The best Bluetooth speakers
From pocket-sized to party-sized, these are the portable speakers that sound far better than their size (and price) suggests.
A portable speaker is one of the easiest gifts to get right: teenagers, students, dog walkers and anyone who likes music in the garden will use it constantly. Under £40 buys a genuinely good one.
What matters
- Waterproofing (IPX7) means it survives the garden, beach and shower.
- Battery life of 12 hours or more is plenty for most.
- Bigger speakers mean more bass, but less portable.
- Most pair with any phone; no app needed.
Best overall
#1 of 5
9.5/10
soundcore by Anker 2 Portable Bluetooth Speaker
£15–£40 Price range
Small enough for a coat pocket, loud enough for a kitchen disco. It’s waterproof too, so it’s just as happy in the bathroom as on the beach.
- 12W with BassUp
- Waterproof (IPX7)
- Bluetooth
What owners say: Excellent sound, more than loud enough for its size, and reliable straight out of the box.
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A closer look: Up to 24 hours of play from its 5,200mAh battery means days of bedroom listening between charges. Two drivers give a proper stereo spread, which suits a desk or bedside shelf. After a session in the shower or a soaking at the park, dry it off and let the charging port dry out before plugging it in.
Best for: Everyday listening anywhere, from the kitchen to the beach
- Water resistance
- Waterproof (IPX7)
- Battery life
- Up to 24 hrs
- Power
- 12W
Best premium
#2 of 5
9.4/10
JBL Charge 6 Portable Bluetooth Speaker
£169.99 RRP
JBL was founded by James B. Lansing in 1946, and its speaker tech later became the basis of the THX cinema standard. The Charge 6 is the one for room-filling sound and all-day battery.
- Up to 24 hours playtime
- Playtime Boost adds 4 hours
- 10-minute fast charge gives 150 minutes
- AI Sound Boost
What owners say: Superb sound, seamless connection, battery that lasts all day, and a sturdy carry handle.
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A closer look: Plug a flagging phone into the built-in power bank on a day out and the music keeps going while it charges. The speaker copes with a drop of up to a metre, a splash in the shower or a dusty campsite, and the handle strap unclips, so it can be swapped for another or used to hang keys from.
Best for: Garden parties and long days out, with phone charging built in
- Water resistance
- Waterproof and dustproof (IP68)
- Battery life
- Up to 24 hrs (+4 with Playtime Boost)
- Power
- 45W
Best small speaker
#3 of 5
9.2/10
Sony SRS-XB100 Compact Bluetooth Speaker
£39.00 RRP
Small enough to clip to a rucksack, with Sony’s knack for bass. Brilliant for bike rides, picnics and the shower.
- Up to 16 hours battery
- Super-compact with strap
- Deep bass for its size
- Sound spreads in all directions
What owners say: Excellent bass, pairs easily with Android and iPhone, and the battery lasts and lasts.
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A closer look: With an IP67 waterproof and dustproof build, it can be rinsed under the tap after a sandy beach day, and a UV-resistant coating helps it cope with long spells in the sun. It charges by USB-C, the same lead most recent phones use, and the built-in microphone handles calls, handy for answering hands-free while cooking.
Best for: Clipping to a bag or bike: the smallest here
- Water resistance
- Waterproof and dustproof (IP67)
- Battery life
- Up to 16 hrs
- Power
- Not published by Sony
Best for parties
#4 of 5
9.2/10
W-KING 60W Portable Bluetooth Speaker
£37.99 RRP
The one for garden parties: 60W of peak power and a bass radiator you feel as much as hear.
- 60W peak, 30W output
- Passive bass radiator
- Two precision drivers
- Built for outdoors
What owners say: Deep bass, plenty loud, connects easily and survives knocks and splashes outdoors.
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A closer look: Rain and splashes are fine, but its IPX6 protection covers spray rather than submersion, so keep it back from the edge of the paddling pool. The supplied 3.5mm cable plays from a laptop or anything else with a headphone socket, and a second matching speaker can be paired alongside for stereo across a bigger garden.
Best for: Filling a room or garden with sound on a budget
- Water resistance
- Splashproof, not for dunking (IPX6)
- Battery life
- Up to 24 hrs (at low volume)
- Power
- 30W (60W peak)
Best budget
#5 of 5
9.0/10
Ortizan Portable Bluetooth Speaker with Lights
£15–£40 Price range
Lights that pulse to the beat make it a hit in teenagers’ bedrooms, and it sounds far better than the price suggests.
- 24W dual drivers
- 3 sound modes
- LED lights that follow the beat
What owners say: Good sound for the money, easy to connect, and the lights are a hit.
Heads up: Battery life reviews are mixed compared with the pricier picks.
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A closer look: Switch the lights off whenever they become a distraction, handy for late-night listening once the novelty fades. Vocal mode suits podcasts and films, while the two bass settings bring out music. With IPX7 protection, a quick dunk in the bath or a downpour on the beach won’t finish it off, and a phone can connect from around 20m away.
Best for: Teenagers and parties, thanks to the lights
- Water resistance
- Waterproof (IPX7)
- Battery life
- Up to 30 hrs
- Power
- 24W
How they compare
| Feature | #1soundcore 2Best overall | #2JBL Charge 6Best premium | #3Sony SRS-XB100Best small speaker | #4W-KING D8 miniBest for parties | #5Ortizan X10Best budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Picked Rating | 9.5 | 9.4 | 9.2 | 9.2 | 9.0 |
| Price | ££ £15–£40 | £169.99 RRP | £39.00 RRP | £37.99 RRP | ££ £15–£40 |
| Water resistance | Waterproof (IPX7) | Waterproof and dustproof (IP68) | Waterproof and dustproof (IP67) | Splashproof, not for dunking (IPX6) | Waterproof (IPX7) |
| Battery life | Up to 24 hrs | Up to 24 hrs (+4 with Playtime Boost) | Up to 16 hrs | Up to 24 hrs (at low volume) | Up to 30 hrs |
| Power | 12W | 45W | Not published by Sony | 30W (60W peak) | 24W |
| Best for | Everyday listening anywhere, from the kitchen to the beach | Garden parties and long days out, with phone charging built in | Clipping to a bag or bike: the smallest here | Filling a room or garden with sound on a budget | Teenagers and parties, thanks to the lights |
| Check price | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
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