15 Best Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker Portable, budget, smart, wireless

15 Best Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker Portable, budget, smart, wireless

Portable speakers continue to improve, with better sound and battery life. These are the best ones you can buy right now Our favorite portable speakers of all shapes and sizes, from clip-on to a massive boom box.

There are so many reasons to get a Bluetooth speaker. Maybe you want an outdoor speaker for socially distanced gatherings, maybe you need great sound that can be moved on a whim, or perhaps you’re building surround sound with multiple speakers in your home theater. Regardless of your reason, there’s almost certainly a portable speaker with powerful sound to meet your needs.

In our quest to find the best Bluetooth speaker, we considered factors such as battery life, sound quality, and more — below, we present our current contenders, including compact mini models, pocket-size micro versions, and heftier models with powerful audio. Looking for more? We can also recommend the best smart speakers and the best Wi-Fi speakers and music systems.

What To Consider When Buying An Bluetooth Speaker

Sound, durability, and battery life are the most important things to consider when buying a waterproof speaker. Regardless of what type of output you make, a high-quality product should be able to deliver a stellar listening experience for many hours between charges.

When it comes to sound, the more audio drivers a speaker has, the more entertaining and rich in detail it will deliver. For our best choice, we select a product that can deliver high-quality stereo sound to the listeners in front of it. If you plan to make the device a real party centerpiece, consider an offering that is capable of 360-degree multi-directional audio.

All the speakers on our list have an official water resistance rating (some may even float on the surface), and it is important to know the difference between an IP and an IPX nickname. The former means that the product can handle water and dust, while the latter attests that a speaker has only been rated for water exposure. Ideally, you should choose a versatile speaker that can withstand more than just exposure to water.

When it comes to battery life, the absolute minimum to consider before buying a waterproof speaker is 10 hours. This will ensure that the device can entertain you during a daily outing. Most of the best waterproof speakers can easily play a day’s worth of songs with power to spare.

It’s also worth considering additional cool features like built-in lights and the ability to charge your phone or other devices. So are app-enabled tools for customizing the speaker’s sound, adjusting its settings, among many others. An app can also allow you to update your speaker’s firmware and potentially expand its capabilities.

Ready to find the ultimate waterproof Bluetooth speaker? Learn more about our favorite picks at all prices.

15 Best Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker Portable, budget, smart, wireless 2023

Best under $100Anker Soundcore Motion Plus

ED I T O R S ’ C H O I C EDEC 2020

Anker’s Soundcore Motion Plus came out in 2019 and managed to slip beneath my radar, which is a shame because it’s arguably one of the best-sounding speakers under $100, if not the best. It’s larger than many mini Bluetooth speakers but still compact and manages to sound quite a bit fuller than much of the competition under $100, with bigger bass, more volume and better clarity. It’s also fully waterproof (IPX7 rated) and has support for the aptX streaming codec for devices like Samsung’s Galaxy phones that support it.

Read our Anker Soundcore Motion Plus review.$100 AT AMAZON

Watch this: JBL Boombox 2 vs. UE Hyperboom: Battle of the portable… 4:13

Best value micro speakerTribit Storm box Micro

Tribit’s StormBox Micro is one of the best sounding pocket-sized Bluetooth speakers I’ve tested, with bigger bass and volume than most other tiny speakers. It lists for $50 but often gets discounted to $40 or less.

Aside from its great design, Bose’s SoundLink Micro stood out because it was able to deliver more bass than every Bluetooth speaker in its size class, and it also managed to have limited distortion at higher volumes. And it’s the Tribit’s bass and overall volume level for its tiny size that allows it to stand out. 

It’s IP67 dustproof and water-resistant (it can be fully submerged in shallow water for a short time) and has up to eight hours of battery life at moderate volume levels with USB-C charging. Like the Bose, this portable Bluetooth speaker has an integrated strap so you can clip it to your backpack or bike’s handlebars. 

$40 AT AMAZONBest for clipping onto a backpackJBL Clip 4

For its first three generations, JBL’s Clip micro Bluetooth speaker had a circular design. But for the fourth-gen Clip 4, JBL has moved to a more oval shape, bulked up the speaker slightly and added USB-C charging. It does seem more durable, with a sturdier integrated carabiner “clip.” Also, it sounds a little better, with more volume, clearer sound and more bass. With an IP67 water-resistance rating, it’s not quite fully waterproof (the Clip 3 is), but it’s now dustproof.

One of the best wireless Bluetooth speakers for its tiny speaker size, the Clip speaker sells for $70 but should come down in price a bit later in the year. The older Clip 3 is frequently discounted. 

Read our review of JBL Clip 4.$70 AT AMAZONBest value mini boomboxAnker Soundcore Motion Boom

Anker’s $100 Soundcore Motion Boom is what I’d call a mini boombox speaker. It’s kind of a poor man’s version of JBL’s well-regarded Xtreme 2 speaker, which currently sells for around $200 though its list price is higher. Equipped with a handle and weighing a little over 4 pounds, the speaker reminds me of one of those giant flashlights or “floating lanterns” that were in vogue about 30 years ago. For the record, the Motion Boom actually does float and is fully waterproof with an IPX7 rating. 

Anker says the Motion Boom delivers “huge stereo sound” and yes, it plays pretty loud and has a decent amount of bass with reasonable clarity. (I kept the bass boost on at all times because the speaker sounds better with the bass boost on.) It can’t compete against bigger and more expensive speakers like JBL’s Boombox 2 ($400) and Ultimate Ears’ Hyperboom ($400), but it packs a lot more volume and punch than more compact Bluetooth speakers like JBL’s Flip 5 that cost around the same. It also travels well, so it’s ideal for a beach excursion or a little tailgating. 

 Read our Anker Soundcore Motion Boom review.$85 AT AMAZONBest party speakers Hyperboom

Ultimate Ears Boom Bluetooth speakers come in a few different sizes, but none of them are as big as the all-new Hyberboom. A supersize wireless speaker that tips the scales at a hefty 13 pounds, the Hyperboom makes the UE Megaboom 3 look unquestionably puny. It’s not cheap, but its sound quality is better than a lot of the jumbo portable speakers on the market right now.

UE Boom reps told me the Hyperboom was created after the company got feedback from its customers looking for a bigger speaker that could play loud enough and have deep enough bass to power a party. The speaker can do just that — Ultimate Ears says it’s three times as loud and has six-and-a-half times the bass of Megaboom 3 — and has no trouble filling a fairly large room with sound.

 Read our UE Hyperboom review.$400 AT AMAZONExcellent valueTribit XSound Go

At $33, the Tribit XSound Go is one of the top Bluetooth speakers for the money. Besides sounding decent for streaming your favorite music and more, this affordable Bluetooth speaker is also fully waterproof. 

Read our Tribit XSound Go review.$37 AT AMAZONWaterproof and durableUE Wonderboom 2

We liked Ultimate Ears’ original Wonderboom Bluetooth speaker, which sounded good for its compact speaker size and was also waterproof. Now the company has released the Wonderboom 2, which is a touch bigger than the original and sounds slightly better for streaming your favorite music, with more bass and a special Outdoor Boost mode that boosts treble.

Like its predecessor, the fully waterproof Wonderboom 2 with Bluetooth connection carries a list price of $100, but often sells for less. What’s different is the IP67 rating that means it’s dustproof, more shock-resistant and also able to float. This bluetooth device also has 30% better battery life — lasting up to 13 hours at moderate volume levels, according to Ultimate Ears — and you can link two together to create a stereo sound pairing by pressing a button on each speaker.

$83 AT AMAZONBest sound under $60Tribit MaxSound Plus

The Tribit MaxSound Plus ($58) is about 30% bigger than its sibling XSound Go and costs about $25 more, but it performs substantially better and is one of the best-sounding speakers in its size and price class. It has a long-lasting rechargeable lithium-ion battery and superior sound quality for a Bluetooth speaker. 

Read our Tribit MaxSound Plus review.$60 AT AMAZONBest designJBL Flip 5

JBL’s Flip 5 ($100) is slightly bigger than the older Flip 4, which now costs around $80, with improved sound that features a little more bass. It has an IPX7 waterproof certification, which means this small speaker can be submerged in a meter of water for up to 30 minutes and survive. Tribit’s StormBox is about $30 less and plays louder, but I like the tonal balance of the Flip 5 better. It also offers USB-C charging.

$120 AT AMAZONBest sounding ultra-compact speaker (and speakerphone)Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 2nd Gen

Bang & Olufsen has upgraded its dome-shaped aluminum-clad A1 speaker with improved battery life, better speakerphone performance (it now has a 3-microphone array) and slightly improved sound. It’s not only the smallest wireless speaker from the Danish company, but also the most affordable at $249 (you can get certain colors for $225).

While the speaker drivers remain the same, the Qualcomm chipset that powers the speaker has been upgraded (the speaker uses Bluetooth 5.1), bumping the sound quality a tad, particularly at higher volumes, with better digital signal processing. It remains one of the best-sounding mini Bluetooth speakers, with richer more tonally balanced sound than other Bluetooth speakers its size — and it should sound good, considering its elevated price point.

15 Best Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker Portable, budget, smart, wireless 2023

It’s also worth noting that the A1 has multipoint Bluetooth pairing so you can connect this to your PC and smartphone at the same time and easily switch back and forth between the two if a call comes in on your phone. Additionally, the speaker is Alexa-enabled, meaning you can activate Amazon’s voice-assistant by just saying “Alexa.” 

Battery life is rated at up to 18 hours at 50% volume (the earlier A1 didn’t live up to its battery life claims but this number is more accurate) and if you can afford it, you can link two A1 speakers to create a stereo pair. The speaker is waterproof with an IPX 67 rating that allows it to be submerged briefly in shallow water.

$250 AT AMAZONCheaper alternative to JBL Flip 5Tribit StormBox

Tribit’s StormBox speaker looks like a cross between a UE and a JBL speaker. We suspect that’s not an accident. This fully waterproof speaker costs about $50 less than the JBL Flip 5 and produces bigger sound and has up to 20 hours of battery life to play music and more. Tribit’s XSound speakers are probably a better value, but the Stormbox is more stylish. 

$50 AT AMAZONTop-notch micro speakerBose SoundLink Micro

Bose SoundLink Micro is arguably the best-sounding speaker for its tiny size. Although this Bose SoundLink is a little pricey, Bose did shave $10 off its list price, bringing it down to $99. It’s a fully waterproof Bluetooth speaker and available in three Bose SoundLink color options. 

Read our Bose SoundLink Micro review.$99 AT AMAZON$100 AT BOSE$10 AT HPPocket-friendly B Go 3 Best Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

The JBL Bluetooth speaker that received the biggest improvements for 2021 is among the company’s smallest. The JBL Go 3 has a completely new look — it’s now covered in durable fabric instead of having the naked plastic design of its Go predecessors — and that new design coupled with surprisingly decent sound for its small size makes the Go 3 ($40, £35 AU$70) one of the top micro Bluetooth speakers out there.

Available in multiple color options, it has an IPX 67 water-resistance rating (it can be dunked in water and is dustproof). Battery life is rated at up to 5 hours.

$40 AT AMAZONSwanky portable Wi-Fi/Bluetooth speakerSonos Move

The Sonos Move is the company’s first portable indoor-outdoor Bluetooth speaker, complete with a built-in rechargeable battery that’s good for 900 charges or roughly three years and is replaceable. It’s Wi-Fi-enabled and can be linked to other Sonos speakers in your home system — Sonos says the Move has the best Wi-Fi connectivity of any of its speakers to date. It also has a Bluetooth connection, so you can take it out of range of your Wi-Fi network and stream directly from your Android, iPhone or any Bluetooth-enabled audio device. 

Read our Sonos Move review.$399 AT AMAZON$399 AT CRUTCHFIELD$399 AT SONOS, INC.Best Bose wireless portable speakerBose Portable Home Speaker

Bose

Bose’s Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Portable Home Speaker is more compact and easier to carry around than the Sonos Move and costs a little less. This Bose speaker delivers big sound for its relatively small size (the Sonos does sound better, however) and links with other speakers in the brand’s Wi-Fi Home speaker line to create a multiroom audio system. Read our Bose Portable Home Speaker first take.$349 AT AMAZON

More audio guides Best Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

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•  Top Best Wi-Fi speakers and music systems
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• The best headphones of 2021
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• Top Best under $100Anker Soundcore Motion PlusJump to details$100 AT AMAZON
• Best value micro speakerTribit Storm box MicroJump to details$40 AT AMAZON
• Top Best for clipping onto a backpackJBL Clip 4Jump to details$70 AT AMAZON
• Best value mini boomboxAnker Soundcore Motion BoomJump to details$85 AT AMAZON
• Best party speakers HyperboomJump to details$400 AT AMAZON

What is the best waterproof Bluetooth speaker?

• Tribit Storm box Micro. A fun and bubbly Bluetooth speaker that’s serious when it comes to sound. …
• JBL Charge 4. A fun and bubbly Bluetooth speaker that’s serious when it comes to sound. …
• JBL Link Portable. …
• JBL Xtreme 2. …
• Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2. …
• Ultimate Ears Blast. …
• JBL Flip 5. …
• JBL Charge 3.

How to determine the loudest Bluetooth speaker

1. Amazon Echo Studio. The best smart Bluetooth speaker for overall sound quality. …
2. The New SoundBoks. The longest-lasting and loudest Bluetooth speaker. …
3. JBL Boombox. Guaranteed to survive the messiest house party. …
4. Marshall Woburn II. …
5. Bose S1 Pro System. …
6. Anker Soundcore Rave. …
7. Sonos Move.

What is the best Bluetooth speaker for the beach?

• Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2. Big sound for a small waterproof speaker. …
• JBL Flip 5. A fun, no-frills waterproof speaker. …
• Anker Soundcore Flare. A vibrant outdoor speaker that packs impressive sound. …
• Ultimate Ears Boom 3. One of our favorite waterproof speakers. …
• JBL Charge 4. …
• Ultimate Ears Megablast. …
• JBL Boombox. …
• Tribit XSound Go.

Is Bluetooth waterproof?

All BT devices use a 2.4GHz radio frequency—which does not work well in water. This is due to the laws of physics, as water molecules attenuate the signal. When any Bluetooth device is put underwater, the range is just a few inches. Also, Bluetooth is a low-power system and the range in air is about 30ft/10m.

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Last update on 2024-10-31 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API