We’ve reviewed hundreds of Bluetooth speakers for this guide. Below are capsule descriptions of some of the models that might be of most interest to Wirecutter readers. If you don’t see a certain model you’re interested in, check out our running list of portable Bluetooth speakers we’ve tested.The new version of the Beats Pill sounds much better than the previous model, but it plays only about 2 decibels louder than the less-expensive UE Wonderboom 4, and it sounded a little bright and edgy to us.The Bose SoundLink Flex is a solid alternative to the Fender x Teufel Rockster Go 2. The sound is a little more trebly and less full, with about a 2-decibel reduction in maximum volume. But it’s a good choice if you want a speaker that’s smaller and has more conservative styling than the Rockster Go 2.The Bose SoundLink Max sounds good and has excellent maximum output for its size (96.3 dB), but it has less bass than some competitors and is comparatively expensive.The Bose SoundLink Micro (2nd Gen) sounds excellent for its size, but it’s pricey for the volume it delivers and doesn’t sound as spacious as the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4.The Bose SoundLink Plus sounded clear and full, but its maximum volume was only 88.5 dB in our tests, which is low for a speaker of its size and price.The tiny Elgin Thumper is about as portable as you can get, but we didn’t think that the performance was worth the $60 price. The Thumper could play surprisingly loud for its size, reaching 77.9 dB, but it was too small to produce satisfying bass, and we found the high frequencies to be distorted and hissy.The Fender ELIE 6 reproduced clear, accurate vocals and sounded quite balanced in our tests. It can play just slightly louder than the Rockster Go 2, and its carrying handle makes it attractively portable. However, the design feels more like a portable PA system than a portable Bluetooth speaker (it even includes a mic option and a quarter-inch XLR input). We chose not to test the larger ELIE 12 for similar reasons, along with its high price.The FiiO Snowsky Anywhere is roughly the same size and form as the JBL Go 5, but it doesn’t come close in sound quality. It sounded okay with simple singer/songwriter pieces like Elliot Smith’s “Between the Bars,” though vocals were recessed. With heavy instrumental pieces like Raye’s “Where Is My Husband!” this speaker sounded muddy and had no oomph. But you could do a whole lot worse for $15, and the Snowsky Anywhere includes some nice features like a magnetic base, an IPX6 rating, Auracast compatibility, and a long battery life.The iLive ISBW804W looks like the ultimate party speaker, with color-changing LEDs and a convenient handle. Despite its large size and 7-pound weight, its maximum output was only 88 dB. Our upgrade pick is both louder and lighter. We also thought the bass sounded boomy and, at times, overpowering. It has an IPX4 rating, which means it’s protected against water splashes, but all of our icks are rated IPX6 or higher.The cube-shaped IKEA Kallsup costs just $10. This simple speaker has no volume control or power button, just play and Bluetooth-pairing buttons on top and a USB-C charging port on the back — so we found it quite frustrating to operate. We measured a maximum output of 73.7 dB, which is really no better than most smartphones. But you can sync up to 100 of them to play together, if you want 100 speakers that sound like your phone. We also dismissed the IKEA Solskydd because we felt that $50 was a high asking pierce, given that our budget pick has more intuitive controls and delivers better bass. Both of these IKEA speakers make an unsettling noise when you plug them in.The INSMY Clip is roughly the size of an old-school pager (for those who might remember) and attaches to your person in the same way. Its button controls are simple, with a plus, a circle, and a minus on the side to perform the essential tasks. And it has an IP67 rating. But its maximum output of 76.9 dB is much better than most smartphones.The JBL Charge 6, Flip 7, and Grip are all very good speakers with rugged designs and Auracast capability. Our listeners generally liked them, but in all cases they would’ve preferred a little more bass.The pricey Marshall Emberton III underperforms for its size; voices sound strained, and it needs more bass.The Marshall Kilburn III uses its 360-degree sound radiation to great effect, and its sound quality is similar to that of the Middleton II. The bass sounded a bit rougher at high volumes, but acoustic and electric guitar sounded more present. The main downside is its size. While the speaker comes with a carrying strap, the shape is boxy rather than cylindrical, making it hard to put into a laptop bag or a backpack. It’s much more suitable as a home Bluetooth speaker.Mondo’s Speaker Small got quite loud, reaching 88.2 dB during ZZ Top’s “Chartreuse.” It has a cool, retro-tech design, but its buttons are small and difficult to locate — and we didn’t think it sounded much better than our picks, despite costing more. We felt the same way about the Speaker Medium, which hit a whopping 97.4 dB in our tests. Its knob controls and EQ sliders are definitely fun, but the speaker is quite large, and we were disappointed by how it handled midrange frequencies. John Legend’s “All of Me” sounded less like a power ballad and more like a shouting contest.The Sony ULT Field 5 and ULT Field 3 are both expensive for the volume and sound quality they offer. We thought that both speakers had a rather trebly sound and needed more bass.Soundcore’s Boom Go 3i has some nice features, such as music-reactive light modes, an IP68 waterproof rating, and a battery-life indicator. It’s small and has an elastic strap that converts into a loop, so it’s relatively portable — but it’s not quite as light and small as the JBL Go 5. It can play about 4 decibels louder than the Go 5, but some of our panel testers noted that it sounded overly bright. Plus it costs nearly $30 more.The Tribit StormBox Blast is a great value if sound quality and volume are most important to you, and if you don’t mind lugging around a 12-pound speaker. This affordably priced speaker provides excellent sound quality, and it plays about 5 dB louder than the W-King X10. The StormBox Blast 2 costs about 50% more but plays only 3.6 decibels louder than the original Blast.The Tribit StormBox Micro 3 was a favorite among our panelists in a brand-concealed test of ultra-portable speakers, with many praising its balanced sound. It just barely eked out a higher maximum output than the JBL Go 5, at 82.5 dB, and it has the same rugged IP68 rating. But it’s larger and slightly heavier than the JBL, and while the included strap will work well for a bike handle or backpack, making a loop out of it is awkward and didn’t feel secure. It also doesn’t have Auracast compatibility like the JBL does.The Tronsmart Bang Max delivers the most decibels per dollar (100.2 dB) of any large portable Bluetooth speaker we’ve found. It sounds less smooth and you can hear more bloat in the lower midrange than the Ultimate Ears Hyperboom, but for outdoor parties, it might be better. As one of our listeners said, “I’d prefer the UE for indoor listening and the Tronsmart speaker for dancing or playing music by the pool.”The Turtlebox Gen 2 is designed for high volume outdoors. It’s quite a good speaker, and it maxes out at an impressive 101.6 dB. At more than $400, it’s pricey, but if you want high volume and need something more rugged than the UE Hyperboom, it’s a great choice. We didn’t care for the Turtlebox Ranger, though, which has a harsher sound and less bass than most similarly sized competitors.The Ultimate Ears Boom 4 is a great-sounding speaker with a balanced sound and impressive clarity, but it can’t compete with the volume and bass power of the less-expensive W-King X10. The bigger, pricier Megaboom 4 played only 0.8 dB louder, and sometimes it sounded distorted on deep bass notes.The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom Play is a cost-reduced version of our top pick, the Wonderboom 4. The Play’s single-speaker design sounds rougher and considerably less room-filling than what the Wonderboom 4’s stereo speakers produce. We think the Wonderboom 4 is well worth its higher price.This article was edited by Adrienne Maxwell and Grant Clauser.
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