The best Bluetooth Speakers hold a dear place in our hearts, even as we’ve seen smart speakers improve their sound and portability. It’s convenient to ask an Amazon Echo or Google Nest speaker to play your favorite song or tell you the weather, but smart speakers require stable Wi-Fi and updates to do their best work. By (mostly) dispensing with voice assistants and Wi-Fi radios, Bluetooth speakers are ultra-portable, capable of venturing out into the world, and can withstand rugged conditions like a sandy beach or a steamy Airbnb hot tub. They work with any smartphone, and the best options sound just as good or better than the average smart speaker.
We’ve tested hundreds of Bluetooth speakers since 2017 (and plenty before that) and they get better every year. These are our favorites right now. Be sure to check out all of our buying guides, including the best soundbars , best wireless headphones , best smart speakers , and best bookshelf speakers .
Updated June 2024: We’ve updated our top pick with the latest version of the Ultimate Ears Boom, added the Brane Audio Brane X speaker, and added the Sony Ult Field 1 to the honorable mentions.
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