If you’ve got a smartphone, smart hub, tablet or laptop, chances are you’re now the owner of an ever-growing music collection. But in this age of digital and streamed music, it’s harder to play music around the house. That’s where a wireless Bluetooth speaker comes in handy.
Small, powerful and without the hassle of wires, Bluetooth and WiFi wireless speakers allow you to play music from virtually any piece of tech, and they’re cheaper and more powerful than ever. But with so many on the market to choose from, we’ve done the legwork for you and put together a list of the best Bluetooth speakers you can buy in 2021.
We’ve also selected our favourite portable and fixed speakers at different price points, so there’s something here for everyone, regardless of budget.
SHOP: The best Bluetooth speakers
The best Bluetooth speaker
1.
JBL GO 3
Amazon's Choice
If you're looking for a reliable speaker to take on the go you'll struggle to find one more portable than the JBL GO 3. By far the smallest and most portable speaker on this list, the JBL GO 3 can fit in your pocket and comes with a nifty loop allowing it to be easily attached to bags to be used on the go. Despite its size the speaker also delivers on sound quality, and whilst it may be beat on this by other speakers on the list, when it comes to price and portability the JBL GO 3 really can't be beat. Oh and did we mention it's also waterproof?
If you're after a fun, compact, easy-to-use speaker then you can't go far wrong with this gem from Tronsmart. Whilst the brand is yet to have the recognition of others listed, their speakers have created quite a buzz in recent years with the amount of positive reviews really speaking volumes. With 24 hours of playtime, a portable size and a choice of colours, at this price point the T6 Mini really can't be beat. They can also be paired with another T6 Mini making them perfect for larger gatherings.
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Say hello to the newest fashionable Bluetooth speaker you'll want to get your hands on. These We. HEAR speakers by Loewe have up to 17 hours of playing time, making your next gym sesh, party or dance time the best sound you could ask for.
Recommended
UE are great at delivering great sound in physics-bending packages – and the Wonderboom is no exception. Like a compact ravioli packet full of your favourite tracks, the Wonderboom is also one of the cheapest speakers here – so rein in your expectations when it comes to sound. However, it does come with an amazing party trick; the Wonderboom is waterproof and will actually float in water while streaming from your music device. Ideal for parties and music lovers on the more clumsy side.
Best value
Ultimate Ears or UE has a reputation for making some of the best performing Bluetooth speakers you can buy, and the Boom 3 is one of its best. Combining 15 hours battery life and compact size with powerful room-filling sound, the Boom 3 provides ample bass, but conveys detail you wouldn't expect from a speaker this inexpensive and this small. If you're after a little more power, though, we'd suggest you try the larger, more powerful MegaBoom 3.
Expert's Choice
Sonos is known for its high-end, multi-room speaker systems, but the Sonos One is a great standalone speaker in its own right. Although this isn't a Bluetooth speaker as such – it uses your Wi-Fi network to stream music – it does pretty much the same thing, as long as you're using it at home. What's more, you lose Bluetooth but gain Amazon's Alexa assistant – something very useful if you intend on growing your Sonos system, or want to build up a smart home setup in the future.
Award Winner
Marshall is a name that needs no introduction. A legend in the arena of rock and roll, the British brand is now also directing its expertise to Bluetooth speakers, and the Kilburn II is one of the impressive results. On the outside, the Kilburn II borrows from the style and heritage Marshall has become known for over the last six-or-so decades, and underneath it packs in great sounds and up to 20 hours of battery life.
Amazon's Choice
A list of portable Bluetooth speakers wouldn't be complete without something from the creator of the Walkman, and the SRS-XB43 uses all of Sony's expertise in audio to great effect. Despite its small size, this portable speaker really packs a punch with deeper bass than previous models and 24 hours of battery life. It is also waterproof, dustproof, saltwater resistant and rustproof making it perfect for adventures.
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If you're looking for a reliable portable speaker and are willing to spend a bit more money the Sonos Roam Portable Smart speaker may be the one for you. With both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, the Roam can be used in the house and on the go. This hybridity is complemented in its design - it is both stylish and portable. It is also drop-resistant and waterproof making it ideal for outdoor listening.
Recommended
If you're looking for an inexpensive Bluetooth speaker for entertaining, you can do much worse than the Anker Soundcore Flare. The Soundcore Flare gives you room-filling 360 sound from a relatively compact package and even throws in a rhythmic light-show. Throw in iPX7 waterproof certification and it's basically made for parties. When pushed it won't sound as good as more expensive models, but it's impressive for the price – and you can even link more than one together.
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If you're looking for a great speaker to use around the home you can't do much better at the price point than the Bose Home Speaker 3. With 360 degree audio and a sleek unobtrusive design, the speaker will fit into any home. It also comes with built-in voice control from Alexa and the Google Assistant putting you in control of how you listen. It can also be paired with other Bose devices for audio around the home.
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What to consider when buying a Bluetooth speaker?
When buying a Bluetooth speaker you should consider what you are prioritising - are you most concerned with the price? If so there are some great Bluetooth speakers that will fit within your budget.
If sound quality is your priority and you are less concerned with price you might want to consider a bigger, more expensive Bluetooth speaker designed for use in the home.
Equally if you are looking for a speaker to take on the go you might prioritise a more portable designed speaker with features such as waterproofing to protect it from the elements.
Whatever your priorities are, the above list covers a variety of different speakers to meet your needs.