The 5 Best Portable Bluetooth Speakers of 2025

We’ve reviewed hundreds of Bluetooth speakers for this guide. Below are capsule descriptions of some of the models that might be of most interest to Wirecutter readers. If you don’t see a certain model you’re interested in, check out our running list of portable Bluetooth speakers we’ve tested.

The new version of the Beats Pill sounds much better than the previous model, but it plays only about 2 dB louder than the less-expensive UE Wonderboom 4, and it sounded a little bright and edgy to us.

The Bose SoundLink Flex is a solid alternative to the Fender x Teufel Rockster Go 2. The sound is a little more trebly and less full, with about a 2-dB reduction in maximum volume. But it’s a good choice if you want a speaker that’s smaller and has more conservative styling than the Rockster Go 2.

The Bose SoundLink Max sounds good and has excellent maximum output for its size (96.3 dB), but it has less bass than some competitors and is comparatively expensive.

The Bose SoundLink Plus sounded clear and full, but its maximum volume was only 88.5 dB in our tests, which is low for a speaker of its size and price.

The EarFun UBoom X is a great choice if you want more power than the W-King X10; it plays 6.1 dB louder and has powerful yet well-defined (i.e., not boomy) bass. Voices and midrange instruments sound clear, although slightly bright. However, the UBoom X is much bulkier and, as of this writing, costs about 60% more.

The Fender x Teufel Rockster Cross hit 93.6 dB in our tests, which is impressive for the price. But it didn’t sound as clear to us as the W-King X10 did.

The JBL Charge 6 and Flip 7 are both very good speakers with rugged designs and Auracast capability. Our listeners generally liked them, but in both cases they would’ve preferred a little more bass.

Above about 85 dB, the JBL Xtreme 4 has a blaring, bright sound that emphasizes snare drums; our listeners didn’t like it. And it’s very expensive for its size.

The JLab Go Party is a pretty good deal for the price, but it seems to have a boost in the lower treble that makes it sound less full and natural than the Tribit StormBox Mini+.

JLab’s Epic Party and JBuds Party both have a very trebly, blaring sound.

The LG xboom Bounce sounded good overall, but a little bright. We love its MY Button, which instantly calls up a favorite playlist or internet radio station. However, its Auracast function works only with other Bounce speakers. We’ve found less-expensive models that play as loud and sound a little better. But this one is well worth considering if the design and features appeal to you. The less-expensive xboom Grab sounded thinner and somewhat blaring with loud music.

The pricey Marshall Emberton III underperforms for its size; voices sound strained, and it needs more bass.

The Sony ULT Field 5 and ULT Field 3 are both expensive for the volume and sound quality they offer. We thought that both speakers had a rather trebly sound and needed more bass.

The Soundcore Select 4 Go typically runs about half the price of the JBL Go 4 and offers similar sound quality and maximum output. However, it’s 72% larger by volume. If you don’t mind the larger size, it’s a terrific deal.

The Tribit StormBox Blast is a great value if sound quality and volume are most important to you, and if you don’t mind lugging around a 12-pound speaker. This affordably priced speaker provides excellent sound quality, and it plays about 5 dB louder than the W-King X10. The StormBox Blast 2 costs about 50% more but plays only 3.6 decibels louder than the original Blast.

The Tribit StormBox Lava is a close competitor to the W-King X10, with a similar design and price and comparable maximum output. We thought the W-King X10 sounded a little smoother with voices, but in the stock setting, the StormBox Lava produced deeper bass. If you’re into bass, you might like the Lava better.

The Tribit XSound Go was our budget pick for five years, easily beating other inexpensive models in our brand-concealed tests. But in our most recent test, the StormBox Mini beat the XSound Go by just as wide a margin.

The Tronsmart Bang Max delivers the most decibels per dollar (100.2 dB) of any large portable Bluetooth speaker we’ve found. It sounds less smooth and you can hear more bloat in the lower midrange than the Ultimate Ears Hyperboom, but for outdoor parties, it might be better. As one of our listeners said, “I’d prefer the UE for indoor listening and the Tronsmart speaker for dancing or playing music by the pool.”

The Turtlebox Gen 2 is designed for high volume outdoors. It’s quite a good speaker, and it maxes out at an impressive 101.6 dB. At more than $400, it’s pricey, but if you want high volume and need something more rugged than the UE Hyperboom, it’s a great choice. We didn’t care for the Turtlebox Ranger, though, which has a harsher sound and less bass than most similarly sized competitors.

The Ultimate Ears Boom 4 is a great-sounding speaker with a balanced sound and impressive clarity, but it can’t compete with the volume and bass power of the less-expensive W-King X10. The bigger, pricier Megaboom 4 played only 0.8 dB louder, and sometimes it sounded distorted on deep bass notes.

The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom Play is a cost-reduced version of our top pick, the Wonderboom 4. The Play’s single-speaker design sounds rougher and considerably less room-filling than what the Wonderboom 4’s stereo speakers produce. We think the Wonderboom 4 is well worth its higher price.

This article was edited by Adrienne Maxwell and Grant Clauser.