The best Bluetooth speakers in Australia for 2024: top portables for any budget

The Sonos Roam against a multi-colored background
(Image credit: Sonos)

The best Bluetooth speakers have become almost an essential in Australia. The ideal companion for a trip to the beach, a hotel staycation or a summer BBQ garden party, being able to play your favourite music wherever you want is something we've all come to love and expect. Bluetooth speakers combine portability, versatility and convenience, and connect seamlessly to your device to make getting the party started completely hassle-free. 

It certainly helps that these wireless Bluetooth speakers also offer excellent sound quality and can match or even surpass the quality of the best wireless speakers for home use that require constant mains power.

We've tested all the top speaker contenders in every shape, size and specification over the years, so we're confident we know what it takes to sort the best from the rest when it comes to Bluetooth speakers. No matter what you want to listen to, where you want to listen to it or how you want to stream it, you’ll find the right Bluetooth speaker for you in our guide below.

The quick list

Below you'll find a quick roundup of our choices for the best Bluetooth speakers in Australia. We've selected a range of models, covering all budgets, sizes and uses. You can jump to a more detailed review of each pick, and shop the latest deals using our price comparison tool.

Recent updates

September 12, 2024
Promoted the Sonos Roam 2 to take the place of the Sonos Roam as our best Bluetooth speaker overall, and replaced the Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 for the JBL Clip 5 as the best budget Bluetooth speaker option. 

The best Bluetooth speaker overall

Sonos Roam 2 in 'Wave' in hand.

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)
The best Bluetooth speaker for most people

Specifications

Weight: 440g
Battery life: 10 hours
Wireless range: 9 metres (30 feet)
Frequency response: Not specified
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi, and a USB-C port
Drivers: One tweeter, one mid-woofer
NFC: Yes
Aux-in: No
USB charging: Yes (USB-C)

Reasons to buy

+
Powerful audio performance
+
Tough and very portable design, now in new colours
+
Bluetooth button speeds up setup

Reasons to avoid

-
Not the longest battery life
-
Not the loudest for outdoor use
-
A bit pricey for its power
BUY IT IF

You own more Sonos speakers: The Roam 2 can connect to Wi-Fi, and therefore a wider Sonos home audio system.

You like your tech to look as good as it sounds: Sonos' minimalist design aesthetic and choice of colours makes it standout in the crowded Bluetooth speaker space. 

DON'T BUY IT IF

You need serious stamina: With just 10 hours of battery life, the Sonos Roam 2 isn't the best choice for longevity, the JBL Xtreme 4 at #5 in the list more than doubles it at 24 hours. 

You're on a budget: You get a lot for your money, but the Sonos Roam 2 is still expensive. For good sound for less, the JBL Clip 5 at #2 in the list is our budget pick.

What you need to know: The original Sonos Roam has been our favourite Bluetooth speaker since it was released in 2021, and despite a plethora of competitors arriving on the scene in the years since, the Sonos Roam 2 manages to out-class them all once again. It delivers a balanced, rich and clear sound from its rather compact body and boasts a long list of connectivity features, including Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, which means it can work as both a portable speaker and as part of your wider multi-room Sonos system or just as a standalone AirPlay speaker. It also has Google Assistant and Alexa onboard (when you're on Wi-Fi) to make it double as a smart speaker too. 

Audio performance: In our review, we wrote that the Sonos Roam 2 delivers "excellent sound that punches far above the sheer size". We found that it presents audio well across the frequency range, making it a fine choice for listening to a broad range of genres and artists. It's fair to say it's not the most bass-heavy, so if you want something big and boomy, you'll need to look elsewhere, but there is still a decent amount of low-end oomph to keep most people happy. Plus, when you pump it up to high volumes, expect rich and clear sounds with zero distortion.

Design: Its slick and minimal design means the Sonos Roam 2 won’t look out of place in your home, especially because it comes in a few  of nice-looking shades. It also has a rugged, waterproof and dustproof build with an IP67 rating that makes it ideal for listening to music outdoors. Unfortunately, the battery life hasn't improved over its predecessor, maxing out at just 10 hours. This still should be plenty enough for a day out, but the fact remains many other Bluetooth speakers can better it, and for less money. If battery is a priority for you, then check out the JBL Charge at #6 in the list, which boasts an impressive 20 hours of battery. Or the Tribit Stormbox Flow at #7 in the list with a huge 30 hours of power.

Value: The Sonos Roam 2 gives you a lot of features, a top design and great sound, so you do get solid value for money. Having said that, this speaker is expensive compared to rivals, and Sonos hasn't revealed a cheaper 'Roam 2 SL' model yet. The JBL Flip 6 or JBL Charge 5 will give you better audio power per buck, but the Roam 2 is such a good all-rounder that we think it's worth its price.

Read our full Sonos Roam 2 review

Visit our Sonos promo code page for our latest deals and discounts.

The best budget Bluetooth speaker

The JBL Clip 5 in black is pictured being held by the carabiner against a pink background,

(Image credit: Future)
The best cheap Bluetooth speaker

Specifications

Weight: 285g
Battery life: Up to 12 hours
Wireless range: Up to 10 metres (33 feet)
Frequency response: 95 Hz - 20 kHz
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3, USB-C (charging)
Drivers: Integrated class D digital amplifiers x 1
NFC: Yes
Aux-in: No
USB charging: Yes

Reasons to buy

+
Great detail 
+
Full protection against water and dust
+
Impressive volume and bass for its size

Reasons to avoid

-
Can't be stood up
-
Only 3 EQ presets
-
Treble trouble when using preset EQs
BUY IT IF

You want a durable, practical speaker for outdoor use: It's portable, light, has an IP67 rating and a convenient carabiner making it ideal for outdoor adventures

You want big sound from a compact package: This cute speaker is about the size of a soda can but packs a major punch, especially with the Stereo Group feature.

DON'T BUY IT IF

You want a straightforward experience: This speaker works best if you tweak the EQ based on what you're listening to. Not a dealbreaker, but a faff.

You want a speaker that stands up: It's versatile, but it works best if it's clipped onto something. If you plan to keep it stationary, choose another one.

What you need to know: If you're looking for a (fairly) cheap, portable and super small speaker, then the JBL Clip 5 is our top pick. The sonic performance is impressive for the speaker's compact size and there are also plenty of features that'll make it well worth its relatively affordable price – at least compared to rivals in this list.

Audio performance: This speaker can really blast out the tunes for its size. We did notice that it can struggle with treble when you're listening at higher volumes, with a sharp, tinny edge. But the mids and low frequencies performed well. In our review, we wrote "the bass was dramatic and impactful", especially considering how compact it is – overall, it's seriously impressive, and a clear step up over the smaller and slightly cheaper JBL Go 4. There's a feature called PlaytimeBoost in the app, which boosts the volume without draining the battery, as well as a PartyTogether mode, resulting in a surround sound effect if you have another JBL speaker nearby. You'll also find four EQ presets, JBL Signature, Chill, Energetic, and Vocal, and a customisable EQ profile.

Design: The JBL Clip 5 is light and compact, weighing in at 285g. It comes with a carabiner attached, making it handy for listening in all kinds of scenarios. An IP67 rating means it's waterproof and rugged enough for outdoor parties or holidays. Its appearance feels a little dated, however, and it struggles to stand on its base – that's why the carabiner is so necessary. The battery onboard lasts up to 12 hours. Not the best in the list, but perfect for a full day of listening (and a couple of hours more than the much more expensive Sonos Roam 2) – check out the Tribit XSound Plus 2 if you want something with longer battery life for the same kind of cost (though it's bulkier).

Value: The JBL Clip 5 is great value for money. It's compact, portable and IP67-rated with a fun and punchy sound, all for under AU$100. The JBL Go 4 is a solid, cheaper option from the same brand, but it doesn't sound as good, and it's not as portable. 

Read our full JBL Clip 5 review

Visit our JBL Australia coupon page for the latest deals and discounts

The best mid-range Bluetooth speaker

JBL Flip 6

(Image credit: Carlos Pedrós)
A fun, no frills Bluetooth speaker for a good price

Specifications

Weight: 544.3 grams
Battery life: 12 hours
Wireless range: Not listed
Frequency response: 63Hz - 20kHz
Connectivity : Bluetooth 5.1
Drivers: 16mm dome tweeter, 45x80mm bass driver and 2x passive radiators
NFC: No
Aux-in: No
USB charging: No

Reasons to buy

+
Well-balanced, bassy sound
+
Simple to use

Reasons to avoid

-
No charging port for your phone
-
No voice assistant
BUY IT IF

You're a technophobe: JBL has made the Flip 6 extremely easy to use. Just connect the speaker to your phone or laptop and that's it!

You love the great outdoors: The Flip 6 has one of the hardiest shells, boasting an IP67 rating, which makes it both water and dust resistant.  

DON'T BUY IT IF

You want the best possible sound quality: Without Wi-Fi like the Sonos Roam 2 at #1 in this list, the Flip 6 is restricted to Bluetooth's limited bandwidth.

You tend to run out of charge often: If this is feature you value, then we suggest looking at the JBL Charge 5 at #6 in the list as it can also charge your phone.  

What you need to know: There's not a lot that a portable speaker needs to do outside of delivering good quality audio while on the go – and if that's all you need, then look no further then JBL. The Flip 6 is as fuss-free as Bluetooth speakers come, being incredibly easy to use and sounding great in the process. It was released in 2021 so we're expecting a new model to be announced soon, but despite its age it still holds up incredibly well, and remains our top pick at this mid-range price point. Being a JBL speaker, it also offers access to features like being able pair up to 100 speakers from the brand at once to create an even larger sound system, but there is no reverse charging with this model – instead check out at #7 in the list if that's something you need.  

Audio performance: Given that the Flip 6 doesn't have a lot of features, its main focus is on delivering clear and accurate audio – yes, it does one thing but it does it very well. While we were reviewing the Bluetooth speaker, we  described its sound as warm and well-balanced, which was surprising for a speaker of this size. Its small stature does mean that the treble can sound a little harsh at times when played at loud volumes but there's still a lot of clarity and detail on offer.   

Design: Unlike a lot of other portable speakers on the market, the Flip 6 doesn't have an obscure shape to it. Rather, it comes in a classic cylinder style that fits in the side pocket of any backpack. There's also a wide range of colours to choose from so there's plenty of options to make sure it matches your gear. It is also extremely rugged, and can withstand a splash of water so you don't have to worry too much about it breaking or running out of battery with its 12 hours battery life. 

Value: The Flip 6 is an ideal speaker for anyone who wants to simply play their music, crank it up loud, sit back and enjoy for a reasonable price – no matter whether you're listening at home or on the go. It's also priced slightly lower than the  JBL Charge 5 due to it not having the extra phone charging feature, which places it firmly in the mid-range part of the market.       

Read our full JBL Flip 6 review

The best Bluetooth speaker for sound

the beosound a1 2nd gen portable speaker on a beach

(Image credit: Bang & Olufsen)
The best small Bluetooth speaker for audiophiles

Specifications

Weight: 540 grams
Battery life: 24 hours
Wireless range: 30m (100ft)
Frequency response: 55 - 20,000 Hz
Connectivity : Bluetooth
Drivers: N/A
NFC: No
Aux-in: No
USB charging: USB-C

Reasons to buy

+
Crisp sound quality
+
Tough but lightweight design

Reasons to avoid

-
Flawed Alexa support
-
Buttons are tricky to find
BUY IT IF

You want a stylish Bluetooth speaker: The Beosound A1's looks make it stand out in a crowded market – in a very good way.

You want good sound and portability: Lightweight and slim, the Beosound A1 is easy to take with you wherever you go.

DON'T BUY IT IF

You're on a budget: It's Bang & Olufsen, so expect a price tag to match the prestigious brand name. Take a look at the JBL Clip 5 at #2 for a portable and cheap option.

You want a party speaker: Sonic performance is good, but at very high volumes it's not the best. If you want booming bass at parties that still sounds excellent, the JBL Xtreme 4 is a better bet.

What you need to know:  Almost identical to the original A1, the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 (2nd Gen) is an attractive and highly portable Bluetooth speaker that comes with (admittedly flawed) Alexa support without the need for Wi-Fi. It pumps out crisp, clear audio in a 360-degree soundstage too. But, this is a B&O product, so expect to pay top dollar for it.

Audio performance: We found that its crisp audio performance and 360-degree soundstage makes the A1 ideal for soundtracking small gatherings. The impeccable balance between bass, mid and treble made it seem like we were listening to our favourite songs for the first time again during our review. It's performance also goes some way to justifying the admittedly high price tag. Music is exciting, punchy and energetic, yet it achieves this without overloading the bass, or pushing the treble so far that it loses realism. It's what you expect from B&O (and for a premium price), and is what makes this the best smaller portable speaker for hardcore music lovers. 

Design: The puck- or even burger-shaped speaker looks sophisticated, while its IP67 water and dust resistance rating means it's more robust than it looks, making it suitable for use outdoors and for surviving a dunking in water. Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity means that the A1 (2nd Gen) is easy to pair with your smartphone, while built-in Alexa voice assistance means it can double up as a smart speaker. Its 24-hour battery life is one of the best on this list.

Value: The Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 (2nd Gen) is a terrific Bluetooth speaker, but the fact remains there are cheaper options that offer improved connectivity and bigger, boomier sound. But if you're looking for an impeccably stylish speaker that delivers beautifully detailed sound, with a decent helping of bass, we can't think of anything better.

Read our full Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 (2nd Gen) review

The best Bluetooth speaker for parties

JBL Xtreme 4 on a granite table, on pink background

(Image credit: Future)
The best Bluetooth speaker for room-filling sound

Specifications

Weight: 2.1kg
Battery life: 24 hours (plus up to 6 hours more with Playtime Boost)
Frequency response: 44 Hz - 20k Hz
Connectivity : Bluetooth 5.3, USB-C, charge out
Drivers: 2 x 30W woofers, 2 x 20W tweeters
Aux-in: No
USB charging: USB-C
Waterproof rating: IP67

Reasons to buy

+
Meaty, room-filling, talented sound
+
Minimal distortion when you crank it up
+
Excellent battery life

Reasons to avoid

-
Default EQ settings lack low-end grunt
-
Better value alternatives exist
-
Not the prettiest (in our opinion)
BUY IT IF

You want a reliable party speaker: Expect excellent durability thanks to its IP67 dust- and waterproof rating, and it'll play for ages thanks to its 24 hours of battery life.  

You want powerful bass: Its bulky size means it packs a punch. Once you've tweaked the speaker's EQ settings enjoy clear low-frequency sound that beats background noise.

DON'T BUY IT IF

You're on a budget: There's a lot to love about this speaker, but it isn't exactly cheap…

You want a small, slim design: It's portable, but it's pretty large still – don't get this if you want something to slip into a backpack.

What you need to know: The latest in JBL's Xtreme range is a large and rugged portable speaker that may look a little dull, but come on, you want your guests and outfits to be the star – and this speaker delivers when it comes to utility. With an IP67 dustproof and waterproof rating, powerful and high-quality sound, and an excellent battery, it's the ideal do-anything premium outdoors speaker. At $379 / £329 / AU$499, it's not cheap, but it is a great option if you can make your budget stretch. 

Audio performance: Expect a strong and well-rounded performance across the frequencies. We were particularly impressed by its mastery of crisp highs straight out of the box, vocals sound great even at high volumes. The bass here is also impressive, which is ideal for outdoor use where you'd expect background noise. During our testing we did have to tweak the app's EQ settings to dial up those lower frequencies, but once we did, we were thoroughly impressed with how the Xtreme 4 handled itself. In our review we wrote: "The Xtreme 4 was very competent at bridging deep bass to the mid-range and maintaining clarity with more demanding audio profiles."

Design: It's not the best-looking speaker, but that's because it's been made with durability and longevity in mind above all else. It's bulky at 4.63lbs/2.1kg with rubber strips underneath for a steady foundation, and a detachable strap for carrying it around easily. As you'd expect from an outdoorsy speaker, it's IP67 certified, which means it's both dustproof and waterproof. 

Value: This is undoubtedly a superb speaker, but at this price you have to call it a premium pick. It delivers great sound, an impressive 24-hours of battery and a rugged design. But it's expensive, especially compared to other options in this guide. So is it worth the price? Yes. But you have to really want something this big and tough.

Read our full JBL Xtreme 4 review

The best Bluetooth speaker for charging and listening

JBL Charge 5

(Image credit: Lewis Leong)
A Bluetooth speaker that also charges your phone

Specifications

Weight: 900 grams
Battery life: 20 hours
Wireless range: 30 ft (10 m)
Frequency response: 65Hz–20kHz
Connectivity : Bluetooth 5.1
Drivers: N/A
NFC: No
Aux-in: No
USB charging: Yes

Reasons to buy

+
Balanced sound quality
+
Gets extremely loud
+
Long battery life up to 20 hours

Reasons to avoid

-
Takes a while to charge 
-
No more aux jack
BUY IT IF

You want a speaker that sounds detailed: Compared to its predecessor, the Charge 5 has an additional tweeter that makes it have better clarity, with more impactful bass.   

You tend to need a charger while on the go: With 20 hours of battery life, the Charge 5 can top up your device's battery life thanks to a USB-C port.  

DON'T BUY IT IF

You want to play music extremely loudly: It may not have the big sound that the Tribit at #5 and Sonos Move at #8 can deliver, but it holds its own against the loudest.

You want delicate audiophile sound: It sounds great, but it's still made for impact outdoors, not for refined ears. Think fun and energetic, not classy and controlled.

What you need to know: There aren't a lot of speakers on the market that are extremely small and portable and have detailed sound alongside helpful features like reverse charging, but JBL has pulled it off with the Charge 5. It's priced a little bit more than JBL's more streamlined Flip 6 at #3 in this list, but that's down to the added tech, which we think makes it's a worthwhile pick if these are the three main things you need out of a Bluetooth speaker.  

Audio performance: One of the big highlights of the Charge 5 is its balanced sound, which has a striking amount of clarity. The only downside is that it unfortunately starts to distort at high volumes. Because of this wouldn't advise turning it up past 60% of the volume bar as this is where we found it started to struggle. For the optimum volume, we found the sweet spot was more between 50–60%.   

Design: The cylinder-shaped speaker looks exactly the same as the Flip 6 except for a waterproof USB-C charging port and flap hiding the USB-A port that can be used to charge up your smartphone. There's no aux input for a 3.5mm jack but you do still have access physical buttons for playback, volume, power, pairing and dedicated party sound mode that turns up the volume up to 11 (use this sparingly).  

Value: The only thing about the cost of the Charge 5 is that it puts it squarely in line with the Sonos Roam at #1 in this list, which we think is by far the better all-rounder based on its added connectivity features like Wi-Fi that unlocks multi-room pairing and access to voice assistants. But frankly, there's no reverse charging so this will be the biggest point to consider if choosing between the two.   

Read our full JBL Charge 5 review

The best Bluetooth speaker for battery life

Tribit StormBox Flow on a bench

(Image credit: Future)
The best Bluetooth speaker for battery life

Specifications

Weight: 660g
Battery life: 30 hours
Wireless range: 40m
Frequency response: 50~20KHz
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3
Drivers: 10W (25W total power)
NFC: No
Aux-in: No
USB charging: Yes (USB-C)

Reasons to buy

+
Unrivalled battery life
+
So easy to use

Reasons to avoid

-
A bit dull looking
-
Doesn't always love high volumes
BUY IT IF

You take long vacations: Going away, don't have the necessary adapter, want music to last the whole trip? You'll get a whopping 30 hours from this.

You like a clean, fuss-free aesthetic: Look, it's not the last word in design, but it's durable, solid, and does the job of playing your music very well indeed. 

DON'T BUY IT IF

You like to pump up the volume: the Tribit Stormbox Flow sounds best up to 75% volume, because of its bass-heavy tuning. Crank it up further and things get a little congested.

You're concerned about baggage weight allowance: considering its bijou dimensions, the Tribit is heavy, at 660g, so if you're struggling with flight carrier weight stipulations it may be a little much.

What you need to know: It's one of the newer products in this list, arriving in August 2023 and Tribit's making quite a name for itself in this particular arena – ie. Bluetooth belters for around AU$100 to AU$150. It's not winning any awards for design, but it is IP67 water- and dustproof and it has a loud, likeable, bass-heavy sound that'll work for many a summer gathering – at home or on the road. 

Audio performance: For a little speaker, the Stormbox Flow can boom out tunes at the pool party, or give you some impressive sound-per-pound audio if you're chilling at home. The bass is arguably the most impressive aspect – although it does get a little cluttered and bloated you turn things up beyond 75% volume.

Pair two of them up in stereo mode (like we did, because they're affordable little speakers, so this is a viable and cost-effective option for a desktop or party) and it’s even more compelling, with a much wider soundstage, just don’t be surprised if you lower the volume a little more than usual. Another tip for the best listen: stick to the XBass sound mode, for the punchiest, crispest sound through the low end. 

Design: Tribit's a little hit-and-miss when it comes to design flourishes and, truth be told, you won't be bowled over by how the Stormbox Flow looks. There's nothing offensive or ugly about it, but there's nothing particularly classy about it either. Also the power button takes a bit of getting used to for timing. Other than that, it's a solid home run here – oh, and did we mention the awesome 30-hour battery? 

Value: Compared to similarly-priced Bluetooth speakers, the battery life here offers immense value for money. In fact, value for money is one of Tribit's main selling points as a brand, and the Stormbox Flow proves it. Yes, the Stormbox Micro 2 at #2 is a great little thing, but if you want a slightly larger, louder product that'll last out your entire trip without needing a charge, you may have found it. 

Read our full Tribit Stormbox Flow review

The best Bluetooth speaker for design

Ultimate Ears Epicboom on a navy and orange sofa, held in a hand

(Image credit: Future)
Best for big, good-looking sound

Specifications

Weight: 2kg
Battery life: 17 hours
Wireless range: 55m
Frequency response: Not specified
Connectivity : Bluetooth 5.3
Drivers: 2 x 45mm active mid-high frequency transducers; 1 x 120mm woofer
NFC: Yes
Aux-in: No
USB charging: USB-C

Reasons to buy

+
Gifted, room-filling audio
+
Boom app adds useful features
+
UE's strong design aesthetic

Reasons to avoid

-
No wi-fi streaming support 
-
PartyUp isn't compatible with key UE speakers
-
Strap doesn't really aid portability
BUY IT IF

You appreciate UE's iconic aesthetic: If you adored the mug-sized 2019 Wonderboom, you'll love this much bigger version.

You've just redecorated your apartment: Few audio products will look as good next to the clean, chic lines in your newly-updated bedroom, den or kitchen as this speaker. 

DON'T BUY IT IF

You want a speaker that'll work over Wi-Fi: No dice here. For all its talents, it is just a Bluetooth speaker, unlike the Sonos Roam or larger Sonos Move 2.

You're on a tight budget: UE kit doesn't often come with a tiny price tag (the Wonderboom being a notable exception) but this one of the priciest options on this list, owing to its size, newness and talent. 

What you need to know: Epicboom arrived in September 2023 and, we mean this, it is finally something to get excited about from Ultimate Ears. It is surprisingly big, very talented and essentially does for big Bluetooth speakers what the Wonderboom 2 did for mug-sized options – level up the game in terms of audio prowess. But this is also a fair wedge of money for a Bluetooth speaker and however likeable it is, it won't play nice with your home Wi-Fi to create a multi-room system, where cheaper options from Sonos (above) can. 

Audio performance: It's meaty, it's zealous, it's fun, it's resoundingly tight through the bass even at high volumes. It's basically everything that made Ultimate Ears a household name in this product category. If we were worried, we needn't have been; this is where Ultimate Ears' engineers shine.

Design: Those big tactile plus and minus signs for volume are back along its body, and the flecked rubberised plastic is now much more eco-conscious. The wrist strap is somewhat surplus to requirements (don't allow it to take the full weight of the thing on your arm – it's 1979g and that might hurt) but it's a beautifully crafted thing – and it offers truly omnidirectional sound too. 

Value: The Boom companion app here is an excellent addition. That said, at this level we might have expected wireless connectivity using your home broadband (hey, Sonos!). Another fly in the ointment is this: although a fan-favourite feature within UE's Boom app, PartyUp, lets you pair multiple compatible Ultimate Ears speakers to beef up the audio, it's limited to Epicboom, Boom, Boom 2, Boom 3MegaboomMegaboom 3, and Hyperboom speakers. Want to pair it with your beloved Wonderboom 2 or newer Wonderboom 3? Sadly, that's not possible, because PartyUp is not compatible with any Wonderboom, Blast or Megablast UE speaker. Harrumph! 

Read our full Ultimate Ears Epicboom review

The best premium Bluetooth speaker

Bose SoundLink Max Bluetooth speaker on wooden table

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)
The best Bluetooth speaker for big sound for a big price

Specifications

Weight: 2.13kg
Battery life: 20 hours
Frequency response: Not stated
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3 with SBC, AAC and aptX Adaptive codec
Drivers: 2 x 89mm transducers, 1 x 23mm transducer, 2 x 104x79mm ‘racetrack’ passive radiators
Aux-in: Yes
USB charging: USB-C
Waterproof rating: IP67

Reasons to buy

+
Big, punchy and quite deft sound
+
Hardy, robust construction and finish
+
Useful two-way USB-C socket

Reasons to avoid

-
A touch more detail would be nice
-
Slow to fully charge
-
Fingerprint magnet
BUY IT IF

You fancy big sound no matter where you are…
The Bose SoundLink Max is more than ready to fill a very large space with sound – even the great outdoors is no issue

… and you might be in dusty and/or damp scenarios
An IP67 rating means the Bose is happy to travel wherever you go

DON'T BUY IT IF

You really do mean ‘quick-charging’
Five hours isn’t an age, but if you’re waiting for your speaker to charge so you can take it to the beach, it'll feel like it.

You’ve got a firm grasp on what ‘portable’ means
The handle is useful it's true, but the Bose will start to feel its 2.13kg weight sooner rather than later.

What you need to know: The 2024-issue Bose SoundLink Max is the biggest, burliest model in the company's already well-stocked and well-reviewed SoundLink lineup. It's a rugged (IP67), go-anywhere design with the stamina to keep you entertained right around the clock. The carry-handle can be swapped out for a shoulder-strap (as an additional extra, mind you), and when you’re out and about, the Bose SoundLink Max is a truly enjoyable companion. 

Audio performance: Sonically, the SoundLink Max is as big and heavy as the speaker that delivers it, but don't get us wrong – it is by no means a blunt instrument. It’s actually quite a gifted and agile listen for something with as much out-and-out punch as this, and can gesture, albeit only slightly, towards a truly stereo presentation, too. 

Design: The silicone element of the build here is tactile and helps the Bose SoundLink Max absorb the bumps and shocks it's sure to get at the shindig. The quoted 20 hours of battery life is both acceptable and achievable – but do note that to go from ‘flat’ to ‘full’ takes five hours via the USB-C socket on the rear when it does run out of juice. There are some nice controls on the top of the speaker – power on/off, Bluetooth pairing, play/pause and volume up/down – plus a cutomisable  ‘shortcut’ button too. 

Value: OK, so a few cents short of $400 / £400 / AU$600 is a fair wedge of cash for a Bluetooth speaker without a hint of smart functionality. But the Bose SoundLink Max is specified to perform beautifully in pretty much any realistic environment. Think big, burly and oh-so convincing sound, which it can churn it out for hour after hour. As long as you accept the SoundLink Max for what it is (a very talented Bluetooth speaker; nothing more, nothing less), this beast of a Bose speaker represents very good value indeed. 

Read our full Bose SoundLink Max review

How to choose the best Bluetooth speaker for you

There are several key things you'll need to consider when you're looking for the best Bluetooth speaker.

First up, what do you need it for? All of the speakers here can be used as outdoor speakers, but if you specifically want an outdoor speaker it's worth looking for rugged, drop-proof casings and dust and water resistance or even waterproofing to protect your speaker from the elements. And if there's any likelihood that your speaker will get dunked in water or just left out in the rain, you might also want to check out our guide to the best waterproof speakers

Some of these Bluetooth speakers come with handy additional features baked in, such as voice control from Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. This means your Bluetooth wireless speaker can double as a smart speaker, which you can use to control many smart home devices. Or you could simply ask it nicely to play your music so you don't need to get up from the sofa.

Smart speakers add a bit of complexity and a bit of expense, though, and as a result most of the devices in this guide don't have them: they are simply designed to play your music. However, the ones that do can have the feature switched off or the microphone muted if you don't want your speaker to listen to you when you're listening to it.

It's worth pointing out that some of the models in this list can also double up as computer speakers if you want to have a cleaner PC setup, too. 

When we test the best Bluetooth speakers we look at three areas in particular: sound quality, of course, but also portability and durability: are they too heavy to haul around for more than a few minutes? Will they fall to pieces if they are accidentally knocked off a table? We also consider how easy they are to set up and use, how reliable their Bluetooth connections are and how long you can reasonably expect from their batteries when you're out and about. That's why we're confident that these are the best Bluetooth speakers you can buy today, on Prime Day or on Black Friday.

How we test the best Bluetooth speakers

We test countless portable speakers every year at TechRadar, and that means we know exactly which features and specs to look out for. 

It's important for us to compare the performance of these speakers against the specs claimed by their manufacturers, which is why we take the time to make sure the battery life and connectivity is as good as the brands say they are. 

We test each Bluetooth speaker in a range of environments and against its chief competitors too, so you know that the product will work just as well in the great outdoors as it does in your home. We live with these speakers in our homes to make sure that their performances are consistent, and we don't finalize our testing until we are certain of the sound quality.

On this, we test the audio performance using a range of musical genres and stream from various sources, to ensure that these speakers can handle everything from thumping dance tracks to softly-spoken podcasts. 

With more years in this game than we'd care to admit behind us, we are truly confident that our star-rated reviews are the best indication of the quality of the Bluetooth speakers in this list. There are no sales teams involved in our verdicts, which means if we don't like it for sound, design, usability and features, we simply won't recommend it. 

Looking for more?

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

There are lots of speaker styles to choose from – that's why we've put together lots of guides on the best speakers you can buy. 

Looking for some hi-res audiophile speakers to go with your record player? Check out the best stereo speakers. Bored of your TV's lackluster audio? Try one of our best soundbars  or Dolby Atmos speakers on for size.

If you need a speaker you can take everywhere, make sure you look at the best waterproof speakers  or if you're looking for multi room audio smarts, read our guide to the best wireless speakers

For total control of your smart home, invest in one of the best smart speakers, which come with Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, or Siri built-in.

Apple fanatic? Try out the best AirPlay speakers.

Max Langridge
Staff Writer

Max is a senior staff writer for TechRadar who covers home entertainment and audio first, NBN second and virtually anything else that falls under the consumer electronics umbrella third. He's also a bit of an ecommerce fiend, particularly when it comes to finding the latest coupon codes for a variety of publication. He has written for TechRadar's sister publication What Hi-Fi? as well as Pocket-lint, and he's also a regular contributor to Australian Hi-Fi and Audio Esoterica. Max also dabbled in the men's lifestyle publication space, but is now firmly rooted in his first passion of technology.

With contributions from