There are countless Bluetooth speakers to choose from, at various price points and form factors. However, after spending months researching and testing products, we realized that some of the finest offerings come in small packages. And of course, portability is key when you want to listen to your speaker around the house.
A typical Bluetooth speaker weighs 2 pounds or more, so we focused our efforts here on speakers weighing around 1 pound (or less) and made for easy everyday carry. We are constantly combing through this product category to discover the best mini speakers made by leading brands like Anker, Bose, JBL, and Sony, among others.
There are a few essential attributes to look for before buying a mini Bluetooth speaker:
Sound quality: You should be mindful that mini Bluetooth speakers typically pack fewer audio drivers than their larger siblings do, in order to remain compact. If audio fidelity is a priority for you, consider a larger, fully waterproof speaker instead. Save for one exception, none of the products on this list can deliver stereo sound.
Durability: All mini Bluetooth speakers have a take-anywhere design. So, before pressing the buy button, you should focus on their ability to survive the elements. It’s important to know that devices whose rating begins with an IP can handle exposure to water and dust. Products with an IPX rating, on the other hand, have only been tested against moisture and water.
Battery life: When it comes to battery life, a top-level mini speaker should deliver at least 10 hours of wireless playback between charges — enough to keep you entertained during a good outing. Depending on their form factor, some products can deliver more or slightly less than that.
Ease of use: Additional features like the convenience of each speaker’s built-in controls, its ability (or lack of) to easily attach to a bag or other objects, as well as the availability of a companion app are also worth keeping an eye on.
With the above in mind, find your favorite mini Bluetooth speaker among these top-rated options now. The best part? Most of them are less than $100.
JBL’s Clip 4 is our top mini Bluetooth speaker pick. The palm-sized gadget has an excellent design, a rugged build, convenient controls, futureproof connectivity, long battery life, and the ability to deliver crisp and dynamic sound.
We especially like the product’s design, headlined by a fabric cover and an oversized JBL logo. Its back has a rubber texture to prevent it from slipping on various surfaces.
The speaker’s integrated metal carabiner, on the other hand, makes it easy to attach to a bag or a backpack. JBL also offers the Clip 4 in several colors.
Anker’s Soundcore Mini 3 Bluetooth speaker is an excellent alternative to the JBL Clip 4 with a lower price, longer battery life, and a terrific companion app. The latter will allow you to customize the speaker’s sound.
However, the Mini 3 has a duller design, a lower rating for water resistance, and no onboard carabiner. It has a fabric handle instead, which we find less versatile.
Available in black, blue, and red, the Mini 3 delivers a stellar sonic experience with an embellished bass. Those who need more decibels can simultaneously connect more than 100 speakers.
The second-generation Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 is the mini Bluetooth speaker to get if your budget has no restrictions. This luxurious gadget offers the best-in-class design, craftsmanship, sound, and battery life, so it’s well worth its hefty price tag.
The speaker is compatible with hand-free Amazon Alexa voice commands. To top things off, the A1 is an excellent speakerphone, thanks to its trio of onboard microphones.
A companion app and easy pairing with iPhone, Android, and PC hardware round up the product’s key features. You can choose from several eye-catching finishes, each sporting a luxurious carrying strap.
Two 40-millimeter audio drivers, two passive bass radiators
IP67 water- and dust-resistant
Up to 13 hours of battery life
Two years after its debut, the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 is still one of the best mini Bluetooth speakers out there. It has an adorable design, and can float in water. It can blast 360-degree sound that you can boost for outdoor enjoyment, simply by pressing a button.
A calling card for all Ultimate Ears speakers, the no-nonsense controls with oversized volume buttons of the WONDERBOOM 2 are excellent, too. There are multiple finishes to choose from, each sporting a hang loop.
The battery life of the speaker is among the product category’s best. However, its microUSB connector is dated.
The fabric-covered Tribit Stormbox Micro has an elegant yet durable design and top-tier sound. Its rubber strap makes it attachable to anything, especially a bike. You can order it in black or blue.
Weighing less than 10 ounces, the mini Bluetooth speaker has an audio output with bass that belies its size. You can pair a duo of speakers in the stereo setup, too.
The 8-hour battery life of the Stormbox Micro is adequate ... but also unremarkable. Like our top picks from JBL and Soundcore, the product has a futureproof USB-C input for charging.
The compact Soundcore 3 by Anker is the only speaker on this list that can deliver legit stereo sound with a left and right channel. Its audio drivers have a titanium coating, allowing them to provide distortion-free tunes — even at high volume.
Like the Mini 3 speaker we mentioned, the Soundcore 3 offers sound customization tools via a mobile app. It is available in several colors.
The Soundcore 3 has an understated design with tactile button controls and a loop for attaching a strap. It has the longest battery life on this list, along with an 18-month warranty.
This mini Bluetooth speaker by Bose has been available since 2017 — an eternity for an industry this fast-paced. However, the SoundLink Micro is still one of today’s finest, thanks to a cool and rugged design with a tear-resistant strap that makes it attachable to anything.
The speaker delivers signature Bose sound with harmony among bass, treble, and midrange. Thanks to an onboard microphone, it also doubles as a reliable speakerphone.
The speaker’s battery life is not great, but still sufficient to entertain you during an outing. It has an LED battery indicator — but a seriously dated microUSB port.
The Sony SRS-XB13 Bluetooth speaker produces sound with uncannily powerful bass despite its tiny size. The reason behind its solid low range is Sony's EXTRA BASS (hence the XB moniker) technology.
The SRS-XB13 also has a cool design, a rugged build, and intuitive controls with a button for pairing two units in stereo mode. A loop for attaching a bundled strap to the speaker is also on board.
The battery life of the product, like its bass output, defies its size. You can order the device in black, coral pink, taupe, and a couple of shades of blue.
The 1MORE Portable BT speaker stands out by rocking not one but two active audio drivers, tuned by a Grammy-winning sound engineer. This allows it to blast sound with more oomph than most rivals.
In addition to Bluetooth connectivity, the product features a standard audio jack for wired playback and speakerphone functionality. It weighs less than 10 ounces.
The Portable BT has a sophisticated design with a fabric finish and carrying strap. Its rating for water resistance is acceptable, but not on par with our top picks. It would be best if you didn’t submerge it underwater.
House of Marley’s No Bounds is today’s most eco-friendly mini Bluetooth speaker. Its build includes reclaimed, sustainably sourced, and quickly recyclable materials like aluminum, cork, fabric, and silicone. Because of its ability to trap air, the cork also helps the speaker float in water.
The speaker’s materials give it an eye-catching design, and tactility that’s just as impressive. The No Bounds also has a loop and bundled carabiner.
The No Bounds delivers a rich sound with enhanced bass, which is perfect for outdoor use. You can connect two speakers in a stereo pair, or use one as a speakerphone.
LG’s XBOOM Go PL2 mini Bluetooth speaker has a characterful design, jellybean-like shape, and equally captivating colors. Our favorite one is the sour lemon option pictured here, but additional ones dubbed bubble gum pink and ice mint are also available.
The audio hardware of the PL2 has been tuned by the audio gurus from Meridian, allowing it to deliver a sonic experience that defies its size and price point. The speaker has a standard audio input for wired playback and speakerphone capabilities.
The product has a companion app for tuning its sound. It is compatible with virtual assistants, too.
Stefan VazharovSenior Technology EditorStefan is the senior technology editor for BestProducts.com, where he’s been covering the tech industry and testing the latest gadgets since 2015; He previously covered tech products for GSMArena.com and his work can also be found on Popular Mechanics.
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