Whether you’re hiking, hosting a BBQ, or chilling at home, a Bluetooth speaker is a must-have in any tech arsenal. Here are the best of them.
Bluetooth speakers can be an important part of any tech collection, allowing you to listen to your favorite tunes wherever you go. Whether you’re barbequeing in the backyard, hiking with a friend, or lounging by the pool, a Bluetooth speaker can enhance the experience. Thankfully, there are tons of options, and the best of them have solid battery life, versatile connectivity, and even a water-resistant design.
Bluetooth speakers connect to a source via Bluetooth, making it easy to connect them to any device, whether it be an Android phone, an iPhone, a laptop, or something else. Given that there are so many options to choose from, it can be hard to find the perfect speaker for your needs. Whether you’re looking for an ultra-portable speaker that you can clip onto your backpack or something a bit bulkier with deep bass, there should be something for you. We’ve tested dozens of Bluetooth speakers, and these are the best you can get right now.What’s the best Bluetooth speaker right now?
After testing dozens upon dozens of Bluetooth speaker models, we’ve selected the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 as the best Bluetooth speaker overall. That’s thanks to its durable build, solid audio quality, helpful app, and affordable price. That said, it’s not the only option out there. You might be willing to pay more for something higher-end or want something smaller for better portability.
Our other picks, like the Sonos Move 2, are just as great, especially for people who want a Bluetooth speaker with wonderful sound and a sleek design. It’s a portable speaker optimized for indoor and outdoor listening, but it offers valuable smart speaker features like Apple AirPlay and Amazon Alexa. The best Bluetooth speakers in 2024
Why we like it: The Anker Soundcore Boom 2 may be built from plastic, but its rugged design and IPX7 water resistance make it suitable for outdoor adventures. The design also includes a range of buttons and controls on the top of the speaker that make it easy to connect devices, tweak volume, and play and pause media as needed. If you want a bit of a bass boost, there’s a bass boost button on the top that will give a little more oomph to those bass synths and kick drums. It may not be as portable as some others on this list, but with a large handle on the top, it’s easy to carry around the backyard at your next BBQ.
One of the best things about Soundcore speakers is that they work with the Anker Soundcore app, which offers access to a range of controls where you can tweak lighting effects, manage connectivity, and EQ the audio to your preferences with an impressive nine-band EQ. That’s better than what even many more expensive speakers offer in their own apps.
The sound quality offered by the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 is good for a speaker in this price range, though if you’re willing to spend more, you can get a speaker that sounds a lot better. Its bass response is decent, while its high-frequency response is only fine, and it has decently natural mids. Regardless, if you’re looking for a great Bluetooth speaker with a range of helpful features and don’t want to spend an arm and a leg, the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 is excellent.
Who it’s for: The Anker Soundcore Boom 2 is for those who want a reliable Bluetooth speaker that can pump out loud audio without breaking the bank. If you’re not overly picky about audio quality and instead prefer longer battery life and a durable build at a reasonable price, the Soundcore Boom 2 is perfect for your needs.
Who should look elsewhere: Those with high standards for audio quality and the willingness to spend a little extra should go for a different option. Additionally, those who want something as portable as possible or something that can at least fit neatly in a backpack should look for something smaller and lighter, as while the Soundcore Boom 2 might fit in a larger backpack, it’s not really built for that kind of portable use.
Anker Soundcore Boom 2 tech specs: IP rating: IPX7 | Battery life: 24 hours | Charging port: USB-C
Great audio for the price
Solid battery life
Rugged build with fun lights
Not the most portable
Anker Soundcore Boom 2
Why we like it: The Anker Soundcore Boom 2 may be built from plastic, but its rugged design and IPX7 water resistance make it suitable for outdoor adventures. The design also includes a range of buttons and controls on the top of the speaker that make it easy to connect devices, tweak volume, and play and pause media as needed. If you want a bit of a bass boost, there’s a bass boost button on the top that will give a little more oomph to those bass synths and kick drums. It may not be as portable as some others on this list, but with a large handle on the top, it’s easy to carry around the backyard at your next BBQ.
One of the best things about Soundcore speakers is that they work with the Anker Soundcore app, which offers access to a range of controls where you can tweak lighting effects, manage connectivity, and EQ the audio to your preferences with an impressive nine-band EQ. That’s better than what even many more expensive speakers offer in their own apps.
The sound quality offered by the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 is good for a speaker in this price range, though if you’re willing to spend more, you can get a speaker that sounds a lot better. Its bass response is decent, while its high-frequency response is only fine, and it has decently natural mids. Regardless, if you’re looking for a great Bluetooth speaker with a range of helpful features and don’t want to spend an arm and a leg, the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 is excellent.
Who it’s for: The Anker Soundcore Boom 2 is for those who want a reliable Bluetooth speaker that can pump out loud audio without breaking the bank. If you’re not overly picky about audio quality and instead prefer longer battery life and a durable build at a reasonable price, the Soundcore Boom 2 is perfect for your needs.
Who should look elsewhere: Those with high standards for audio quality and the willingness to spend a little extra should go for a different option. Additionally, those who want something as portable as possible or something that can at least fit neatly in a backpack should look for something smaller and lighter, as while the Soundcore Boom 2 might fit in a larger backpack, it’s not really built for that kind of portable use.
Anker Soundcore Boom 2 tech specs: IP rating: IPX7 | Battery life: 24 hours | Charging port: USB-C
Why we like it: If you are willing to spend a little more cash on a portable speaker, then the Sonos Move 2 is the way to go. As you would expect, the Move 2 integrates with the Sonos ecosystem through Wi-Fi, and when you’re listening at home, it can be used as one speaker in a multi-room setup in the Sonos app, controlled through voice, and so on. Over Wi-Fi, it supports AirPlay 2, allowing it to stream audio from Apple devices. Then, when you want to take it on the road, simply connect to it through Bluetooth from your phone, and you’re good to go.
It’s not just smart, though. The Move 2 promises 24 hours of playback and an IP56 water resistance rating that protects it from water exposure. You can connect to it through a wired connection, though to do so, you’ll need to buy the sold-separately Sonos Line-In Adapter.
The best thing about the Sonos Move 2 is how excellent it sounds. The speaker delivers deep and powerful bass, natural mids, and clear, detailed highs. It’ll make tracks of any genre sound great, whether they lean on deep sub-bass or tend toward a slightly more natural tone. Seriously, it’s one of the better-sounding Bluetooth speakers we’ve tested.
Who it’s for: The Sonos Move 2 is perfect for those willing to spend a bit of cash on a great overall speaker. Those who want high-quality audio and versatile connectivity features will love what the speaker offers, as will those already deep in the Sonos ecosystem or those who want something that works with AirPlay 2 and Bluetooth. Although the Move 2 is pricey, if you do have the budget for it, you’ll find it to be well-rounded and versatile.
Who should look elsewhere: If you want a speaker that doesn’t cost too much, the Move 2 may not be the best option for you. Additionally, if you’re looking for something highly portable, you’ll want to keep looking. The Move 2 is portable, in that it’ll fit fine in the trunk of your car or even a backpack, but it’ll be heavy, and you certainly won’t want to take it hiking.
Sonos Move 2 tech specs: IP rating: IP56 | Battery life: 24 hours | Charging port: USB-C
Stunning audio response
Premium design
Smart features
Expensive
Not the most portable
Sonos Move 2
Why we like it: If you are willing to spend a little more cash on a portable speaker, then the Sonos Move 2 is the way to go. As you would expect, the Move 2 integrates with the Sonos ecosystem through Wi-Fi, and when you’re listening at home, it can be used as one speaker in a multi-room setup in the Sonos app, controlled through voice, and so on. Over Wi-Fi, it supports AirPlay 2, allowing it to stream audio from Apple devices. Then, when you want to take it on the road, simply connect to it through Bluetooth from your phone, and you’re good to go.
It’s not just smart, though. The Move 2 promises 24 hours of playback and an IP56 water resistance rating that protects it from water exposure.
