Best Bluetooth speakers 2024: Top models for great sound
These are the very best Bluetooth speakers at every budget based on our in-depth testing
You're really spoilt for choice if you're looking for the best Bluetooth speaker. There are smart options that connect over WiFi for more connection options, tiny portable speakers so you can take your music on the go, massive party speakers for when you want indomitable loudness and more.
We've gathered up the very best around for this list, which is topped by the excellent Sonos Move 2. It's a big speaker, with plenty of loudness, but the sound quality is amongst the very best that you'll find before you plug a wire in the back. It's not cheap though — and for those looking for the best budget option, you're best off looking at the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3.
We've spent loads of time here at Tom's Guide testing and evaluating Bluetooth speakers, so we've got a solid idea of the kind of kit you should be looking at. Read on to find the best Bluetooth speaker for you.
Quick List
Best overall
Our top pick is the epic Sonos Move 2 — It's not as portable as some of the other options on the list, but it sounds mega and is super smart thanks to its WiFi connection.
Best under $100
The Wonderboom 3 is a fab little speaker that you can take anywhere thanks to its compact, durable form. It sounds good for something so small as well.
Best for festivals
The Megaboom 3 is perfect if you want something that sounds massive without taking up too much space. The color selection is just the icing on a very tasty Bluetooth cake.
Best for bass
Want all of the bass? Look no further than the monstrous JBL Xtreme 4 — it goes all the way down. For outdoor parties, there's really nothing better.
Best for day trips
It's small, packs a punch, and its surprisingly smart too — the Sonos Roam 2 is the perfect addition to a picnic bag or a hiking backpack. Just don't annoy your fellow nature-dwellers.
Best waterproof speaker
The pool party-ready JBL Charge 4 is a great option if you know you're going to be dancing near water — thanks to its IP67 water resistance, it can fall into most bodies of water with no issue.
About the author
As Tom's Guide audio editor with more than 30 years of listening and testing all kinds of audio products — from budget speakers to Hi-Fi systems that cost as much as a luxury car — I've listened to hundreds of speakers and I know what makes the grade when it comes to balancing great sound, durability and features. Whether you’re on a budget or looking to splurge on something a bit more powerful with Wi-Fi smarts, you can rest assured that each of the options listed below has a thumbs up from me and our team of audio experts.
The best Bluetooth speakers available now
Why you can trust Tom's Guide
Best Overall
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
The Sonos Move 2 might not be as portable as the Roam (below), but it ranks as one of the best smart speakers and is one of the best Bluetooth speakers on the market. The updated Move 2 takes the well-tuned sound and rich feature set found in the Sonos One and lets you take it on the go, with a 24-hour battery packed into a portable (albeit fairly hefty) design.
In our review, the Move 2 delivered a crisp sound with satisfying bass and clear, engaging vocals. As with all Sonos speaker designs, the Move 2 works with the best music streaming services including Spotify and Apple Music. Wireless connectivity has support for Apple AirPlay 2, and can seamlessly switch from Wi-Fi to Bluetooth on the fly. Alexa and Google Assistant support allow you to do anything from check the weather to control your smart home, while the Sonos Voice Assistant offers hands-free playback even when you're on Bluetooth.
But the best part is the Move 2's Auto Trueplay that tunes the speaker's audio output for wherever you're listening, whether you're having a rooftop party or rocking out in your bedroom.
Read our full Sonos Move 2 review
Best Under $100
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
For most people, the UE Wonderboom 3 is one of the most well-rounded Bluetooth speakers under $100. Its IP67-rating means it's dust and water protected to such a level that it ranks as one of the best waterproof speakers. Its balanced sound and a portable design make it a great travel companion for life on the go. The Outdoor Boost feature does its job in bringing more energy when it's free from room boundaries, and 14-hour battery life should be enough for most situations away from a power outlet.
As with UE's other speaker models, the Wonderboom 3 can be paired with another for stereo sound. The time taken for recharges is the only real disappointment. It took more than two hours from flat to reach the chime that indicates a full charge. Whether this is because of its Micro-USB port is hard to say, but it feels a little outdated given that a USB-C charging port appears to be the universal standard on most other Bluetooth speakers.
Read the full UE Wonderboom 3 review
Recent updates
The Wonderboom 3 has been succeeded by the Wonderboom 4; it has the same price, battery life and waterproof rating, but has a USB-C charging port. Stay tuned for our review.
Best For Festivals
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
Thanks to its excellent sound quality, long battery life and travel-ready ruggedness, the UE Megaboom 3 is the best Bluetooth speaker you can buy right now. This big, bold portable speaker pumps out rich 360-degree sound complete with detailed highs and satisfying low-end, and maxes out at 100 decibels of noise. It's one of our best outdoor speakers thanks to an IP67-rated design, which means it can survive drops, shower splashes, and can even be submerged for short periods without skipping a beat.
The Megaboom 3 is on the bigger side compared to other portable speakers, and unlike many of its competitors, it doesn't have Alexa or Google Assistant support, or any other smart features. But if that’s not a deal breaker, the Megaboom 3's sound quality and ruggedness can't be beat for the price. You can also pair it with older Megaboom and Boom models for a stereo sound experience.
Read our full UE Megaboom 3 review
Recent updates
The Megaboom 3 has been replaced in Ultimate Ears' lineup with the Megaboom 4, which is similar in most respects
Best For Bass
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
If you want a Bluetooth speaker that brings the bass, the JBL Xtreme 4 will knock the fillings right out of your mouth. As the latest generation model, JBL has built on its Boombox predecessors with a speaker system that includes two tweeters, two mid-range drivers and dual passive radiators. Its deep bass and vocal clarity fills large open spaces with a big sound that's perfect for larger outdoor parties, and the IP67-rated beast (waterproof for up to 30 minutes in up to 3.2 feet) makes it perfect for outdoors events and pool parties.
Using AuraCast, users can connect supported JBL speakers like the JBL Pulse 4 and the Flip 5 for a surround sound experience. The Xtreme 4 measures 11.7 x 5.9 x 5.6 inches, and weighs an entirely portable 4.6 pounds — it also has a handy carrying strap. According to JBL, battery life can last up to 24 hours from a 6.5-hour charge, and the speaker can even be used to power other devices. It available in three colors: navy, black, and camo.
Read our full JBL Xtreme 4 review
Best For Day Trips
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
Building on the success of the Sonos Move, which has now been superseded by the Move 2 and ranks ranks as one of our best outdoor speakers, the Sonos Roam 2 is a connected smart speaker at home and powerful Bluetooth beast on the road. It’s the more practical Sonos portable that you can throw into a day sack. Plus, it has Sonos' auto Trueplay feature, which adjusts the sound to suit your surroundings wherever you’re listening.
It is available in five color options (Black, White, Sunset, Wave, Olive), and although we wish the battery lasted more than 10 hours, it juices up quickly via USB-C or wireless charging. When you return back from your latest excursion, the Sonos Roam should rejoin your larger Sonos home system on its own. Listeners are also able to hand off whatever's playing to the nearest Sonos speaker. Or you could stick to the Roam 2, bringing your voice assistant and streaming services room-to-room, or as far as your Wi-Fi can reach.
Read our full Sonos Roam 2 review
Best Waterproof Speaker
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
The JBL Charge 5 offers great sound and ruggedness, making it a great option for a trip to the beach or creating the sound vibe you're after when relaxing by the pool. Its IP67 rating signals high dust resistance and full waterproofing, which is about as good as you'll get on a portable Bluetooth speakers and ranks as one of our best waterproof speakers.
During our testing we were impressed by the JBL Charge 5's sound, with easy-to-hear vocals and impressive bass. It sounds balanced, but bass isn't as powerful as some on this list. Nevertheless, it goes loud and can even act as a power bank for top-ups to phones and tablets. So if your device is running out of juice which you're streaming music, just connect it into the Charge 5 to get a top-up.
Read our full JBL Charge 5 review
Best Bluetooth Speaker For Parties
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
Looking to go big? The UE Hyperboom is the best Bluetooth speaker for large gatherings, thanks to its massive size and big, booming audio output. This 14-inch tall speaker offers a big and balanced sound that's especially ideal for barbecues and outdoor parties.
The Hyperboom is as rugged as it is big, with IPX4 water resistance for surviving splashes. And you'll get 24 hours of battery life for keeping the outdoor tunes going all day and night long. Pair that with seamless Bluetooth connectivity and plenty of volume, and you have the ultimate speaker for filling a large outdoor space with great sound.
Read our full UE Hyperboom review
Best Portable Speaker For Travel
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
If you're looking for a Bluetooth speaker that offers practical portability at a great price, the StormBox Micro is currently discounted to $49 at Amazon. Although it has been around for a while it's a very worthwhile on-the-go option and has plenty of great features, including IP67-rated to protect it from water (to a depth of 1 meter for up to 30 mins) and against dust and dirt.
Despite its very small size, the StormBox Micro sounds great. It's particularly strong with vocals, and pushes out surprising bass levels. It's performance is impressive given that it's compact enough to be attached to a bag or fitted to bike handlebars. The only drawbacks are the lack of an app (although you can pair with two devices at once) and a relatively low battery life, which sees the StormBox Micro run dry after 8 hours.
Read our full Tribot StormBox Micro review
Bluetooth speakers compared
Row 0 - Cell 0 | Size/Weight | Connectivity | Battery Life | Durability |
Sonos Move 2 | 9.4 x 6.3 x 5 inches/ 6.6 pounds | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | 24 hours | IP56 |
Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 | 8.9 x 3.4 x 3.4 inches/ 2 pounds | Bluetooth | 20 hours | IP67 |
Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 | 4.1 x 3.8 inches/ 14.8 ounces | Bluetooth | 14 hours | IP67 |
JBL Boombox 3 | 19.0 x 10.1 x 7.9 inches/ 14.7 pounds | Bluetooth | 24 hours | IP67 |
Sonos Roam | 6.6 x 2.4 x 2.4 inches/ 15 ounces | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | 10 hours | IP67 |
JBL Charge 5 | 8.7 x 3.8 x 3.7 inches/ 1.8 pounds | Bluetooth | 20 hours | P67 |
Ultimate Ears Hyperboom | 14.3 x 7.5 x 7.5 inches/ 13 pounds | Bluetooth | 24 hours | IPX4 |
Tribit StormBox Micro | 3.9 x 3.9 x 1.4-inch/ 8 ounces | Bluetooth | 8 hours | IP67 |
Also tested
As Tom's Guide's audio experts, we test a lot of Bluetooth speakers but some models don't make it into a buying guide. That's not to say that they're not great performers, just that they're beaten by rival models with a stronger set of features or performance. The picks in this guide are the very best we've tested and have all been given full reviews. But with more models to choose from than ever, we want to make sure that you consider these also tested options. These alternatives have all been through our rigorous testing processes but didn't quite make the grade to rank among the best of the best.
Soundcore 3: This is an amazing little Bluetooth speaker by Anker that ranks in our list of the best cheap Bluetooth speakers around. This tiny powerhouse delivers loud, well-balanced sound within an IPX7-rated design that can survive water and dust. The speaker lasts up to a whopping 24 hours, and the Soundcore 3's dual tweeter drivers and central mid/bass woofer allied to a passive bass driver and Anker's BassUp technology, ensure you'll get powerful sound in any setting. SharePlay allows multiple Soundcore speakers to be synced for an even bigger sound. It's also available in blue, red and silver colors for a little extra ($56) cost in addition to the standard slick black we tested.
Read the full Soundcore 3 review
Tribit StormBox Blast: A smaller alternative to larger boombox style models, the Blast sounds nearly as good. It fills any space with a big sound and our vocals on our favorite tracks sounded clear. You can boost the bass further with the XBass button on the speaker, and you can link two StormBox Blasts together for an even bigger sound. It can play all day without needing a recharge, and it’s waterproof so you don’t have to worry about it falling into the pool or getting rained on for a while. And it puts on a light show if you want some visuals to go with your audio.
Read the full Tribit StormBox Blast review
JBL PartyBox Stage 320: This speaker on wheels has plenty going for it. It has the power to energize any environment with good sound, and has a light-up front cabinet to bring a fun visual element as the music plays. It goes loud and can be hooked up to a pair of mics or mic and guitar for full-on karaoke performances. Battery life is rated at 18 hours. Although it's splash-proof protected from occasional spots of rain, we'd avoid using it by a pool. Ultimately, it feels like a big and costly Bluetooth speaker option, but for energizing the vibe at your next gathering, the PartyBox Stage 320 will perform.
Read the full JBL PartyBox Stage 320 review
Sony ULT Field 7: This big Bluetooth speaker is portable, but its size and 14 pound weight may count against for some consumers. If you like big bass sound though, this powerful cylindrical speaker has a lot going for it. From the enhanced low-frequency output to the IP67 durability rating, it's ideal for a pool party.
Audio performance will satisfy bass fiends and Sound Field Optimization mode in the companion app, which automatically scans your environment for ambient noise and dynamically adjust sound, gives great sonic results. Lastly, there are synchronised LEDs at each end of the cabinet and battery life is rated at 30 hours. Just be aware that as a big portable you're unlikely to want to carry it far, and the price feels high compared to rivals.
Read the full Sony ULT Field 7 review
Ultimate Ears Epicboom: A challenger to the Sonos Move 2, this Bluetooth-only speaker is among the best waterproof speakers and we loved its durability in a rugged design that comes with a practical carry strap, and it even floats.
As a larger speaker design, it delivers a bigger sound than many portables. It make a great carry speaker companion out on a walk, where it managed to deliver an energetic and exciting sound with the speaker at my side while on a stroll. It also performed well in open spaces, although the Outside Boost mode was less effective than I would have liked. Also, remember not to set the volume level too loud as this can overdrive the main speaker, which makes the sound harden up.
Add in 17 hours of playtime to keep your music soundtrack playing wherever you go, and the carry anywhere Epicboom is a great rugged solution for on-the-go lifestyles.
Read the full Ultimate Ears Epicboom review
JBL Authentics 300: The mid-model in JBL's three-strong retro-looking Authentics speaker series, the 300 proved easy to transport around the home to wherever music is needed, and is a capable companion on trips away, bringing room-filling sound to large spaces. It's battery life isn't its greatest strength at just 8 hours but its vintage look and great sound make it a more stylish portable smart speaker alternative than the Sonos Move 2 at the same price.
Read the full JBL Authentics 300
Bose SoundLink Max: At the price, the Bose lacks some of the connectivity smarts of its nearest rivals, and for just $50 you can get the Sonos Move 2 with Wi-Fi and better sound. If you're looking for a straightforward Bluetooth speaker though, that's portable enough for adventure trips then the Bose SoundLink Max is a great choice. It offers stronger durability than the Sonos to endure trips to the beach, festivals, and even a pool party, and is a practical Bluetooth speaker solution with a great sound that plenty will warm to.
Read the full Bose SoundLink Max review
How to choose the best speaker for you
1. Mains or battery power: There are a couple things you’ll want to consider when shopping for a Bluetooth speaker, the first of which is whether you want it to be rechargeable or mains powered. While a number of wired speakers provide excellent Bluetooth listening, you can’t take them far from a power socket. Stick to a speaker with a rechargeable battery for on-the-go audio.
2. Voice control: With that, you’ll need to decide if a Bluetooth speaker with a voice assistant is the best for you. If you plan to use your speaker in your backyard, it could be useful to have Google Assistant’s or Alexa’s powers at your disposal. That way you can change the music using your voice, rather than controlling the audio through your phone. These smart features will not work beyond your home’s Wi-Fi, so opt for a non-smart Bluetooth speaker for the beach or other outdoorsy locales.
3. Power output: Sound quality should always be a priority when considering one of the best Bluetooth speakers, but it's important you know what to look out for. Maker's specifications may highlight the frequency range, which indicates the range of sounds a speaker is able to produce, but these figures are often presented in an inconsistent manner between brands that mean comparisons between one maker's claims and another should be taken with a pinch of salt — this is particularly true with rated power output claims.
That's why we assess performance in real-world situations, taking into consideration how a product is likely to be used and listening to it in different environments to fully evaluate its sound output. Bass quality is important to many, and although small speaker cabinets can defy belief and achieve a bigger sound than their size might suggest, generally speaking, the larger the speaker drivers, the more powerful a speaker is likely to sound. And those with passive bass radiators or bass ports are likely to sound even bigger still.
4. Price: Obviously, price is a big consideration when looking for the best Bluetooth speakers. Although I've tested some great-sounding cheap Bluetooth speakers, generally speaking, the bigger the brand the lower the chances are that performance and features will be compromised. They often cost a bit more, but going for a budget option isn't always the best choice as any money you save on your purchase won't do you much good if you don't enjoy listening to it because the sound quality is poor.
Don't forget to bookmark our tech deals pages to keep on top of the all the best Bluetooth speaker bargains.
How we test the best Bluetooth speakers
Every product on this list is considered the best Bluetooth speaker for one or more standout features, however each must meet basic requirements during our testing to be considered. We spend several hours listening to music, making calls and toting around every speaker to make sure it sounds great across all music genres, provides solid call quality and withstands minor bumps or splashes.
To determine sound quality, we listen to many tracks across multiple music genres as possible, including hip-hop, rock, jazz, classical, and electronic, while evaluating volume, clarity and fullness. Movies, podcasts, and video games are also considered, when necessary.
If a speaker offers smart features, we enable the supported voice assistant to see how it fares against other top rated smart speakers. We’ll use it to control smart home devices, browse playlists and get answers to other common queries.
We also test battery life, exhausting each speaker’s battery after a full charge to see how long it can last under realistic conditions. A smart speaker connected to Wi-Fi should last at least 10 hours, while a standard Bluetooth speaker should last around 20. Most people want to know how much play time they can expect when their speaker comes along on a day trip.
The best Bluetooth speakers are rated on a five-point system (1 = worst, 5 = best). Our reviews on products that hit nearly every mark are awarded an Editor's Choice.
Find out how we test for more information on our reviewing procedures.
More from Tom's Guide
- Best cheap Bluetooth speakers
- Devialet's Mania Bluetooth speaker has impossibly big bass for its size
- Sonos Move 2 vs. Bose SoundLink Max face-off
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After 2.5 years as Tom's Guide's audio editor, Lee has joined the passionate audio experts at audiograde.uk where he writes about luxury audio and Hi-Fi. As a former editor of the U.K.'s Hi-Fi Choice magazine, Lee is passionate about all kinds of audio tech and has been providing sound advice to enable consumers to make informed buying decisions since he joined Which? magazine as a product tester in the 1990s. Lee covers all things audio for Tom's Guide, including headphones, wireless speakers and soundbars and loves to connect and share the mindfulness benefits that listening to music in the very best quality can bring.
- Tammy RogersAudio Editor