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Auditory perfection for all occasions

You’ve probably got an old Bluetooth speaker kicking around that gets dusted off for the odd BBQ, but we’d guess you’re in real need of an upgrade. Here’s the good news: the best portable speakers in 2022 are far better than those from even a few years ago. The ones we like look great and sound even better, coming with next-level wireless connectivity, longer battery life and voice control smarts in lightweight designs.

Whether you’re looking to spend under £100 on a sound quality enhancement or you’re after a smart speaker that you can bring with you from room to room, we’ve got some top options below:

We don’t overcomplicate things when testing out the latest portable speakers. We set them and connect them to our phones, just like you would, and then use them to play everything from rock and pop to classical, soundtracks, electronic music and podcasts. We try out as many of the advertised features as possible, including onboard controls and compatible voice assistants, and we of course factor in everything that you need from a portable speaker like decent battery life, low weight, and protection from dust and water. Not every model ticks every box, but we’re confident this list – which is a mix of hands-on testing and in-depth research – features the best portable speakers for homebodies, vintage lovers and outdoor adventurers.

Available at Amazon, John Lewis, Sonos and Currys

Let’s get right to it – if we had to pick one speaker to buy in 2022, it’s got to be the petite Toblerone-shaped Sonos Roam. It’s the best option for connectivity (with Alexa, Google and Sonos voice control), and its mini form factor and outrageously good audio quality and app control (you can hook up Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music and more directly in the Sonos app) make it a no-brainer. Waterproof and drop-resistant, this speaker connects via both Bluetooth and wifi, and has AirPlay 2 to send sound directly from Apple devices. It can even refuel on a wireless charger. The only downside to the Sonos Roam is its slightly low playtime battery life of 10 hours – by no means small, but bring along a power bank if you’re really worried.

Not fussed about the microphone and voice control? The great thing is that you can get everything that’s so good about the Roam in a more affordable package with the SL version. In fact, that deserves its own spot on our list…

Weight: 430g Battery Life: Up to 10 hours Dimensions: 16.8 x 6 x 6.2cm Wireless Connectivity: Wifi and Bluetooth 5.0 Durability: IP67 dustproof and waterproof Connections: USB-C and wireless charging Colours: Black, White, Red, Blue, Green

Available at Argos, John Lewis, Amazon and Sonos

See above. This is the most affordable Sonos model – a microphone-free variant of the Roam only offered in basic colours. Otherwise, it’s almost identical. We’d recommend it just as highly.

Weight: 430g Battery Life: Up to 10 hours Dimensions: 16.8 x 5.9 x 6.2cm Wireless Connectivity: Wifi and Bluetooth 5.0 Durability: IP67 dustproof and waterproof Connections: USB-C and wireless charging Colours: Black, White

Available at Amazon, John Lewis and Bang & Olufsen

In the clash of the waterproof speakers, this is a clear winner for battery life, offering nearly three times the playtime when compared to the Sonos Roam. It’s not just that it can last through a trek, though, because the Explore is made for the outdoors. It has a rugged aluminium design that, while rated to match the Sonos with IP67 for dust and water resistance, feels more beautiful and both heavier and sturdier for all weather conditions. It doesn’t feel like a speaker that would slip over if placed on a rock at a campsite. It delivers a dynamic 360-degree sound that we enjoyed, and it gets plenty loud enough too. Overall, we love the audio from this model, along with the sleek cylindrical can-shaped look. We also like how this one is equipped with a carabiner, ready to be clipped to a backpack – you can tell it’s ready for adventure.

Weight: 637g Battery Life: Up to 27 hours Dimensions: 8.1 x 12.4 x 8.1cm Wireless Connectivity: Wifi, Bluetooth 5.2 Durability: IP67 dustproof and waterproof Connections: USB-C Colours: Black, Green, Brown, Grey, Navy

Available at Amazon, Richer Sounds, John Lewis and Bang & Olufsen

When it comes to Bluetooth speakers that look gorgeous and refined, you can’t go wrong with the Beosound A1 from the Danish audio geniuses over at Bang & Olufsen. This is a stunning little portable powerhouse, delivering a rich and dynamic room-filling sound from its compact round body. This 2nd generation model is an update to the original 2016 look from industrial designer Cecilie Manz, with brushed aluminium, polymer and natural leather as its main materials. It’s a simple and delightful device that packs in long battery life, three microphones for advanced call quality, dust resistance and waterproofing, along with Amazon Alexa built-in. It has a big bass woofer and a tweeter, so delivers an amazing sound for a compact speaker, and you’ll find it reaches high volumes too. While it’s equipped to handle harsh conditions, we think this stylish speaker deserves a place in your home. For an outdoor option, go with the Explore above.

Weight: 558g Battery Life: Up to 18 hours Dimensions: 13.3 x 4.6 x 13.3cm Wireless Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.1 Durability: IP67 dustproof and waterproof Connections: USB-C Colours: Grey Mist, Black Anthracite (Black) Green, Pink, Berluti Edition (Silver), Gold Tone, Anthracite Oxygen (Black)

Available at Amazon, John Lewis and Ultimate Ears

If you’re a little clumsy or just want a near-indestructible speaker, it’s worth looking at the compact options from Ultimate Ears (UE). We think the newest Wonderboom 3 is a great option, but you can happily pick the older 2019 Wonderboom 2 (for the same price), which has around the same battery life and Bluetooth range. It’s a shame that UE hasn’t upgraded the charging port (yes, you have to slum it with old-school Micro USB) or added any quick charge capabilities to the 3, but you probably won’t mind if you’re buying it for its stocky build. It's not just waterproof, either – it'll float on water while playing its 360-degree sound, handy for beach excursions or relaxing at the pool. We like the thumping bass that sounds impressive without drowning out detail and, despite being the height of a can of Coke, it's super loud.

Weight: 570g Battery Life: Up to 14 hours Dimensions: 9.53 x 9.53 x 10.4cm Wireless Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2 Durability: IP67 dustproof and waterproof Connections: Micro USB Colours: Grey, Black, Pink, Blue

Available at Amazon and Anker

On the one hand, the Soundcore 3 may be the most boring-looking speaker on this list. It’s a solid brick-shaped slab that comes in four different basic colours. On the other hand, this is an excellent pick if you weren’t planning on spending more than £60 on a speaker. It’s not going to turn heads, but what it will do is deliver a far better sound than you’d expect for the low price. With a reliable form factor that’s similar to the Sonos Roam, it’s a proper portable speaker that doesn’t weigh too much and is rated to survive the harshness of the outdoors. We found it ideal for our background music while hosting friends on the balcony over the summer, and it’s got a powerful punch without sacrificing detail. Overall, it’s a strong all-rounder at a tempting price.

Weight: 371.95g Battery Life: Up to 24 hours Dimensions: 17.4 x 5.99 x 5.69cm Wireless Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0 Durability: IPX7 waterproof Connections: USB-C Colours: Black, Silver, Blue, Red

Available at Amazon and Richer Sounds

While the handle on top and Bluetooth capabilities make this Audio-Pro model technically portable, we know we’re including it because we can’t get enough of its Scandinavian style. Sure, its 3kg weight and large body mean it’s a bit unlikely you’ll take it anywhere, but if you want something to move from room to room at home, we love this simple yet powerful wireless speaker. The attractive design is the real draw here – we appreciate the blocky look, the real leather handle, the slight upward tilt to the speakers, and the clicky metallic buttons. There are a few options on this list that deliver more when it comes to connectivity options, but this offers excellent sound quality at a reasonable price.

Weight: 3kg Battery Life: Up to 30 hours Dimensions: 28.19 x 20.57 x 20.07cm Wireless Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.0 Durability: No IP rating Connections: Power cable, auxiliary 3.5mm Colours: White, Black, Grey, Pink, Orange

Available at John Lewis, Amazon and Sonos

We’re looking at the expensive end of the market now with both this and its Bose rival below. This is a proper smart speaker that, as the name suggests, can move with you anywhere. It’s a bigger version of the Sonos Roam that shares some of its features, including Bluetooth and wifi connectivity, Alexa and Google Assistant voice control and compatibility with the Sonos multi-room system. Where they differ is with sound quality, though, as the bulkier Move delivers sound to match the power of the richness, detail and tonality you get from the plugged-in Sonos One. We think the Move is more of a speaker for your back garden or if you’d just prefer a smart speaker that can follow you around the home. With a 3kg weight, it’s a bit of a different proposition than most of the other speakers on this list. However, if only the best sound quality will do, you should really consider this model.

Weight: 3kg Battery Life: Up to 10 hours Dimensions: 24 x 16 x 12.6cm Wireless Connectivity: Wifi and Bluetooth 4.1 Durability: IP56 protected from some dust and high-pressure water jets Connections: USB-C, included charging base Colours: Black, White

Available at Amazon, Argos, Currys, John Lewis and Bose

This is a lighter and slightly more portable smart speaker with a top handle that makes it a bit more versatile than the Sonos above. It weighs only a third of what the Sonos does, so it won’t be a strain to move it from room to room or out into the garden for a party. It also lasts a little longer with its 12-hour battery, and the 360-degree design means this delivers an excellent experience that’ll sound the same no matter where your guests are in the room too. We love its minimal look, and reckon the bucket-like handle means it has a more thoughtful design when it comes to actual movability. Overall, you’re going to get a better sound quality with more bass from the heftier Sonos Move, but these are close competitors. We think this is perfect if you want a wide soundstage and the convenience of Google Assistant and Alexa alongside Bluetooth within a compact and portable package.

Weight: 1.06kg Battery Life: Up to 12 hours Dimensions: 19.15 x 11.9 x 10.4cm Wireless Connectivity: Wifi and Bluetooth 4.2 Durability: IPX4 splash-proof Connections: USB-C Colours: Black, Silver

Available at John Lewis, Currys, Argos and Bose

After a speaker for travel? We’d probably still pick the brilliant all-rounder that is the Sonos Roam at the top of our list, but we think this simple option may be a better fit for some people, especially if you’re not fussed about the wifi and voice control capabilities of the Sonos. This affordable Bose is a reliable Bluetooth speaker that delivers all the expected IP67 dust and water protection and floats in water, just like the UE Wonderboom. This gives you two more hours of battery when compared to the Sonos, and slightly more power and detail from its sound quality, it also works as a speakerphone for calls and offers access to Siri or Google Assistant on your phone (so it’s not devoid of smart features). Overall, though, the Soundlink Flex is an ideal pick if you’d prefer a no-frills travel speaker that doesn’t complicate things with extra quirks and just excels at belting out your tunes.

Weight: 589.67g Battery Life: Up to 12 hours Dimensions: 5.23 x 20.14 x 9.04cm Wireless Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.2 Durability: IP67 dustproof and waterproof Connections: USB-C Colours: White, Black, Red, Blue

Available at Amazon and Edifier

With a retro design that wouldn’t look out of place on the set of Mad Men, Edifier’s MP230 is a vintage lover’s dream speaker. We love the brown and copper aesthetic that’s been inspired by radios of the Fifties, and the wooden enclosure is one that you’ll want to show off. On test, we found the audio quality to be great at a range of volumes and music genres, with a nice balance between bass and treble. It connects quickly to a laptop and smartphone and we like that you also have the option of popping in an auxiliary cable or a microSD card. The prominent replica piano key buttons on the front of the device are used to skip tracks or launch Bluetooth pairing and they have a pleasing little click when pressed. Like our top pick Sonos Roam, the MP230 has up to 10 hours of power. We found that with moderate use, it got us through a few hours a day while working from home, so it can last for more than a week between charges. At 850g, you can easily take this from room to room, but there’s no water resistance so we don’t recommend taking it outdoors in bad weather.

Weight: 850g Battery Life: Up to 10 hours Dimensions: 16.4 x 8.4 x 10.8cm Wireless Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0 Durability: No IP rating Connections: USB-C, auxiliary 3.5mm, microSD card Colours: Brown

Available at Amazon and Anker

We reckon this one’s more of a portable speaker to use at home because it’s rather large and heavy, but that shouldn’t put you off if you’re looking to get a lot for around £100. This chunky mini soundbar is capable of some serious hi-res audio output. It gets loud, and we were really impressed by just how much volume and detail we got out of this package. We found it excellent for use as the speaker connected to our projector for movie nights, and we like how it’s angled to direct sound upwards and outwards. If you’re after a portly little powerhouse that could just about fit in a backpack and come with you on a trip (if you’re fine with the weight), this is a solid option.

Weight: 1.05kg Battery Life: Up to X hours Dimensions: 8.13 x 7.87 x 25.65cm Wireless Connectivity: Wifi and Bluetooth 5.0 Durability: IPX7 waterproof Connections: USB-C Colours: Black, Blue, Red

At a bare minimum, we think it’s important for a portable speaker to deliver great sound quality in a relatively compact and stylish design, and our picks for this list reflect those priorities. There are, of course, models on the market that rival our favourites, but they often come in garish colours or toy-like designs that just don’t do it for us.

While doing your research, there are a couple of specs below that we’d keep in mind when weighing up the options, though:

Weight and Dimensions: You’re looking for something portable, right? So, any speaker that needs to come with you on an excursion or getaway can’t weigh several kilograms – we think you’ll be happiest with a speaker that weighs around 500g or so (about as much as a bag of pasta) as these models often hit the right balance between sound quality and transportability. Models at much lower weights may not sound that much better than your phone, but we have included some bigger models that are ideal for use around the home, whether you need to bring it out to your balcony, garden or just from the bedroom to the living room.

Handles and Clips: Anything that helps you move the speaker from A to B is appreciated, so that’s why it’s useful to look out for models that have a carabiner clip, grip or handle. These can make the speaker easier to pick up, of course, or just more straightforward to attach to the back of your rucksack if you’re out in the wild. Beats around the campfire, anyone?

Battery Life: It’s self-explanatory, really – battery life matters because you’ll want a speaker that lasts as long as you need it to. In 2022, most models last over 10 hours and we’d find that more than enough. However, if the party lasts all day and all night, look for ones that give you even more. We’ve included options that go for up to 30 hours in this roundup.

Durability: Knowing that your model can survive in challenging outdoor conditions is essential for any portable speaker that won’t just live at home, whether you’re out on a hike or just taking a risk with the unpredictable British weather in the park or in your garden. Many of the speakers on this list are waterproof and dustproof, and you’ll want to take a look at the IP (Ingress Protection) ratings, which appear as the letters “IP” followed by two numbers. For instance, IPX4 means you’ve got a basic splash-proofing, IP56 is protected against harmful dust and high-pressure water, while models with the rating IPX7 are designed to withstand submersion in water up to one metre deep for 30 minutes. IP67 or IP68 mean it can survive the same water depth, in addition to dust resistance.

Connectivity Features: Most of these little speakers work over Bluetooth, the same way as the best noise-cancelling earbuds and over-ear headphones that you’re used to getting connected to your phone. The models on our list are all between Bluetooth 4.2 and 5.2, and in general the higher the number the more range you’ll get, and the more stable your connection will be. Some have a few more connectivity options over wifi or via voice assistants, and these can be more reliable or convenient when you’re at home. We really appreciate the ability to bark “Hey Sonos, pause” to the tiny Roam, and while Bluetooth is great for music streaming, you can get a more solid connection over wifi, enabling Apple AirPlay 2, voice control from assistants like Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, and access to internet radio.