It's peak summer, making it the perfect time for family get-togethers, pool parties, and park picnics. But no social gathering really gets going until someone puts on a rocking playlist. It creates a background buzz, you can get up and dance, and there won't be any awkward silences either…
If it's your turn to host, now's a great time to bag yourself a big-sounding portable speaker. That's because there's loads of amazing options currently out there — featuring powerful woofers so everyone can hear, waterproof designs that'll survive a splash, and even built-in lights for when the sun goes down.
But if you're having trouble deciding which is best, we’ve put together this handy guide to help you find a portable speaker that'll really resonate with you.
Overview:
Portable speakers let you listen to music on the go. They're light and compact, so they're super easy to carry around or put in a bag. And many can brave the elements with their water and dust resistant cases too. They also come equipped with rechargeable batteries that provide hours of playback, which means that you don’t have to find a power socket to plug them into.
This makes them brilliant for outdoor gatherings and adventures — whether that's hanging out at the beach with your friends or camping under the stars. And they have just as much of a place in your home as they do outside. Pop one in your bathroom for shower singalongs, listen to your favourite podcast while you cook dinner… they work anywhere.
But how do you they actually play stuff? You can wirelessly stream audio through a portable speaker from your smartphone, tablet, or laptop using Bluetooth. Connecting them takes just a few seconds, then you can fire up your favourite streaming app, stick it on shuffle, and the audio will play through the speaker. It'll sound way better than the tiny speaker in your phone!
If you want to sound out the best portable Bluetooth speaker straight away, the JBL Xtreme 4 ticks pretty much all the boxes. It's one of the bigger options on our list, but that's because it's packing two woofers, two drivers, and dual JBL Bass Radiators. So, it can turn any space into a pumping party zone.
It's really clever too, with its Ai Sound Boost tech analysing your tunes in real-time and pushing the drivers to the max for a more powerful, bass-heavy sound. All while keeping distortion at bay so tracks come out clear when you crank the volume. In other words, it'll just make everything sound its best!
You won't have to worry about a low battery warning breaking up a dance either, as this speaker lasts up to 24 hours on a single charge. And if it's your phone that's running out of juice, then the JBL Xtreme 4 has that covered with its built-in power bank. Letting you top it up while you keep the party rolling.
If you're after a dinky portable wireless speaker that can still pack a punch, then the Sony SRS-XB100 is a really sound choice. It's small enough to fit in your bag and at just 274 grams, you'll barely feel it while walking around.
This speaker even comes with a multiway strap that makes it easy to carry in your hand. Or attach it to your rucksack so you can enjoy an epic playlist on those long hikes with your mates. Just blast out “Eye Of The Tiger” and you'll have all the motivation you'll need! And if you ever get caught in the rain, you won't have to hit pause thanks to the waterproof design.
But how does it sound? Despite its small size, this Sony portable speaker pumps out powerful, crisp audio with the full-range speaker delivering big bass. Sony's clever Sound Diffusion Processor tech makes sure everyone gets a good mix by spreading the audio around too.
You don't have to break the bank to get a super-sounding portable speaker. The palm-sized JBL Go 4 is proof of that, which crams some seriously cool features into its tiny, stylish enclosure.
At less than 10cm wide, you'd be surprised at just how much low-end thump this speaker dishes out thanks to JBL Pro Sound. And if you're a real audiophile, you can fine-tune a few things in the JBL Portable app which comes with various EQ presets. Or precisely adjust the lows, mids, and highs yourself using the customisable EQ to get things balanced just right.
What's more, you get a good seven hours of playtime on a single charge. That's long enough to take you from your guests arriving to the last salsa at your summer get-together. Or keep the fun going with the Playtime Boost feature, which adds an extra couple of hours to your battery life.
Most portable speakers are now made to withstand the odd splash. But if you're heading off to a pool party and in charge of the tunes, you won't have to worry about any pesky water putting a dampener on things with the LG XBOOM Go XG7.
This speaker's got an IP67 rating, which means it's water resistant up to a depth of around three feet. So even if it does somehow end up in the drink, it should keep pumping out your playlist. The IP67 rating means the LG XBOOM Go XG7 is completely protected against dust too, so it'll work just fine on a sandy beach.
There’s a pretty cool trick up this speaker’s sleeve too. It's got built-in LED lights that you can switch on and customise in the LG XBOOM app, with loads of different colours and speeds to choose from. That’ll up the party vibe when it gets dark!
If you want more ways to stream music, look no further than the JBL Charge 5 Wi-Fi. The clue is in the name with this one. While featuring Bluetooth like most portable speakers, you can also stream songs to this device over Wi-Fi while using your phone. Need to take a call? Go ahead, it won't interrupt your perfectly curated playlist and everyone can keep having a good time.
It supports Spotify Connect, AirPlay, Alexa Multi-Room Music, and Chromecast — so you have a wide range of streaming options and ways to connect with other smart home gadgets you own. And if you're taking this over to a mate's house and they can't find their Wi-Fi password, you've still got the Bluetooth option as a backup.
The smarts don't end there either. This JBL portable speaker has a self-tuning feature which detects its surroundings via built-in mics, then optimises the sound quality — whether you’re indoors or outdoors.
Inspired by the legendary rock and roll amps, Marshall Bluetooth speakers have always looked and sounded the part. But the Marshall Emberton II lets you take that iconic style and sound anywhere, with its efficient rechargeable battery lasting up to a whopping 30 hours on a single charge.
That's way more than what you'd get with most other portable Bluetooth speakers, which means you can set it and forget it wherever you are without worrying about when it'll run out. And if the battery does get low? This Marshall portable speaker supports fast charging, meaning a 20-minute top up will give you up to 4 hours more playtime.
We know that one of the main reasons why Bluetooth portable speakers are so cool is because they let us stream music from our phones wirelessly. But many don't have the most amazing range, with the connection getting a little sketchy once your device is more than 10 metres away.
The Beats Pill has a much longer reach than most portable speakers though. It's packing Bluetooth Class 1 tech, which can offer a range of up to 100 metres in the best conditions. This makes it the perfect portable speaker for big indoor and outdoor spaces.
And if we're talking about musical range? Well, the Beats Pill has plenty of that too. Its custom racetrack woofer makes tunes really travel with deep bass, and the speaker pushes 90% more air than the previous model so no one will miss a beat.
Need more advice?
Like the sound of JBL speakers the most? We've got a list of JBL best sellers you can check out, including headphones and soundbars too. Or check out our entire range of portable speakers instead.
And if you're not sure how to hook up a portable speaker with other speakers for a multi-room setup, we've got a great guide on how to connect multiple Bluetooth speakers around your home.
