> JBL Link Portable

$179.95 From jbl.com Features 20W, AirPlay, IPX7

4 The JBL Link Portable charges over USB–C, offering a battery life of eight hours, and also comes with a charging cradle. Well–built but slightly unsteady on anything other than a robust surface, it is nonetheless rated IPX7 water–resistant and so can shrug off any soaking. It uses 360–degree sound, so it sounds good from any angle and playback is solid if perhaps not stellar, with a decent balance and a well– rounded bass. You can also pair two speakers for stereo.

There’s Bluetooth 4.2 and also AirPlay, with setup via the Google Home app which involves filling in some

personal info before it’s done, which isn’t to everyone’s taste. Once you’re in you can tweak EQ, set reminders and set up Google Assistant, after which the onboard mics will respond to your voice commands and you can use it as part of a Smart Home network. A decent–sounding and very weatherproof speaker, though the reliance on Google for setup may grate with Apple users.