Neither Bose SoundLink Color II nor UE Wonderboom were recommended by experts this month
On 5 Nov 2024 (18 hours ago) we went through 107 Bluetooth Speaker expert endorsements , however neither Bose SoundLink Color II nor UE Wonderboom were included in any of those recommendations. Since neither Bluetooth Speaker received a single endorsement, as far as expert recommendations go, it's technically a tie. We do, however, recommend taking a look at Sonos Roam 2 or other critically acclaimed Portable Bluetooth Speakers of this month.
For reference, Sonos Roam 2 received 4 endorsements this month, from WIRED (21 Oct 2024), Tom's Guide (22 Oct 2024) TechRadar (25 Oct 2024) and 1 other.
Curious to see this month's entire Portable Bluetooth Speakers ranking? It's here
| Rank | Change | Price | Bluetooth Speaker | TechHive  | PCMag  | SoundGuys  | WIRED  | Tom's Guide  | Rtings.com  | TechRadar  | Popular Mechanics  | What Hi-Fi  | Digital Trends  |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | +1 | $172 |  Sonos Roam 2 | - | - | - | 2 | 8 | - | 1 | - | - | 4 |
| 2 | -1 | $180 |  JBL Charge 5 The JBL Charge 5 is highly praised for its improved sound quality, robust design, and long battery life, though it faces criticism for lacking an AUX port and having connectivity issues with the JBL app. | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | 6 | - | 1 | - |
| 3 | +2 | $130 |  Beats Pill | - | 8 | 3 | 13 | - | - | - | - | - | 1 |
| 4 | -1 | $387 |  Sonos Move 2 The Sonos Move 2 is lauded for its superior sound quality, extended battery life, and robust design, making it a versatile choice for both indoor and outdoor use, though its high price and size may limit its appeal for some users. | 5 | - | 10 | - | 1 | -
| - | - | - | 5 |
| Show all rows | |||||||||||||
Expert reviews [11]
- with a score: 7
- without a score: 4
| Highest score by Gadget Review | 92 |
| Average score based on 11 reviews | 81 |
| Lowest score by Louder | 70 |
Score distribution:
| 80-100 | |
| 60-80 | |
| 40-60 | |
| 20-40 | |
| 0-20 |
Expert reviews [13]
- with a score: 10
- without a score: 3
| Highest score by What Hi-Fi | 100 |
| Average score based on 13 reviews | 85 |
| Lowest score by Digital Trends | 70 |
Score distribution:
| 80-100 | |
| 60-80 | |
| 40-60 | |
| 20-40 | |
| 0-20 |
- Innovative Bose technology packs bold sound into a small, water resistant speaker.Mounting Type: Plug Mount,Freestanding
- Built-in mic for speakerphone to take clear conference or personal calls out loud with a wireless range of approximately 30 feet.
- Read more
- SUPRISINGLY GOOD SOUND: Super portable wireless bluetooth speaker with 360° sound that is bright, beautiful with a balanced bass and up to 10 hours of battery. It brings your music to life wherever you take it.
- Read more
Speakers range from not being able to handle even a drop of water to being able to be fully submerged in water for several minutes. Do you plan to take your speaker outside? To the beach? To the pool? In the shower? Then you definitely need to verify the level of water resistance before purchasing. You can tell the water resistance by the IP rating—the higher the rating, the more resistant the speaker is to the elements. For reference, the first digit refers to dust protection and the second digit refers to water protection. It reads as: IP68. Anything higher than IP66 will be dust- and splash-proof, meaning it can handle some contact with water, but cannot be fully submerged or soaked.
Battery life for Bluetooth speakers is measured in milliampere hours (mAh). Manufacturers will report the battery life of a speaker in the average number of hours it takes to empty from a full charge. Keep in mind this number is based on medium levels of usage. If you play the speaker on full volume, it will drain the battery faster. Some specialty features like using the speaker to charge your phone or casting an LED light show will also drain the battery faster. The manufacturer reported number is just an estimate, and may be slightly different based on your usage.
It’s also important to consider is the type of battery. Rechargeable lithium-ion (LI-ion) batters are ideal, but some speakers only take standard or rechargeable AA/AAA/C/D batteries. You may even find Bluetooth speakers that recharge via solar power—great for outdoor use!