The 6 Best Outdoor Speakers - Fall 2023 Reviews

The JBL Boombox 3 is the best outdoor speaker we've tested. This speaker is great for listening to music wherever you go, whether you're soaking up the sun in the backyard or relaxing at the campsite over a long weekend. It's also designed to hold up against the elements— it's rated IP67 for dust and water resistance and even floats in water. Its solid and sturdy build gives it a great feel, and with a built-in handle, you can carry it around in one hand. Since it lasts for over 29 hours off a single charge, you don't have to worry about getting it back to a power outlet for a recharge all that often.

As the best Bluetooth outdoor speaker we've tested, it's easy to stream audio from your phone to the speaker wherever you go. Granted, it's larger than some of the other picks on our list, but it pays off in terms of sound quality, and there's even a graphic EQ on hand to customize its sound. If you want something a little lighter for longer treks outdoors, you can check out some of the more budget-friendly options on our list, but if you want the best of the best, this speaker is worth a look.

Looking for a more affordable speaker to bring outside? Check out the Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3. This versatile device is great for both indoor and outdoor use. Take it to the park for an afternoon with your friends, then bring it back home to relax to music in your living room. Its small and lightweight design makes it easy to bring wherever you go, and you can even clip it to your bag with its built-in hook. Plus, it's sturdy enough to endure some exposure to the elements while you're outside, thanks to its IP67 rating for dust and water resistance.

This cool speaker is available in many different colors to suit your style, and its great sound quality makes it suitable for listening to many different music genres. Voices and lead instruments are reproduced with clarity, and you can even switch up its sound to add more thump in the bass or brightness in the treble using the graphic EQ in the Ultimate Ears app. Granted, it doesn't bring as much low-bass as the JBL Boombox 3, but the tradeoff may be worth it if you're looking for a smaller, lighter outdoor speaker. This speaker is a great choice if you want to listen to music on your next outdoor adventure.

The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 3 is the best budget outdoor speaker we've tested. For an affordable price, this small but mighty speaker lets you bring your music with you wherever you go. Small and lightweight in design, you can carry it around in one hand or clip it to your bag using the included strap. It's an especially great option for the pool since it can float in water, and it's also rated IP67 for dust and water resistance.

While its sound quality isn't as impressive as our top picks, it still performs well compared to similarly-priced models. Since it's smaller than the Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3, it's not a surprise that it can't reproduce as deep of a low-bass, so you notice a little less rumble in tracks like EDM and hip-hop. Still, voices and instruments are reproduced with clarity. The speaker's Outdoor mode is even designed to bring a little extra crispness to the mix when you're out in a larger, more open-air space, which is a cool touch. Overall, it's a standout pick if you're on a tighter budget.

If you're looking for a simple speaker that won't break the bank, the Anker Soundcore 3 is worth a look. The next generation of the Anker Soundcore 2 comes in the same small and lightweight frame, so you have no trouble bringing your favorite tunes wherever you go. Take it to the backyard or on a hike, and its IPX7 rating for water resistance keeps it safe from some light exposure to the elements. Its 13-hour battery life isn't quite as impressive as what you get with the more premium Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 3, but it's still more than enough for most days outdoors.

Despite its wallet-friendly pricing, this speaker has some cool features to help it stand out. It's one of the few speakers we've tested in this price range to offer a graphic EQ for sound customization, which is a nice touch. You can even pair it with other compatible speakers to spread sound throughout your backyard. Overall, its sound quality is solid for the price, so it's a suitable choice for listening to lots of different types of music outside.

The Pohopa EF-B210G is one of the only speakers on our list that's designed to live outside 24/7. With an IP54 rating for dust and water resistance, these speakers are more than capable of withstanding the elements. Plus, their stylish design makes them a discreet addition to your outdoor living spaces, like your patio, porch, or pool deck. The speaker comes in sets of two, each with built-in LED lights that actually function to light up your space at night, giving them some additional functionality. Simply connect your phone to the speakers via Bluetooth to stream music from your phone or laptop.

However, like most outdoor decor speakers we've tested, these devices prioritize design over sound quality. They're more than suitable for most casual listening sessions. However, if you're an astute audiophile, you'll notice a muddier and more cluttered sound than premium tools like the JBL Boombox 3. Plus, without any customization tools, you don't have any way to switch up their performance. If you aren't worried about the fidelity of audio reproduction, they're still a great choice, and you won't have any trouble hearing your music or podcasts through the speaker. Ultimately, they still rank among the best wireless outdoor speakers we've tested.

Smart speakers are a great option if you're looking for hands-free control since their built-in voice assistants are designed to respond to your commands with ease. While most are designed with in-home use in mind, the Sonos Move offers the flexibility to take your smart device outside with you. Its built-in handle makes it easier to transport to your backyard, and its IP56 rating for dust and water resistance adds some protection against the elements. It's a well-built and premium speaker with great sound quality overall, though it's not small enough for long days outside like the Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3, so you'll probably just want to keep it to your porch or backyard.

Inside, you can connect the speaker to your home network over Wi-Fi. Since it also supports Bluetooth, you can wirelessly stream content to the device when you're outside. Plus, its bass and treble adjustments give you some ability to customize its sound, which is handy. The app even lets you pair the device to other Sonos products, boosting audio throughout your home and backyard. With a 10-hour battery life, it'll last through a day outside without worrying about a recharge. It's a great voice assistant option for those interested in this technology.