Summer is the perfect time to start thinking about portable Bluetooth speakers. While they are useful all year ‘round, they’re especially great for taking outdoors to listen to music in the backyard, by the pool, at the beach, or while camping. Several new models have been released by some of the biggest brands this year, each with worthwhile features to entice you to upgrade. Here are a few that stand out.
Best For Fans of Big Bass: Bose SoundLink Plus
On the larger and heavier side, the Bose SoundLink Plus isn’t a portable Bluetooth speaker you’d throw into a purse to bring with you. But it’s perfect for the backyard, by the pool, or up at the cottage. You get powerful bass with this mid-range device, which includes a subwoofer, tweeter, and four passive radiators. It’s IP67 rated so you can safely use it poolside or at the beach. It can even float, though not for listening in the pool, but more so in case it falls in. You get up to 20 hours battery life per charge and can use it to recharge your phone or other mobile devices as well via USB-C. It’s expensive for what it is, but for fans of the brand and deep bass, the $349 is worth it. Get it in Black, Blue Dusk, or the summer-fresh finish Citrus Yellow.
Best For Extended Battery Life: Marshall Middleton II
The Marshall Middleton II stands out for its extended play time: it can run for 30 hours or more per charge. That’s fabulous for a few hours every day during a full week-long vacation without ever needing to recharge it. When you do need to give it a battery boost, it takes just 20 minutes. It boasts 360° True Stereophonic multidirectional sound and IP67 dust and water resistance. Leverage the built-in mic for speakerphone calls and control playback using the cool multidirectional control knob on the top of the unit. It can also double as a power bank for recharging your devices. At about $400, it’s on the more expensive end of the scale. But it has a trendy look that beautifully combines retro chic with modern flare.
Best For Taking on the Go: JBL Flip 7
When it comes to value, portability, and sound, the JBL Flip 7 can’t be beat. It’s small and lightweight enough to take with you (I threw one into my backpack for a recent trip to Mexico) yet offers huge sound. AI Sound Boost helps ensure accurate sound without distortion, no matter how loud you crank it. You’ll get up to 16 hours of playtime per charge, or use Playtime Boost to extend this (with the loss of added bass). It supports Auracast for pairing multiple compatible JBL speakers for a larger soundstage; and meets IP68 certification so you can even submerge it. The PushLock system works with interchangeable (and included) accessories, including a wrist strap (ideal for hanging from a beach umbrella) and carabiner clip. The best part? It’s just $190, a killer price for such a fantastic portable Bluetooth speaker. It comes in five solid colour options plus camouflage.
Best for Parties: JLab Epic Party Speaker
One of many in JLab’s new line of portable Bluetooth speakers, which marks the company’s re-entry into the category, the JLab Epic Party Speaker is the largest of the bunch. It’s designed for events like backyard barbecues and days at the park. It fills the space with 360° sound along with powerful bass thanks to 100W power through the four 2.5-inch full-range drivers, 5.25-inch subwoofer, and 5-inch passive woofer. Get up to 16 hours of playtime per charge, long enough for an epic summer barbecue with friends, family members, and/or neighbours. Using LabSync, you can connect up to 100 of these (or other compatible JLab speakers) for even bigger sound, like up at a remote cottage. It even has customizable RGB lighting and the option to connect external devices via 3.5mm input, even a microphone for karaoke, for all types of exciting parties. Use it to recharge your phone via USB-C so your source device never runs out of power either. It comes in traditional black and sells for US$150.
Best for Tailgates: Tribit StormBox Lava
This large portable Bluetooth speaker comes with a handle, making it easy to carry around with you at a park or tailgate party. Pop it on the flatbed of your truck or in the grass and enjoy the 360° sound. It has dual 30W woofers and dual 10W silk dome tweeters and offers 80W output. Use Party Mode to sync up to more than 160 speakers for more immersive sound. It’s IPX7 rated, so you’re protected against water splashes but not dust. It can run for up to 24 hours per charge and boasts the Bluetooth 5.4 spec for a stable connection in any setting. Get it for about $270 in Canada.
Best for Your Home Office: Morel Biggie
Portable Bluetooth speakers aren’t just for use outdoors. While any of the speakers on this list are great options to use inside as well, the Morel Biggie is a stylish option to keep on your nightstand, a shelf, or on your home office desk. Available in a range of colours to match your décor, it has 60W class D amplifiers, 45W woofer, and 15W tweeter. With Bluetooth 5.3, you can pair two for stereo sound, great for PC gaming experiences, and get up to 20 hours per charge, plus another two hours after a quick 20-minute charge. It sells for about $499 in Canada.
Best for Active Adventures: Altec Lansing Hydra 2.0 HydraTrek
This tiny portable Bluetooth speaker can clip to your jeans, backpack, even bicycle handlebars for sound on the go while you hike, bike, or enjoy the great outdoors. It even has a built-in magnet for sticking on a golf cart while you enjoy 18 holes on Sunday morning. Enjoy up to six hours of play time per charge and enjoy the EverythingProof design with an IP67 rating and floatable housing. Pair two for a bigger soundstage and quick charge it via USB-C for just three hours to get back up to full battery. With an up to 100-foot Bluetooth wireless range, you can even position it on the sidelines while you challenge a friend to a game of pickleball on the court. At just US$25, it’s ultra-affordable, too.
What is Auracast?
Back in 2023, I noted some key features you should look for in a portable Bluetooth speaker, including the obvious ones like sound quality, rugged build, battery life, and add-on features. All these still hold true, but there’s one more feature to consider now: Auracast.
Auracast is the latest Bluetooth specification that allows for one audio source to be able to broadcast to an unlimited number of speakers and other audio devices. Part of the Bluetooth LE standard, it’s more often being found in the latest speakers, making daisy-chaining, one of the features noted in the previous article, much easier. Use the app or a button on the unit to pair and voila! Bigger sound from multiple speakers in a cinch.
With brands like JBL, note that Auracast replaces the previous spec called PartyBoost. That means the newest JBL portable Bluetooth speakers like the aforementioned JBL Flip 7 as well as the larger JBL Charge 6, won’t pair with older model JBL speakers with PartyBoost. The same goes for other brands that used their own technology that has now been replaced by Auracast.
The good news is that since Auracast is incorporated across many brands now, you can connect Auracast speakers from different brands together when you want a larger soundstage.
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