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The 7 Best Bluetooth Speakers - Winter 2024 Reviews

Updated
Best Bluetooth Speakers

If you like to wirelessly stream music, podcasts, and audiobooks from mobile devices, you'll want a speaker that supports Bluetooth connectivity. Unlike speakers with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth-compatible speakers don't rely on an Internet connection to stream audio. As a result, they tend to be more portable, and many also have an outdoor-oriented design with carrying straps or water-resistant bodies. However, finding the best speaker comes down to what matters most to you. With so many Bluetooth speakers on the market, you have many options for finding a device that meets your unique needs.

We've tested over 130 speakers, and below, you'll find our recommendations for the best wireless Bluetooth speakers. If you want more options, check out our picks for the best Alexa speakers, the best-sounding Bluetooth speakers, and the loudest Bluetooth speakers.


  1. Best Bluetooth Speaker

    The best Bluetooth speaker that we've tested is the JBL Boombox 3. This large and powerful Bluetooth speaker packs a punch when it comes to its sound. Whether listening to bass-heavy hip-hop or vocal-centric folk music, this speaker provides a clear and accurate reproduction of your favorite tracks. It gets plenty loud, with lots of bass to bring out the thump and rumble in songs. Plus, the graphic EQ in the JBL Portable companion app means you can customize its sound however you want. You may even snag this speaker on sale for a great deal.

    With a portable design, this speaker is also a solid pick for listening to music on the go. It lasts almost thirty hours off a single charge. Plus, it's rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, so it can handle some light exposure to the elements. It's a little bigger than other portable Bluetooth speakers on our list. It also lacks voice assistant support—if you want a speaker that's activated with your voice, you'll want to check out our best home pick, the JBL Authentics 500.

    See our review

  2. Best Upper Mid-Range Bluetooth Speaker

    If you're looking for a premium Bluetooth speaker at a more affordable price, check out the Ultimate Ears EPICBOOM. This portable Bluetooth speaker offers great sound quality for the price, with lots of enhancement tools to make the most of your listening experience. Its Adaptive EQ feature is similar to room correction tools available with other premium speakers, and it optimizes its sound to the unique acoustics of your listening space. Those who prefer more manual adjustment can always use the graphic EQ and presets in the Ultimate Ears companion app, too.

    With a sleek and sturdy design, this speaker is suitable for lots of different uses. It's on the larger side for a Bluetooth speaker, but you can still bring it around with one hand using its built-in handle. It's also rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, which is handy for planning a day at the park. That said, its 7.8-hour battery life falls short of what you get with the JBL Boombox 3, and it doesn't bring quite as much low bass as our top pick. Still, it offers a great sound at a more wallet-friendly price.

    See our review

  3. Best Mid-Range Bluetooth Speaker

    The Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3 is another great Bluetooth speaker available for less. Stream music and other content right to the speaker via Bluetooth, and enjoy an impressive sound quality, with a clear and detailed reproduction of instruments and vocals in the mix. The speaker also brings a little extra boom in the high bass, which livens up bass-heavy genres like EDM and hip-hop. It doesn't have a room correction tool like the Ultimate Ears EPICBOOM, so it sounds slightly different depending on your space. Thanks to its graphic EQ, you can make up for this a bit.

    Available in many different color variants, the speaker comes with a built-in hook to easily clip it onto your bag or backpack when you want to listen to your favorite tunes on the go. Smaller and more lightweight than the EPICBOOM, it's much easier to take to the park or on a camping trip. It's even rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, so it can withstand some exposure to the elements. That said, one big trade-off for its smaller size is that it can't bring as much rumble in the low bass as the more premium EPICBOOM. You may still find it worth it, especially if you're shopping with portability in mind.

    See our review

  4. Best Budget Bluetooth Speaker

    The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 3 is the best wireless speaker at the budget level that we've tested. This portable Bluetooth speaker is another great choice for listening to music wherever you go, from the local park to the beach to the mountains on your next hike. Like the Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3, it's rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, so it can handle some exposure to the elements. Plus, it lasts 22 hours off a single charge, so you can rock out all day without worrying about a recharge.

    This speaker is made of recycled plastic and is available in a couple of different colors to suit your style. Its sound quality is quite impressive, too, especially for the price. Vocals and lead instruments are clear in the mix, and the Outdoor preset brings more clarity and crispness to the sound when you're listening in a larger, more open-air space, like your backyard. You won't find a companion app with a graphic EQ like the Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3, so you're limited at customizing its sound. Still, this speaker's a great option if you're on a tighter budget. If portability is important, check out our recommendations for the best small Bluetooth speakers.

    See our review

  5. Best Cheap Bluetooth Speaker

    The Anker Soundcore 3 is the best wireless speaker in the cheap price range we've tested. This speaker's sound quality isn't as impressive as our top picks, but it's still a great choice for those who want a more affordable device. Its all-black design fits in easily with your home decor, and if you choose to take it outside, its small and lightweight design makes for easy portability. Plus, it's rated IPX7 for water resistance, so it's safe against the elements. A 14-hour battery life is also handy for longer listening sessions, even if it falls a little short of the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 3.

    This speaker can't deliver much in the way of powerful bass, and sibilants sound a bit dull. Thankfully, the mid-range is well-balanced, so podcasts and audiobooks still sound clear. If you want to change the mix, the companion app features a graphic EQ and presets to help you fine-tune the sound to your preference, including a 'Bass Up' feature that slightly boosts the low end. It offers many features for an affordable speaker, so it's worth a look.

    See our review

  6. Best Home Bluetooth Speaker

    Many of our top picks include portable Bluetooth speakers designed to bring with you on the go. However, if you only plan to use your speaker within the confines of your home, you may prefer our best speaker for home use—the JBL Authentics 500. This premium speaker has a stylish retro design that's more than suitable for your home decor, and its built-in voice assistant support makes it easy to check traffic, the weather, and more. You can only use it when plugged into a power outlet, but if you plan to listen at home, you won't find it much of an inconvenience.

    This speaker comes with lots of premium sound enhancement tools. Its room correction feature, called Self-Tuning, automatically optimizes the speaker's sound based on your room's unique acoustics. If you prefer manual customization, there's a graphic EQ in the app as well as bass and treble knobs on the speaker itself. This speaker gets quite loud, too, and you can even pair it up with multiple compatible devices to spread sound throughout your home. It does come at a more premium price point, though, so if you want to look at more affordable options, you can see our full recommendation for the best home speakers.

    See our review

  7. Best Bluetooth Party Speaker

    Party speakers make a great addition to your next big event, and the best ones come with lots of extra features to make the most of the experience. The JBL PartyBox 310 is a great pick, and its large and striking design ensures it'll stand out from the crowd. You can customize the RGB lights beneath its grilles to set the mood at your next big party, and mic and guitar inputs give extra flexibility for musicians and karaoke lovers. This speaker gets loud, too, so your floor shakes with a thunderous sound.

    Any good party speaker can bring the boom in the bass, and the JBL is no exception. Blast bass-heavy tunes like EDM and hip-hop, and you'll shake the dance floor. Voices and lead instruments remain clear in the mix, meaning you can enjoy other vocal-centric genres easily. Plus, the sound customization tools in the speaker's companion app let you customize its sound to get your desired output. However, its large design isn't for everyone, especially with smaller options like the JBL Boombox 3 on the market. You can also see our best party speakers article for more affordable and portable options in this category.

    See our review

Notable Mentions

  • Sonos Move 2: If you want a premium speaker with voice assistant support, the Sonos Move 2 is a good alternative to the JBL Boombox 3. It's a big speaker with many features, but its battery life isn't as long-lasting as the JBL. See our review
  • Sonos Roam/Roam SL: The Sonos Roam is a portable Bluetooth speaker smaller than the Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3 and has built-in Alexa and Google Assistant. Its battery lasted only five hours in our tests, significantly shorter than the MEGABOOM 3's almost 18 hours of playtime. It also doesn't get quite as loud, and there's a lot more compression at max volume, so your audio doesn't sound as clear. See our review
  • Sony SRS-XB100: The Sony SRS-XB100 is a small portable speaker with a carrying strap. It's well-built, has an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, and floats in water. While it can deliver a lot of boomy high bass, its soundstage isn't as wide or spacious as the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 3. See our review
  • JBL PartyBox 710: The JBL PartyBox 710 is a much larger speaker than the JBL PartyBox 310 that can produce a more extended low bass. You can feel the deep thump and rumble typically present in bass-heavy music, and it can also get incredibly loud. However, unlike the 310, it isn't battery-powered or very portable, so you can't easily transport it. See our review
  • Sonos Era 300: The Sonos Era 300 is another premium home speaker that's a good alternative to the JBL Authentics 500 if you want to build out your Sonos ecosystem. Its dynamics aren't quite as impressive as what you get with the JBL. See our review

Recent Updates

  1. Feb 23, 2024: We've made minor changes to the text and checked to ensure all our picks are in stock and their prices remain the same.

  2. Jan 30, 2024: Each pick remains the best available for its category. No changes.

  3. Jan 05, 2024: Confirmed accuracy and availability of product picks. Some text edits for clarity.

  4. Dec 08, 2023: Replaced the Sonos Era 300 with the JBL Authentics 500 as 'Best Home'. The Sonos moves to Notable Mentions.

  5. Nov 17, 2023: Replaced the Sonos Move with the next-generation Sonos Move 2 in Notable Mentions.

All Reviews

Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best wireless Bluetooth speakers for most people to buy, according to their needs. We factor in the price (cheaper speakers win over pricier ones if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no speakers that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).

If you would like to choose for yourself, here's a list of all our reviews for the best speakers with Bluetooth. Be careful not to get caught up in the details. There are no perfect speakers. Personal taste, preference, and listening habits will matter more in your selection.