The 6 Best Small Bluetooth Speakers - Fall 2024

As far as small Bluetooth speakers go, the Sonos Roam 2 is the best we've tested. This premium smart speaker boasts a portable design with many cool features to make the most of your listening experience on the go. As with many of the manufacturer's top-of-the-line models, you can connect the speaker to other Sonos devices to spread audio throughout your home or backyard. The TruePlay room correction feature automatically adjusts the speaker's output based on your room's unique acoustics. Thanks to built-in Alexa and Sonos Assistant support, you can enjoy hands-free control right from the comfort of your couch.

This speaker features a few upgrades from the previous iteration, the Sonos Roam/Roam SL. The controls have been expanded, so there's now a dedicated Bluetooth button, and Sonos Assistant support has been added, which helps this speaker integrate seamlessly into an existing Sonos ecosystem. All models are rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, so they're protected against some light exposure to the elements. The manufacturer says they're drop-resistant. Weighing in at less than a pound, this feature-packed speaker is lightweight and easy to carry, and it's a great way to enjoy your favorite tunes wherever you go.

If you're looking for a small Bluetooth speaker for less, check out the Anker Soundcore Motion 300. This small Bluetooth speaker doesn't have built-in voice assistant support like the Sonos Roam 2, but it still offers great sound quality at an affordable price. This speaker has a feature called Smart Tune designed to automatically optimize its audio reproduction based on whether you set it on its side, lay it on its back, or hang it off a bag using its detachable strap, which is handy for listening on the go. It's lightweight, portable, and even rated IPX7 for water resistance to protect it against the elements.

With over 11 hours of playtime, you can listen to your favorite tunes all day. This speaker reproduces voices and lead instruments in the mid-range with accuracy and clarity but has a slightly dull sound out of the box due to its underemphasized treble. Luckily, you can customize it thanks to its graphic EQ and presets in the Soundcore app. It doesn't bring as much low-bass as the slightly pricier Bose SoundLink Flex, which fans of EDM and hip-hop may want to check out instead. However, it's less customizable than the Anker since it lacks a graphic EQ, so you don't have as much control over its mid-range.

Budget-conscious shoppers can look at the Sony SRS-XB100. It's the best mini Bluetooth speaker in the budget range we've tested, and while it doesn't have sound customization tools like the Anker Soundcore Motion 300, it still has a solid sound for the price. Thanks to its small and compact design, this speaker is a great choice for listening to your favorite tunes while on the go. It's lightweight enough to carry in one hand, and its detachable strap makes it easy to clip onto a bag or backpack. Plus, since it's rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, it can withstand some exposure to the elements when you bring it outside.

This speaker is the next generation of the Sony SRS-XB13, and it comes with some big improvements in the overall sound. Notably, it can reproduce a more extended low-bass, so you'll notice more thump and rumble in the mix, especially with genres like EDM and hip-hop. Its battery life is longer, too, so you can listen to your favorite tracks for well over 20 hours without interruption. This speaker's bass-heavy sound is ideal for listening to genres like EDM and hip-hop. With a clear reproduction of vocals and other instruments in the mids, it's versatile enough for different types of music, too.

If every penny counts, then the Anker Soundcore Select 4 Go is an even more affordable alternative to the top picks on our list. It's another standout mini Bluetooth speaker that has a small and compact build, making it great for listening on the go. It also comes in various colors to match your style, and the built-in hook lets you attach it to a bag or backpack. It's even rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, which is great for the price. But its 10-hour battery life is only half that of the Sony SRS-XB100. 

This speaker doesn't come with as many features as the top picks on our list—there's no microphone, so you can't use it with a voice assistant—but you may find it's the better value if you're just looking for a simple device to pair with your smartphone. Out of the box, it boasts a well-balanced sound that reproduces both dialogue and instruments accurately and with plenty of clarity. Of course, being a small speaker, you don't get floor-shaking bass out of it, but there's enough high-bass present to keep the basslines in your favorite disco tunes audible. The most commonly used controls are present on the speaker's control strip, including volume and play/pause buttons. It even comes with a companion app to let you customize the speaker's sound, which is a real bonus for a speaker of this size.

Love music by the pool? The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4 is the best small speaker we've tested with water resistance in mind. It's a little larger than some of the top picks on our list, but it comes with some added features to ensure your speaker stays protected against the elements while you rock out in your backyard. Notably, it can float in water, making it a great choice for your next day at the lake or the pool. As with many other picks on our list, it's rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, and it adds an impact rating to ensure it holds up if you drop it while on the move. It has a built-in hook and is available in many colors and styles.

In addition to its solid build, this speaker offers great sound quality for the price. It has a 360-degree design similar to the Sony SRS-XB100, which is great for parties or larger group settings. Set it in the center of the table, and enjoy a clear sound from all angles. It lasts over 13 hours off a single charge, which should get you through a full day at the park. However, you won't find voice assistant support like the Sony speaker. Also, this speaker takes up more space than other picks on this list, which isn't ideal for everyone. Still, it's worth considering for days when you want to chill out and listen to tunes by the water.

While most of our picks have focused on portable, wireless designs, there are definitely some advantages to having a wired home speaker. Home speakers, like the Amazon Echo Pop, usually come with nifty features like Alexa voice assistant support and Wi-Fi capabilities to help them integrate with the other devices in your home ecosystem. There's no need to worry about it taking up more space than our other picks, though. Despite its wired design, the Amazon has a very small footprint that makes it a great choice for parts of your house that can easily get cluttered, like the kitchen.

While it's slightly bigger than the Anker Soundcore Select 4 Go, it offers a more balanced audio reproduction well-suited to music and podcasts. As with most small speakers, it lacks some boom in the low end, which will be noticeable when you're playing genres like EDM and hip-hop. Its semi-spherical design means that it doesn't have the best directivity, and it's not particularly loud. If you'd prefer to use Google Assistant for all your voice assistant needs, it's worth looking at the Google Nest Mini. Its pebble-shaped design offers better directivity, and it has more intuitive controls. It can't get as loud as the Amazon speaker, and its mic struggles to pick up your voice in noisier environments.