Best portable Bluetooth speakers
Bose SoundLink Revolve+
Cnet rating: 4 stars out of 5
The good: The sleek Bose SoundLink Plus Bluetooth speaker sounds excellent for its compact size, has a built-in handle for easy transport and is waterresistant. Battery life is good at 16 hours, there’s a threaded tripod mount on the bottom of the speaker and an integrated microphone for speakerphone calls.
The bad: It’s expensive, and the cradle that makes charging easier is an optional $30 accessory.
The cost: $300
The bottom line: Bose’s expensive SoundLink Plus is the best-sounding Bluetooth speaker for its size.
JBL Pulse 2
Cnet rating: 4 stars out of 5
The good: The JBL Pulse 2 is a compact splash-proof wireless Bluetooth speaker that delivers strong sound for its size and distinguishes itself with an integrated light show that’s far improved from the original model. The built-in rechargeable battery offers 10 hours of battery for sound only and five hours with the light show in effect. The bad: There’s no carrying case included.
The cost: $149 to $169
The bottom line: JBL has improved both the LED light show and sound in the Pulse 2, making this flashy Bluetooth speaker a standout product in a crowded market.
Bose SoundLink Micro
Cnet rating: 4 stars out of 5
The good: The Bose SoundLink Micro is a pocket-size Bluetooth speaker that is able to play louder and produce richer sound than competing micro wireless speakers. It’s fully waterproof, and has a built-in microphone for speakerphone calls, plus an integrated strap for clipping the speaker onto a bag or other objects.
The bad: Battery life is only average. Bigger portable speakers will deliver similar or better sound for the same money or less.
The cost: $100
The bottom line: The well-built and travel-friendly Bose SoundLink Micro is the best sounding speaker in its tiny size class.
UE Wonderboom
Cnet rating: 4 stars out of 5
The good: The Wonderboom is compact, fully waterproof, plays very loud for its small size, with a good amount of bass. It also floats in water, is shock resistant and has decent battery life. You can pair two Wonderbooms together to augment the sound.
The bad: It does not have speakerphone capabilities, and it’s slightly too bulky for travel use.
The cost: $68 to $100
The bottom line: For its size, the affordable and durable UE Wonderboom is one of the fullest sounding mini Bluetooth speakers you can buy.