The 6 Best Portable Bluetooth Speakers - Black Friday 2024

The JBL Boombox 3 is the best portable Bluetooth speaker we've tested. This mid-size speaker is a little larger than the other picks on our list, but it's a fair trade-off if you want the best possible sound. Thanks to its heftier build, this speaker reproduces a deeper and more extended low-bass, so you really feel the rumble in bass-heavy genres like EDM and hip-hop. The rest of the range is quite balanced, so you get clear and accurate voices and instruments in the mix. Plus, its 3-band graphic EQ lets you customize its sound.

Thanks to its built-in handle, this speaker can easily move from room to room. It's even rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, so you can take it outside, and with an almost 30-hour battery life, it easily lasts through long days on the go. Music lovers and audiophiles alike will want to look at this stand-out speaker, but if you're looking for something more lightweight with a more immersive sound, it's worth checking out the Bose SoundLink Max instead. The Bose can get louder, though there's a fair bit more compression as you crank the volume. Users who prefer a marathon battery life will find that its 15-hour battery life doesn't cut it compared to the JBL's impressive 30 hours, though.

The Ultimate Ears EPICBOOM is another portable Bluetooth speaker that is offered at a more affordable price. You'll notice that Ultimate Ears' speakers make up a few of our picks in this article due to their compact, user-friendly designs that facilitate great directivity. This speaker is no exception, and its portable design makes it suitable for listening at home or while out and about. It's a little on the heavier side, but its built-in strap helps you transport it wherever you go. Plus, it's sturdy, with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance to protect it against the elements, and you can get it in either black or white color variants.

As for the sound, this speaker has many features to make the most of your listening experience. Its Adaptive EQ feature automatically adjusts the device's sound to your room's unique acoustics, which is a nice touch, and its graphic EQ and presets let you perform some manual tuning. However, compared to the more premium JBL Boombox 3, it doesn't reproduce as much low-bass. Its 7.8-hour battery life isn't quite as impressive and may be limiting for longer days outside. If you need something slightly more portable, with a longer battery life, it's worth checking out the Ultimate Ears EVERBOOM instead. It can't get as loud, though, and lacks a bit of low-end thump compared to the EPICBOOM.

The Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 4 is an even more affordable option that's smaller and more lightweight than our top picks. This cylindrical Bluetooth speaker is easy to take on the go, and you can even attach it to your bag with its built-in carrying hook. If you want to use your speaker at the pool or the lake, it's a great choice since it floats in water and boasts an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance. It also comes in many color variants, so you can find one that best matches your style. The newest iteration comes with the welcome addition of USB-C charging.

While the fourth generation has a slightly better bass extension than its predecessor, its smaller size means that this speaker's low-frequency extension is less impressive than that of the Ultimate Ears EPICBOOM. You'll notice less low bass in the mix, but it's still well suited for most dialogue or instrument-focused content, like podcasts or folk and pop music. Plus, its companion app has a lot of customization options to make the most of its sound, including a graphic EQ and presets. It has a small design and great sound, making it one of our best golf speakers, too.

The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4 is the best portable speaker we've tested in the budget range. While upgrades from the previous generation have been minimal, this speaker still offers great sound quality for the price, with a small and lightweight design that's ideal for listening on the go. This version adds USB-C charging and a dedicated podcast mode to improve a winning formula. Since it can float in water, it's also great to use at the pool, and its IP67 rating for dust and water resistance keeps it safe when exposed to the elements. Environmentally conscious shoppers will appreciate that this speaker is made of recycled plastic. Since it's available in many different colors, you can easily pick a model that suits your style.

As for the sound, this speaker's clear and accurate reproduction of voices and other lead instruments makes it a great choice for listening to lots of different genres. That said, it has fewer sound customization features than more premium speakers like the Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 4. If you want a budget-friendly speaker with a graphic EQ and presets to switch up your sound, check out the Anker Soundcore Flare 2. While its battery life doesn't last as long as the Ultimate Ears, the Anker is still a solid option if you want more control over the mix.

The Sony SRS-XB100 is an incredibly small speaker—in fact, it's one of the smallest we've tested. This portable Bluetooth speaker is lightweight enough to bring with you wherever you go, and its included strap makes it easy to attach to your bag or wrist. Plus, it boasts an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, and it can float in water, which is great if you want to take it to the pool. It's also available in a few different colors to fit your style.

This speaker's size means its sound quality isn't quite as impressive as our top picks, but that might be a fair trade-off if you want something small and portable. It's still suitable for listening to most music genres, albeit with less rumble in the low-bass with genres like EDM. Unlike the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4, it has to downmix stereo content into mono to play it back, which isn't ideal for music lovers. Still, for its size, it does a solid job. You can even check out our recommendations for the best small Bluetooth speakers if you want to look at similar options.

Want hands-free control of your speaker? Check out the Sonos Roam 2. It's a portable smart speaker with built-in Alexa and Sonos Assistant. The pocket-friendly Roam is designed for days on the go, as it's easy to slip into a bag or backpack to take around with you. Plus, it's rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, and it floats in water, so it's protected a bit against the elements. Building on a very similar blueprint to the Sonos Roam/Roam SL, this version adds dedicated Bluetooth and power buttons. It also comes with a TruePlay room correction feature that can adapt the sound to the acoustics of your listening space.

This speaker is also a great addition to your existing Sonos ecosystem at home since you can pair it up with compatible devices to spread audio throughout the room. It's especially useful since the smaller Roam doesn't get as loud as some of the larger speakers on our list, and pairing it with another device can help. If you want a bigger portable smart speaker that gets louder, you can always check out the Sonos Move 2. However, its larger size means it takes up more space in your bag when transporting, and the speaker weighs more, which isn't ideal for everyone.