The 5 best portable Bluetooth speakers for 2024

Who it's for:

The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 is a powerhouse for its size and price. It’s the perfect size for traveling — you can easily stick it in your bag without it taking up any real space — and it's rugged enough to endure the bumps and bruises of an active lifestyle. Plus, it's not too hard to catch on sale, making it an even better value.

Why we picked this:

You can drop this small speaker from heights of up to five feet without worrying about destroying it. It’s also waterproof with an IP67 rating. If you drop it in water, it can float for up to 30 minutes and come out the other side working completely fine. On top of that, it features a healthy 14 hours of battery life. The fun colorways look great on a desk and stick out in the sand on beach day, merging form and function nicely.

But the mark of a good speaker isn’t just how portable it is. What matters most is the sound — and again, the Wonderboom 3 performs. Though it lacks the clear, deep bass of larger speakers, we found that it noticeably outperformed speakers like the JBL Clip 4.

At the bottom of the speaker, you'll find an outdoor boost button that noticeably ups the volume of the speaker without distorting the sound. The battery drains a bit faster in boost mode, but if you're hosting a backyard party, the extra power is well worth it. Other host-friendly features we love include the multipoint connection that works seamlessly and the stereo sound you get by pairing two Wonderboom 3 speakers together. (Unfortunately, the Wonderboom 3 isn't backwards compatible — in our testing, it wouldn't pair with a Wonderboom 2.)

All in all, it has excellent sound for its size and plenty of useful features that come in handy when you're taking it on the go.

Check out our review of the previous version of this speaker, the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2.

Who it's for:

Bose has made a name with its speakers and headphones, and the Bose SoundLink Revolve II only helps its good reputation. For folks who are willing to pay a bit more, but want a surround sound speaker experience for listening in the house or for backyard BBQs, this speaker has you covered.

Why we picked this:

This sleekly designed speaker is portable and offers true 360-degree surround sound, making for a great listening experience. It can be paired with a second speaker for stereo sound or integrated into a Bose audio system. 

The speaker is easy to use and features a built-in mic that can be used to take phone calls or use your phone’s smart assistant. It also features a good battery life of 13 hours, though its charging cradle ($29.99) must be purchased separately. 

Check out our full review of the Sonos Move 2.

Who it's for:

If portability is at the top of your list when looking for a Bluetooth speaker, the Sonos Move 2 might not be for you. As Stan Schroeder writes in his review, "It sounds fantastic, but it's essentially a home speaker that also happens to be somewhat portable." However, if you want great sound, battery life, and smart features, this could be the best Bluetooth speaker for you. It's also the best choice for shoppers who already use other Sonos products in their home.

Why we picked this:

We formerly recommended the original Sonos Move, but we like the newer version for its newly-added stereo sound and 24 hours of battery life (as compared to the original's measly 11).

To be clear, this speaker isn't perfect, but we think the trade-offs balance out. For instance, you need a 3.5mm to USB-C adapter for line-in playback, but you can charge your phone from the Move 2's battery by connecting it with a USB-C cable. It isn't very portable for hikes or trips to the beach, but it's easy enough to move from the kitchen to the backyard (and has IP56 dust and water-resistance). It doesn't work with Google Assistant, but it does work great with Alexa.

It can burn through the battery life faster at higher volumes, but it gets plenty loud without sacrificing sound clarity.

Who it's for:

There are portable speakers, and there are speakers that are truly built to be on the move with you. The JBL Clip 4 isn't just small and easy to carry around, but easy to clip on just about anything, from a backpack to a belt loop.

Why we picked this:

This is the ultimate portable speaker small enough to slip into basically any bag, but also gives you a backup plan with the built-in carabiner. Even though you're getting maximum portability, you're still getting 10 hours of battery life and an IP67-rated water- and dust-proof speaker that can be taken along on most adventures. When we tested this speaker, we found that it reached an impressive volume, but the sound profile can get a bit muddled the higher the volume gets. Still, for a speaker that's this easy to take along, only $70 (and frequently on sale), it still left us impressed.