The 7 Best Bluetooth Speakers - Fall 2024

The best Bluetooth speaker we've tested is the JBL Boombox 3. This large and powerful Bluetooth speaker really packs a punch when it comes to sound. Whether you're 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 might even snag it on sale for a great deal.

With a portable design, this speaker is a solid pick for listening to music on the go. It lasts almost 30 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. That said, it's a little bigger than other portable Bluetooth speakers on our list, and also lacks voice assistant support—if you want a speaker that's activated with your voice, check out our best home pick, the JBL Authentics 500.

If you're looking for a premium speaker that can get louder with an even more immersive sound, consider the Bose SoundLink Max. This speaker creates a wider soundstage than our pick, making your audio sound more dimensional, but its continuous battery life of 15.5 hours isn't quite as long-lasting as the Boombox 3.

Ultimate Ears dominate the mid-range tiers of Bluetooth speakers, and the upper mid-range is no exception. So, if you're looking for a premium Bluetooth speaker at a more affordable price than our top pick, 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 that other premium speakers are equipped with, and it optimizes its sound to the unique acoustics of your listening space. Those who prefer to manually adjust the sound 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 carry 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 or beach. That said, its 7.8-hour battery life won't be enough for some, who might want to consider the Ultimate Ears EVERBOOM instead with its impressive 21-hour battery life. The EVERBOOM is also a little cheaper and more portable than our pick, but it can't get as loud as the EPICBOOM, or match it for more bass and treble output.

The Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 4 is another great Bluetooth speaker that's available at a lower price point. It has an impressive sound quality, reproducing instruments and vocals with plenty of detail and clarity. 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 room. However, its companion app's graphic EQ means you can adjust the sound manually to suit your preferences. It's the first in the MEGABOOM series to feature a USB-C port, too, which is a welcome addition.

Available in many different color variants, the speaker comes with a built-in hook so you can 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, while it has a bit more rumble in the low-bass than its predecessor, the Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3, it can't match the more premium EPICBOOM for thump. That said, you may find that trade-off worth it, especially if you're shopping with portability in mind.

The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4 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 4, it's rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, so it can handle some exposure to the elements. Plus, it lasts 13 hours off a single charge, so you can rock out all day without worrying about a recharge. The latest version adds a dedicated Podcast mode to complement the Outdoor preset that came with the previous generation. It also sees the introduction of a USB-C charging port, which will be a welcome change for most.

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 sound accurate in the mix, and the Podcast mode brings extra clarity and detail to the voices of your favorite podcast hosts. You won't find a companion app with a graphic EQ like the Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 4, so you're limited when it comes to customizing the 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.

The Anker Soundcore Select 2S is the best wireless speaker in the cheap price range we've tested. Obviously, this speaker's sound quality isn't as impressive as our top pick, the JBL Boombox 3, but it's still a great choice for those looking for something more affordable. It comes in three color variants, and its small and lightweight design makes for easy portability. Plus, it's rated IPX7 for water resistance, so it's safe against the elements if you take it with you on a picnic. A 14-hour battery life makes it handy for longer listening sessions, even if it falls a little short of the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4.

This speaker can't deliver much in the way of powerful bass, but it has a balanced mid-range, so vocals and instruments are rendered accurately. If you're more of a podcast person, dialogue sounds clear and detailed. If you want to change the mix, the companion app features a graphic EQ and presets to help you fine-tune the sound, 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. But if it's out of stock or hard to find in your region, the Anker Soundcore 3 is a good alternative. It's a little more expensive but goes on sale occasionally and performs very similarly to our pick. It also offers a PartyCast mode that lets you connect up to 100 identical Soundcore speakers to play the same audio. Unfortunately, it's not as well-built as the Select 2S, and it compresses your audio a little more when you turn up the volume.

Many of our top picks are 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 can easily fit into 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 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 Bluetooth speakers.

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 right party mood, and the mic and guitar inputs give it some extra flexibility for musicians and karaoke lovers. This speaker gets loud: at full volume, it'll shake your floor. Like any good party speaker, it also brings out plenty of the boom in genres like EDM and hip-hop. But all that bass doesn't overwhelm the mid-range, so voices and lead instruments remain clear in the mix if you'd prefer to listen to less party-focused genres like jazz and folk. Plus, the sound customization tools in the speaker's companion app let you customize its sound to suit your tastes.

However, its size means it won't be for everyone, so if you're looking for something slightly smaller and more portable, consider the JBL PartyBox Club 120 instead. This speaker performs very similarly to its larger sibling, though it's lighter and has better directivity. While it doesn't have as long of a continuous battery life and can't get quite as loud, it features a handy swappable battery pack design that can help extend the party further if you have an extra battery.