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Portable Bluetooth speakers have become one of the most popular and successful segments in consumer A/V for the simple reason that they are the simplest and most affordable method of listening to music regardless of where you are.
Some will disagree and point out that wireless headphones can do that as well — but the headphone experience is a solitary one and it’s rather hard to listen to music whilst taking a shower, eating dinner with the family, or hanging out with your friends if you’re using a pair of AirPods.
People love taking a portable Bluetooth speaker with them to the cottage, on vacation for those long days at the beach, or when working outside on the deck on a warm day.
Things to Look Out For?
If you plan on taking your portable Bluetooth speaker with you, just how rugged is the design? What happens if you drop it? Or it falls off the counter? Take a close look at what the loudspeaker enclosure is manufactured from and whether it will survive any hard knocks or collisions with other objects.
What is its IP rating? Is it really waterproof and can it survive being submerged or is it only splashproof?
Will it survive if you get caught out in the rain and have to run with it?
How does it handle dust or sand? Nothing stinks more than taking a $500 portable Bluetooth speaker to the beach only to discover that it isn’t splashproof or dustproof.
Listening range? Just how far can you walk away from the speaker with your tablet or smartphone before the signal gets interrupted? 20-30 feet should be the bare minimum and remember that Bluetooth signal strength can vary inside your home because of the type of construction.
A day at the beach or afternoon outside in the backyard listening to the Washington Commanders battle the Philadelphia Eagles sounds like a lot of fun (if you are living in a warm part of the country this time of year), but only if the battery life of the Bluetooth speaker can last between 4 to 8 hours on a single charge. The better quality models should deliver 8 hours at a minimum depending on how loud you listen.
And pay attention to the type of charging connector — portable Bluetooth speaker have rechargeable batteries and we’re seeing more models utilize a USB Type-C charging cable.
Another thing to pay attention to are the control options. Is there a control app that you can download to your iPhone or Android smartphone and how well do they actually work? Can you control every function and switch between streaming apps rather easily?
Bluetooth codec support? SBC support is the bare minimum but does the portable Bluetooth speaker work with aptX, aptX HD or aptX Adaptive?
Other things to consider that might not seem important but can you use the portable Bluetooth speaker as a speakerphone and does it offer multi-speaker pairing where you can use two for a true stereo setup?
Very few people are going to try this at the beach, but it will definitely come in handy on the deck during a party when you want to maximize coverage or inside your home when you use them in the kitchen or home office.
The last criteria and the one that should matter a lot is the sound quality. How clear is the sound and does the speaker deliver impactful bass response? Can you raise the volume to party levels and still discern detail and spatial cues or does it become a jumbled mess?
Bluetooth speaker technology has come a long way in recent years and it’s important to pay attention to all of these factors when making a decision. Enjoy!
Best Portable Speaker Under $150
We have purposely left this award empty, because we did not test enough portable Bluetooth speakers in this price range to declare a winner. We have a number of models under review right now from UE, JBL, Bose, Klipsch, Soundcore, Sonos and others and we will announce new awards in early 2025.
Best Portable Speaker Under $300
Bang & Olufsen A1 2nd Gen
If you don’t think you can afford to join the Bang & Olufsen ecosystem, the Beosound A1 (2nd generation) will prove to be a genuine surprise. It is also better than its competition from Sonos which makes it even more appealing for those who might want some Danish pasty with their overpriced iced coffee at the beach.
The Beosound A1 has an IP67 rating which means that use around the pool or even on a canoe trip is entirely within reason.
The A1 supports Made For Apple, Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift pair so no matter which ecosystem your device belongs to, the A1 should pair quickly and without issues.
Alexa support is also included and works rather effectively.
The mid bass is surprisingly solid with kick drums delivering a very crisp edge and sufficient slam. The transition from the bass to the midrange is very clean with some added warmth and good note weight. The Beosound A1 does not sound like a portable Bluetooth speaker in that regard; it has far more presence in the midrange without sounding overly boosted.
The Beosound A1 2nd generation is the second least expensive model in the line-up and was retailing for $199 when we reviewed it (now it’s $299 and comes in more colors, but often goes on sale). It offers better build quality and sound quality over its competition, while offering the ability to pair a second A1 for larger spaces. Tack on 18 hours of battery performance with a super compact form factor and it becomes the best portable Bluetooth speaker available below $300.
Pros:
- Minimalist design that is very appealing and doesn’t scream expensive to thieves
- 18 hours of battery life
- Very clean sounding presentation and better defined bass range than other Bluetooth speakers in the price range
- Alexa support
- IP67 rating makes it safe for the beach and pool
Cons:
- Heavier than the Sonos Roam
- No 3.5mm input
- Range is only 30 feet and your source device needs to be in the same room indoors
Where to buy:
Best Portable Speaker Under $500
Brane X
The Brane X is the best portable Bluetooth speaker for most people. It delivers unbelievable amounts of bass for its size, and makes for a great party speaker with hip-hop, pop, rap, trance, or any tracks that thump. It was voted best sounding outdoors of the luxury models we tested, but can be used equally well indoors. It also works over Wi-Fi, is compatible with Amazon Alexa, and can stream hi-res. Plus it’s extremely easy to use thanks to its voice prompts and clearly labeled buttons on top.
Pros:
- Best bass in a portable speaker
- Wi-Fi and AirPlay 2
- Works with Alexa
- IP57 Waterproof
- Bass controls atop unit
- Voice prompts
Cons:
- AC charger bulky to travel with
- Will rattle anything nearby
Where to buy:
Best Portable Speaker Under $750
DALI KATCH G2
Have you ever been so smitten by a component that you can’t stop listening to it? Our Editor in Chief, Ian White laments he’s currently dealing with that in regard to the DALI KATCH G2 and it has become slightly awkward. See our full review here.
The DALI KATCH G2 supports Bluetooth aptX HD and includes a 3.5mm input jack for wired sources; including a phono preamp, CD player, or an external DAC.
The 30 hour battery life claim seemed a tad over zealous on the part of DALI but it plays for days and comes very close to that number.
You can now pair two KATCH G2 speakers to create a stereo pair and I dare to say that this might be the best portable wireless speaker right now below $1,000.
Pros:
- Gorgeous industrial design
- 30 hour battery life
- Spacious and surprisingly robust sounding
- Connectivity options
Cons:
- The case is not designed for the beach
- You will want a second one which adds to the overall price
Where to buy:
Best Portable Speaker Under $1,000
Devialet Mania
Upscale French brand, Devialet has redefined what’s possible from a small speaker. The Devialet Mania delivers spacious 360-degree sound with crisp highs, punchy mids, and surprisingly clean bass at any volume. In addition, when used indoors it connects to Wi-Fi, works with Amazon Alexa, and can stream high resolution music via AirPlay 2. Thanks to its IP7 rating it also works great at the pool, the beach, or the park where it becomes the perfect party speaker.
Pros:
- Best sound for its size
- Automatic acoustic calibration
- Convenient USB-C charging
- IPX4 Water resistant
- Wi-Fi and AirPlay 2
- Works with Alexa
- 3 colors, plus super expensive FENDI edition
Cons:
- Battery life isn’t class leading
- App only works over Wi-Fi
- Slow to power-on
Where to buy:
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