Best portable Bluetooth speakers in 2024

Nothing beats the freedom of wire-free listening, and we here at Android Police are major fans of all things Bluetooth. One of the best ways to enjoy the many music-streaming platforms out there is with a portable Bluetooth speaker. Far more than loud and proud drivers, the best Bluetooth speakers include sweet features like top-shelf weatherproofing, intuitive companion apps for phones or tablets, and even integrated voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant.

Like most consumer tech devices, though, no Bluetooth speaker is created equal, which is why this list was curated with the best in mind. Inevitably, there will be some brands you recognize and others that may be brand-new. Either way, these are all devices we’d be willing to invest our time, money, and trust in. So let’s crank up the decibels and get the tunes pumping!

Here are our top picks for the best portable Bluetooth speakers

You don’t need to break the bank for an excellent-sounding speaker. And you don’t need to break the bank for an excellent-sounding Bluetooth speaker this small. The Bose SoundLink Flex is impressive in more than one way. It’s also waterproof, so it can keep up wherever you take it. The beach, the pool, camping during an unexpected downpour? It doesn’t matter. You can enjoy your great audio no matter the conditions.

Also, since it will give you 12 hours of use before needing a charge, you don’t have to worry about finding an outlet halfway through that picnic. It also comes with some useful extras, such as the ability to make and receive calls and use Google Assistant or Siri. And, if you prefer your accessories with a little extra flair, you’re in luck, as the SoundLink Flex is available in four colors.

With an 11-hour battery life and an easy-to-use charging dock, the Sonos Move truly combines the premium smart speaker experience with the location flexibility of a handheld device. It is pretty large for a portable speaker but comes equipped with a handy indent for easy carrying. At only 6 pounds, the speaker shouldn’t give you too much trouble when lugging it to the backyard, though. Also, it’s water-resistant, so you won’t have to worry about a splash ruining your extremely expensive smart speaker.

Did we mention that this smart speaker costs almost $400, nearly four times as much as the Nest Audio? If you want a portable smart speaker that doesn’t compromise on features and functionality, and you have some extra money lying around, the Sonos Move is the way to go.

Read our full Sonos Move review.

A substantial upgrade over the old XB13, the Sony SRS-XB100 is a powerful yet very portable speaker. At a weight of less than 10 ounces, it is easy to carry it around using the belt provided. It is available in many colors and has a rugged shell, contrasting with its smooth-shelled predecessor. It is protected by IP67-grade engineering, meaning it is fully impervious to standard dust and flowing water.

Connected via Bluetooth 5.3, the XB100 can channel the standard SBC and AAC codecs. An upward-firing two-watt driver delivers 100 Hz to 15 kHz mono audio that sounds bigger than you’d expect out of such a small speaker. Sony’s DSP is wonderful at controlling bass and treble across volume levels so that you get the best sound no matter where you’re listening. It’s good for voice calls over speakerphone, too.

Read our full Sony SRS-XB100 review.

The Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore is a beautiful little speaker. Considering B&O’s modus operandi, how could it not be? Plus, it sounds really good for such a small, portable speaker. Sure, there’s not a lot of low-end, but the detail and immersive listening experience is there.

The Beosound Explore is also surprisingly affordable compared to other products this company has produced, even if it’s still among the more expensive options on this list. Still, there are some downsides because of that not-quite-premium price tag. For instance, there are no mics, so you won’t be able to use the speaker to answer calls or engage with a voice assistant to pull up a playlist. There’s also no AUX input. However, you can pair two together for some deliciously rich stereo sound.

The JBL Flip 6 has a lot going for it. Like many options these days, it’s waterproof and dust-proof with an IP67 rating. It’s also ruggedly built, ready for any wear and tear from use on the road. You can choose from several color options. And you can use an app to fine-tune your listening experience, including customizable EQ settings. Though you can only get stereo sound when paired with another JBL Flip 6 for stereo mode, it sounds excellent, retaining a lot of the low end that many portable speakers sacrifice.

The speaker comes with a somewhat disappointing 12 hours of battery life, though, especially considering its slightly larger size. But unless you’re looking for something for an extended wilderness camping trip, that should be more than enough for most people. Pretty impressive for less than $150.

Read our full JBL Flip 6 review.

Sometimes portability is the most critical feature of a portable Bluetooth speaker. Maybe you’re backpacking through the wilderness or biking down a dirt path and want a little musical accompaniment, and a portable speaker is the only way. Most options are too bulky for such a situation, but something like the JBL Clip 4 Eco, a more sustainable version of the JBL Clip 4, is perfect.

True to its name, it has a large clip for clipping onto a backpack or luggage without fuss. It’s also waterproof and durable, so it will hold up no matter how tough the terrain. Of course, its diminutive size means you only get 10 hours of battery life, so you might want to bring a good portable USB-C charger for the trip. At least it sounds good for its size, though not surprisingly light on bass, so you can enjoy some tunes just about anywhere you want to take it.

LG is not the only company putting out speakers capable of powering a party. The Anker Soundcore Flare 2 not only looks the part with its rings of LED lighting, but it also has an IPX7 waterproof rating and a cylindrical shape that allows for bigger drivers. In addition, it pumps out a good 20 watts of power. While it has a habit of distorting at the highest volumes and a less-than-stellar 12 hours of battery, it comes at such an affordable price that it was almost chosen as our value pick. It’s cheap enough that you can get more than a few for the price of a Chromebook.

What’s more impressive is that you can link them all together for an even bigger party. If you’re so inclined, Anker’s PartyCast Technology lets you sync the audio and lighting of up to 100 Soundcore Flare 2 speakers for a display so overwhelming that your guests will forget to ask why you didn’t just rent a PA system.

Bose’s Portable Smart Speaker offers the mighty sound you’d expect from this company but in a battery-powered, IPX4-rated design for use on the go. Like many Alexa-enabled speakers, you can link it with multiple units for a multiroom sound system. But unlike Amazon’s device, this Bose model also features Google Assistant. It isn’t the smallest nor lightest portable model, but it’s still compact enough to toss in a backpack or beach bag. The flip-up handle makes it comfortable to carry too.

On the top of the unit are physical control buttons for when you prefer to adjust the volume or skip songs manually, and the base is rubberized for stability. It’s worth noting that it requires you to download the Bose Music app on your portable device to set up the speaker and update its firmware, but after doing so, the process is simple, and you are guided through every step.

Read our full Bose Portable Smart Speaker review.

Seriously loud and bassy, the Tribit StormBox Blast is a big and heavy Bluetooth speaker well-suited for outdoor listening, thanks to its tough build and IPX7 waterproofing. The big bold style is good for parties, too, and we love the funky multicolor LED array in the front.

Sound-wise, this speaker is a beast. It has two 4.2-inch subwoofers and two 1.2-inch tweeters delivering 90 watts of thumping goodness. The frequency range is 50 Hz to 20 kHz, while the dual passive radiators provide stronger bass. It has Bluetooth 5.3, but unfortunately, it supports only the SBC codec. At this price point, aptX or at least AAC would be nice.

Although the Blast doesn’t come with a mic (that means no speakerphone function), it has extensive app support to control various aspects of the device, from sound quality to LEDs to firmware updates. The battery is also massive, running this big boy for around 30 hours, and can reverse-charge your phone in a pinch.

Ultimate Ears has been doing big Bluetooth sound for a while now, with its burly Hyperboom and Megaboom lines. But now they are charging in to conquer the market using an all-new beast: the UE Epicboom.

Looking deceptively simplistic, the Epicboom is big, powerful, stylish, and expensive. Built entirely from recycled plastic, this eco-friendly product is also IP67-grade, protected from dust and water, making it survive almost any weather. What’s more, it floats! The shoebox-size shell contains two 1.5-inch drivers and a 4.6-inch woofer, delivering crystal clear sound and punchy bass. The design helps provide 360-degree bass and gets as loud as 95dB or more.

The UE Epicboom can dynamically tune its audio output to suit your environment, and it’s capable of networking with other Ultimate Ears speakers for even bigger sound. It’s pricey, but it’s a good option if you’re looking for a premium Bluetooth speaker.

If you’re all about pool-party tunes and other aquatic listening experiences, the Tozo PA2 is the best Bluetooth speaker for braving the ocean blue and other bodies of H20. With its IPX8 rating, you can submerge this cylindrical speaker in water up to 3 feet deep, although keeping it next to the pool is recommended. The PA2’s built-in battery should last for up to 25 hours on a single charge when listening to music at a reasonable volume, and it’s available in black, red, and khaki colors.

Twin full-range drivers and external passive radiators deliver top-notch sound quality, complete with a deep and punchy low-end. And if you’re a true audio connoisseur, you can even download the Tozo app to choose from up to 16 EQ presets. This Tozo speaker’s manageable design is super-easy to travel with, and if you happen to drop it along the way, the rugged outer shell is shockproof and drop-resistant.

The Marshall Emberton and Emberton II Bluetooth speakers have been around for a minute, and we’re big fans of the powerful sound and next-level wireless listening tech. Stack Mode is one of the standout features, which makes its triumphant return on the bigger and bolder version of the Emberton, the Marshall Middleton. This awesome wire-free capability lets you pair multiple Middleton speakers together, creating the kind of soundstage only rivaled by live performances.

With no limit on how many speakers can be chained together, you’ll be able to experience the Middleton’s rich and punchy sound. You can also customize the speaker’s sound using the onboard analog controls. The speaker should also last for up to 20 hours on a full charge, and thanks to quick charge support, two hours of playtime can be added with just 20 minutes of charging.

What to look for in a portable Bluetooth speaker

If you’re working on a limited budget, that should be your first concern. After all, you can’t (or shouldn’t) get something you can’t afford. But once you’ve determined what’s within your price range, you should consider what form factor you need.

Also, account for the environment where you plan to use the speaker. You can find IP ratings listed for Bluetooth speakers, wireless earbuds, and essentially any other outdoor equipment. IP ratings are listed as two numbers.

The first, which tops out at six, indicates resistance to dust, while the second, which tops out at nine, indicates water resistance. For example, a device with an IP67 rating will block out more dust particles and water than a device with an IPX5 rating. The water resistance is generally the more important number, and getting something with a seven (i.e., IPX7) will be more than enough unless you plan on diving or submerging the device for an extended period.

Of course, sound quality is key. While you’re not shooting for an audiophile experience, you at least want good sound. You shouldn’t expect much in the way of sound separation from these speakers. But, they can still offer a great listening experience with a crisp but not painful high-end, a full mid-range, and a pounding (or at least present) low-end.

And don’t forget about battery life. Most speakers now come with more than enough for a day out or an afternoon get-together, as long as you charge afterward. But, if you plan to be away from a power source for a while, such as camping, battery life becomes a crucial consideration. At that point, you might want to invest in a power bank.

Portable sound meets powerful performance

Portable Bluetooth speakers can be found just about everywhere these days, so it’s important to know which models are worthwhile, as well as which brands you should ignore. Fortunately, many of these products are from noteworthy audio brands with long-standing, reliable track records in the consumer tech world.

For example, Bose is a name you should recognize, and its Soundlink Flex gets top honors. This is because it sounds great, is easy to use, and can be paired to more than one Bluetooth device at a time. It also offers a whopping 12 hours of battery life and is available in multiple color options.

If you’re willing to bump things up a few notches, the Sonos Move takes the premium spot for more than one reason. Supporting Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections, the Move is compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant and delivers one of the best audio experiences from a speaker this size.

But if you’re feeling a little more budget-minded, you should definitely consider the Sony SRS-XB100. For less than $60, this Bluetooth speaker pushes an impressive amount of sound and is also IP67 rated.