I put two of the best budget Bluetooth speakers to the test — here's my top pick under $50

I’ve tested my fair share of audio gear here at Tom’s Guide, and there’s no denying that sometimes, budget stuff just doesn’t hit the mark. And while I love looking for budget gear that can save you some cash, sometimes it’s worth spending that extra bit of money to make the step up.

I’ve recently tested two budget portable Bluetooth speakers: The JLab Pop Party and the Tribit PocketGo, and they proved this point perfectly.

The JLab Pop Party is available at Amazon for $24, and the Tribit PocketGo is available for $34, so both of these speakers are super affordable, but for the sake of $10, I know which one I’m buying.

JLab Pop Party: $24 at Amazon

The JLab Pop Party speaker offers affordability, portability and fun RGB lighting that can be controlled through the companion app. But there are some compromises made to the sound performance to keep that price tag low. It’s cheap and cheerful, but you should definitely weigh up your options first.

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Tribit PocketGo Portable: $34 at Amazon

For less than $35, the Tribit PocketGo packs one heck of a punch in the sound department and is the ultimate rugged speaker. It has a waterproof rating of IP68 and military-grade drop protection, making it the perfect companion on hikes. With some very minor EQ adjustments in the Tribit app, this has quickly become my most-used speaker.

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Go rugged

One of the best things about having a tiny speaker that isn’t too heavy is that you can take it with you absolutely anywhere. I’ve taken portable speakers with me on countless adventures up mountains and on muddy trails, and sometimes the weather doesn't exactly play ball.

If you find yourself caught in a rainstorm or strong winds, you’re going to want something that can withstand whatever is thrown at it. The JLab Pop Party has a waterproof rating of IP55, so it will be protected from water splashes in all directions, but you may need more than that.

The Tribit PocketGo, on the other hand, has a waterproof rating of IP68, meaning it can actually be submerged underwater and come out unscathed. It’s also been drop tested to a military standard and can withstand drops up to four feet. So for $10 extra, you’re coming away with more assurance that the speaker will withstand your adventure.

A light show or longer listening

JLab is well-known for the party features that come with their speakers. The RGB lighting offers a fun way to make your listening immersive as it flashes to the beat of the song, or a great way to stay visible if it’s dark. But this lighting comes at a cost.

The Pop Party has eight hours of battery life (which isn’t great), but this is pretty much helved when the RGB lights are on. And you can’t do much with four hours of battery life. If you’re listening at more than 50% volume, that playtime will reduce even further.

The PocketGo offers 20 hours of battery life, and the sound is extremely loud, too. At full volume, this speaker can fill my whole house with music, which is nice considering it fits in the palm of my hand.

Sound quality

The Tribit speaker offers well-balanced sound that I could quite literally listen to all day long.

The JLab speaker, on the other hand, was tinny and suffered from frequency masking, making the vocals indiscernible from other instruments in the tracks I was listening to. This was pretty frustrating as someone who loves to listen to every layer of the song and really take in the production.

So, for $10 extra, you’re getting the assurance of better quality, bigger sound, and longer battery life. The choice is clear to me — splash that extra cash. If you want to find out more about the speakers, you can read our full JLab Pop Party review and the full Tribit PocketGo review.

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