10 best Bluetooth speakers of 2026: Our top tested picks

The JBL Charge 6 is big enough to produce sound that will fill an outdoor party, yet still small enough to live on your bookshelf. Plus, it can charge other devices with a USB-C connection. On balance, we think it's the best Bluetooth speaker for most people right now.

The Charge 6 is one of the latest speakers from JBL, the brand behind the popular Flip Bluetooth speakers. Though the Charge 6 is bigger and $50 more expensive, we prefer it for the versatility and superior sound it offers.

We have to start with the namesake of this speaker — it's ability to charge devices. That makes it an exceptionally good choice for beach days or camping trips. JBL ditched the USB-A port on the Charge 5, opting instead for a USB-C to USB-C cable that allowed us to charge phones, earbuds, and even other speakers. Cool as it was, this feature alone isn't what made this speaker stand out.

Even at the lowest volumes, the Charge 6's sound easily filled a living room, but never sacrificed quality for loudness. When listening to Japanese Breakfast's For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women), the sound balance came through strong and clear. I could hear both the bass notes and Michelle Zauner's voice ringing out with impressive clarity, and without losing the sound of the guitar. The companion app also comes with four different equalizer presets and a custom equalizer, so you can adjust the sound to be just right for your ears.

The Charge 6 also offers a couple of ways to amplify your sound even further. Thanks to the included Auracast, you can pair it with other JBL speakers with Auracast to double up on the sound or create a studio mode. When we tested it out with the Flip 6, it worked without a hitch. If you want a louder sound and more battery life, you can toggle on the speaker's PlaytimeBoost mode, which offers an extra four hours of battery life, though the quality of the sound sometimes struggles in this mode.

Whether you're taking it with you on the go or using it at home, the Charge 6 gives you options. For instance, the flat base allows it to sit on a table without any danger of rolling off, but if you prefer it to stand instead, it's also reliably balanced, thanks to the silicone ends. Though this speaker is larger than most of our other picks, it does come with an adjustable handle strap, which you can loop, use as a handle, or remove entirely. Ultimately, though, if you're looking for something that can easily fit into most bags, we recommend the smaller Flip 7 instead.

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The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 is not a must-have upgrade for anyone who owns the Wonderboom 3, but like the former version, it's a powerhouse for its size and price. This speaker's small (and rugged enough) to take along for a hike, while traveling, and for tossing next to the pool. Plus, it's so easy to find on sale that it's often available at a cheaper price than the older Wonderboom 3.

The Wonderboom 4 is basically the same exact speaker as the Wonderboom 3, visually and internally. Like the Wonderboom 3, you can drop it 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. It also features a healthy 14 hours of battery life, which is more than other speakers of a similar size.

So what's different? On the sound front, the Wonderboom 4 has less muddiness than its predecessor, especially at higher volumes. In addition to the Outdoor Boost mode, you'll also get a Podcast Mode. We will say that we're not necessarily fans of the new addition — hosts' voices came through compressed, while background static felt more pronounced. Generally, this mode shone much better on the brand's Everboom speaker.

However, the standard audio is good enough for listening to podcasts and music, so ignoring the new EQ feels like a fine concession. As with the Wonderboom 3, we found that overall, the sound profile is well-rounded and can get loud. We do wish that this speaker had been updated with a companion app for more customization.

On the bright side, it's very easy to plug, play, and now charge, thanks to the addition of a USB-C charging port. While it's not all that different from the Wonderboom 3, anyone who wants a no-frills speaker that sounds good will be happy with this one. The Wonderboom 4 is easy to find in stock and on sale, making it our updated pick for the best speaker under $100.

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There are portable speakers, and then there are ultra-portable speakers truly designed to move with you. JBL’s line of Clip speakers falls under the latter. The company’s latest creation, the Clip 5, is a moderate upgrade to the highly recommended Clip 4 (which we previously included). Carrying it around is easy-peasy, thanks to the signature clip that attaches to anything, from backpacks to belt loops. Its blend of affordability, fine sound, and resilient build quality earns the Clip 5 mass appeal among budget-conscious shoppers seeking a high-quality everyday speaker.

Honestly, the clip-on design. JBL’s built-in carabiner is a staple in the portable speaker category that is best executed on the Clip 5.

While providing maximum portability and protection (IP67 dust- and waterproofing), this fifth-gen speaker has a fun factor that only a handful of other compact speakers can match. Its IP certification makes the Clip 5 a stellar shower companion, producing adequate clarity and enough oomph to wake you up during early bathing sessions. The customizable EQ and multiple presets are crucial for enhancing sound quality; adjusting the frequency levels helps balance output. Pairing two Clip 5 speakers together will open the door to stereo sound.

The Clip 5 has impressively loud volume that also diminishes mids and highs when raised all the way up. You can get better sound from other portable speakers, such as the UE Wonderboom 4 that costs about $30 more, but is well worth the pickup if audio is your priority. Otherwise, the Clip 5 is just as small, sturdy, and serviceable at a cheaper price.

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Read our full review of the Sony ULT Field 3 speaker.

Sony created the ULT line for bass heads who desire head-banging sonics from their portable speaker, and the recently launched ULT Field 3 delivers on that promise. This is a mid-range option with the low-end prowess of a premium model.

If there is one area where Sony never misses, it’s sound quality. Our audio expert, Alex Bracetti, previously tested and compared the ULT Field 3 with the Beats Pill across multiple categories, calling it an excellent upgrade to the well-received ULT Field 1.

Sony stuffed powerful audio components underneath the speaker’s casually chic sheath, including one tweeter, one woofer, and dual-passive radiators that, in combination, deliver emphatic sound. The default EQ dishes strong bass, and enabling the ULT mode effectively raises it with minimal distortion, depending on the music track. There’s even a Sound Field Optimization feature that auto-adjusts performance based on the noises around you, and it works well in all environments.

Great bass response isn’t the only reason we’re huge on the ULT Field 3. This speaker projects sound at a high range (up to 50 feet). Playtime is notably high, plus Sony’s Battery Care function ensures long-term use out of the battery by capping recharges at 90 percent. Lastly, durable craftsmanship protects the speaker against many environmental hazards, letting you rock out anywhere without worrying about damage.

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Large-party hosts and performers. It can serve as a karaoke machine or live sound system, while also functioning as a wireless speaker that immerses the environment with surface-rattling bass response. The PartyBox Stage 320 isn’t just one of the best JBL speakers and party speakers — it’s arguably the best all-in-one option for the price.

Two 6.5-inch woofers and two 25mm tweeters create 240 watts of sound that can loudly fill up an entire room. JBL tuned this speaker for bass heads, which is evident when blasting contemporary tracks. Lows are energetic and punchy. Toying around with the manual EQ helps balance frequency range for more mids and highs (read our guide on how to customize your EQ settings). The multiple audio modes and presets enhance select content; Movie Mode is highly recommended for watching films on large screens.

JBL’s festive features are the biggest selling point. Lighting effects are alluring and customizable through the app. There are inputs to connect a guitar or two mics, which is perfect for both aspiring and expert musicians. JBL’s mini-DJ mixer adds unique sound effects to music tracks. Auracast technology can pair the speaker to an unlimited number of other JBL-compatible speakers. Traveling with the PartyBox Stage 320 isn’t much of a hassle either, thanks to the retractable handle and sturdy wheels to easily roll it around.

Listening at high volume causes distortion, so be mindful of this when hosting parties. It’s also wise to keep the speaker away from excessively wet environments, like the pool (water-resistant does not mean waterproof).

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If you don’t need expansive customization, or even crystal-clear sound, then go with what’s considered the best portable speaker deal under $25 and $50: the Anker Soundcore Select 4 Go. 

It took a versatile competitor like Anker’s entry-level speaker to overtake the JBL Go 4 as the category’s top steal. The Select 4 Go does everything its low-priced rival does, plus it grants extended functionality via a mobile app, which the Go 4 lacks.

Playing songs on the Select 4 Go will reward you with enticing bass-forward sound that can be tweaked through Anker’s customizable 9-band EQ or a handful of presets (Bass, Balanced, Signature, Treble). The Signature preset produces dynamic range, something that’s unheard of for a speaker this low-priced, and the Balanced preset makes sound more natural. We’ve found the Select 4 Go to be pleasantly resonant when jamming out to different music genres, from alternative rock to hip-hop to jazz. Don’t confuse this for an audiophile speaker because it is far from that. The high-end isn’t as transparent as we would like.

Another key area where the Select 4 Go proves its worth is portability. On top of being tiny, it’s one tough-built speaker housed in sturdy plastic and covered in IP67 dust- and waterproofing. There is a built-in strap for attaching the speaker to a carry item via a carabiner. This serves bicyclists who choose to blast music from their backpacks when zipping through rush hour traffic or hikers needing an outdoor soundtrack to complete woodland expeditions. The 20 hours of playtime are also good for five days of moderate listening (four hours daily). It would have been nice if Anker designed the speaker to double as a portable bank for recharging media devices on the fly, but this isn’t a dealbreaker for a speaker that's often on sale for $23.

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