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Key Points

  • Best Overall Bluetooth speakers on the market today: UE Boom 3.
  • Best bang for your buck Bluetooth speakers: Anker Soundcore Flare 2.
  • Best Bluetooth speakers for outside: JBL Xtreme 3.

If you enjoy listening to music, or just want to fill your room with good sounds, you will need an excellent Bluetooth speaker.

The best speakers provide flawless neutrality, revealing clarity, booming soundstage, and broad dynamic range. With so many options, finding the right speaker can be tricky.

So, after weeks of reviewing dozens of options, we’re happy to present you with the results.

Here are the best blue tooth speakers for 2022:

Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 Portable Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker - Night Black
$105.47
  • ULTIMATE SOUND: Super portable wireless Bluetooth speaker with 360° bold, immersive, crystal clear sound and up to 15 hours of battery on a single charge. It brings your music to life wherever you...
  • POWERED FOR ADVENTURE: Rechargeable battery stays powered and pumping tunes for 15 hours on a single charge. Add the POWER UP charging dock (sold separately) to charge Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 wirelessly...
  • SUPER PORTABLE, WATERPROOF and VIRTUALLY INDESTRUCTIBLE: Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 is seriously waterproof and floats. BOOM 3 was born to get wet and is completely waterproof with a IP67 water and...
  • ALL-NEW MAGIC BUTTON: Play, Pause, Skip and control any streaming music directly on the Bluetooth speaker with one touch of a button . Or simply set up custom one-touch playlists for Spotify on...
  • PARTYUP: Use PARTYUP on the BOOM and MEGABOOM App to pair 2, 3, 4. . . and over 150 speakers and create the ultimate surround sound experience. You can combine multiple BOOM 3 and MEGABOOM 3 speakers...
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03/03/2023 01:00 pm GMT

For the best overall, we have to give to the UE Boom 3, a portable Bluetooth speaker that can enhance your music experience. It is not that big but produces a balanced sound for its size.

The good thing about this speaker is that it is waterproof. You can use it outdoors or by the pool and not worry whether it’ll come into contact with water.

UE Boom 3 comes in multiple colors giving options. After the first full charge, it spans 15 hours and gives you 100 feet of Bluetooth range. A two-year warranty on this speaker protects your investment from mechanical fault.

Check out the UE Boom 3 on Amazon.

Anker Soundcore Flare 2 Bluetooth Speaker, with IPX7 Waterproof Protection and 360° Sound for Backyard and Beach Party, 20W Wireless Speaker with PartyCast, EQ Adjustment, and 12-Hour Playtime, Black
$62.99
  • Incredible Sound Loved by 20 Million+ People
  • 360° Immersive Sound: A portable Bluetooth speaker with powerful 360°, bass-driven audio. Dual drivers and passive radiators combine with BassUp technology to generate a portable party with 20W of...
  • All-New Light Show: A totally reimagined rainbow light show that pulses, phases, and shines to the beat of your music. Double light-rings simultaneously shine down onto the dancefloor and up into the...
  • Pool Party Proof: No matter where the music needs to be, Flare 2 portable Bluetooth speaker is suited up and ready. Super-safe IPX7 waterproof protection effortlessly withstands spills, rain, and even...
  • PartyCast Technology: Link 100+ Flare 2 portable Bluetooth speakers to party into the next dimension—sound and light synchronize across every speaker for a seamlessly electrifying experience.
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03/03/2023 02:30 pm GMT

The Anker Soundcore Flare 2 is a budget-friendly Bluetooth speaker and a viable option for listening to music or watching movies. Its higher-pitched vocals and instruments may sound a bit dark at times outdoors. But, with the BassUp feature enabled, it can produce a balanced sound.

Flare 2 is portable. You can easily slip it into your bag while going to work or meeting up with friends. It also comes with a voice assistant and RGB lights, which can be customized through the downloadable Flare 2 companion app. Retailing for $100, Anker Soundcore Flare 2 promises a pleasurable sound experience.

Check out the Anker Soundcore Flare 2 on Amazon.

Best for Portability
JBL FLIP 5, Waterproof Portable Bluetooth Speaker, Black
$89.95
  • Wireless Bluetooth streaming
  • 12 hours of playtime
  • IPX7 waterproof
  • Pair multiple speakers with party boost
  • Premium JBL sound quality
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04/20/2023 07:48 am GMT

If you’re looking for a speaker with tremendous bass and good acoustics, JBL Flip 5 is definitely the best in this category.

This portable Bluetooth speaker has an extra-secure wrist strap. Not to mention, it is backpack-friendly. Speaking of design, the JBL Bluetooth speaker comes in different colors with a rugged material. Because it is water and dust-resistant, you can use it outdoors.

Though impressive with sound production and quality, the JBL Flip 5 does not last longer than 12 hours after a full charge. Not just that, it does not come built with the AUX-in or microphone port.

Check out the JBL Flip 5on Amazon.

Sony SRS-XG500 X-Series Wireless Portable Bluetooth Boombox Party-Speaker with Big Powerful Sound, IP66 Water-resistant and Dustproof, 30 Hour-Battery, LED Ring Lighting, Speaker for Home and Outdoor
$348.00
  • Big sound with two woofers, two tweeters, and X-Balanced Speakers for powerful bass and crisp sound
  • IP66 water resistant and dustproof design
  • Up to 30-hour battery life with quick charging
  • Lightweight design with carry handle for easy portability. Speaker measures approximately 18.11” x 10.07” x 8.46” and weighs 12.32 pounds.
  • Unleash your inner pop star with mic/guitar rear input
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03/03/2023 11:29 am GMT

If you’re looking for a portable speaker that can produce deep bass, you won’t go wrong with the Sony SRS-XG500. You can feel the punch of its bass as the beats boom out of the speakers.

It’s good enough for an outdoor Bluetooth speaker as it comes with a carrying handle. With the speaker, you can enjoy your music on the go. SRS XG500 also has an IP66 rating for dust and water resistance. You can take it out without worrying that your speaker could get wet outdoors.

white sonos bluetooth speaker on a table
sonos wireless speakers adapt sound to your surrounding for a luxurious listening experience.

©Niks Evalds/Shutterstock.com

Check out the Sony SRS-XG500 on Amazon.

Best for Premium Sound
Sonos Move
$425.79
  • Weatherproof and drop-resistant
  • Automatic Trueplay tuning
  • IP56 rating (stands up to humidity, rain, snow, dust, salt spray, UV rays, as well as extreme heat and cold)
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04/14/2023 10:28 am GMT

Sonos Move is a versatile Bluetooth speaker and a fantastic buy for lovers of deep bass. It is both an indoor and outdoor device that is well-built for that purpose. With this smart speaker, you can enjoy your music experience hands-on. It offers outstanding voice assistant support with Alexa and Google Assistant, which are built-in and have little trouble understanding your voice.

What’s more, is that Sonos Move is dust and water-resistant. You can take this speaker outdoors without worrying about it getting wet. You can get over 10 hours of listening out of the speaker when fully charged. That’s just what you need for long listening sessions.

Check out the Sonos Move on Amazon.

JBL Xtreme 3 - Portable Bluetooth Speaker, Powerful Sound and Deep Bass, IP67 Waterproof, 15 Hours of Playtime, Powerbank, PartyBoost for Multi-speaker Pairing (Black)
$379.95
  • POWERFUL JBL ORIGINAL PRO SOUND: Four drivers and two JBL Bass Radiators effortlessly deliver dynamic, immersive sound with deep bass and plenty of detail. You'll get lost in the music wherever you...
  • PORTABLE DESIGN: The included carrying strap with built-in bottle opener makes it easy to bring your speaker wherever you go.
  • 15 HOURS OF PLAYTIME: The fun doesn't have to stop. Packed with an incredible 15 hours of battery life, JBL Xtreme 3 lets you party all day and into the night.
  • WIRELESS BLUETOOTH STREAMING: Wirelessly stream music from your phone, tablet, or any other Bluetooth-enabled device.
  • P67 WATERPROOF AND DUSTPROOF: To the pool. To the park. In the shower. JBL Xtreme 3 is fully waterproof and dustproof, so you can bring your speaker anywhere.
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03/03/2023 07:29 am GMT

The JBL Xtreme 3is another viable Bluetooth speaker which comes with a bass boost to lighten up the music experience. It comes with a strap belt that allows you to carry the mini speaker on the shoulder or around the waist. Like most JBL products, JBL Xtreme 3 is rugged, and comes with IP67 dust and is waterproof. Moreover, it has a durable battery power that lasts 18 hours after full charge, depending on its use.

Check out the JBL Xtreme 3 on Amazon.

Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 (2nd Generation) Wireless Portable Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker with Microphone, Anthracite
$249.17
  • POWERFUL SOUND: Enjoy Bang & Olufsen Signature Sound when you’re on the move with a peak power of 2x140 watts contained in a sleek, small speaker.
  • WATERPROOF SPEAKER: Share your soundtrack on the go, with a durable and wireless lightweight speaker designed for life on the road, at home or by the pool.
  • LISTEN LONGER: Improved battery power so you can enjoy music and speakerphone calls for up to 18 hours at increased volume, longer on low settings.
  • SLEEK YET STRONG: Designed to travel, the tough aluminum dome is dust- and water-resistant making in an elegantly self-contained portable Bluetooth speaker.
  • ALEXA SPEAKER: An intuitive user interface combined with built-in voice control and Amazon Alexa means you’re always in control.
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03/03/2023 04:05 am GMT

Bang & Olufsen Boesound A1 (2nd Gen) looks small for a Bluetooth speaker, but it’s mighty for its expansive sound and weighty bass. It is one of the compact Danish-made speakers on the market.

The B&O speaker supports Qualcomm’s latest aptX Adaptive Bluetooth 5.1 code, and comes with Alexa, a smart voice assistant which helps you with song selection. The speaker also has IP67 ratings for dust and water resistance.

B&O Bluetooth ticks the right boxes starting with use (outdoor, travel) big sound, and affordability, Plus, it’s portable and can fit easily into your bag.

Check out the Bang & Olufsen Boesound A1 (2nd Gen) on Amazon.

How to Pick the Best Bluetooth Speaker for You

Keep the following things in mind when shopping for a Bluetooth Speaker:

  1. Battery life
  2. Audio quality
  3. Size
  4. Waterproof

Battery life

It’s crucial to find a Bluetooth speaker with long battery life. Any speaker that typically lasts for four to ten hours is good. You shouldn’t be recharging it every hour; else, what’s the use of the speaker being portable? When buying a Bluetooth speaker, remember to check the battery capacity. Our 7 Best Bluetooth Speakers above are worthy of recommendations.

Audio quality

We all want a Bluetooth speaker that sounds good. But not all speakers will heat the sweet spot in audio quality. Check the frequency response of the speaker you’d like to buy. This factor determines how the Bluetooth speaker sounds.

Keep an eye out for figures that describe the top and bottom frequencies. Figures such as 100 Hz and 20 kHz should be visible. The 100 Hz represents the low frequency (bass), and 20 kHz represents the high frequency. The low frequency is the bass and what we need the most. The lower it goes, the better.

Size

Size does matter in quality. Bluetooth speakers can range in size from small to large. Some are conical, cylindrical, or rectangular. But, generally speaking, the larger the speaker, the better the quality in terms of sound and battery life. But for portability, small ones would fit best in your bags or backpack.

Waterproof

While you can place a portable speaker anywhere, you can’t rule the possibility of it coming into contact with water. Yes, water could spill on it in the kitchen or outdoors. You know water and electronics don’t mix. To avoid this scenario, get a waterproof Bluetooth speaker.

What to Know Before Buying Bluetooth Speakers

As with any tech gadget, budget is always at the top of the mind when purchasing a Bluetooth speaker. Knowing how much you are willing to splurge will minimize your search radius. There are countless options for a Bluetooth speaker, but with the right budget, you can purchase the best quality.

Also, you have to be clear about how you’ll use your Bluetooth speaker. These speakers are made for different target audiences. If mobility and portability are your goals, then buying a smaller Bluetooth speaker makes sense. However, the JBL Xtreme 3 might be an ideal fit for a user intending to buy a Bluetooth speaker for picnics.

Using The Best Bluetooth Speakers: What it’s Like?

Each of the above speaker recommendations results from at least a day’s worth of work, covering audio quality, battery, performance, comfortability, and mobility. Also, we tested the speakers for different categories of sound quality and music outputs just to see how well they’d perform.

Each of the Bluetooth speakers was further used specifically for categorization. We tested their performance against other speakers within their categorization to assert their dominance.

Next Up…

The 7 Best Bluetooth Speakers Today (Outdoor, Travel, Affordable, and Big Sound) FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 

Which is best affordable Bluetooth speaker?

In our research, we came across Anker Soundcore Flare 2 which is below $50. Despite the low price, it still offers you portability and produces a pleasant sound.

Which Bluetooth speaker has the best sound quality?

We recommend Sonos Move which is a versatile Bluetooth Speaker For lovers of deep bass. It is both an indoor and outdoor device that is well-built for that purpose. It has the best sound quality.

What makes a good sounding speaker?

There are a number of things that make a good sounding speaker such as sound quality (the frequency produced by the speaker), types of speaker, rooms and acoustic (the build, and the location of the sound being played will determine), matching with the right components, and so forth.

How many watts is a good Bluetooth speaker?

Should you want to get your portable Bluetooth speaker judging from the Watts, we recommend getting a Bluetooth speaker between 150-500 wattage. That also is best suited for a great music listening experience and is easy on the pocket.

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