Best Bluetooth Speakers in the UK

Review & Comparison, Last Update March 19, 2022
Bluetooth Speakers are a fantastic portable solution for a size-or-quality dilemma. The sound is good enough to satisfy the most demanding users, the size is small enough to fit in a bag. Take your favourite music to go! ...Read more ...Read less
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BEST 2022
PROS
CONS
OUR VERDICT
CONNECTIVITY
NUMBER OF DRIVERS
BATTERY LIFE
DIMENSIONS
WEIGHT
WARRANTY
 
PROS

The speaker's output is really impressive: it works at frequencies of 60Hz-20kHz and produces sound up to 80 dB. To add more, it uses the JBL Connect+ technology that allows you to hook this speaker up to more than 100 compatible devices and achieve even more powerful sound and drive.

CONS

Charging time might take longer than stated by the manufacturer.

OUR VERDICT

Fitted with a capacious battery, this portable JBL Charge 4 speaker will provide you with hours of playback on end. Furthermore, it will allow you to enjoy your music anywhere, as it boasts a premium-quality casing with IPX7 waterproof protection which secures the device against harsh weather conditions.

detailed parameters
CONNECTIVITY

Bluetooth 4.2, 1 x USB (charge), 1 x Mini Jack 3.5 mm

NUMBER OF DRIVERS

Single driver x 30 W

BATTERY LIFE

Up to 20 hours

DIMENSIONS

22 x 9.5 x 9.3 mm

WEIGHT

960 g

WARRANTY

1 year

PROS

The two drivers and two passive radiators guarantee great surround sound quality. And the accompanying app gives access to remote control, equalizer adjustment, an alarm clock, and much more.

CONS

The instructions are poor.

OUR VERDICT

This water-resistant speaker is great for both indoor and outdoor parties and it can get pretty loud for such a compact device. The sound quality is high and the long battery life guarantees that you can party non-stop and enjoy the tunes the way they're meant to be.

detailed parameters
CONNECTIVITY

Bluetooth, 1 x MicroUSB (charge), 1 x Mini Jack 3.5 mm

NUMBER OF DRIVERS

2 active drivers and 2 passive radiators

BATTERY LIFE

Up to 15 hours

DIMENSIONS

18.3 x 7.3 x 7.3 cm

WEIGHT

608 g

WARRANTY

2 years

PROS

The built-in equalizer of Tri-Bass EQ will delight you with three different effects: 3D stereo, Extra bass and Standard. So, you can adjust the playback quality of your favourite tracks.

CONS

Can be a bit of a pain to setup for the first time.

OUR VERDICT

This waterproof Tronsmart speaker with good autonomy is characterised by very high power and deep bass. It will become an indispensable companion during outdoor recreation, by the pool, or on the beach. There is a slot for a TF / Micro SD card, which further expands the connectivity.

detailed parameters
CONNECTIVITY

Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C charging port, 3.5mm aux-in port

NUMBER OF DRIVERS

2 x 20 W

BATTERY LIFE

Up to 15 hours

DIMENSIONS

20.4 x 6.4 x 8 cm

WEIGHT

780 ±5 g

WARRANTY

1 year

PROS

Improved sound processing technology and powerful speakers provide extremely detailed sound even at maximum volume. The proprietary XBass technology, which is activated at the touch of a button, gives you the opportunity to enjoy deep bass.

CONS

Audio lowers when connecting through the Audio line.

OUR VERDICT

The waterproof Bluetooth speaker Tribit MaxSound Plus, built in a sturdy and stylish case, will give you up to 20 hours of playback of your favorite tracks. For your convenience, the controls of the speakers are located on the top panel, and on the side, there is a hand strap.

detailed parameters
CONNECTIVITY

Bluetooth, 1 x MicroUSB (charge), 1 x Mini Jack 3.5 mm

NUMBER OF DRIVERS

2 x 12 W

BATTERY LIFE

Up to 20 hours

DIMENSIONS

6.5 x 19.8 x 6.8 cm

WEIGHT

595 g

WARRANTY

18 months

PROS

The Sony XB10's famed for its good sound and great speakerphone capabilities putting it a step ahead of other Bluetooth speakers of the same size. In addition, this speaker is water-resistant and boasts a long battery life.

CONS

The matte finish tends to attract dust.

OUR VERDICT

Despite its tiny dimensions, this speaker can output much more bass than many similarly priced speakers. You can use it as is or attach the included strap to prop it horizontally. Available in several colour options to suit any style.

detailed parameters
CONNECTIVITY

Bluetooth, 1 x Micro USB (charge)

NUMBER OF DRIVERS

1 x 5 W

BATTERY LIFE

Up to 16 hours

DIMENSIONS

7.5 x 7.5 x 9.1 cm

WEIGHT

259 g

WARRANTY

1 year

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JBL Charge 4

True Portable Power

Most portable Bluetooth speakers aren't known for being powerful sound drivers, namely due to their design, which is focused much more on portability than on delivering a powerful sound. This fact hasn't been lost on JBL, who set out to change this with the JBL Charge 4 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker and Power Bank. This powerful Bluetooth speaker operates with an output power of 30 W at frequencies of 60Hz – 20kHz and creates noise up to 80 dB, making this one of the most powerful portable speakers on the market. If this still isn't quite as powerful as you'd like, you can combine more than 100 compatible speakers to get even more powerful sound and drive, thanks to the support of JBL Connect + technology.

Aside from the pure power delivered by this portable speaker, there is plenty else here to like about it. Coming with a capacious battery that also doubles as a power bank for other mobile devices, it will give you long hours of enjoying your favorite music. Its rubberized case with inserts of high-strength fabric is endowed with IPX7 waterproof protection, so you can safely arrange parties by the pool. The speaker can connect to your mobile devices using Bluetooth 4.2, while for those who prefer a wired connection, a 3.5mm audio input jack is included as well. While this speaker may take a while longer to charge than what is stated by the manufacturer, we are certain that all will find this powerful Bluetooth speaker from JBL to be one of the best on the market.

Review of JBL Charge 4 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker and Power Bank

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $0.00
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B07HGHRYCY

 

Ultimate Ears BOOM 3

High Quality Personified

Bringing music along to a party automatically makes you welcome, especially if it’s on a summer night with drinks passed around in a pool. But nobody wants a speaker that’s too quiet to be heard properly and there’s always the danger of the small gadget being dropped into water or getting drinks splashed onto it. Luckily, the Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 kills two birds with one stone.

Not only is this compact model water-resistant (enough so that you could listen to it in the bathroom as you shower), it also has surround sound. The two drivers and dual passive radiators here keep the sound travelling farther so even if your home is pretty large, you won’t have to put the speaker volume on the loudest setting just to enjoy music while you’re in a different room. The sound carries well both indoor and outdoors anyway.

Controlling the music is also very easy as you get access to a dedicated app that lets you remotely change acoustic options, turn music on and off, adjust the equalizer, and much more.

This model is, of course, rechargeable via a MicroUSB port and can run sustainably for 15 hours on a single full charge. That’s enough for a day of listening to music. Since we’ve already covered one port on the speaker, we should also mention that it has a mini 3.5-mm jack so you can enjoy music privately or hook it up to a bigger set of bass-heavy speakers.

So if you want the best Bluetooth speaker that’s loud as a motorcycle and has good sound quality to boot, the Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 is a great choice. It’s convenient in use, waterproof, and the only fault we could find lies with the unhelpful instruction manual. This is really a product worth its money, even if it is somewhat pricey.

Review of Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price £99.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B07G6MBCG3

 

Tronsmart Force

Perfect for Waterside Listening

Pool and beach parties are enjoyed by just about everyone, but what can really add to the fun of these events is having some great tunes to listen to. Unfortunately, many of the sound systems that people have used in the past have always been at risk whenever they were near water. With the Tronsmart (Force-EU) Portable Bluetooth 5.0 Speaker, though, such worries are a thing of the past. This IPX7 waterproof Bluetooth speaker gives you the ability to listen to your favourite music with the highest sound quality, delivered by the two 20 W speakers contained within, with a maximum decibal range of up to 100db. This gives the speaker enough power to play your music loud enough to let the whole area hear it clearly.

Of course, certain types of music are highly focused on bass, and that is one area that probably most Bluetooth speakers struggle with. Again, though, this model is the exception. Thanks to its Tri-Bass EQ, you can adjust the tone of your music with three different effects: 3D stereo, Extra bass, and Standard. This lets the speaker easily handle not only those songs with deep bass, but also with wildly changing tones that can cause many other types of speakers to struggle to keep up. 

Connectivity with this speaker is also not a problem. In addition to the Bluetooth and 3.5mm aux-in connectivity options, there is also a slot for an SD card, so you can have your own self-contained virtual jukebox without needing to connect to another device. All told, this excellent Bluetooth speaker with high-quality sound output will be perfect for any waterside gathering.

Review of Tronsmart Force Portable Bluetooth Speaker

Additional Info

User Manual     Manufacturer

Last updated price £43.26
Stock In stock
ASIN B07KWQD6HV

 

Tribit MaxSound Plus

Sound That Satisfies

A common problem with many Bluetooth speakers that are offered on the market is that many of them suffer from having sub-par quality sound. Tinny sounding speakers and small frequency ranges often plague these speakers, resulting in a sound that leaves much to be desired.

The Tribit MaxSound Plus Bluetooth Speaker was made specifically to satisfy those who have long been disappointed in the sound quality offered by other Bluetooth speaker models. This device features advanced audio processing technology along with large drivers and high powered amplifiers to give you a rich sounding audio experience that simply can't be touched by most other portable speakers.

One of the features that makes this model really stand out is the proprietary XBass technology from Tribit, which lets you boost the bass to rich, deep levels simply with the press of a button. Another feature which should endear this model to those who like poolside parties is the IPX7 waterproof design, which gives these speakers maximum protection against the elements. Along with this, the extended playback time of up to 20 hours lets you use these speakers for a full day before you need to worry about recharging them. All in all, those who need Bluetooth speakers that have high-quality sound reproduction will be pleasantly surprised with this model.

Review of Tribit MaxSound Plus Portable Bluetooth Speaker

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price £42.49
Stock In stock
ASIN B07LGKLFFW

 

Sony SRS-XB10

Top-Notch Sound Quality

The portable Bluetooth speaker from Sony will be a perfect pick for people with an active lifestyle. Its extremely light weight of just about 260 grammes makes the speaker highly portable and easy to hold. In case you don’t have a hard case for the speaker you can put it inside your bag, backpack or glove box of your car, thanks to its small size it fits almost any container. Highly convenient, it is hard not to think that it is one of the best mini Bluetooth speakers just by looking at the dimensions of the device.

As for the sound quality, the speakers have a lot to offer. Thanks to the patented Sony EXTRA BASS technology, you can truly bring your music to life. The passive radiator creates a significant bass boost despite the modest dimensions of the device. As for more impressive features, this little fellow is able to play music for up to 16 hours straight without the need of recharging the battery.

Like all other products from Sony, the construction of this portable speaker is of top quality. The same goes for the quality of sound, which is simply amazing considering that this tiny speaker can fit in a pocket of your jacket. What is more, this speaker has an IPX5 water protection housing that ensures that no rain or other liquid drops will damage the device.

Highly portable, loud, bass-rich - these are just a few features that make this model one of the best mini Bluetooth speakers on the market today.

Review of Sony SRS-XB10 Portable Bluetooth Speaker

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price £41.66
Stock In stock
ASIN B06XBTMMBW

 

What Is a Bluetooth Speaker?

For those who can't spend a day without music but the sound of their phone isn't good enough, a portable Bluetooth speaker will be an ideal solution. With its tiny dimensions and overall light weight, you will be able to take it with you wherever you go and enjoy hours of playback of your favourite tracks on end.

Bluetooth speakers can be paired with pretty much any digital device and can drastically improve your music tracks by delivering richer volume and eliminating tinny metal sound. You can bring it along with you to the beach, pool party or simply when you go for a walk, it is tiny and small and won't create any inconvenience. Moreover, most models boast really amazing speakerphone capabilities, enabling you to answer calls via the speaker, which makes them very practical and multi-functional.

Bluetooth speakers may include a number of other useful features worth mentioning. For instance, some models will offer sound equalizer options, allowing you to adjust volume and mix effects for a better listening experience; others will also serve as a power bank, providing you with the option to charge your mobile devices on the go. In this review, we cover models from different brands and with a different set of features, so you can compare them and choose the most suitable one for you.

If you are interested in portable acoustics you might as well want to have a look at our review covering some of the more advanced models for home use - computer speakers.

What Features to Compare

Connections

When selecting a Bluetooth speaker, make sure to consider its interface and connection options. Most modern speaker models are designed to connect via Bluetooth, usually 4.0 version, and can work across a distance up to 10 metres. However, besides that standard connection, you can find more advanced models featuring a high-speed NFC protocol which allows for instant synchronization of devices by simply brushing one against the other. Obviously, there are also portable speakers that in addition to wireless connection will allow you to enable them using an AUX cable too. And of course, you'll find those combining all of these features.

Performance

The next characteristic to consider is a Bluetooth speaker's performance, which is determined by the speaker power output. In general, the average sound power, which is considered normal, is about 3W. However, if you plan on using a Bluetooth speaker outdoors we recommend opting for models with a power output of at least 10W-20W - that will be enough to overlay external sounds, such as wind, for example, and deliver a rich and well distinct sound.

Another thing worth noting is the run time from one full charge. In general, portable speakers provide around 5 to 10 hours of continuous playback before they need recharging. However, there are models that can work much longer than that, with some offering 20 hours of continuous music listening, enough for the whole day. These are extremely popular with travellers and those who simply adore music and can't live without it.

Finally, the number of drivers, which is used in the device, also matters. For a quality sound and immersive music experience, we recommend you look in the direction of models fitted with a couple of drivers as well as a subwoofer, so you can get the most out of your favourite tracks and customise music to your liking.

Extra Features

As far as extra features are concerned, you may want to consider the speaker's size and weight - important parameters that determine how easy carrying and storing the device will be. Another thing we recommend checking out is whether the speaker has any kind of protection. Many modern models come with a water-proof casing which gives them protection from the elements and eliminates the risk of damage if you ever happen to drop the speaker into the pool, for example. Others may also have dust protection, allowing you to keep the device look nice with no extra hassle needed. As we've mentioned before, some portable speakers may also serve as a power bank. For that, however, we recommend checking the battery life of the speaker - it should be longer than average. Finally, there are Bluetooth speakers that support Siri and Google Assistants which permit you to manage your music as well as perform other functions hands-free.

Sources:

1. Ralph Graves Bluetooth speaker buying guide, Crutchfield. June 06, 2016.

2. Ben Stockton How to buy the best wireless or Bluetooth speaker, Which?

3. Bluetooth speaker buying guideBest Buy.

4. How to pick the best wireless speaker, Consumer Reports. March 2016.

5. Electric Jen Choosing a portable Bluetooth speaker, Teslarati. March 3, 2016.

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