleton #13 in April 2024 because:

  • 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best portable bluetooth speakers” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
PCMag

Best Portable Outdoor Speaker

Powerful audio with deep bass and bright highs
Waterproof and dust-tight design
Onboard and in-app bass and treble controls
Can charge external devices

Expensive
Exterior easily attracts dust
No speakerphone function

Go to ranking

TechHive

Best mid-priced Bluetooth speaker

Excellent clarity and separation
Tight, punchy bass–and plenty of it
IP67 protection from the elements
20-hour battery life

Considerably more expensive than the competition in its class

Go to ranking

Digital Trends

Classic amp looks, classically clear sound

Big soundstage for a small package
Bold bass, clear highs
IP67 waterproof and dustproof
AUX input
Stackable

Picks up dust and fingerprints easily
A bit expensive

Go to ranking

We ranked Soundcore Motion X600 #14 in April 2024 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best portable bluetooth speakers” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
SoundGuys

Best style

Unique 3 driver design
Bluetooth 5.3
IPX7 waterproof

No dust rating
No 3.5 wired option

Go to ranking

TechHive

Best mid-priced Bluetooth speaker, runner-up

Excellent sound
Loud and thumpy when you want it to be
IPX7 weatherization with rugged metal construction
Supports the Hi-Res LDAC codec (on Android)

Doesn't support the AAC codec
A tad bulky for its size

Go to ranking

We ranked JBL Clip 4 #15 in April 2024 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best portable bluetooth speakers” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Popular Mechanics

Most portable

Built-in clip for portability
Water and dust-proof

Shorter battery life

Go to ranking

WIRED

Adventure Time

Go to ranking

We ranked Sonos Era 300 #16 in April 2024 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best portable bluetooth speakers” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
PCMag

Best for Spatial Audio / Editors' Choice

Room-filling sound with strong bass depth and bright highs
Supports Dolby Atmos
Works with Alexa and Sonos voice commands
Terrific companion app with room analysis and adjustable EQ
Wide support for music streaming services

Expensive
No Google Assistant or Cast support

Go to ranking

Tom's Guide

Best-sounding speaker for spatial audio content

Amazing spatial audio
Lots of connectivity options
A plethora of streaming audio sources

Unusual design may not appeal to all

Go to ranking

We ranked UE Wonderboom 2 #17 in April 2024 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best portable bluetooth speakers” rankings.
Expert Consensus
(as of 17 Sep 2021)
A Bluetooth speaker small in size but big in performance. It’s the perfect speaker for active users who loves the outdoors.
Experts Praise For:
  • Highlyportable due to small size
  • IP67 rating
  • Strong bass
  • Outdoor Boost
Experts Criticise For:
  • Lacks a microphone
  • Lacks micro USB charging capability
A more detailed summary:

The UE Wonderboom 2 is a durable Bluetooth speaker designed for the outdoors. It has ample protection against the elements with its IP67 rating, making it both waterproof and dustproof. It is built with durability that is essential for outdoor activities. It could survive a 5-foot fall if necessary and people can even bring it to the pool as it floats on water. Of course, the sound quality is what truly matters. The UE Wonderboom 2 can indeed boom (loudly) when needed. The sound quality is quite good and provides an equally good bass response. It is equipped with an Outdoor Boost mode for when “really loud” is required. Battery life is decent; it can provide 13 hours of uninterrupted playtime before needing a recharge. All this comes within a surprisingly small size that proves once again that looks can be deceiving.

Critic endorsements:
Popular Mechanics

Most Durable

Fully waterproof and floats
Hang loop for portability
360-degree sound

Shorter battery life

Go to ranking

WIRED

Best for Water Slides

Go to ranking

We ranked Anker Soundcore 3 #18 in April 2024 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best portable bluetooth speakers” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Rtings.com

Best Cheap Bluetooth Speaker

Go to ranking

Tom's Guide

Best value small battery-powered Bluetooth speaker

Big sound from small design
Good battery life
Useful Soundcore app and EQ modes

Sound hardens up at higher volumes
Rubberized case marks easily

Go to ranking

We ranked Tribit Stormbox Flow #19 in April 2024 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best portable bluetooth speakers” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
TechRadar

The best for stamina

Class-leading battery life
Simple to use

Dull design
Can struggle at high volumes

Go to ranking

WIRED

Biggest Battery

Go to ranking

We ranked JBL Authentics 500 #20 in April 2024 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best portable bluetooth speakers” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Rtings.com

Best Home Bluetooth Speaker

Go to ranking

TechHive

Best Bluetooth-capable smart speaker, runner-up

Stylish retro design
High-quality sound
Deep bass reproduction

Bulky design
Lofty price tag

Go to ranking

We ranked Tribit Stormbox Blast #21 in April 2024 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best portable bluetooth speakers” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
TechRadar

The best Bluetooth speaker for room-filling sound

Big, powerful sound that packs a punch
Oodles of snappy bass
USB-C charging for other devices

No mics so no voice assistant
No protection from dust
Button to boost bass lacks control

Go to ranking

Tom's Guide

Big boombox-style bass and bling at a great price

Expansive sound
Booming bass
Battery lasts all day

Treble can sound harsh at high volumes

Go to ranking

We ranked Marshall Stockwell II #22 in April 2024 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best portable bluetooth speakers” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Popular Mechanics

Stylish Subwoofer

Analog control knobs for custom sound

Only splash resistant

Go to ranking

WIRED

Rock & Roll

Go to ranking

We ranked Soundboks Go #23 in April 2024 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best portable bluetooth speakers” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
TechHive

Best Bluetooth speaker for big outdoor parties

Impressive volume without distortion
Sturdy, weatherproof construction
Excellent stereo sound when paired

Initial pairing was a challenge
Limited inputs
No support for high-res codecs such as aptX or LDAC

Go to ranking

Digital Trends

A Bluetooth speaker with big sound

Great sound at loud volumes
Sturdy cabinet and bumpers
Good battery life
Effective app support
Awesome when paired with other speakers

Not as useful indoors
Limited codec support
Pricey

Go to ranking

We ranked Sony SRS-XG300 #24 in April 2024 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best portable bluetooth speakers” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
PCMag

Best Codec Support / Editors' Choice

Powerful output with bass-forward sound signature
Fully waterproof and dustproof
App has custom EQ, battery, and LED controls

Expensive

Go to ranking

Digital Trends

The best boombox design

Nice and rugged build
Great sound quality
LEDs are cool
Easy pairing and app support
Party Connect works well
Solid battery life

Only one custom EQ setting allowed
Phone calls could be better

Go to ranking

We ranked LG XBoom XL7 #25 in April 2024 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best portable bluetooth speakers” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
PCMag

Best Party Speaker

Exceptionally powerful with deep bass and bright highs
LED array supports customizable text, animated graphics
App features custom EQ
Built-in karaoke features

Expensive
Weak water-resistance rating

Go to ranking

Digital Trends

Best Bluetooth party speaker

It's loud
Sound is balanced and distortion-free
Telescoping handle and smooth wheels
20-hour battery
Fun LED light and DJ features
Karaoke mic and guitar inputs
Excellent app

LED lights aren't that bright
No stereo sound
Guitar input sound isn't great

Go to ranking