I test Bluetooth speakers for a living — here are my top picks for every budget

I love a Bluetooth speaker. They allow me to take my music on the go, so that I can annoy everyone around me with my... interesting... music taste.

Of course, when it comes time to shop for one, it can be a little confusing. You could just buy one of the best Bluetooth speakers from our guide, but those can be costly.

To help you stick to your savings goals, I've laid out some budgets, and picked one of our favorites in each tier so you can get the best performance without spending more than you should.

$50-$100 — Ultimate Ears WonderBoom 4

UE Wonderboom product shot — (Image credit: Future)

The WonderBoom 4 brings some great features to small package. Not only does it look unique with its funky, rounded shape, but it sounds pretty good as well thanks to some clever audio trickery. The shape and the way that the driver inside is situated means that you can hear the sound no matter where you are around the device.

The battery life is pretty good as well, giving you 14 hours of life so that you can take the lil' guy on the road. It's also nice and cheap, crucially coming in at that sub-$100 price point. Even better? You'll often find it for even less thanks to some fairly permanent deals I've seen at Amazon and other retailers.

$100-$150 — Marshall Willen II

Marshall's Willen II is a pocket powerhouse. It's no bigger than your hand, and it'll easily fit into a cargo pants pocket, and then blow you away with sound you might expect from something much, much larger. I mean, just look at it — how cute! Then BAM, rock n' roll baby, and spades of it.

Of course, it's not going to hold a candle to some of the larger and more expensive speakers on the list, but I'm consistently impressed by the Willen II's sound signature. There's a surprising amount of bass on offer from the tiny speaker, and the mids and highs are very well represented.

Add in the wonderful little brass control clicker from Marshall's headphones and 17 hours of battery life, and you've the recipe for a little Bluetooth powerhouse.

$150-$250 — JBL Charge 6

The JBL Charge 6 near the pool. — (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

If you want something that's not too expensive but will power pool parties all summer long, then the JBL Charge 6 might just be Bluetooth speaker for you.

There's a 28 hour battery on board to keep the speaker going, and you can use the USB port on the back of the speaker to charge your phone. That's why it's called the 'Charge.'

The sound is big and loud too, thanks to its 'AI sound boost' feature. I found that the speaker sounded its very best just before you hit the upper volume ceiling, so you likely won't want to crank the noise all the way to the top. It is loads of fun watching the passive bass radiators wiggle on the sides, though.

$250-$350 — Ultimate Ears EpicBoom

Ultimate Ears Epicboom in reviewer's yard edit — (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

The EpicBoom lives up to its name — it's a big sounding speaker with massive impact. It also floats, so you won't have to worry about it taking a terrible tumble into the pool.

It's designed from the ground up to be durable piece of tech, with IP67 dust and water resistance keeping it safe no matter where it finds itself. The strap on the back, held in place with magnets, also makes the speaker easier to cart around from party to the beach and back — just make sure you don't forget it while it's floating in the pool. It can swim, but you don't want to leave it in there too long.

$350-$400 — Marshall Kilburn III

Marshall Kilburn III on a wooden surface — (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

I am a sucker for Marshall's design language, and the Kilburn III distills it into a package that looks like a practice amp. A practice amp it is not, however.

Instead, it's one of the best Bluetooth speakers I've ever tested with excellent sound quality, a wicked retro style and some truly ridiculous battery life — 50 hours at mid volume, I discovered.

I love the Kilburn III so much that it's now going to take center stage in the best Bluetooth speakers guide — if that doesn't show how much I love it, I don't know what will. Marrying it? Not entirely sure where I'd put the ring...

$400+ — Sonos Move 2

The Sonos Move 2 still has a permanent home on my nightstand, waking me up every morning with my favorite tunes. I love the speaker and its epic sound quality, but it's the little things that Sonos have packed in which keep it a permanent part of my life: the easy-to-use charging cradle, the Sonos app support, the helpful controls across the top.

It's not a cheap Bluetooth speaker, but you absolutely get what you pay for if you add one to your audio arsenal. I love mine, and I think that anyone else that buys one will too — just remember that it's weightier than the other entries on this list and it's not a good pick for the hike you've got coming up this weekend.

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Tammy and her generous collection of headphones have found a new home — Tom's Guide! After a two-and-a-half-year stint as iMore's resident audiophile, Tammy's reviews and buying guide expertise have more focus than ever on Tom's Guide, helping buyers find the audio gear that works best for them. Tammy has worked with some of the most desirable audio brands on the planet in her time writing about headphones, speakers, and more, bringing a consumer focussed approach to critique and buying advice. Away from her desk, you'll probably find her in the countryside writing (extremely bad) poetry, or putting her screenwriting Masters to good use creating screenplays that'll never see the light of day.

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