The Best Bluetooth Despite smart speakers’ improved sound quality and portability, they’re still important to us. Asking your Amazon Echo or Google Nest speaker to play your favorite tunes or tell you the weather is convenient, but smart speakers require stable Wi-Fi and updates to perform at their best. By (mostly) omitting voice assistants and Wi-Fi radios, Bluetooth speakers are ultra-portable, capable of flying around the world and surviving harsh conditions like a sandy beach or a steamy Airbnb jacuzzi. They work with any smartphone, and the top options sound as good or better than your average smart speaker.
We’ve tested hundreds of Bluetooth speakers since 2017 (and many before), and speakers get better every year. Below are our current favorites: Be sure to check out all of our buying guides, including the best soundbars, best wireless earphones, best smart speakers, and best bookshelf speakers.
Update June 2024: We’ve updated our top pick to the latest version of the Ultimate Ears Boom, added the Brane Audio Brane X speakers, and added the Sony Ult Field 1 to our honorable mentions.
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