The Best Portable Bluetooth Speakers Right Now

Whether you’re chilling at the beach, working in the garage, or hosting an impromptu garden party, a great Bluetooth speaker makes all the difference. But with so many options on the market in 2025. From ultra compact travel models to chunky bass blasters, it can be hard to know which one suits your vibe.

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That’s where we come in. We’ve tested dozens of portable Bluetooth speakers this year to bring you our top picks across different sizes, budgets, and sound profiles. Whether you’re after top tier sound quality, waterproofing, or just something to sling in your rucksack, there’s a speaker here with your name on it.

How We Test

Every speaker on this list has been tested in real world conditions: indoors and out, across different music genres, and with various source devices. We’ve looked at:

• Sound quality (balance, clarity, bass response)

• Portability (size, weight, carry options)

• Battery life

• Durability and water resistance

• Bluetooth range and stability

• Extra features (e.g., pairing modes, smart assistants, app control)

  
  

Let’s dive in.

Best Overall: Sonos Roam 2

• Price: £179

• Battery life: Up to 10 hours

• Waterproof rating: IP67

• Weight: 430g

The Sonos Roam 2 nails the balance between portability and performance. This speaker is small enough to toss in a tote but still delivers that signature Sonos sound, clean, natural mids with surprisingly punchy bass for its size.

What makes it truly stand out is its seamless integration with your Sonos ecosystem at home. It supports WiFi and Bluetooth, meaning it can function as a standalone portable speaker and slot into your multi room setup.

Pros:

• Excellent sound quality

• Works over WiFi and Bluetooth

• Voice assistant support (Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant)

• Rugged and waterproof

Cons:

• Battery life is just okay

• Pricey compared to others this size

Best for Outdoor Use: Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4

• Price: £169

• Battery life: Up to 20 hours

• Waterproof rating: IP67

• Weight: 925g

If you're planning a weekend in the wild or just want something that can take a tumble, the UE Megaboom 4 is your go to. This speaker is basically a sonic cannon in a beer can form factor. It pumps out big, bold 360 degree audio, and it’s built to survive serious abuse.

New for 2025: improved Bluetooth 5.3 connection, a bigger passive radiator for deeper bass, and faster USB C charging.

Pros:

• Loud and bassy without distortion

• Fully waterproof and dustproof

• Long lasting battery

• Floats in water!

Cons:

• A bit bulky for travel

• App isn't as intuitive as others

Best Compact Speaker: Bose SoundLink Micro 2

• Price: £119

• Battery life: Up to 12 hours

• Waterproof rating: IP67

• Weight: 290g

If minimalism is your thing, the SoundLink Micro 2 is the perfect travel buddy. It’s barely the size of a wallet, has an inbuilt strap for bikes or backpacks, and still manages to kick out remarkably detailed sound for its footprint.

Bose updated the internals for 2025 with a tighter low end and better vocal clarity. No, it won’t shake the windows, but for hotel rooms, picnics or solo listening, it’s more than enough.

Pros:

• Ultra portable

• Great sound for the size

• Rugged build

• Strong voice clarity for podcasts

Cons:

• No stereo pairing unless you have another Bose

• Lacks a deep bass thump

Best Budget Pick: Tribit StormBox Micro 2

• Price: £59

• Battery life: Up to 12 hours

• Waterproof rating: IP67

• Weight: 312g

If you're tight on budget but still want a speaker that sounds way better than it should, Tribit StormBox Micro 2 is your answer. It delivers warm, full bodied audio and even works as a power bank in a pinch.

It’s not as refined as the Sonos or Bose picks, but for the price, you’ll struggle to find anything more capable.

Pros:

• Excellent value for money

• Solid soundstage for its size

• Water and dust proof

• Can charge your phone

Cons:

• Lacks app support

• Bass can get muddy at higher volumes

Best Party Speaker: JBL Xtreme 4

• Price: £299

• Battery life: Up to 24 hours

• Waterproof rating: IP67

• Weight: 1.9kg

For those who want serious volume and thumping bass, the JBL Xtreme 4 is built for entertaining. This beast pumps out room filling sound, with dual bass radiators and PartyBoost support so you can link up multiple JBL speakers.

The design is rugged, stylish, and practical, complete with a shoulder strap and integrated bottle opener (yes, really). JBL’s app now includes an EQ for tweaking your sound.

Pros:

• Powerful and bass heavy

• Long battery life

• Rugged enough for outdoor parties

• Customisable sound

Cons:

• Heavy to carry for long

• No smart assistant features

Smartest Speaker: Marshall Emberton II

• Price: £149

• Battery life: Up to 30 hours

• Waterproof rating: IP67

• Weight: 700g

While not “smart” in the assistant sense, the Marshall Emberton II feels intelligent in its simplicity and style. It’s beautifully designed (classic Marshall amp look), easy to use, and surprisingly loud for its size.

The stereo sound is rich and detailed, and it supports Stack Mode to connect multiple Embertons. Perfect if you care as much about aesthetics as acoustics.

Pros:

• Retro design with modern power

• Long battery life

• Punchy and well balanced sound

• Multi speaker pairing support

Cons:

• No voice assistant

• No companion app

What to Consider Before Buying

If you’re still not sure which one is right for you, ask yourself these questions:

1. Where will you use it most?

   Indoors? Garden? Beach? Portability and waterproofing matter.

   
   

2. How important is sound quality?

   Audiophiles will want something with a clear EQ and stereo support.

   
   

3. Do you need smart features?

   Some models support voice control or multi room systems, while others just play music and play it well.

   
   

4. What’s your budget?

   You can get great sound for under £100, but premium brands will charge for extras like multi speaker sync, app control, and sound customisation.

Final Thoughts

Whether you're after powerful audio for a garden party, a compact companion for travel, or a stylish speaker for the kitchen counter, 2025 has delivered a fantastic range of Bluetooth speakers to suit every lifestyle.

While features like spatial audio, rugged durability, and multi speaker pairing sweeten the deal, it still comes down to what sounds best to you.

Test a few, crank them up, and trust your ears, because at the end of the day, it’s your soundtrack, your vibe.

— Dave Hall, Audio & Sound Technology | The Tech Advisor