The best Bluetooth speakers it is possible to buy today:
The best Bluetooth speakers of 2021 are must-have gadgets for virtually any tunes lover, due to their portability, longevity, and superb audio excellent – and it’s not hard to see why they’ve become the go-to sound solution for new music fans looking to take their tunes with them wherever they go.
Whether that’s to the garage, out to the garden, or down to the beach, the best Bluetooth speakers are an essential acquire – and if you are headed down to the beach, be sure to check out our guide to the best waterproof speakers, too.
Because they’re such a good idea for so many of us, there’s a huge range of transportable speakers to pick from. This is great news but does mean it can be a challenge to make the appropriate choice. Luckily for you, we’ve done the research and the testing, which means we’re in a prime position to select the very best transportable speakers you could acquire in 2021.
Nowadays, many of the best Bluetooth speakers also come with voice assistants, like Alexa and Google Assistant built-in. This means that some wireless speakers can also double up as smart speakers, which you may use to control your smart home devices and rely on for other voice commands.
There are plenty of pair-and-play units out there too if the best Bluetooth speaker for you has a simpler setup.
Whatever kind of transportable speaker you're looking for, this guide will help you to choose the best Bluetooth speaker for your needs, wants, and budget.
[Update: The Sonos Roam could be the best portable speaker on the planet, with a powerful sound, rugged design, excellent connectivity features, and smart home control. However, we can’t wholeheartedly recommend it at this stage, after our review unit stopped working halfway through our tests. We’ll be updating our review once we’ve established whether this was an isolated incident.]
The best Bluetooth speakers you are able to buy
The best Bluetooth speaker in the world
SPECIFICATIONS
Weight: 6.61 pounds (3kg)Battery life: 10 hoursConnectivity: Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n, 2.4 GHz, and 5GHz) and Bluetooth 4.2Drivers: One down-firing tweeter, one mid-woofer, two Class-D digital amplifiersNFC: NoAux-in: NoUSB charging: Yes (USB-C, and comes with charging dock)
-Not as feature-rich when using Bluetooth
-Cant be used as rear cinema speakers
Here’s the thing about the Sonos Move – it’s so good, you might want to consider it not only as your on-the-go party station, but also as your main in-the-home wireless speaker too.
With two good quality drivers, a solid app that unlocks playback from hundreds of wireless sources, multi-room capabilities and smart audio-tuning tech which tweaks the output based on the speaker's immediate surroundings, the Sonos Move is engineered well beyond your average Bluetooth speaker. It's a versatile speaker, one that stands solidly alongside the built-for-home Sonos speakers that the company made its name on.
It’s not perfect – it’s heavy as a byproduct of its incredible sound, it’s expensive due to its rich feature set, and it sadly can’t be used as rear channels for a home cinema set-up. But if you’ve got the money, it’s hard to fault the Sonos Move when it comes to hunting down the very best Bluetooth speaker in the world.
The former best Bluetooth speaker is still great for travelling with
Weight: 1.2 poundsBattery life: 15 hoursWireless range: 30 feetFrequency response: 90Hz-20kHzDrivers: Two 1.75" drivers and two 1.75" x 3" passive radiatorsNFC: YesAux-in: NoUSB charging: Yes
-Audio could be clearer
While we weren't as impressed with the UE Boom 3 as we were with its predecessor the UE Boom 2, this is still one of the best Bluetooth speakers money should purchase in 2021. This is a speaker that can get loud and not distort at higher volumes; be light enough to carry on a camping trip but remain durable enough to tumble in a bag unprotected.
It's both water and dust-proof, and now has a one-touch mix button that lets you pull up your favorite playlists without ever picking up your phone.
There are certainly more detailed moveable speakers out there, but at a price that's relatively affordable to all, the UE Boom 3 hits all the suitable notes for the third year in a row.
Ultimate Ears now lets you customize your UE Boom 3, so you have even more options when it comes to color and pattern combinations.
A fun, no frills transportable speaker
Weight: 1.2 poundsBattery life: 12 hoursWireless range: N/AFrequency response: 65Hz - 20kHzDrivers: 40mmNFC: NoBluetooth version: 4.2Aux-in: NoUSB charging: No
The JBL Flip 5 is proof that the best Bluetooth speakers aren't always the ones with the most impressive specs.
JBL’s Flip 5 is a simple soul with Bluetooth-only playback and modest features, but if you desire a rugged, great-sounding moveable speaker and can sacrifice voice control or hands-free call functionality, you won’t be disappointed.
Thanks to its neat design and IPX7 rating it's suitable for use outside as well as in, making it an ideal outdoor speaker, too – and it's not too pricey at $119.95 / £119.99 / AU$149.95.
Coming in a range of cool colors – including an eye-catching camo print – there's now a limited Eco Edition that's made from 90% recycled plastic, while the moveable speaker’s entire packaging is biodegradable.
Read the full review: JBL Flip 5 review
[Update: Don't miss our JBL Boombox 2 review – we were mightily impressed by this transportable speaker's IPX7 waterproof rating, long battery life, and distortion-free sound.]
bose moveable home
A great Sonos Move alternative
Weight: 2.4 poundsBattery life: 12 hoursWireless range: N/AFrequency response: N/ADrivers: N/ANFC: NoBluetooth version: 4.2Aux-in: NoUSB charging: Yes
The Bose Portable Home Speaker isn’t the brand’s first outdoor-friendly speaker, and it shows: gorgeous minimalist design meets weather-ready robustness, with a light build and handle that lends itself to listening on the go.
It doesn’t quite meet the sonic dexterity of the Sonos Move, or the value for money of the UE Boom 3 and JBL Charge 4 – but if you love that Bose sound and build high-quality, this is the speaker for you.
The best price range Bluetooth speaker
Weight: 1.1 poundsBattery life: 12 hoursWireless range: 20m / 66ftFrequency response: N/ADrivers: 2 x 1.75" Full Range 2 x Passive RadiatorNFC: NoAux-in: YesBluetooth version: 4.2Weatherproofing: Yes-IPX7Charges equipment over USB: No
Anker has a history of making excellent budget wireless speakers. While we weren’t entirely impressed with the Anker SoundCore 2’s sound, we couldn’t be too mad since the speaker was so affordable.
So what happens if you may stretch your spending plan? For around $20 more you get the Anker Soundcore Flare, an excellent waterproof Bluetooth speaker that can stand toe-to-toe with the competition.
Related: https://thewisy.com/
The Soundcore Flare is an amazing value in the sub-$100 wireless speaker segment. Competitors like the UE Wonderboom (listed above) give the Flare a run for its money in terms of build high quality but we give the Flare the slight edge with sound high quality. We recommend the Flare for anyone looking for a wireless speaker that can do it all without breaking the bank.
The best outdoor speaker gets a refresh
Weight: 0.93 poundsDimensions: 104 x 95.3mm (H x D)Battery life: Up to 13 hoursWireless range: 100 ft (33 m)Frequency response: 75 Hz – 20 kHzDrivers: two 40 mm active drivers and two 46.1mm x 65.2mm passive radiatorsNFC: NoBluetooth version: N/AAux-in: NoUSB charging: No
The original UE Wonderboom has been at the top of our best waterproof speaker list since its debut and for good reason: it’s rugged, plays louder than its diminutive sound suggests, and could be paired to other UE Wonderboom speakers to amplify sound.
And although the UE Wonderboom 2 looks nearly identical to the original, Ultimate Ears packed in a slew of upgrades that make the Wonderboom 2 even better, like the increased battery life (up 30% compared to the original), better bass response, and the new Outdoor Boost feature that helps the speaker get even louder than before.
The UE Wonderboom 2 is a great rugged and waterproof speaker you’ll actually want to take with. Its small size doesn’t mean small sound, however, as the speaker gets extremely loud and sounds great. While it can’t match the bass response of larger speakers like the UE Boom 3 or the Bose SoundLink Revolve, the improved bass adds warmth and intensity to songs that the original was lacking.
All said, for $100 / £90 / AU$129, the UE Wonderboom 2 is still one of the best waterproof speakers it is possible to acquire - and our recommended option for those looking to bring their speaker to the beach or pool.
The best mid-range speaker
Weight: 2.2 poundsDimensions: 8.66 x 3.74 x 3.66 (W x D x H)Battery life: Up to 20 hoursWireless range: 30 ft (10 m)Frequency response: 60Hz–20kHzDrivers: N/ANFC: NoBluetooth version: 4.2Aux-in: YesUSB charging: Yes
The JBL Charge 4 isn't a huge step up from the JBL Charge 3, sure, but that's because the speaker series was already such a massive success. What the Charge 4 does do, however, is add much better tonal balance while still being able to dish out some serious bass that doesn’t overwhelm other parts of the frequency spectrum.
The JBL Charge 4 may seem like a boring update on paper, but it’s still one of the best waterproof speakers around. For the money, you get a speaker that sound great, is tough as nails, acts as a charger for your phone, and lasts all day.
Powerful sound for parties both big and small
Weight: 13 poundsBattery life: 24 hoursWireless range: Approx. 150 ftFrequency response: 45 - 20,000HzDrivers: N/ANFC: YesAux-in: N/AUSB charging: No
Ultimate Ears Hyperboom is a powerful party speaker that will ensure the party atmosphere, both indoors and outdoors. Its Ultimate Ears' largest speaker to date, but still keeps the company's stylish and discreet design, and adds two Bluetooth radios so you can switch seamlessly between two phones.
Despite being party-centric (read: packing tons of bass), it also delivers a very well-balanced soundscape. Here you never get the feeling that you are playing bass to make a party at the expense of other elements in the songs, and almost no matter what you put on tunes, you get a pleasant experience.
In terms of features, the Ultimate Ears app allows you to connect the Hyperboom to other UE speakers and use them together, you could switch audio source and adjust volume, and you can select four different playlists in Amazon Songs, Deezer or Spotify that can be started by holding down the Play button in three seconds.
A powerful canister of sound for all your outdoor adventures
Weight: 1.3 poundsBattery life: Up to 12 hoursWireless range: 30 feetFrequency response: 20 - 20,000 HzDrivers: X-Balanced Speaker, dual passive radiatorsNFC: YesAux-in: YesUSB charging: No
The entry-level Sony SRS-XB23 is a rock-solid $99 (around £80 / AU$150) portable outdoor speaker that features an IP67 rating and a 12-hour battery life.
In terms of performance, it can get pretty loud without a massive amount of distortion and the passive radiators help the bass to sound clearer than it has on any of Sony’s previous models. That's because the XB23 uses Bluetooth 5 and supports three major codecs – SBC, AAC and LDAC, the latter of which you’ll find on newer Android devices and sounds absolutely great.
Outdoor adventurers will love the ruggedness of the speaker while us kick-back-and-relax folks will enjoy how snugly it fits into a lawn chair's cup holder.
A Bluetooth speaker with Alexa
Weight: : 1.2 poundsBattery life: : 18 hoursWireless range: : 30m (100ft)Frequency response: : 55 - 20,000 HzDrivers: N/ANFC: NoAux-in: NoUSB charging: USB-C
Visually near imperceptible from the original A1, the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 (2nd Gen) is an appealing and highly moveable Bluetooth speaker that comes with (admittedly flawed) Alexa support.
For more information: https://thewisy.com/top-4-best-outdoor-wireless-bluetooth-speakers/
Ultimately, we were impressed with the B&O Beosound A1. A marked improvement over its predecessor, there's better battery life, and waterproofing, although we're not so sure how much we'd like to take it outside the home.
With a consistently crisp sound and a chic design, the Beosound A1 is still a fine example of why Bang & Olufsen's good reputation precedes it.
Scandi design meets decent sound
Weight: 1.5 poundsBattery life: 10 hoursWireless range: 30m (100ft)Frequency response: 80-20,000HzDrivers: 2 x 52mmNFC: NoAux-in: NoUSB charging: No
For the price, the Urbanista Brisbane is ultimately a bit of a bargain. You'll find better sound high-quality out there, but it'll cost you a lot more. All in all, this mid-range speaker could be a great choice for anyone who wants the freedom of wireless listening without sacrificing volume levels.
A luxurious Bluetooth speaker for the office and the home
Weight: 268gBattery life: 12 hoursWireless range: N/AFrequency response: N/ADrivers: N/ANFC: NoAux-in: YesUSB charging: Yes
This Bluetooth speaker is good for traveling professionals who want better sound high-quality, a speakerphone, and some water resistance, but those who want a more rugged speaker should look elsewhere – the IPX4 rating won't really cut it if you're expecting your speaker to get wet.
There are lots of speaker styles to choose from – that's why we've put together lots of guides on the best speakers you are able to buy in 2021.
Looking for some Hi-Res audiophile speakers to go with your record player? Check out the best stereo speakers. Bored of your TV's lackluster audio? Try one of our best soundbars or Dolby Atmos speakers on for size.
If you need a speaker you could take everywhere, make sure you look at the best waterproof speakers.
For total control of your smart home, invest in one of the best smart speakers, which come with Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, or Siri built-in.
There are so many new Bluetooth speakers on the market these days with great designs and the latest tech built-in that it can be tricky to figure out which one you need. Although it may seem like the choice is endless, there are plenty with unique selling points that'll suit you.
First up, some transportable speakers are built with ultimate durability in mind, others are weather and waterproof for camping and tunes by the pool; however, some aren't fit for the outdoors and would look pretty inside your home instead.
If you're having trouble figuring out which is the best Bluetooth speaker for you, start by picturing where you're going to use it and find a speaker that matches that setting. That means if you're a beach person, water and dust-proofing in your outdoor speaker are key.
Or, if you're a party person, you might want the ability to connect two speakers together or a speaker with multi-point pairing that allows multiple units to connect at a time. Battery life, sound excellent, and design are paramount for all speakers, and we've done our best to take these in the utmost consideration when creating our list.