The 6 Best Bluetooth Speakers Under $50 - Fall 2021 Reviews

The Anker Soundcore 3 is the best Bluetooth speaker under $50 that we've tested. It's decently built, with an IPX7 rating for water resistance, though we don't currently test for this. It's also incredibly portable and comes with a carrying cord that can be attached to its side, so you can easily take it outdoors with you when you're on the go.

This small speaker has a balanced mid-range, so vocals and lead instruments sound clear and present in the mix. Like most small speakers, it struggles to reproduce low-bass, so you can't feel the deep thump and rumble in bass-heavy music like EDM. Fortunately, its companion app features a graphic EQ and presets you can use to tweak its sound to your liking. It can also last over 13 hours from a single charge, though this can depend on your usage, and your real-world experience may differ.

Unfortunately, it doesn't get very loud, and there's a lot of compression present at max volume, so your audio doesn't sound as clean at louder volume levels. Also, while it supports voice assistants through your smartphone, its performance isn't very good. Still, it's a solid choice if you're looking for a good and versatile Bluetooth speaker for under $50.

The Amazon Echo Dot Gen 4 is the best speaker under $50 that we've tested for voice assistants. This small spherical speaker has Alexa built-in and does an excellent job of understanding your commands when you're far from the speaker or in noisy environments. You can also mute the speaker's mic when you no longer want the assistant to listen to you.

Its balanced mid-range ensures vocals and lead instruments sound clear and present in the mix. However, the underemphasized treble range can make higher-pitched voices and instruments sound dull at times. Fortunately, its Amazon Alexa app features bass and treble adjustments, so you can tweak the speaker's sound to better suit your preferences. Thanks to its 360-degree design, this speaker also has great directivity, resulting in an open and natural-sounding soundstage.

Unfortunately, it isn't very portable and needs to remain connected to a power source in order for it to work due to its wired design. It also can't get very loud, and there's some compression at max volume that may affect the clarity of your audio during louder listening sessions. That said, it's a great choice if you're looking for a more affordable speaker that offers outstanding voice assistant support.

The Sony SRS-XB12 is the best portable Bluetooth speaker under $50 that we've tested. This lightweight speaker comes with a detachable carrying strap, making it easy to take it with you when you're on the move. It's also rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, though we don't currently test for this.

It has a fairly well-balanced mid-range so the vocals and lead instruments in your audio should sound clean and present in the mix. This makes it a suitable choice for listening to dialogue-centric audio like audiobooks and podcasts. It also has outstanding directivity, so its soundstage is perceived as open and spacious. That said, its price tends to fluctuate and sometimes retails above our $50 price point.

Unfortunately, it has to downmix stereo content to mono which doesn't sound as immersive. It also struggles to reproduce low-bass and doesn't have any sound customization features you can use to adjust its sound to suit your preferences. However, if you're looking for a good portable speaker for under $50, it's still a solid choice.