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What are the best Bluetooth speakers, and is Bose still on top?
Bluetooth speakers are ultra-portable audio options that are great for sharing your favorite music, podcasts, and videos with friends and family. They often feature compact designs that are perfect for slipping into a bag or backpack, while others have integrated clips or straps for hands-free carrying while jogging, hiking, or walking to school and work.
Many Bluetooth speakers also feature some level of water and dust resistance; some are fully water and dustproof, making them perfect for jamming out by the pool or on the beach, while others are only protected from occasional splashes.
Also: The top Sonos speakers compared
Some premium-grade Bluetooth speakers also let you connect more than one device to them at a time, letting you easily switch between tablets, phones, and computers when you need to. Others still let you connect to other Bluetooth speakers for stereo sound or whole-home audio without the hassle of running wires or building shelves for dedicated hi-fi systems.
To help you find the best Bluetooth speaker, I've put together a list of the best available to buy. I've broken down their features and price points to help you find the right fit for both your budget and needs.
Also: Take the party outside with these top outdoor speakers
- Great battery life
- Connect up to 8 devices
- Whole-home audio with Bose Connect
- Voice controls
- Expensive
- Bose Connect app can be clunky
Tech Specs: Battery life: 13 hours | Water resistant: IP55 | Multi-device connect: Up to 8 devices | Compatibility: iOS, Android, PC, Mac | Voice controls: Alexa, Hey Google, Siri
The SoundLink Revolve gives you signature Bose quality audio in a 360-degree speaker design. This means you'll be able to hear your music, videos, and podcasts loud and clear no matter where you place the speaker. It's compatible with Alexa, Hey Google, and Siri for hands-free control, or you can use the companion app to create custom EQ settings.
The speaker is water and dust resistant, so occasional spills and splashes won't ruin your fun. And if you connect the SoundLink Revolve to other Bose speakers, you can get whole-home audio without the hassle of running wires or building shelves for a high-end sound system. You can connect the SoundLink Revolve to up to 8 different devices and seamlessly switch between them. The speaker also has a decent battery life of 13 hours, which lets you listen all day before you even need to think about plugging in.
- Excellent battery life
- Great sound
- Under $30
- Siri and Google Assistant compatibility
- No multi-device connect
- No custom EQ options
- No Alexa support
Tech Specs: Battery life: 20 hours | Water resistant: IPX7 | Multi-device connect: N/A | Compatibility: iOS, Android, PC, Mac | Voice controls: Siri, Google Assistant
The Tronsmart Trip is proof that you don't need to spend a ton of money to get a great Bluetooth speaker. This unit packs quite a punch, delivering clean, clear audio even at higher volumes -- you won't get any annoying buzzing or "tinny" sounding audio with the Tronsmart Trip. You can use Siri or Google Assistant for hands-free controls or to make and receive calls with the speaker.
You'll also get up to 20 hours of playback time on a full charge, which is extra impressive at the Tronsmart Trip's $25 price tag. It's even rated IPX7 for water and dust resistance, so you can take this speaker to the pool or beach.
- Integrated carabiner clip
- Decent battery
- Water and dust resistant
- Great audio
- No custom EQ settings
- No voice controls
Tech Specs: Battery life: 10 hours | Water resistant: IP67 | Multi-device connect: N/A | Compatibility: iOS, Android, PC, Mac | Voice controls: N/A
The JBL Clip 4 is the ultimate portable Bluetooth speaker. It features a carabiner-style clip, making it easy to hang from your belt, purse, satchel, or backpack. And just because it's an incredibly compact speaker, that doesn't mean you'll get sub-par sound. With 5W of output power and Pro Sound compatibility, you'll get rich bass notes as well as clear mid and high tones for clean, crisp audio.
The speaker is IP67-rated for water and dust resistance, so you won't have to worry about spills or a little rain ruining your good time. You'll also get up to 10 hours of playback on a full charge, letting you listen to music, podcasts, and videos all day.
- Excellent water and dust resistance
- Impressive battery
- Stereo speaker pairing
- Built-in powerbank
- No voice controls
- No custom EQ settings
- Slightly expensive
Tech Specs: Battery life: 20 hours | Water resistant: IP67 | Multi-device connect: N/A | Compatibility: iOS, Android, PC, Mac | Voice controls: N/A
If you're looking for a top-notch, waterproof Bluetooth speaker, look no further than the JBL Charge 5. It's rated IP67 for water and dust resistance, which means that the JBL Charge 5 can be submerged in up to a meter (just over 3 feet) of water without risking damage. It can also prevent even the tiniest of dust and dirt particles from getting into the speaker and causing damage to delicate electronics. This means that the JBL Charge 5 can go with you almost anywhere you go, including: to the beach, by the pool, to the park, or in your own backyard.
With a 20 hour battery life, you can stream music, videos, and podcasts all day (and almost all night) before you need to recharge. Speaking of recharging, this speaker has a built-in power bank, allowing you to top up your tablet or smartphone battery on the go. And if the JBL Charge 5's incredible audio isn't quite enough for you, you can connect it to a second JBL speaker for true stereo sound or whole-home audio.
- Impressive battery
- Excellent audio
- Connect with up to 100 other speakers
- Voice controls
- Expensive
- RGB lighting isn't for everyone
- No Alexa support
Tech Specs: Battery life: 24 hours | Water resistant: IP67 | Multi-device connect: N/A | Compatibility: iOS, Android, PC, Mac | Voice controls: N/A
The Sony SRS-XB43 has one of the most impressive batteries I've seen in a Bluetooth speaker. It gives you up to 24 hours of playback on a full charge, and is strong enough to charge your mobile devices as well. You can connect your tablet, phone, or laptop via Bluetooth for a true wireless connection or via USB or USB-C for charging or for a more stable, hardwired connection.
You can use the Fiestable or Sony Music Center app to create custom playlists, change lighting patterns, and set custom EQ levels for personalized audio. It even works with Siri and Google Assistant for hands-free controls or making and receiving calls.
The Sony SRS-XB43 also delivers high-quality audio with separate drivers, tweeters, and bass radiators, so every tone is crystal clear. And if you want even more audio options, you can connect this speaker with up to 100 other Bluetooth speakers, Sony brand or otherwise, to create truly unique audio systems for your home or outdoor space.
What is the best Bluetooth speaker?
My pick for the best Bluetooth speaker is the Bose SoundLink Revolve. The speaker is designed to give you 360-degree audio, so you can hear your music, videos, calls, and podcasts loud and clear no matter where you place it.
You'll also get signature Bose quality audio while the built-in microphone lets you make calls or use hands-free voice commands via Alexa. And the 13 hour battery life means you can literally listen to your favorite music, videos, and podcasts all day before you need to recharge.
Bluetooth speaker | Price | Battery life | Voice controls |
Bose Soundlink Revolve Series II | $219 | 13 hours | Alexa, Hey Google, Siri |
Tronsmart Trip | $26 | 20 hours | Siri, Google Assistant |
JBL Clip 4 | $80 | 10 hours | N/A |
JBL Charge 5 | $180 | 20 hours | N/A |
Sony SRS-XB43 | $148 | 24 hours | N/A |
Which Bluetooth speaker is right for you?
When shopping for a new Bluetooth speaker, it's important to make sure that it's compatible with your devices, no matter the operating system. This will ensure that your smartphone, tablet, or laptop will connect to the speaker and stream clear, consistent audio. You should also consider the speaker's battery life, as using a wireless connection will consume more energy than a hardwired speaker would.
Fortunately, there are plenty of models on the market with 8+ hour playback times, and even some with 20+ hour battery lives. Lastly, it's important to stick to a budget in order to get the best features for the best price. You don't necessarily have to spend $100 or more on a Bluetooth speaker to get great audio or cool features like RGB lighting and hands-free voice controls.
Choose this Bluetooth speaker... | If you need... |
Bose SoundLink Revolve Series II | A high-quality, well-rounded Bluetooth speaker |
Tronsmart Trip | A budget-friendly Bluetooth speaker |
JBL Clip 4 | An ultra-portable Bluetooth speaker |
JBL Charge 5 | A water-resistant Bluetooth speaker |
Sony SRS-XB43 | A Bluetooth speaker with great battery life |
How did we choose these Bluetooth speakers?
For this list I did my best to choose a variety of budget-friendly, mid-range, and premium-grade options to cover a range of price points, features, and sound quality. I also did my best to choose Bluetooth speakers that are compatible with most iOS, Android, PC, and Mac devices.
Are Bose speakers still the best?
When Bose was founded in 1964, the company set itself up as one of the most trusted names in quality home audio, and that's still true today. Bose still makes excellent, high-quality home audio options from sound bars to pair with your TV and whole-home systems to portable Bluetooth speakers, earbuds, and noise canceling headsets.
Bose audio options are still some of the best on the market, and usually some of the most expensive, but other brands like Audio-Technica, Sony, and even Apple are beginning to offer similar quality options for more wallet-friendly prices.
What makes one speaker sound better than another?
There are quite a few technical things that go into creating a quality speaker. The two biggest factors to consider when shopping for a new Bluetooth speaker are build quality and frequency ranges. If your speaker is made from poor-quality materials, you're more likely to get a "tinny" or "buzzing" sound that's characteristic of bargain-bin models.
If your speaker has a limited frequency range, you'll also get a more dull, less impressive sound, since it won't be able to recreate certain tones like deep basses or clear high notes.
What should I look for when buying a Bluetooth speaker?
Aside from compatibility, you should consider battery life and sound quality when shopping for a new Bluetooth speaker. Many options on the market now offer 8-12 hours of playback on a full charge, which means that you can stream music, podcasts, and videos from your devices all day before you need to plug in.
And long-gone are the days where "cheap" meant "cheap sounding" as well. Plenty of budget-friendly options offer clean, crisp high and mid range audio along with rich, deep bass tones for high-quality sound.
Why do I need a Bluetooth speaker?
While phone speakers have improved in sound quality over the years, a Bluetooth speaker still reigns supreme for the best listening experience. The factors of portability and lack of cables give Bluetooth speakers the advantage over traditional speakers or sound systems.
What is Bluetooth?
You may have seen the term when navigating your phone settings or dialing the audio menu in your car, but what is Bluetooth exactly? To keep it concise, Bluetooth is a wireless technology that allows two or more devices to pair and share data.
That data can be an audio file, like the music you listen to on a Bluetooth speaker, or a picture that you're sharing from phone to phone. The capabilities of Bluetooth technology is really only limited by distance and the strength of the radio frequency.
How do I connect with Bluetooth?
For any Bluetooth connection to work, the sending and receiving devices must support Bluetooth, and agree to be paired -- for security and privacy reasons. To do this:
- Toggle on the Bluetooth pairing button on your receiving device (speaker, headphone, wireless earbud, etc.). If the product has an LED indicator, it will start blinking.
- Open the Bluetooth settings on your phone or computer (the device you are pairing from).
- Select the receiving device.
- If it's the first time pairing, your phone or computer may give you a confirmation message to complete the process.
Are there alternative Bluetooth speakers to consider?
If you're in the market for a Bluetooth speaker to use with your phone, tablet, or other devices, there are tons on the market. No matter what your budget is, you'll be able to find one that offers great audio for the right price. Here's a short list of other Bluetooth speakers I thought were great: