Best Bluetooth portable speakers for great sound quality anywhere
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Weather-permitting, we are hoping to spend the whole summer basking in the sun rays with outdoor meet-ups and al fresco feasts aplenty.
But any warm weather starter pack would be remiss not to include a portable speaker to set the ambiance and help you enjoy your favourite sun-worthy anthems with crystal clear sound quality.
If you can handle the pressure on decks, you need the sound quality to give your tunes the respect that they deserve. Transform your garden into your very own festival starring your carefully curated playlist as the headline act.
We are looking particularly to small but mighty devices that are compact enough to slip into your picnic bag or even hand luggage (positive thinking for the possibility of foreign travel) and still provide powerful sound.
The technology in audio quality has evolved exponentially over the last few years so you can elevate your sound setup with premium options at cost-friendly price tags. You can make the most of innovative features like 360 degree sound, smart assistants, weather resistance, long battery lives and durable constructions that can withstand a few knocks and bumps or accidental drops in the pool.
With such an extensive range of speakers on the market, it can be overwhelming to choose so we have gathered our favourite Bluetooth and wireless portable devices with room-filling sound.
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Bose SoundLink Flex Portable Bluetooth Speaker
This summer essential gives you elevated audio with an all-day battery life of around 12 hours to last the entirety of your festivities. Whether you’re heading to the park, beach or pool, bring unrivaled sound with you thanks to the powerful bass, and clear audio that reveals every nuance in the track.
The upgraded speaker is brimming with handy features like voice activated control through Google or Siri, phone functions in which the volume automatically adjusts itself, good signal pick up and crystal clear clarity even at party levels. No matter your summer plans, it has you covered as the waterproof device will even float. What more can you ask for?
The device is robust, durable and can certainly withstand a few knocks and bumps but still remains relatively lightweight considering.
It pairs with your devices with a one-touch connection and can even host two at once. Link up with other Bose speakers to create a surround sound experience and recharge via USB.
Sonos Move
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Like with all Sonos speakers, the Move has cinema quality sound and could not be easier to use.
The wireless battery-powered speaker can be used on the go both indoors or out and incorporated into your at-home system and paired with other Sonos devices to create a surround sound experience.
The Move is small but mighty and simply connects up with your device through WiFi, via Bluetooth, or AirPlay 2. You can then stream your music, the radio and Spotify through the easily-controlled Sonos app from any of your devices or through voice assistants like Alexa or Google where the speaker sounds a responsive chime to let you know it has heard you.
It boasts two Class-D amplifiers with adaptive Trueplay technology that optimises the sound based on the room itself to ensure you are always getting the best out of the device. There is also a rich bass, wide soundstage and a microphone built-in with advanced beamforming and echo cancellation.
It comes in a stylish monochromatic colourway in either white or black with capacitive touch controls. It is weatherproof and drop-resistant so you transform even the heaviest of rain showers into your stage. The IP56 rating ensures the device will stand up to humidity, rain, snow, dust, salt spray, UV rays, and extreme heat and cold. It is also housed in a hard-wearing shock-absorbing case to protect it from knocks and bumps.
There are 11 hours of continuous play time and it is quickly powered up by an indoor charging base included.
Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore wireless speaker
Bang & Olufen is known for its quality speakers with innovative, art-like designs that can become feature points in your home. While these can cost thousands of pounds, you can invest in the brand’s same premium sound in a compact size and at a more purse-friendly price.
Connect via Bluetooth or Apple AirPlay and enjoy the crystal clear audio that has become a signature of the label. The speaker is fitted with dual 1.8 full range drivers to provide uninterrupted, crisp and 360 degree sound no matter where you are.
From the beach and the park, to your living room or shower, you can customise the audio on the Beoplay app to ensure it fills the space. You also don’t need to worry about the device running out of charge mid-set of your carefully curated playlist as it has a whopping 27 hours of battery life.
It is IP67 dust and water resistance, light and can easily be slipped in your bag for superior audio on the go. There is even a voice assistant feature that can be operated with a one touch button so you don’t even need to get out your phone.
Also look out for the brand’s BeoSound A1 2nd Gen waterproof Bluetooth speaker (£239).
Lexon Mino+ Bluetooth Rechargeable Speaker
If you’ve owned cumbersome and heavy speakers in the past, the Lexon Mino will be the ultimate respite. We cannot stress enough how mini the speaker really is as it can fit into the palm of your hand.
But despite its teeny tiny appearance, it still packs impressive sound and even has a built-in microphone. With just an hour of charge, it has a three-hour battery life and can be powered up through a USB plug.
Ideal for travelling as it takes up no space at all and can fit in your pocket. You can connect it to other Mino speakers for a surround festival-worthy sound experience. It also comes in a choice of 10 different colours.
Ultimate Ears Boom 3 Portable Bluetooth Speaker
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If your iPhone is more shared glass than screen, this is the speaker for you. Designed to withstand even the clumsiest of people, it has gone through severe testing to ensure its durability where the brand deems it now “virtually indestructible”.
The Ultimate Ears Boom 3 comes in a range of colours with a waterproof design where it floats or can be submerged in water for up to 30 minutes. Built for adventuring or day trips, it offers 360 degrees of sound with a 15 hour battery life. The device is also loud, sleek and lightweight.
Use the touch buttons to control the speaker and up the sound without even needing to use the connected phone. Boost the volume and the deep bass by pairing with other speakers - in which it can connect to over 150 models - and charge up on a dock or via the micro USB.
HUAWEI Sound Joy
Housed in a stylish Obsidian Black or Spruce Green design, this travel-ready option from Huawei packs a two-way speaker system inside to give you balanced sound, high high and low lows with 10 W silk ome tweeter and deeper bass. The sound is crisp where you can pump up the volume without distorting it.
It has a waterproof design so you can pop into your bag for any day trips and no matter the weather. The speaker is hardwearing and lasts for around 26 hours.
Pair two speakers Sound Joy speakers with the automatic function to create a cinema-like feel, control via Voice Assistant and connect to your phone with the one-touch capability. Charge up via USB.
Sony SRS-XB13 Portable Wireless Waterproof Speaker
Come rain or shine, this speaker will help you bring the party ambiance on the move. It is waterproof, dustproof and can even be submerged in one metre of water for up to 30 minutes.
You can really take this Sony device anywhere and create your very own music festival wherever you go. It has an impressive 16-hour battery life and a portable, compact size but the festivity-ready features are where it takes the cake.
The speaker is offered in a range of colours and can be connected to hundreds of speakers to further the festival feel.
Ultimate Ears Wonderbooms 2 Wireless Speaker
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Don’t underestimate the compact appearance of this speaker. At just the size of an orange, the Wonderbooms 2 has impressive room-filling capabilities whether you are indoors or out.
Living up to the brand’s killer reputation, this speaker is fitted with a special outdoor boost that offers optimal sound - louder and clear - even when al fresco. It has two speakers that provide a surround audio feel yet remains ultra-portable with a lightweight construction. The audio is rich and balanced with a crisp and deep bass that doesn’t distort even at higher volumes.
The speaker is waterproof, dustproof and floats with no difference to sound quality, which makes it ideal for adventuring, beach trips, or taking into the sea or shower. What’s more, the battery life lasts for around 13 hours and so will not cut off throughout the day. It also switches off automatically when not in use.
It comes in a rainbow variety of colours, including this lovely unicorn hue.
Anker SoundCore mini
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For bigger sound in a small device, the Anker SoundCore mini packs a powerful punch.
You won’t believe how this tiny speaker can fill a room of any size and reach such high volumes without interfering with the sound quality. It has a heavy, powerful bass and crisp audio but best of all, it is offered at a very purse-friendly price.
The device itself has a robust and premium construction. You will get 15 hours of continuous play with quick charging capabilities. It is also fitted with FM radio and hands-free calling.
Opt between the four hues on offer and slip this speaker into your backpack or bag for powerful sound on the go.
JBL Flip 6 Portable Speaker
Set the ambiance for your al fresco festivities this summer with the JBL Flip 6 that is ideal for pool parties, beach hangs or any sunshine-related activity.
No matter the space, this room-filling speaker can play longer and louder. It has clear sound and a booming bass with 12 hours of battery life after only two and a half hours to charge fully.
The JBL speaker is waterproof and can go up to three feet deep. Pair two together to activate party mode and up the ante of your sound.
Soundcore Flare Mini Bluetooth Speaker
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Get pounding sound and the light show to match with this speaker. It boasts full 360 degree sound thanks to back to back SW drivers with a good sound balance and a deep bass but the party vibe really comes from the five light modes with eight different colours that can pulse and glow to elevate the listening experience.
This speaker has 12 hours of playtime after only three hours of charge and can withstand the inevitable spills or drops. You can even submerge it completely under water.
LG XBOOM Go PL7 Portable Wireless Bluetooth
Don’t let battery life stand in the way of your good time. With LG’s XBOOM, you have 24 hours of juice so you can channel your inner DJ all night and all day. The dual action bass and 30W speaker set you in good stead, while the LED changing lights that adapt to the beat will set the ambiance when the evening rolls around.
Roberts Beacon 320 Portable Bluetooth Speaker, Dusty Pink
Whether its for warbling to ABBA or to catch up on podcasts, Roberts Bluetooth Beacon speaker is the perfect upgrade to any audio kit. It offers rich sound in multiple directions, and it’s portable too with 12 hour playback, so you can take it everywhere from the garden to picnics with mates.
Available in a choice of three elegant colours.