Best Bluetooth Speaker for 2023: Top Picks for All Budgets
When looking for the best Bluetooth speaker, consider more than just size, shape, and price. Battery life, convenient features, and sound quality are also important factors.
But, for a speaker to truly excel in all these important aspects, it becomes a reliable and effortless means of streaming your favorite music. Unfortunately, not many speakers can impress you with a combination of exceptional value, long-lasting battery, and remarkably high audio quality. Those rare few are the ones that truly offer the best portable speaker experience for your money. That’s precisely what the list below will provide!
1. Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 (2nd Gen)
Unveiling the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 (2nd Gen), a Bluetooth speaker that seamlessly blends style and portability. With nearly indistinguishable aesthetics from the original A1, it surprises with imperfect yet functional Alexa integration. Discover a compelling choice for those seeking a balance of elegance and performance.
Experience the excellence of Bang & Olufsen with the second-generation Beosound A1 Bluetooth speaker. While visually similar to its predecessor, notable upgrades and Alexa support make it an enticing choice. Its stunning design seamlessly fits any home, and its portability adds convenience.
The Beosound A1 delivers exceptional audio quality, highlighting every instrument with crisp precision. Despite its compact size, it thrives in smaller rooms. It surpasses its predecessor with improved battery life and waterproofing, though outdoor usage is debatable. While Alexa support has limitations, Beosound A1 reaffirms Bang & Olufsen’s renowned reputation.
Pros:
- Crisp sound quality
- Lightweight and portable design
- Waterproof for worry-free usage
Cons:
- Alexa support has limitations
- Not suitable for rugged outdoor use
- Buttons may be challenging to locate
Price
Available on Amazon at the price of USD 195.00
2. Ultimate Ears Hyperboom
The Hyperboom by Ultimate Ears is their biggest speaker yet, allowing you to bring the party wherever you go, indoors or outdoors, despite its slightly heavy build. Moreover, it showcases a sleek and inconspicuous design while offering the convenience of pairing with two devices simultaneously. While it falls on the higher end of the price spectrum for Bluetooth speakers, its remarkable sound quality makes it worth the investment.
The Ultimate Ears Hyperboom is a powerful party speaker, perfect for taking your music from inside to outside. It’s their largest speaker yet and is designed to be an all-in-one party companion that delivers impressive sound quality. The Hyperboom offers a balanced soundstage with strong bass and can reach high volumes without distortion. It also features multi-point pairing for seamless DJ transitions. The only downside is its higher price tag, but if you’re willing to invest and carry its weight, you’ll get excellent sound, portability, and connectivity.
Pros:
- Outstanding sound quality
- Smart dual connection capability
- Stylish and attractive design
Cons:
- Heavy for transport
Price
Available on Amazon at the price of USD 399.99
3. Cleer Audio Scene Speaker
The Clear Audio Scene outperforms its close rival JBL with a budget-friendly price tag. It offers handy features like a built-in microphone and a 3.5mm port. However, its bulky design and potentially underwhelming bass may not appeal to everyone. Nevertheless, the audio quality for its price range is truly impressive and worth considering.
The Cleer Audio Scene offers a competitive advantage over its close JBL rival by providing a built-in microphone for voice calls and a 3.5mm aux-in port, all at a lower price point. However, it does have a few drawbacks. The Scene’s design is chunky and may be considered clunky by some, while bass enthusiasts might not be entirely satisfied with the speaker’s tuning. Despite these minor concerns, its audio quality is truly impressive for the price.
Although not as portable as some competitors, the Scene compensates with a respectable 12-hour battery life, decent sound quality, and IPX7 water resistance, making it a reliable option. However, the wave-shaped design can be divisive, as it tends to catch on things when placed or removing it from a bag and can only be positioned horizontally.
Nevertheless, these are relatively minor drawbacks. The Scene offers remarkable sound performance for the price and surpasses cheaper alternatives in terms of quality.
Pros:
- Competitive pricing compared to rivals
- Includes a built-in microphone
- User-friendly and straightforward functionality
Cons:
- Divisive design that may not appeal to everyone
- Unusual sound pairing
- Lacks strong bass performance
Price
Available on Amazon at the price of USD 99.99
4. Sonos Roam Bluetooth Speaker
We’ve chosen the Sonos Roam as the ultimate portable speaker, combining powerful sound, rugged design, impressive connectivity features, and smart home control. Its bass-heavy audio performance makes it perfect for outdoor use, and the clever Automatic Switching feature also allows for seamless indoor usage. However, it’s worth noting that some audiophiles may find the dominant low frequencies and rhythmic handling overwhelming.
The Sonos Roam is the ultimate Bluetooth speaker, offering an IP67 dust and water resistance rating that ensures its durability in outdoor environments. Building upon the success of the Sonos Move, the Sonos Roam provides Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity options, allowing it to function as a portable outdoor speaker or seamlessly integrate into your multi-room Sonos system. Furthermore, it boasts the convenience of Google Assistant and Alexa, doubling as a smart speaker.
Sonos speaker delivers a remarkably powerful sound, making it an excellent investment, particularly for discerning listeners. Its rugged design, exceptional connectivity features, and smart home control capabilities enhance its appeal. While its bass-heavy audio performance caters to outdoor usage, the innovative Automatic Switching feature also ensures seamless indoor transitions. However, it’s important to note that some audiophiles may find occasional overwhelming low frequencies.
Pros:
- Impressive audio performance with powerful sound
- Portable design that is easy to carry around
- Excellent connectivity options
- Support for Google Assistant and Alexa
Cons:
- Relatively high price
- Bass levels can be overwhelming
Price
Available on Amazon at the price of USD 178.90
5. Sonos Move Bluetooth Speaker
Despite its higher price point, the portable Sonos Move justifies its cost through its intelligent connectivity and exceptional sound quality that rivals traditional living room speakers. However, it is unfortunate that the Sonos Move cannot be incorporated into a surround sound system.
Sonos debuted in the portable audio market with the Sonos Move, its first Bluetooth and Wi-Fi speaker. With a wide range of options, including the compact Roam, soundbars like Ray, Arc, and Beam, and the premium Sub subwoofer, Sonos caters to various needs.
Their collaboration with Ikea has expanded their product line to include bookshelves and lamps. The Sonos Move, released in 2019, has been a top choice in our best Bluetooth speakers guide, offering both indoor and outdoor versatility. It combines on-the-go Bluetooth playback with the ability to integrate into a Wi-Fi multi-room speaker system, making it a feature-rich option.
Pros:
- Seamless integration with the Sonos ecosystem
- Portable and perfect for on-the-go music
Cons:
- Limited Bluetooth features compared to other options
- Not compatible with rear cinema speakers
Price
Available on Amazon at the price of USD 398.99
6. Tribit Stormbox Micro 2
The Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 reaffirms that ‘Tribit’ and ‘value’ are inseparable companions on life’s journey. Stormbox Micro 2 is an impressive and highly portable speaker with great value for money at just $60. With unexpected features and a powerful, clear sound, it’s perfect for picnics, hikes, or campfires.
The Micro 2 is compact, about the size of drink coasters, and has a handy strap for easy attachment to bags or bike handlebars. Weighing 315g with an IP67 dust- and waterproof rating, it’s ideal for beach or pool outings. It offers up to 12 hours of battery life at moderate volume.
You can combine two Micro 2 speakers for mono sound or create a stereo pair. Although you can’t daisy-chain other original Stormbox Micros like JBL’s PartyBoost or the UE Wonderboom series, this is a minor inconvenience considering the speaker’s overall performance at this level.
Pros:
- Impressive sound quality considering its size
- Added functionality to charge your phone
- Incredible value for the features it offers
Cons:
- Lack of 3.5mm line-in for wired listening
- Inability to chain with older models for expanded audio capabilities
Price
Available on Amazon at the price of USD 59.99
7. JBL Flip 6 Bluetooth Speaker
The JBL Flip 6 is a straightforward Bluetooth speaker that ensures exceptional sound quality on the move. Its durable and portable design makes it easy to take with you anywhere. The speaker delivers powerful low frequencies with dual bass radiators without sacrificing clarity. While lacking a phone charging port, the Flip 6 impresses in all other aspects, making it a top choice for music enthusiasts.
The JBL Flip 6 excels as a Bluetooth speaker by focusing on the essentials and getting them right. It is simple to use, delivers impressive sound quality, and can be paired with 100 other JBL speakers for a massive audio experience. While lacking voice assistants or Wi-Fi connectivity, the Flip 6 compensates with its powerful and well-balanced audio performance.
Trebles can be slightly harsh at higher volumes, but clarity and detail are excellent overall. With a 12-hour battery life and IP67 water and dust proofing, the Flip 6 is perfect for pool or beach use. It comes in various eye-catching colors. A minor drawback is the absence of a phone-charging port, seen in larger JBL Charge speakers.
Pros:
- Impressive, well-balanced sound with strong bass
- User-friendly and easy to operate
- Sturdy and rugged design
Cons:
- Absence of a charging port for your phone
- Lack of built-in voice assistant
- Limited ability to stereo pair with other Flip 6 speakers
Price
Available on Amazon at the price of USD 85.95
Conclusion
The best Sonos speakers excel when bridging the gap between indoor and outdoor sound, providing exceptional audio quality while seamlessly integrating into a multi-room system.
JBL is renowned for offering affordable waterproof speakers, and their line of party speakers even features built-in light shows for added entertainment value.
For those prioritizing waterproofing, Ultimate Ears offers a range of models with vibrant, playful designs and durable constructions, many capable of withstanding water submersion.
If you seek a combination of elegant design and superior sound, consider high-end audio brands like Bose and Bang & Olufsen, though be prepared for their relatively higher price points. However, if budget-friendliness is a priority, Tribit and Anker offer robust speakers that deliver excellent performance without breaking the bank. Check out more for waterproof Bluetooth speakers available in 2023.
