Top 5 compared
The best Bluetooth speakers
Music from your phone, played out loud on its own battery, and fine if it gets splashed or rained on.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. It costs you nothing extra. How this works
The top 5 at a glance
A portable Bluetooth speaker plays music from a phone on its own battery, in the shower, on the porch or down at the beach, and every one here survives a soaking. They run from palm-sized speakers that clip to a bag or hang in the shower, through mid-size ones, to bigger ones with a handle and the bass for a cookout, at a few pounds.
Battery figures are each maker’s own, usually measured at moderate volume, so expect fewer hours with it turned up. The rating says what a speaker shrugs off: IP67 covers dust and sand as well as water, while IPX7 means waterproof with no dust rating. Several here float, which matters at the pool and the lake.
What matters
- A loop or strap for a bag, tent or shower caddy.
- Stereo pairing with a second of the same speaker.
- USB-C charging, and whether a wall plug is in the box.
- A built-in power bank on bigger speakers charges a phone.
#1Bose SoundLink Flex Portable Bluetooth Speaker (2nd Gen)
$150–$200
Big, balanced sound with real bass from a speaker small enough to clip to a backpack by its loop, and PositionIQ retunes it whether it stands up, lies flat or hangs in the shower. The silicone-wrapped body is IP67 against dust and water and made to take drops.
What owners say: Owners hear big, clear sound from something this size, find it durable and quick to pair, and slip it into a backpack or a purse. How loud it gets and how long a charge lasts are where they disagree.
A closer look: Knocked into the pool, it floats instead of sinking, so it only needs fishing out. The Bose app adds an EQ, and the speaker can stay paired with more than one phone at once, which helps when a household shares it.
- Sound adjusts to its position
- Utility loop for a bag
- Stays paired with several phones
- EQ in the Bose app
- Stereo with a second Bose
Best for: Taking anywhere, sound first
- Water resistance
- Waterproof and dustproof, floats (IP67)
- Battery life
- Up to 12 hrs
- Power
- Not published by Bose
- Weight
- 1.3 lb
- Charges a phone
- No
#2JBL Flip 5 Portable Bluetooth Speaker
$75–$100
JBL takes its initials from James B. Lansing, who founded the company in 1946. The Flip 5 is a 7-inch cylinder that plays standing up or lying down, waterproof to IPX7, with about 12 hours a charge and PartyBoost to pair it with a second compatible JBL for stereo.
What owners say: Plenty of volume and solid bass are what owners mention first, along with pairing that just works and a size that slips into a bag. Battery life impresses many, though some have had trouble getting it to charge.
Heads up: JBL has discontinued the Flip 5: the Flip 6 replaced it, and the Flip 7, out since 2025, is JBL’s current Flip. New Flip 5s are still on sale.
A closer look: Stand it on end where table space is tight, or lay it on its side on a shelf or a boat seat; it plays either way. IPX7 covers rain and a dunk in the pool but not dust, so set it on a towel rather than straight on the sand at the beach.
- Plays upright or lying down
- Stereo with a second JBL
- USB-C charging
Best for: Rainy porches and boat seats
- Water resistance
- Waterproof (IPX7)
- Battery life
- Up to 12 hrs
- Power
- 20W
- Weight
- 1.2 lb
- Charges a phone
- No
#3Soundcore Select 4 Go Bluetooth Speaker by Anker
$20–$30
A palm-sized speaker that runs up to 20 hours, the longest of the small ones here, and dangles from a shower caddy or a tent loop by its strap. IP67 keeps out sand and water, and it floats if it slips into the pool.
What owners say: It plays clear and loud in the shower, owners report, and rarely needs charging. Pairing is quick, and it travels from the bathroom to the pool and the beach.
A closer look: A USB-C cable comes in the box but no wall plug, so charge it from a phone charger or a laptop. Two of them make a stereo pair: connect one to the phone, then hold the Bluetooth button on both for two seconds, and they play left and right in a tent or a hotel room.
- Palm-sized
- Carry strap included
- Pairs with another for stereo
- USB-C cable, no wall plug
Best for: Showers, pools and camping
- Water resistance
- Waterproof and dustproof, floats (IP67)
- Battery life
- Up to 20 hrs
- Power
- 5W
- Weight
- 0.58 lb
- Charges a phone
- No
#4Soundcore Boom 2 by Anker Outdoor Bluetooth Speaker
$75–$100
A dedicated subwoofer and BassUp 2.0 give it the low end for a campsite or a backyard, at up to 80W in BassUp mode. It floats, it’s IPX7 waterproof, and a built-in power bank keeps a phone going while the music plays.
What owners say: The adjustable bass boost and the volume delight owners, along with a battery that recharges quickly and a rock-solid build. Most find it easy to connect and to carry around.
A closer look: Anker’s 24 hours is at half volume with BassUp and the lights switched off, so a loud party drains it sooner. The handle makes the walk down to the dock or the fire pit easy, and PartyCast links it with other compatible soundcore speakers to spread the sound further.
- Dedicated subwoofer
- Carry handle
- Links with other soundcore speakers
Best for: Backyards, beaches and big bass
- Water resistance
- Waterproof, floats (IPX7)
- Battery life
- Up to 24 hrs
- Power
- 80W (BassUp)
- Weight
- 3.7 lb
- Charges a phone
- Yes
#5JBL Go 4 Portable Bluetooth Speaker
$30–$50
The lightest speaker here, at under half a pound, small enough to ride in a jacket pocket and still IP67 against dust and water. JBL builds it partly from recycled plastic, with a grille of recycled fabric.
What owners say: Owners find it far louder than anything this small has a right to be, and pairing never gives them trouble. They take it everywhere; on battery life they’re divided, some impressed and others wanting more.
Heads up: JBL also makes the newer Go 5, and still sells the Go 4.
A closer look: Charging from empty takes about three hours, so plug it in the night before a day out and save Playtime Boost for the last stretch of the evening. For a cookout, a bigger JBL speaker with Auracast can join it and spread the music across the backyard.
- Built-in carry loop
- Partly recycled plastic and fabric
- Links with Auracast JBL speakers
Best for: Pockets and day trips
- Water resistance
- Waterproof and dustproof (IP67)
- Battery life
- Up to 7 hrs (+2 with Playtime Boost)
- Power
- 4.2W
- Weight
- 0.42 lb
- Charges a phone
- No
How they compare
Swipe sideways or rotate device to see all 5.
| Feature | #1Bose SoundLink Flex | #2JBL Flip 5 | #3Soundcore Select 4 Go | #4Soundcore Boom 2 | #5JBL Go 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best budget | Best for big sound | Lightest | ||
| Picked Rating | 9.2 | 9.5 | 9.4 | 9.2 | 9.1 |
| Price | $150–$200 | $75–$100 | $20–$30 | $75–$100 | $30–$50 |
| Water resistance | Waterproof and dustproof, floats (IP67) | Waterproof (IPX7) | Waterproof and dustproof, floats (IP67) | Waterproof, floats (IPX7) | Waterproof and dustproof (IP67) |
| Battery life | Up to 12 hrs | Up to 12 hrs | Up to 20 hrs | Up to 24 hrs | Up to 7 hrs (+2 with Playtime Boost) |
| Power | Not published by Bose | 20W | 5W | 80W (BassUp) | 4.2W |
| Weight | 1.3 lb | 1.2 lb | 0.58 lb | 3.7 lb | 0.42 lb |
| Charges a phone | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Best for | Taking anywhere, sound first | Rainy porches and boat seats | Showers, pools and camping | Backyards, beaches and big bass | Pockets and day trips |
| Buy now | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
Photos are illustrative, some computer-generated. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. It costs you nothing extra. How we pick · How this works.
