The Best Bluetooth Speakers

Honorable Mentions

Here are some other good speakers we've tested that didn't quite make the cut for our top picks:

• Ultimate Ears Everboom for $250: UE’s Everboom speaker (7/10, WIRED Reviewed) is a good speaker that suffers from tough competition from within. The updated Megaboom 4 offers very similar sound, features, and an ultra-rugged design, and it’s $50 less. The Everboom is still a fine speaker with a bit more bass outdoors so if price isn’t an issue, it’s worth consideration.
• Urbanista Malibu for $150: We're not the biggest fans ever of the Urbanista Malibu's sound (7/10, WIRED Review), but it is notable in that it can be charged using solar power. That makes it a great speaker for those of us who are forgetful beach bums, or who only use a speaker like this on rare outdoor occasions, but stick to smart speakers or earbuds at home.
• Sony Ult Field 1 for $130: The smallest of Sony’s Ult speakers is a solid tubular portable up against tough competition. It offers good sound with the “Ult” bass key engaged, but its midrange is less defined and dynamic than favorites like the Ultimate Ears Boom 4 or JBL Flip 7, and it offers less battery life than either.
• Dali Katch G2 for $600: Danish specialist Dali's second generation of its remarkably elegant Katch speaker is a balanced, open, and extraordinarily positive listen. The Katch is able to extract a stack of information from even the meanest Bluetooth stream. Thanks to a choice of three finishes, a leather handle, and some typically Scandi industrial design, it looks the part as well as sounding it, but its price is very high.
• Marshall Stockwell II for $200: If you're a music fan or just love the classic Marshall guitar amplifier design, this Bluetooth speaker is ready to rock. This small, relatively pricey speaker serves up smooth, balanced, and refined sound. The durable exterior is splash-resistant, the front and back have a steel grille, and the batter lasts around 20 hours depending on how much you tweak the stylish volume knob.
• Ultimate Ears Epicboom for $300-350: The Epicboom is another excellent speaker from UE, with a curvy, pill-shaped body that's easy to transport for its size. It projects sound well in medium-sized outdoor spaces and can connect to other Ultimate Ears models inside the Boom app, potentially creating a party channel of up to 150 speakers. We also like the fact that this speaker is made from 100 percent recycled polyester fabric and 59 percent post-consumer recycled plastic.
• DemerBox DB2 for $399: The DB2 is a great companion for your boldest outdoor adventures, in large part because it serves two purposes: It's a loud portable speaker with 40 hours of built-in battery life, and it's also a crushproof Pelican case. Load it up with any particularly fragile items, plug the bass port with an included rubber stopper, and you've got yourself an everything-proof box to keep your stuff safe.
• Tivoli Model Two for $450: This radio has a gorgeous midcentury modern feel, and can sit both vertically and horizontally. It has both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth streaming options, works with Google Chromecast and Apple AirPlay, and gets plenty loud. It’s almost a little too minimalist, with its single button and surrounding LED light to control and indicate modes, and it’s pricier than it needs to be, unless you’re looking for a design statement first.
• Oontz Angle 3 Speaker for $40: This speaker has thousands of positive reviews on Amazon and is pretty great for a dirt-cheap Bluetooth speaker based on our testing. If you just want something to sing along with in the shower—and you're not a stickler for great audio quality—snag one of these.
• Bang & Olufsen Beosound Level for $2,000: Bang & Olufsen takes a “buy once, cry once” policy for wireless listening. The Beosound Level is a crazy expensive Wi-Fi and Bluetooth speaker, but it is modularly designed and aims to be repairable forever. The 16-hour battery is replaceable, as are the wood and cloth elements. The gorgeous and great-sounding speaker could be a lifetime audio addition that can be upgraded as time passes.
• Bose's SoundLink Revolve II for $219: Both this speaker and the Soundlink Revolve+ II ($329) aren't the cheapest, cutest, or most waterproof speakers, but we like their sound and their aesthetics. If you're not hard on your speakers, they're worth considering.
• Sony SRS-XG500 for $378: This is a very loud boom-box-shaped speaker with up to 30 hours of battery life. It sounds and works great, but it just doesn't sound as good as the Ultimate Ears model on our main list, and we don't love the aesthetics.