The 6 Best Portable Bluetooth Speakers - Fall 2023 Reviews

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 for you if you want the best possible sound. Thanks to its heftier build, this speaker can reproduce a deeper and more extended low-bass, so you feel the rumble in bass-heavy genres like EDM and hip-hop. The rest of the range is quite balanced, too, so you get clear and accurate voices and instruments in the mix. Its 3-band graphic EQ lets you customize its sound however you want.

Thanks to its built-in handle, this speaker is still easily transported from room to room. It's even rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, so you can take it outside. This speaker also gets louder than many of the smaller picks on our list, and with an almost 30-hour battery life, it has no trouble lasting 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 smaller and more lightweight, keep scrolling to check out some of the more wallet-friendly picks on our list.

The Sony SRS-XG300 is another mid-size Bluetooth speaker with great sound, and it's available at a more affordable price than the JBL Boombox 3. Again, it's a bit larger than the more wallet-friendly picks on our list, but that means it can get louder and reproduce even more rumble in the low-bass. This speaker's sound quality is suitable for many different genres, with a balanced sound right out of the box. If you want something different, there's a graphic EQ available in its companion app. Bump up the bass or even out the treble, and you can make it sound however you like.

This speaker may be on the larger side, but it's still more than suitable for on-the-go listening. Its built-in handle makes it easy to carry in one hand. Thanks to its IP67 dust and water resistance rating, it can also withstand some exposure to the elements. Take it with you to the park or on your next camping trip, and its 14-hour battery life lets you listen all day long without worrying about a recharge. Of course, this falls a little short of the JBL's 29-hour battery life, and it doesn't get as loud as our top pick, either. Still, it may be a fair trade-off if you're looking to save a little on your next speaker.

The Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3 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. It also floats and has an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, which is great if you want to use your speaker near or in a pool, river, or lake. This speaker comes in many color variants, so you can find one that best matches your style.

Given its smaller size, it's unsurprising that this speaker's low-frequency extension is less impressive than that of the JBL Boombox 3. You'll notice less bass in the mix, but it's still well suited for 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. With a small design and a great sound, it's worth checking out, especially if you want to spend less on your next speaker.

The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 3 is the best portable speaker in the budget range that we've tested. This neat little speaker, designed for outdoor and indoor use, is made of recycled plastic and is available in various color variants. Given its small and lightweight design, it's easy to clip it to your bag using its built-in strap or carry it in one hand while on the go. 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.

This speaker also comes with an Outdoor Mode preset that makes audio sound clearer and more crisp when you're out of the house. Otherwise, it doesn't have as many customization features as the Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3. 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 the Anker can't float in water, and its battery life doesn't last as long as the Ultimate Ears, it's 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 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 3, 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 something similar.

Want hands-free control of your speaker? Check out the Sonos Roam. It's a small, portable smart speaker with built-in voice assistants, so you can control it using only your voice. 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.

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. However, its larger size means it takes up more space in your bag when transporting, and the speaker weighs more.