The Bluetooth Advantage
It's no secret smartphone and tablet speakers are bad. You just can't get very good sound out of a small, flat object designed to fit in your pocket. Fortunately, you don't have to rely on your smartphone or tablet to put out sound when you're on the go. Portable Bluetooth speakers are the best way to bust out the jams wirelessly when you can't carry around your entire sound system, which is pretty much all the time.
Thanks to integrated Bluetooth, the speakers here work with Android, iOS, and, well, any Bluetooth-enabled device, including most laptops and desktops. Also, they don't require a Wi-Fi network, making them much more flexible than Apple-only AirPlay speakers. Still, there are a few things to consider when picking a Bluetooth speaker.
Form Factor
Bluetooth speakers are usually portable, but they don't have to be. Some speaker systems are built for connecting to your PC or HDTV, and Bluetooth connectivity is a secondary function, like the excellent Audioengine HD3. These types of speakers are great if you want wireless audio at home, but you can't easily haul either of them around, unlike many of the smaller, more bag-friendly speakers on this list. For more options, check out The Best Computer Speakers.
B&O Play Beoplay A1
Portability
Most, but not all, Bluetooth speakers use rechargeable batteries, so you can take them anywhere and use them without a power outlet. Some larger speakers, especially those intended for home theater or PC use, need a dedicated power supply to run, even though you can connect your devices to them wirelessly. Size is often a trade-off for power; the smaller a speaker, the less powerful it will likely sound.
Durability
Not all portable speakers are built to be carried around outdoors, or used by the pool. Rugged speakers can handle splashes, dunks, drops, and gunk and keep running. If you try that with the non-rugged speakers on this list, however, you'll find yourself with a brick instead of an audio device. Look for speakers with IPX ratings and guarantees of water and shock resistance if you want to carry them around to the beach, the lake, the slopes, or the sewers.
Audio Quality
Unless portability is at the top of your priority list, sound quality is paramount. Plenty of speakers don't offer much in the way of features, but produce top-notch audio. Big bass isn't for everyone, but unless your speaker is downright tiny, it should be able to reproduce low frequencies accurately without distorting at high volumes. Clarity is more important than sheer power, and a balanced, clean sound should be your goal when shopping for a speaker. If you want a sound system that can drive a whole party instead of just fill a small room, keep the size of the speaker in mind; generally, the bigger a speaker is, the louder it can get while still sounding good.
JLab Block Party
Connectivity
Beyond an auxiliary input (so you can connect your smartphone or tablet with a wire, if you wish), you'd be lucky to find much else in the way of connectivity on most Bluetooth speaker systems. Even a 3.5mm aux input isn't a certainty if you're getting a particularly small or inexpensive speaker. However, some speakers can serve multiple purposes, and even use multiple wireless standards.
Related StorySee How We Test Speakers
Apple's AirPlay used to be completely separate from Bluetooth and other Android-friendly wireless systems, but now there's plenty of overlap, and you can find some speakers pulling double-duty as both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi systems. The Libratone Zipp Mini, for instance, doubles as an AirPlay and Spotify Connect speaker. Other speakers, like the JLab Block Party, can be paired together (in its case over a 5.8GHz channel) for multiroom audio, similar to what you get with a speaker like the Sonos Play:1.
The Amazon Echo, meanwhile, is primarily a voice-controlled speaker that can work autonomously once it's connected to your Wi-Fi network; you can just tell it to play music, if you don't want to stream audio over Bluetooth. These multi-platform speakers sacrifice portability for their flexibility, however. For more options that aren't necessarily Bluetooth, see The Best Wireless Speakers.
Price
Bluetooth speakers come in a wide range of prices. Don't assume, however, that the most money always buys the best overall product. Generally speaking, higher-end models do sound better, but sometimes they lack the features you might expect for the price. The trick is to get the best sound, along with the features you want, at a price you can afford.
The easiest way to get the best price: Shop around online. You'll often find prices well below list if you do a little bargain hunting on the web. Don't be afraid to look for similar speakers to the ones on this list, either; a number of the options included here have solid predecessors that you can now find for much less since they've been replaced. We've also rounded up our favorite Bluetooth speakers under $100.
Featured Bluetooth Speaker Reviews:
B&O Play Beoplay A1 Review
Editors' Choice
$249.00 MSRP
Bottom Line: The B&O Play Beoplay A1 is a portable Bluetooth speaker with some of the best bass response you'll find in such a compact size.
Marshall Kilburn Review
Editors' Choice
$299.00 MSRP
Bottom Line: The Marshall Kilburn portable Bluetooth speaker delivers a powerful audio performance that can be tweaked to your liking.
B&O Play Beolit 17 Review
Editors' Choice
$499.00 MSRP
Bottom Line: The B&O Play Beolit 17 speaker provides a bass-forward, balanced Bluetooth audio experience at a slightly lower price than its predecessor.
Harman Kardon Onyx Mini Review
Editors' Choice
$199.95 MSRP
Bottom Line: The Harman Kardon Onyx Mini speaker delivers powerful Bluetooth audio performance from a modest frame.
JBL Clip 2 Review
Editors' Choice
$59.95 MSRP
Bottom Line: The JBL Clip 2 is a budget-friendly Bluetooth speaker that delivers solid audio performance in a supremely portable, outdoor-friendly design.
JLab Block Party Review
Editors' Choice
$149.99 MSRP
Bottom Line: The JLab Block Party is a wireless speaker that delivers some serious thunder from its modest frame. It's an excellent building block for a simple multiroom audio system.
Libratone Zipp Mini Review
Editors' Choice
$249.00 MSRP
Bottom Line: The Libratone Zipp Mini speaker delivers a bass-forward, user-friendly Bluetooth and Wi-Fi audio experience that can be used in multi-room scenarios.
Ultimate Ears UE Boom 2 Review
Editors' Choice
$199.99 MSRP
Bottom Line: The new UE Boom 2 Bluetooth speaker from Ultimate Ears packs powerful sound in a colorful, rugged, waterproof build.
Bose SoundLink Color II Review
$129.95 MSRP
Bottom Line: The Bose SoundLink Color II delivers a strong Bluetooth audio experience in a compact, outdoor-friendly design.
EcoXGear EcoSlate Review
$149.99 MSRP
Bottom Line: The EcoXGear EcoSlate speaker is built like a tank and delivers solid audio, making it a good value for outdoor enthusiasts who want to take their tunes with them.
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