16 best Bluetooth speakers for epic audio, tried and tested

Full disclosure: we initially balked at the size of this speaker, which is slightly larger than the others we featured here (it’s 31.8cm x 13.8cm x 13.6cm). But it’s also fantastically rugged (IP67 is one of the highest IP ratings you can get) and packs a serious punch, blasting out crisp, clear sound for up to 25 hours on a single charge. Key to this is the X-balanced speaker unit, which swaps the circular diaphragms you’ll find in traditional speakers for square-shaped ones. This, in turn, means more sound pressure and better high-quality sound.

There’s definitely less distortion with this speaker, which is packed with features we love, whether it’s the way the controls are hidden beneath a rubberised flap, the retractable handle or the subtle lighting on the end (use the Sony Music Center app to tweak the illumination pattern). Our top tip? Use the “mega bass” to crank up the bass.

We’ve yet to come across a product from Anker (Soundcore is an Anker sub-brand) we don’t love, but rest assured we went into this review with full impartiality. That said, we weren’t disappointed.  The upside to the Motion X600’s slightly larger size is the room-filling sound, which comes courtesy of five drivers and five amplifiers, which disperse sound both horizontally and vertically.

There’s no noise distortion either, something we suspect is down to Soundcore’s claim the speaker uses a high-end DSP (digital signal processor). Its 12-hour battery life is also pretty impressive for a speaker that packs this amount of power, and we’re also huge fans of the easily-navigable Soundcore app, which can be used, among other things, to tweak the speaker’s EQ (equalisation), adjusting elements such as bass and treble.

This sleek silver dream machine offers fantastic surround sound courtesy of its cylindrical design, while unexpected perks include the 17-hour battery life, the ease with which we could activate wireless Bluetooth pairing with voice prompts, and a top-quality omnidirectional acoustic deflector (in layman’s terms, this helps disperse sound in multiple directions). We also appreciated the little things, such as the use of softer material in areas where the speaker was most likely to encounter bumps and scrapes, and the use of a single-extrusion construction technique, which explains its slick, seamless design.

Write off this small (it’s the size of an egg) but mighty speaker at your peril. We were admittedly initially suckered in by the cosmetic features – including the illuminated bottom section, which changes colour in time to the music, and can be configured using its very own app – but there’s substance as well as style, here.

To start with, it’s made from recycled ocean-bound plastic. Then there’s the option to pair multiple speakers and the multi-functionality (this must be one of the only speakers with controls that don’t just control basics such as volume, but can be used to activate phone selfies). Yes, we’d love to have seen a slightly longer battery life, but when speakers are this much fun, we’re not going to kick up too much of a fuss.

There are more great sustainability credentials courtesy of Boompods’ pocket-sized speaker, which is made from recycled plastic. It’s got an exceptionally rugged design – there’s a tough dangle cord, and its IPX7 rating means it can be submerged 1m under water for up to 30 minutes. The controls are wonderfully simple to use, and it can also be controlled via an app.

OK, this might not be the most hi-tech device out there, but it’s not designed to be, and there’s certainly space in our tech cupboard for this elegant speaker (although, we’re slightly baffled by the requirement for four batteries as the only alternative to mains power). We’d recommend this for anyone who might not be after an all-singing, all-dancing device, but who craves the simplicity of a speaker that will also double as a radio while producing crisp, clear sound. Bonus points for the ultra-bright LED display and the alarm clock functionality.

We’ve watched countless portable speakers topple into puddles or off the rocks on which we’ve carefully positioned them, so, we loved how the combination of this speaker’s weightiness and shape (flat and long) ensured it stayed put. The sound quality is incredible, and we suspect this is largely thanks to the positionIQ technology, which optimises audio depending on the speaker’s position – whether it’s lying flat or you’re hanging it from a backpack using the loop provided. We also appreciated its ruggedness – it has an IP67 rating (drop it in water and it will be fine) and a powder coating that is resistant to rust and UV light, and won’t peel or flake.

Looking for a speaker that’s also a radio? Say hello to Roberts Radio’s rambler mini, which has DAB, FM and Bluetooth functionality and is fabulously easy to use. Although, we’d have appreciated lights to reassure us it’s charging. That said, this is our only complaint about a device that delivers fantastic audio quality and has a gorgeous retro-inspired look, too. Although, there’s only a front-facing speaker, its size allows for brilliant sound distribution, while tactile controls make it a breeze to scroll between settings.

JBL is a brand that has seriously upped its game when it comes to speakers. The blurb states this speaker’s racetrack-shaped woofer delivers fantastic sound when it comes to low and mid-range frequencies, while a tweeter (an additional speaker designed for frequencies in the “upper” range) provides brilliant crispness. We’re happy to report the blurb was correct.

This wraparound-style speaker offered up some serious bass, although it’s a great all-rounder, too. We loved the ultra-bright indicator lights and the partyboost mode, which enables multiple flip 6s to be connected wirelessly. Even the packaging is sustainable – entirely recyclable, with instructions printed in a soy-based ink.

It comes in a great range of colourways but note the price varies, depending on the colour chosen.

Yep, that’s right: Polaroid has entered the world of Bluetooth speakers, and we’re liking what we see. Not just in an aesthetic sense, either – although, we’re admittedly slightly obsessed with the ultra-bright colour scheme, music-responsive LED display and ghetto-blaster-inspired styling. In terms of audio, this speaker certainly delivered when we wanted to crank up the volume.

Controls are simple but cover the necessary bases, with play/power, back, forward and favourite buttons. The one (minor) gripe? There’s no IP rating, so it’s probably not the best speaker for wild, wet weekends in the great outdoors. However, for house parties, barbecues and solo jam sessions, it’s hard to beat.

This retro model is both a radio and Bluetooth speaker, although, it doesn’t have an internal battery, so it can’t be charged using a USB-C cable. That means you’ll need to keep it plugged in or use six AA batteries, but that’s as complicated as it gets.

Despite the wide range of settings – including controls that can be used to scroll through streaming services such as Deezer and Spotify – everything about this model is easy to use. From the Bluetooth connection process to the way the equaliser can be tweaked according to music genre, it’s a great option with great sound quality and a price tag to match.

Given its tiny size – it weighs just 209g and easily slipped into our back pocket – this speaker packs a serious punch. It has an IP67 certification, which means its dust-resistant and waterproof to a depth of 1m and offers various features that more-expensive speakers don’t have. The controls are refreshingly simple to use with buttons to play, activate Bluetooth, crank up the volume and turn it on and off, and there’s a major focus on practicality when it comes to the design. The woven hanging loop makes it easy to hang the device from backpacks or tent struts, and the wraparound speaker provides surprisingly consistent audio distribution.

First things first, while this speaker delivered undeniably fantastic audio quality, and we absolutely loved the voice control functionality, it’s not the easiest to set up. We spent 20 minutes trying to do so, and could eventually only finish up when using the speaker’s app. In reality, though, it’s a relatively minor downside, and this slightly painful process, thankfully, only needs to be carried out once.

After that, the speaker is refreshingly rugged. It has an IP67 rating, which means it can be submerged in 1m of water for up to 30 minutes, and, thanks partly to Trueplay tuning – which optimises sound depending on the genre of the music and the environment – it delivers incredible audio too.

When it comes to compact, rugged speakers that we can dangle from backpacks or pull out for impromptu jam sessions at gatherings, this speaker, which has a 22-hour battery life, is hard to beat. Although its audio isn’t going to rival that of larger, more-expensive speakers, it’s seriously impressive for a device of this size. Plus, it can be wirelessly connected to additional models, for more wide-reaching audio. It’s another one that scores highly in the sustainability stakes, too, as its exterior is 100 per cent recycled.

This is one seriously sustainable speaker – 30 per cent is reclaimed hemp, and there’s a heavy reliance on bamboo, too. There’s a pretty impressive 25-hour battery life, and we were able to pair it with our smartphone in a nano-second. Although it’s not the smallest portable speaker, the pay-off is the sound distribution – House of Marley claims this speaker delivers fantastic sound over a 30m range and our testing proved this estimate to be pretty accurate, with no discernible loss of audio quality.