If you haven’t listened to a Bluetooth speaker lately, you’re in for a very pleasant surprise. Read on for our top picks.
That said, the industry’s progress doesn’t mean that every Bluetooth speaker justifies its price tag, no matter how inexpensive it might be. There’s still plenty of dreck floating around. Don’t worry, we’re here to help you steer clear of the junk and point you to the best speakers at the price range that fits your budget.
To that end, we’ve picked the best Bluetooth speakers (and runners-up in some cases) in six categories: budget, mid-range (up to $300), outdoor, bookshelf, high-end (up to $750), and—yes, there are ultra-high-end Bluetooth speakers—price is no object. Some of our picks can be used indoors and out, but we’ve also named our favorites that are designed primarily as outdoor speakers.
This Bluetooth speaker from Amazon is one of a kind, offering rich, solid full-range sound. It’s not just a speaker, you can listen to the news, search for information, purchase pizzas using the Alexa Voice Support. Listen to music directly over Wi-Fi from TuneIn, Spotify, iListentRadio, Prime Music, Pandora, and more. Even if the Speaker is across the room, use the word “Alexa” to wake it up and command it.
Just like the name suggests, the device can stand a little rain but it isn’t entirely water-resistant. The durable fabric material and rugged rubber make it one of the strongest on this list. No worries if the Bluetooth Speaker mistakenly slips off your hand. You can connect up to 3 smartphones or tablets to the speaker and it takes turns playing from each of the playlists.
Updated April , 2022 to add a link to our Bose SoundLink Flex review. This small and very portable Bluetooth speaker boasts a hearty IP67 weatherization rating, meaning it can survive being submerged in water and that no particulate matter–sand, for instance–will prevent it from operating. Most importantly, however, the SoundLink Flex delivers fantastic audio performance.
