It wasn’t long ago that it took a serious chunk of bread to get good sound and versatile features from a Bluetooth speaker, but advances in technology (along with some trial and error) are now bringing us smaller and more affordable portable speakers than ever before — and lots of them.
As such, we’ve put together this list to help narrow down your choices. Each of the speakers on our list has something special to offer and can be had for a single Benjamin or less so you can get yourself some quality portable sound on the cheap.
Braven BRV-1 ($73)
Originally premiering at around $180, sheer innovation from this stalwart Bluetooth brand has put this extremely capable speaker tantalizingly within reach. Now hovering around our target price, the BRV-1 offers tank-like protection against shock and splashes, including hearty armor around the exterior, and a removable cap that insulates connection ports. In addition, it offers top-notch sound for its size, up to 15 hours in battery life, and a charger port for your smartphone. Read our full review here.
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Ultimate Ears Roll ($69)
The new kid on the block from Ultimate Ears’ impressive Bluetooth speaker branch, this little disk was built from the ground up to change what people expect from a compact Bluetooth speaker. Innovations include 360-degree sound, the ability to be turned on remotely using your phone, a marine-grade bungi cord to latch on, and a specially-developed waterproof covering around the exterior that allows this baby to sit in up to 3 feet of water for up to 30 minutes. Sound is solid as well, making the Roll an impressive companion for nearly any adventure. Watch our video review here.
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JBL Charge 2+ ($95)
The JBL Charge 2+ maintains the original Charge 2’s sophisticated design and feel, but with overall better sound quality — an impressive feat, considering the Charge 2 already had an excellent midrange and powerful bass response. The Charge 2+ also boasts 8 hours of battery life, and is splash-proof (though not completely waterproof), which makes it a great outdoor speaker.
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Inateck BTSP-10 Plus ($36)
At just $36, we honestly didn’t know what to expect when we tried out this interesting creation from lesser-known brand, Inateck. However, we were pleasantly surprised to get clear and present sound and plenty of features in a sturdy box, making the BTSP-10 this a valuable find. While the speaker may not bring the bass, it does bring plenty of detail to the table, along with a whopping 15 hour max runtime on a single charge, a microphone, and a 3.5mm Aux input. Some may be disappointed that the Plus won’t charge your phone, but at $36, that’s really just getting greedy. Watch our video review here.
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JBL Clip ($38)
For those who want extreme portability and are willing to sacrifice a bit of sound quality to get it, the JBL Clip is the speaker to beat. The speaker comes with a carabiner you can clip to your backpack or belt loop so the speaker can ride along with you as you get into the action, whether that means riding the trails, or scaling a chunk of granite. Like the Flip, battery runtime is slight at just 5 hours, but solid sound and serious portability make this speaker a savvy buy. Read more here.
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Sony SRS X5 ($98)
Sony’s SRS X5 is the smaller version of the SRS X7, both of which are characterized by a basic rectangular design that, while understated and unassuming, make for a sturdy device. Despite its simple frame, the SRS x5 includes a myriad of features, such as a built-in speakerphone, NFC syncing, and a battery with enough juice to support up to 8 hours of continuous playback. But how does it sound? In terms of sound quality, the SRS X5 delivers clear audio at high volumes. Admittedly, the SRS X5’s bass capabilities are lacking compared to some entries on our list, but it remains a solid choice.
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JBL Flip 3 ($80-85)
With an upgraded battery to around 10 hours of play time, bass radiators for more oomph, and an updated splash proof design, JBL’s Flip 3 offers a lot from its small frame. Its tubular design allows the speaker to rock in any orientation, and it’s covered in heavy plastic to take a beating in stride. There’s a reason JBL takes up three slots on our list, and its Flip and Charge models continuously perform well on several levels. Other features include a speakerphone with echo cancelling, and JBL Connect, all for a very low price point.
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Polk Boom Swimmer DUO ($44)
Don’t let the small size (and small price tag) fool you — the Polk Boom Swimmer is a great speaker, and has some truly unique features that set it apart from the rest of the speakers on our list. First is the speaker’s physical design. The Swimmer comes with both a malleable hook and a suction cup that can be swapped out on the fly, which makes it a cinch to secure the speaker to, well, anything. It’s also has a rubberized outer material that reduces slipping, and it’s waterproof in up to 3 feet of water for as long as 30 minutes. The best feature, however, is that you can pair two Swimmers together for full stereo playback. While there is some noticeable compression when listening at higher volumes, you’re not going to find a more feature-rich speaker at this price point. The Swimmer Jr. also works great if you do need something a little cheaper, though it lacks the pairing functionality. Watch our hands-on impressions here.
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