Sonos Roam: Available in white or black for $179, the Roam is currently the smallest and most affordable Sonos speaker (unless you count those $99 Sonos Symfonisk Ikea Wi-Fi compatible bookshelf speakers), though it is quite expensive for a mini wireless speaker. This Sonos Roam model, like the larger Sonos Move 2 portable speaker, is equipped with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi and can use an existing Sonos multi-room audio system and connect to other compatible Sonos Series 2 speakers. Learn more about Sonos Roam with our hands-on review.
Tribe XSound Go: Despite being on the market for a few years, the Tribit XSound Go remains one of the best Bluetooth speakers for the money. In addition to sounding great for streaming your favorite music and more, this affordable Bluetooth speaker is also completely waterproof. It has had some minor improvements over the years.
JBL Pulse 5: JBL’s Pulse speaker is now in its fifth generation, and the sound quality and 360-degree light show have improved. JBL has “expanded the transparent outer body” so the customizable light show looks more impressive. (There’s a companion app for iOS and Android that lets you change the colorful lighting effects.) The speaker is also IP67 dustproof and waterproof, and offers up to 12 hours of battery life at moderate volume levels.
Anker Motion Boom: Anker’s more expensive Soundcore Motion Boom Plus (see above) is a substantial sonic upgrade over the original Motion Boom, but this model remains a very good mini-boom box for the money. Equipped with a handle and weighing just over 4 pounds, the speaker reminds me of one of those giant flashlights or “floating lanterns” that were all the rage about 30 years ago. For the record, the Motion Boom actually floats and is completely waterproof with an IPX7 rating.
UE Hyperboom: Ultimate Ears’ Boom Bluetooth Speakers come in a few different sizes, but none of them are quite as big as Hyperboom. An oversized wireless speaker weighing in at 13 kilograms, the Hyperboom makes the UE Megaboom 3 look undeniably flimsy. It’s not cheap, but its sound quality is better than many portable jumbo speakers on the market right now. Read our full UE Hyperboom review.
Marshall Willen: Marshall’s small Willen mono speaker is similar to Bose’s SoundLink Micro and other micro speakers like the Tribit StormBox Micro 2. Also like these speakers, it has a strap built into its base, so you can attach it to a backpack or even on the handlebars of your bike. Its 2-inch full-range driver and two passive radiators deliver more sound than you’d think for its small size, and offer good clarity as well as enough bass to avoid tinny sound (you can choose from three presets sound modes).
Tribe StormBox: The StormBox looks like a cross between a UE speaker and a JBL speaker. We doubt that it is not an accident. This fully waterproof speaker costs significantly less than the JBL Flip 5 and Flip 6 and produces a bigger sound. Its rechargeable battery provides up to 20 hours of battery life for playing music and more. Tribe’s XSound speakers are probably a better value, but the StormBox is more stylish.
Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 (Second Generation): A few years ago, Bang & Olufsen upgraded the aluminum-clad dome-shaped A1 speaker with improved battery life, better speaker performance (it now has a triple-mic array) and slightly improved sound. It’s not only the smallest wireless speaker from the Danish company, but it’s technically the most affordable.
Bose SoundLink Micro: Although a bit pricey and up for grabs, the Bose SoundLink Micro sounds remarkably good for its small size, delivering more bass than other pocket speakers. It’s a fully waterproof Bluetooth speaker and comes in three color options, although the blue version seems to be hard to come by.
Anker Soundcore Motion Plus: Anker’s Soundcore Motion Plus came out in 2019, but it remains one of the best-sounding speakers around $100. It’s bigger than many mini Bluetooth speakers, but it’s still compact. It manages to sound a bit fuller than most of the competition in its price range, 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.
Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore: While a bit pricey for the sound quality it delivers, the Beosound Explore is a very good little speaker that has a stylish, attractive design, is fully waterproof and dustproof (IP67 rating) and offers excellent battery life , with up to 27 hours of music listening at moderate volume levels.
Monoprice Soundstage 3: Monoprice tends to make pretty generic-looking electronics, and its understated Soundstage 3 Bluetooth speaker probably won’t wow you with its design, though its minimalist aesthetic has its appeal. It’s good value thanks to its ability to play big sounds with strong bass and good clarity, with 50 watts of power driving a 5.25-inch “aluminum concave woofer” flanked by two 1-inch silk-dome tweeters . It also has good connectivity options, including digital optical, 3.5mm analog and wired analog RCA inputs that let you connect your TV or another stereo component. There is also a sub-out port.
XSound Mega Tribe: Over the past few years, Tribit has created several Bluetooth speakers that offer a lot of bang for the buck. Add to its new XSound Mega list. Tribit is billing the XSound Mega as more of an outdoor speaker — a cord is included to move it around like a sort of mini boombox — but it works well indoors. There’s an LED light show that you can turn on or off, and there are three EQ settings for the sound: XBass, Music, and Audiobook. Moreover, it can be used as a power bank to charge your mobile devices.