Portable speakers are light and small enough for you to take your music anywhere. These days, portable speakers sound better and have a longer battery life than ever. There are even smart speakers you can take with you to stream music with voice commands alone. Here is our list of the best portable speakers, including the best budget options, waterproof models, and more.
Tribit XSound Go: Best Budget Speaker Under $50
- Battery Life: 24 hours
- Bluetooth: Yes
- WiFi: No
- Water Resistance Rating: IPX7
- Voice Assistants: None
The Tribit XSound Go is the best portable speaker you can get for under $50. This budget-friendly speaker features two drivers, so it can deliver crisp and clear stereo sound.
One of the best things about this portable speaker is its amazing 24-hour battery life. Plus, you can charge it with a USB-C cable in just four hours. The Tribit XSound Go also has a built-in microphone, so you can make hands-free calls.
Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2: Best Waterproof Speaker
- Battery Life: 13 hours
- Bluetooth: Yes
- WiFi: No
- Water Resistance Rating: IP67
- Voice Assistants: None
With its IP67 water-resistance rating, the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 is one of the best waterproof speakers you can get. Not only can it be submerged in up to three feet of water for up to 30 minutes, but it can also float, so you won’t lose it if it falls in the water.
In addition to being waterproof, this portable speaker also has a rugged design that is tested to withstand drops of up to five feet. It even comes with a fabric loop designed to attach to your backpack or bike for outdoor adventures.
Since it is about the size of an apple, the Wonderboom 2 will easily fit in your hand. However, the Wonderboom 2 delivers 360-degree sound that’s loud enough to fill a room. When you’re outside, you can also use the outdoor boost button to increase the volume. Or you can pair it with another Wonderboom2 for a truly wireless stereo experience.
Sonos Roam: Best Portable Speaker for the Money
- Battery Life: 10 hours
- Bluetooth: Yes
- WiFi: Yes
- Water Resistance Rating: IP67
- Voice Assistants: Alexa, Google Assistant built-in
At just 6.6 inches tall, you can easily hold the Roam in one hand. And, with its unique triangular shape, you can stand this smart speaker up to save space or lay it down to be stable on any surface. The design also helps push sound upward, which gives it a wide soundstage for its size.
In addition to Bluetooth, you can also connect to the Sonos Roam with your Apple devices via AirPlay 2 or connect multiple Sonos speakers via WiFi. This smart speaker also comes with Alexa and the Google Assistant built-in, so you can use voice commands to play a song or turn up the volume totally hands-free.
If you’re looking for a speaker to control all your smart home devices, take our short quiz to find the best smart speaker for you.
The Sonos Roam has an all-day battery life and a power-saving feature that shuts the speaker off after 15 minutes of inactivity. With its IP67 rating, the Sonos Roam can be submerged in 10 feet of water for up to 30 minutes.
Ultimate Ears Hyperboom: Best Portable Speaker for Large Parties
- Battery Life: 24 hours
- Bluetooth: Yes
- WiFi: No
- Water Resistance Rating: IPx4
- Voice Assistants: None
The Ultimate Ears Hyperboom is one of the best portable speakers to take to a party because it can get loud without compressing the audio too much. That means you’ll get high-quality stereo sound, even when you turn the volume all the way up.
The companion app also features a five-band equalizer, which lets you fully customize this speaker’s sound profile. Plus, it uses built-in microphones to analyze the acoustics of its surroundings and automatically optimizes the audio for that space.
The Hyperboom allows you and your friends to connect up to four devices at once and switch between them with the push of a button. With its 24-hour battery life, this portable speaker will last all night without needing to be recharged. If it does run out of batteries, you can always plug it into a regular power outlet and use it to charge your phone.
While this 13-pound speaker is over 14 inches tall, the built-in carrying strap makes it portable enough to hold with one arm. It also has an IPX4 water-resistance rating, which will protect it from most accidental spills and other party fouls.
Sonos Move: Best Portable Speaker Overall
- Battery Life: 11 hours
- Bluetooth: Yes
- WiFi: Yes
- Water Resistance Rating: IP56
- Voice Assistants: Alexa, Google Assistant built-in
The Sonos Move is one of the best portable speakers you can get because it gets very loud, delivers a well-balanced sound profile, and has tons of smart features.
Like the Sonos Roam, this highly-rated portable speaker comes with Alexa and the Google Assistant built-in. However, the Move is about six times bigger than the roam, and it delivers a much wider soundstage with significantly deeper bass.
You can stream music directly to the Move via Bluetooth, WiFi, or AirPlay 2. You can also pair the Move with other Sonos speakers to create a multi-room sound system. The back of this 6.6-pound speaker has a large built-in handle that makes it easy to take with you wherever you go.
While it is not waterproof, the Move has an IP56 weather-resistance rating, which means it is protected against rain, snow, and extreme temperatures. Plus, with its shock-resistant case, you don’t have to worry about accidentally dropping the Move.
The Move also has tons of other smart features, including Trueplay room correction, which continuously adjusts the sound based on what you’re listening to and your surroundings. Plus, the Sonos app features thousands of free songs, curated playlists, and radio stations from around the world.
If you want to know more about what Sonos Radio is, check out our previous article here.
