We have reached a point where we can not buy a bad smartphone anymore. Smartphone speakers, however, are whole another story. They are there just for the name sake. And, frankly you are not supposed to get good audio quality out of your smartphone speakers. That’s why whenever we review a smartphone, speakers are the last thing we look at. Thankfully you don’t have to rely on them. You use your earphones for the most part and that’s where the audio quality matters.
But, what if you are planning an outing somewhere and you need your music with you? You can not carry your speaker system all the time with you. That’s just too impractical. It is in this conundrum that our portable Bluetooth speakers come to our rescue. They are small enough that they would anywhere, provide with amazing audio output and can last for hours on a single charge. Some of them are waterproof, dust, and stain resistant too so that you can bust out your favorite jam where ever you are.
- Also read; Logitech X100 Wireless Speaker Review
Thanks to integrated Bluetooth, these speakers work with any smartphone whether it is Android, iOS, or any other Bluetooth-enabled device. There are a lot of good options out there, and we are going to help you to choose one which is best for you.
UE Boom Bluetooth Speakers:
Although a little costly, it is one of the best Bluetooth speakers you can buy. It looks beautiful and delivers amazing sound for its size. It is portable and has water and stain resistant coating. The battery life will last you for almost 15 hrs of playback time. It is available in six different colors and each one is as beautiful as the other. It can sit horizontally or vertically. It has its own app for android and iOS and you can use the app to control your speaker. It also gives you the ability to pair two speakers to create surround sound. The second version of the UE Boom, the UE Boom 2 is out too and it enhances all the features the of the original UE Boom. Now it is fully waterproof instead of just being water-resistant and has gone under complete overhaul internally to provide you with an even better audio output.
Price to value ratio: 8/10
Features:
- Water and Stain resistant
- Playback time: 15 hrs
- Range: 50 feet (15 meters)
- Maximum Sound Level: 88dBA
- Weight: 538g
You can buy it on Amazon
Bose SoundLink Mini II
A true successor to SoundLink Mini, the SoundLink Mini II improves on the features where its predecessor faltered and brings in some new ones too. It has a gorgeous aluminum body and comes in two colors: Carbon & Pearl. Weighing just 1.5 pounds (0.67 kg), it is the perfect companion for an outing. It gives a playback time of 10 hours up from 7 hours the previous generation gave and also has a built-in microphone for speakerphone capabilities. It charges with your standard USB cable and can now connect to two devices simultaneously.
The only bad thing about this speaker is that it does not give you the ability to connect two speakers to give a surround sound effect.
Price to Value ratio: 8/10
Features:
- Weight: 670 grams
- Range: 30 feet (10 meters)
- Dimensions: 2″ H x 7.1″ W x 2.3″ D
- Playback time: 10 hours
- Power rating: 100 – 240V
You can buy it on Amazon.
JBL Charge 2+:
It is a well-designed speaker which has amazing sound quality and even doubles up as a charger for your other devices. It also follows the same cylindrical design as the UE boom and can be placed vertically or horizontally. It has a 6000 mAh battery inside that gives you about 12 hours of playback time. It also doubles as a power bank and you can use it to charge your smartphone. It also has a built-in microphone that gives it speaker phone capabilities.
It has a social sharing mode. What that means is that it allows multiple devices to connect at once and let them play tracks alternatively. It is loud and delivers good audio output with tighter bass. The only drawback is that it is not fully waterproof. It can handle rains, and you can clean it using running water. But, if you drop it into a pool or submerge it under water by mistake, it will not hold up.
Price to Value ratio: 8/10
Features:
- Water and Stain resistant
- Weight: 600 grams
- Range: 33 feet (10m)
- Playback time: 12 hours
You can buy it on Amazon.
UE Roll:
It is one of the most uniquely designed speakers in the market. It is really small, light and delivers good sound for its size. It comes in multiple colors and stands out in the crowd with its unique saucer shaped figure. It is fully waterproof. You can place this speaker flat on the surface or you can hang it anywhere using the integrated bungee cord. The hanging part makes it fun to play with. For a speaker this small, it seriously packs a big punch. It has a range of 65 feet and a battery big enough to give you 9 hours of playback time. All that comes in a body which weighs just about 336 grams.
UE has not made many compromises with this mid-ranger device, but there are some. Firstly, it does not have an inbuilt microphone. Also, the sound quality is good but it can not handle complex pieces of music. The bass effect is pretty low too. But that does not mean that it is a bad speaker. It is an excellent speaker with really good audio performance and an excellent battery life.
Price to value ratio: 8/10
Features:
- Waterproof: IPX7 certified
- Playback time: 9 hrs
- Dimensions: 13.5 x 13.5 x 4.1 cm
- Range: 65 feet (19 meters)
- Weight: 336g
You can buy it on – Amazon
JBL Flip 2:
JBL Flip 2 is a very good portable speaker at a really affordable price tag. It is a beautifully designed speaker with some added nifty features. Along with Bluetooth, it also has NFC and you can pair your smartphone just by tapping on it. It features what JBL calls a “SoundClear echo and noise cancelation” technology to give you a clearer audio experience and better speaker phone quality. It has impressive loud sound for such a compact body which weighs only about 381 grams. It also ships with a nice carrying case. The only con is the battery life: you will get around 4-5 hours of playback time which is a tab bit low compared to others.
Price to value ratio: 8.5/10
Features:
- Playback time: 9 hrs
- Dimensions: 16 x 6.5 x 6.5 cm
- Range:30-40 feet (10-12 meters)
- Weight: 336g
You can buy it on Amazon.
This wraps up our guide for the best portable Bluetooth speakers in the market today. Let us know in the comments which one you are getting for yourself!
