If you’ve got a smartphone, smart hub, tablet or laptop, chances are you’re now the owner of an ever-growing music collection, worthy of the best speakers. But in this age of digital and streamed music, it’s harder to play music around the house. That’s where a portable Bluetooth speaker comes in handy.
Small, powerful and without the hassle of wires, Bluetooth and WiFi wireless speakers allow you to play music from virtually any piece of tech, and they’re cheaper and more powerful than ever. But with so many on the market to choose from, we’ve done the legwork for you and put together a list of the best Bluetooth speakers you can buy in 2024.
The best Bluetooth speakers at a glance:
We’ve also selected our favourite portable and fixed speakers at different price points, so there’s something here for everyone, regardless of budget.
A relatively new brand on the block, Tribit has really impressed us already. When we tested the StromBox Pro, we were blown away by the speaker's excellent bass response and energetic playback. The Xbass feature is huge fun, it's waterproof, carries 24-hours battery life and can double up as a portable smartphone charger.
Read our full Tribit StromBox Pro review.
Ultimate Ears or UE has a reputation for making some of the best performing Bluetooth speakers you can buy, and the Boom 3 is one of its best. Combining 15 hours battery life and compact size with powerful room-filling sound, the Boom 3 provides ample bass, but conveys detail you wouldn't expect from a speaker this inexpensive and this small.
If you're after a little more power, though, we'd suggest you try the larger, more powerful MegaBoom 3. If you're after what's newest though, Ultimate Ears just announced their new line-up, with upgraded Booms among them, have a read to find out more.
The Anker Soundcore Motion Boom is a hugely popular speaker. It's earned its solid reputation in the best way possible - by actually being really, really good. Its driver kicks out powerful and rich audio, while the robust outer shell keeps it safe from rain. The battery will keep the party going long into the night too, as it runs for up to 24-hours.
To quote directly from our review: "The Wonderboom 2 sets up its own assessment criteria through the virtue of its name - so, does it create wonder, and does it boom? Yes, very much so." Straddling the line between small and medium, the Wonderboom 2 is a portable Bluetooth speaker with lively audio and plenty of volume.
Read our full Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 review.
If you're after a fun, compact, easy-to-use speaker then you can't go far wrong with this gem from Sony. It's available in a range of funky colours, and is affordable and consistent - what more do you need in a portable speaker?
Olivia Sheed - What's the BestThe Tribit StormBox Micro 2 is an ultra-portable Bluetooth speaker with a surprisingly powerful audio performance. Not only has it got great mono audio, long battery life and stable connection, but it's waterproof and comes with a built-in strap, allowing it to connect to backpack straps and handlebars for easy travel.
Read our full Tribit StormBox Micro 2 review.
Marshall is a name that needs no introduction. A legend in the arena of rock and roll, the British brand is now also directing its expertise to Bluetooth speakers, and the Kilburn II is one of the impressive results. On the outside, the Kilburn II borrows from the style and heritage Marshall has become known for over the last six-or-so decades, and underneath it packs in great sounds and up to 20 hours of battery life.
A list of portable Bluetooth speakers wouldn't be complete without something from the creator of the Walkman, and the SRS XB31 uses all of Sony's expertise in audio to great effect. Featuring dual passive radiators along with a pair of stereo speakers, the XB31 provides punchy robust sound despite its compact size. It's available in a range of vibrant colours, and with 24 hours battery life, it lends itself to be used frequently and on the go.
If you're looking for an inexpensive Bluetooth speaker for entertaining, you can do much worse than the Anker Soundcore Flare. The Soundcore Flare gives you room-filling 360 sound from a relatively compact package and even throws in a rhythmic light-show. Throw in iPX7 waterproof certification and it's basically made for parties. When pushed it wont' sound as good as more expensive models, but it's impressive for the price – and you can even link more than one together.
Curtis Moldrich has worked in the technology sector for several years, reviewing and testing the best audio gear, laptops and gadgets at titles including The Telegraph, Mixmag and Expert Reviews. Now the online editor of CAR magazine, he's a keen sim-racer, too.
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