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Soundtrack your week with these great wireless speakers.

When the sound quality from your phone or laptop doesn't cut it, a Bluetooth speaker is the answer. These wireless devices give you that extra oomph needed to keep the party going into the night, while also being incredibly portable, easy to use and often waterproof. So whether you’re camping in the woods, lounging by the pool or relaxing with your favourite podcast, there’s no excuse to settle for bad audio.

Not sure which one is best for you? We have a ton of experience testing audio gear – from the best cheap headphones to the best smart speakers – and have great news: there's a huge variety of speaker options for both indoor and outdoor use, and you can pick up a great one these days for as little as £40. That sounds good to us.

These portable music players come in all shapes, sizes and price points, so to help you narrow down your options we’ve rounded up the best Bluetooth speakers you can buy in 2022, from top brands including Sony, Bose, Sonos, Bang & Olufsen, Anker and JBL.

The speakers on this list have everything you need, including rugged, durable designs to protect them from accidental drops or overzealous partying, strong batteries so you don’t have to worry about charging, waterproof coatings and voice control.

Just want our top recommendations? Here are our favourite models right now.

We tried out the best portable Bluetooth speakers by pairing them with a smartphone and playing a variety of music genres, including rock, pop, synthwave, metal and classical, plus a podcast. There are so many models available to buy, so we made sure to focus our attention on the biggest and most trusted brands while compiling our list, while assessing build quality, ease of use and waterproofing. Our portable Bluetooth speaker picks below are a combination of our hands-on testing and expert recommendations from our rigorous research.

Bose is one of the biggest names in the audio world, so it will come as no surprise that the brand made it onto our best portable speakers roundup. Weighing in at 600g, the SoundLink Flex is a bit heavier than others on this list but at 20 cm in length, it still easily fits into a bag (or a larger jacket pocket) without issue. If you're taking it outdoors, a helpful bit of tech called "PositionIQ" adjusts the sound based on how the speaker is sitting, and it works upright, on its back or hanging via the tear-resistant utility loop that's found at one end. It's water and dustproof, and floats if it does happen to take an unexpected plunge into the pool or sea. Really, it's a top all-rounder at a solid price point.

• Size/Weight: 9 x 20.1 x 5.2 cm, 600g • Waterproofing: IP67 waterproof (submerged in one-metre deep water for up to 30 minutes) and dustproof • Battery life: Up to 12 hours • Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.2, Bose Connect app • Wireless range: Up to 9m

Want a simple, portable Bluetooth speaker that’s also very affordable? Look no further than the Sony SRS-XB13. It's one of the smallest and lightest models on our list, but also one of the cheapest thanks to the sub-£40 price tag. Weighing 253g and standing at just under 10cm tall, this is a speaker you can easily bring along to pool and beach parties without worry, as it's fully waterproof. The 16-hour battery life is better than some speakers at double the cost and we like that you can choose from five colour options: black, blue, cream, pink or yellow.

• Size/Weight: 9.4 x 7.4 x 7.4 cm, 253g • Waterproofing: IP67 waterproof (submerged in 1-metre deep water for up to 30 minutes) and dustproof • Battery life: Up to 16 hours • Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.2, Sony Music Centre app • Wireless range: 10m

The Bose SoundLink Micro is a portable Bluetooth speaker for adventurous types. It can be held using one hand and the back has a strong strap that makes it incredibly versatile. Want to soundtrack your cycle? Strap it to your bike's handlebars. Going on a camping trip? Fasten it to a tree branch. How about a lengthy mountain hike? Attach it to your backpack's shoulder strap. Admittedly the battery life is only six hours from a full charge, but you get top audio quality that can withstand the outdoor elements thanks to its waterproof and dustproof design. • Size/Weight: 9.83 x 9.83 x 3.48cm, 290.3g • Waterproofing: IP67 waterproof (submerged in 1-metre deep water for up to 30 minutes) and dustproof • Battery life: Up to 6 hours • Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.2 • Wireless range: Up to 9m

The Anker Soundcore Mini 3 is the smallest portable speaker on our list, and one of the most affordable. It's light and easily fits into a jacket pocket, while the 15-hour battery life is impressive for a speaker of this stature. The Mini 3 boasts a strong 20m wireless range so you can stray pretty far without losing your connection and pairing the speaker with the Soundcore app opens more functions – including sound profiles and volume controls. While it's great to see that it's fully waterproof it's not dustproof, so avoid the beach.

• Size/Weight: 7.2 x 7.2 x 8.4 cm, 231g • Waterproofing: IPX7 waterproof (submerged in 1-metre deep water for up to 30 minutes) • Battery life: Up to 15 hours • Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0, Soundcore App • Wireless range: 20m

Looking for the best available audio in a Bluetooth speaker? Thanks to its heavy bass Sonos' Roam sounds just as good in the living room as it does in the park. It automatically adjusts the levels depending on whether you're in or outdoors, and we rarely found ourselves having to manually correct anything when moving it about during a test. The Roam has Google Assistant and Alexa included so you can use voice control to switch up the playlist, jam for up to 10 hours, and it also holds up well to water splashes and dust.

• Size/Weight: 6.2 x 5.9 x 16.8 cm, 430g • Waterproofing: IP67 waterproof (submerged in 1-metre deep water for up to 30 minutes) and dustproof • Battery life: Up to 10 hours • Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0, WiFi, AirPlay 2 • Wireless range: Up to 40m

Need a portable speaker for playing your favourite tunes? The JBL Flip 5 gives you great audio in the popular drinks can-shaped form, plus it's fully waterproof so it will survive accidental water drops. It's not the lightest of our bunch, but the 12-hour battery life makes sure you won't run out of juice while the party is just getting good, and the 15-metre wireless range means you don't have to stay close to maintain a connection either. This isn't dustproof, so avoid the beach. But if you need to take the party to the next level you can easily pair it with up to two more JBL PartyBoost speakers.

• Size/Weight: 23.1x14.3x11.4 cm, 540g • Waterproofing: IPX7 waterproof (submerged in 1-metre deep water for up to 30 minutes) • Battery life: Up to 12 hours • Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.2 • Wireless range: Up to 15m

Going camping or need to bring some loud tunes to a garden party? Anker’s Motion Boom Plus is for you. It may stretch the limits of what we would consider "portable", but the carry strap design helps it to earn a place on this list. This beast of a speaker emits 80W of pure sound (two 30W woofers and two 10W tweeters) and has Anker’s BassUp technology that’s certain to turn heads. Sure, this may be overkill for a chilled-out afternoon in the sun, but anyone who wants sheer power will also get to enjoy a 20-hour battery life and full waterproof and dustproof protection.

• Size/Weight: 38.9 x 14 x 19.56 cm, 2.28kg • Waterproofing: IP67 waterproof (up to 1 metre in depth) and dustproof • Battery life: Up to 20 hours • Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3, AUX • Wireless range: 10-15m

Not all portable speakers have to be hand-held. If you need a ton of extra sound and the option of also using a power outlet, the JVC MX-D719PB has you covered. With a "Bass Booster" mode and flashing LED lights, this is not what we would ever call a subtle option – but it will definitely turn heads at a party while blasting out music for up to 12 hours from a full charge. If you want to take the night to the next level, this speaker can be connected to a guitar or microphone – so late-night karaoke is never out of the question. The built-in trolley handle and wheels mean that it's easy to transport too, but it isn't waterproof so go easy by the pool.

• Size/Weight: 43.6 x 33.6 x 27 cm, 7.14 kg • Waterproofing: No • Battery life: Up to 12 hours • Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.2, Aux, Guitar • Wireless range: Not specified

If you're after a top-spec wireless speaker that's going to last, check out the Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore, which has the longest battery life of any other model on this list. B&O is one of our favourite brands for delivering crisp, clean sound at home, and we loved being able to take that same reliability away from the plug socket. It has a fabric clip to attach it to bag handles, and is water and dustproof too.

• Size/Weight: 12.4 x 8.1 x 8.1cm, 631g • Waterproofing: IP67 waterproof (submerged in 1-metre deep water for up to 30 minutes) and dustproof • Battery life: Up to 27 hours • Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2 • Wireless range: Up to 30m

If you want truly affordable portable audio, this Anker Soundcore speaker is a reliable choice. With a great battery life of up to 24 hours – one of the best on our list despite its lower cost – this first-gen model is fairly no-frills compared to some of the more premium options but you still get solid audio quality, while it's more than light enough to move around your home with ease and blast your favourite playlists or podcasts. This model isn't waterproof, though, so if you do plan on bringing your speaker to the pool you may want to consider the Soundcore 2, which costs roughly £10 more.

• Size/Weight: 16.51 x 5.59 x 4.57 cm, 360g • Waterproofing: IPX7 waterproof (submerged in 1-metre deep water for up to 30 minutes) • Battery life: Up to 24 hours • Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.2 • Wireless range: Up to 20m

If you've got a bit more cash to spend, the large and powerful Sonos Move could be your best option. It's double the price of the Roam listed above, but it consistently performed better during testing. Our deep house tunes were clean no matter where we put it, as it scans its immediate surroundings and tweaks the levels to get the perfect sound, and it could quite easily replace your main at-home speaker. Sure, it's slightly less portable than other options due to its bulky weight, but you can sync it up to multiple speakers to get them all working in tandem for a banging party.

• Size/Weight: 22.7 x 22.9 x 31 cm, 3kg • Waterproofing: IP56 rating (protected from high-pressure water jets and light dust) • Battery life: up to 11 hours • Connectivity: Bluetooth 5, Wi-Fi, Alexa, Google Assistant, AirPlay2 • Wireless range: 100m

Want to browse even more options? Here's a selection of UK retailers where you can find some of the best portable Bluetooth speakers to suit every budget:

From battery life to durability, there's a lot to consider when buying a Bluetooth speaker, but we're here to help. Here's what you need to know before purchasing:

Waterproofing: Using the Bluetooth speaker around the pool or at the beach? You’ll want it to be waterproof. At the very least, you'll need to look out for at least an IP 55 protection rating – which keeps your device safe from splashes – but preferably go for IP67, which means it can survive being fully submerged for half an hour. Luckily, most speaker-makers know the risks, so many devices are now designed to float.

Battery life: Bluetooth speakers use internal batteries that can be recharged through USB or USB-C cables, though be mindful that the louder and longer that you listen, the quicker your juice runs out. Our top picks on this list will last anywhere between six and 27 hours, so it’s worth considering how you will be using the speaker. Some of the more expensive Bluetooth models will support wireless charging, too.

Weight: In most cases, you'll want to pick a Bluetooth speaker that's light enough to take with you away from home, or at least easily moved around indoors. Most of the options on this list are portable and can be carried one-handed, with the larger devices often having a carry strap or trolley handle for easier transportation.

Dimensions: It depends on how and where you want to use the speaker, but it’s important to consider size. The majority of our favourites are relatively small and will easily fit in your backpack or rucksack, although there are also sizable options that can be used for karaoke sessions or outdoor shows via an aux port or a guitar-in port. These are usually plug-and-play, so still very convenient.

Smart features and connections: Alongside Bluetooth connectivity, modern speakers might have built-in voice assistants such as Apple's Siri, Amazon's Alexa, or Google Assistant to help you switch tracks using just your voice, great if your hands are already full with beer and sausage rolls. If you're feeling old school, you might also be able to connect them via a 3.5mm aux or audio input.

Wireless range: If you're prone to venturing away from your speaker with your phone in your pocket, you'll want to find a model with a decent range so you can stay connected from a distance. High-end speakers allow you to stray the furthest, but most models on our list will perform just fine within a 50-metre radius.