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Packing a Bluetooth speaker is an easy way to bring music with you wherever your travels might take you. The best portable speakers come in all shapes and sizes, with options ranging from small and lightweight that easily fit in a backpack to larger varieties that can be put in the trunk for a road trip. We tested several of the best Bluetooth speakers on the market and came up with a list of our favorites for everything from packing in your carry-on to bringing on a camping trip.
To determine the best portable Bluetooth speakers, we considered the following factors:
Sound quality: We listened to each speaker on its own as well as back-to-back with its competitors to judge how each speaker performed and stood up to the competition.
Easy pairing: No one wants to spend a ton of time connecting to their speaker. We looked for speakers that can connect to new devices in seconds rather than minutes, with as few steps as possible.
Portability: One of the biggest advantages of Bluetooth speakers is that you can take them anywhere. We looked for speakers that would be easy to take along on a trip but could also pack a punch when you’re at home.
All products featured in this story are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This gallery was originally published in August 2019. It has been updated with new information.
Top Pick: JBL Flip 5
Best for: Indoor listening and pool parties
We were super impressed with how much sound JBL’s Flip 5 was able to pump out. The tiny $120 speaker is able to fill a room, and it outperformed a number of speakers at higher price points. The Flip 5 is waterproof, making it a great choice to take with you to the beach or pool, and the speaker has a 12-hour battery life, so it can last all day on a single charge. If you really want to throw a party, you can also pair additional JBL speakers with the Flip—either for stereo sound or to simply surround yourself with tunes.
Pros: Waterproof; 12-hour battery; excellent sound quality
Cons: Its outdoor performance could be improved (the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom, below, is similarly priced and delivers in open spaces)
Buy now: $120, amazon.com or jbl.com
Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2
Best for: Using outdoors on a windy day
The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 was the smallest speaker we tested, and at less than $100, one of the least expensive. However, it performed the best in a windy outdoor environment. These pint-sized speakers have an "outdoor boost" that’s specially tuned for outside, and a 13-hour battery life, so they can last all day without being recharged. The speaker is also waterproof and rustproof—it even floats—so you can bring it wherever your adventures might take you and just rinse it off in the sink if your journey happens to be a dirty one.
Pros: Waterproof and floatable; 13-hour battery life; compact design
Cons: No voice assistant support; charges via microUSB
Buy now: $80, amazon.com
Solgaard Solarbank S3
Best for: Camping, hiking, and other remote adventures
If your travels are taking you off the beaten path, Solegaard’s Solarbank S3 will keep the music going. The solar-powered Bluetooth device works as a phone charger as well as a speaker and can store enough juice to play for 80 hours straight or charge your phone five times. The speaker quality isn’t quite as good as some of the other options on our list, but the device’s compact design coupled with its ability to charge up via sunlight—4 hours in direct sunlight charges its battery to 20 percent—makes it a great choice for camping and other outdoor activities where you’ll be away from a power outlet for a while.
Pros: Charges via sunlight; can be used to charge phones
Cons: Sound quality not as good as other similarly-priced options
Buy now: $125, solgaard.co
Bose SoundLink Revolve Bluetooth Speaker
Best for: Your hotel room, home, or Airbnb
If you want to bring the party to your hotel room, then Bose’s SoundLink Revolve is a great choice. Placed in the center of the room, the speaker fills even large spaces with music. It also has a stereo mode, which allows you to have dedicated left and right playback. Even better, when you’re not listening music, you can press and hold the speaker’s multi-function button to talk to Siri or Google Voice.
Pros: Compact, professional look; Siri and Google Voice support; stereo mode
Cons: Not as loud as some of the other speakers we tried
Buy now: $199, amazon.com or bose.com
Beats Pill+
Best for: Throwing in your carry-on
Unlike most other options, music on this portable speaker can be controlled by two different Bluetooth sources. That means you and a friend can share DJ duty without going through the hassle of changing who is connected to the speaker. Similar to other speakers on this list, it can also be paired with another Pill+; those two speakers can then be used to play the same thing or to create surround sound. Our favorite feature: Not only is the Beats Pill+ a powerful Bluetooth speaker, it can also be used as an emergency backup battery for your phone, making it a good camping option, too.
Pros: Supports multiple device connections; gets really loud, works as a backup battery
Cons: Doesn’t handle bass as well as some of the competition
Buy now: $125, amazon.com
Sonos Move
Best for: Home and occasional travel use
If you’re looking for a Bluetooth speaker to use at home as well as on the road, the Sonos Move is worth considering. In addition to working over Bluetooth, the weather-resistant speaker supports Sonos’s traditional Wi-Fi system, so you can use it in your home alongside other Sonos speakers for a connected experience. The speaker supports both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant and pumps out a tremendous amount of sound from its tiny package. At 6 pounds, the speaker is a bit heavier than some other options, and its battery only lasts 11 hours, a cut below most of its competition. That said, unlike some other options, the battery is replaceable after its three-year, 900-charge lifespan, giving it a potentially longer life.
Pros: Works well with an existing in-home Sonos setup, great sound, useful smart assistant integration
Cons: Heavier with a shorter battery life than other options
Buy now: $400, bestbuy.com
JBL Extreme 2
Best for: Hanging out near the water
If you’re looking for more power from your portable speaker, JBL’s Xtreme 2 could be the perfect solution. The Xtreme 2 is on the larger side compared to some of the other models we tried out. That size makes it a bit more difficult to carry around, but allows the device to offer a ton more sound. A detachable strap enables you to carry the speaker around—similar to a messenger bag—and the device packs 15 hours of playtime into its waterproof design, making it a perfect companion for long summer days at the pool, on the beach, or lakeside.
Pros: Long battery life and big sound packed in a waterproof package
Cons: At a little over five pounds, this one is better-suited for nearby adventures or road trips than long-haul flights
Buy now: $350, amazon.com