From big sound in a tiny package to impressive battery life, portable speakers come in all shapes, colors, and sizes—making it easy to find one that suits your needs and personal style. We've rounded up some of our favorite travel companions for taking your music on the go.
Our best all-around portable speaker: JBL Flip 7
If you're looking for a speaker that strikes a balance between sound quality, portability, and durability, the JBL Flip 7 is an all-around crowd-pleaser. It’s ideal for casual listeners who want something more powerful than ultra-compacts, but without the added bulk or price tag of larger models.
Key features
- Balanced sound: AI sound boost delivers crisp mids, decent bass, and clear highs with JBL’s signature sound.
- AuracastTM ready: Pair two Flip 7 speakers for a bigger soundscape and connect any Auracast-enabled JBL speakers for even bigger sound.
- Up to 16 hours of battery life: Enjoy 14 hours on a single charge, and an extra two hours with Playtime Boost—more than enough for a full day outdoors.
- Waterproof & dustproof: IP68 rating keeps it safe at the beach, pool, or in the rain.
- Lightweight & portable: Weighs just 1.23 pounds with a compact cylinder design.
- Bluetooth 5.4: Stable connection and fast pairing.
What we like most. The Flip 7 is ideal for just about any situation: day trips, patio hangs, or kitchen dance parties. It’s durable with an IP68 rating, sounds great across genres, and is compact and rugged enough to toss in a bag—making it a reliable go-to speaker for most people. It also comes with a USB-C charging cable for external devices.
Other considerations. It doesn’t hit quite as hard on bass as some of the others we’ll cover, but the Flip 7 offers a balanced sound overall, especially for vocals and acoustic tracks.
Our best portable speaker for battery life: JBL Charge 6
Want something that can go the distance and charge your phone? The JBL Charge 6 is a powerhouse designed for longer outings, like weekend camping trips or full-day tailgates. It’s a bit bigger than the Flip 7, but that extra size brings serious endurance and output.
Key features
- Up to 28 hours of battery life: One of the longest in its class. 24 hours on a single charge; add four more hours with Playtime Boost.
- Built-in power bank: Charge your devices via the speaker’s USB port.
- Bold JBL sound: AI Sound Boost, along with dual passive radiators and robust drivers deliver strong bass and clear highs.
- Waterproof & dustproof: IP68 rating for rugged outdoor use.
- Bluetooth 5.4: Solid wireless connection across devices.
- AuracastTM compatible: Connect multiple JBL Auracast-ready speakers for bigger sound.
- Weight: Around 3 pounds – heavier than others, but still portable.
What we like most. The Charge 6 is a fantastic choice if you need longevity and power. The ability to charge your phone or tablet mid-party adds serious value, especially when you’re away from outlets. It delivers rich, room-filling sound without distortion, even at higher volumes.
Other considerations. It’s bulkier than all the others on the list, so it’s not quite as toss-it-in-your-bag friendly. But if battery life and volume are priorities, it’s hard to beat at under $200.
Our best portable speaker for the design conscious: Beats Pill
When it comes to long-lasting sound quality on-the-go, the Beats Pill is a top contender for good reason. But it’s not just the rich sound that makes this one a fan favorite—it’s the speaker’s sleek and stylish looks that makes it a beautiful addition to any space, whether it’s your home, office, studio, or store. It's perfect for anyone looking for seriously deep bass, clear highs, and stunning color options like Champaign Gold, Statement Red, or Matte Black to complement your style.
Key features
- Up to 26 hours of battery life: Boasting 24 hours on a single charge, plus two more hours with a 10minute fast charge—that’s more-than enough to last through those long parties or road trips.
- Compact design: Slim and portable at just 1.5 pounds, it easily fits in your bag or backpack, and includes a lanyard for easy carrying/hanging.
- Dual-performance drivers: Bass takes center stage, while also delivering a full range of sound. You can sync two Beats for an even more powerful audio experience.
- Advanced Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity: Easily pairs with your smartphone or tablet for wireless streaming.
- Speakerphone: Take calls and activate your voice assistant when paired.
- Dirt, sand & water resistant: IP67 rating
- Apple or Android: Instant onetouch pairing, plus Find My or Find My Device.
- USB-C to USB-C Cable (included): Lets you charge other devices.
What we like most. The Beats Pill stands out for its sleek, iconic design, cool color options, long battery life, and punchy bass sound, which is perfect if you love hip hop or electronic dance beats. This speaker fills any space with rich, dynamic audio.
Other considerations. The price is nice at around $150, and the bass, portability, and battery are impressive. However, the overall sound may not be as natural and immersive as some of its competitors.
Our best portable speaker for adaptability: Bose SoundLink Flex 2
With a similar price point and many of the same features as the Beats Pill, the Bose SoundLink Flex 2 is also an excellent pick. It has a rugged and easy-to-carry design that’s perfect for adventurous types who need a speaker that can come along for the ride. But it’s the speaker’s ability to adapt to its surroundings that make it a standout.
Key features
- PositionIQ technology: Adjusts sound quality based on the speaker's orientation, ensuring optimal sound in any position.
- Portable and lightweight: At 1.3 pounds, it’s travel friendly with a flexible, durable design, and nylon utility loop for easy carrying/hanging.
- Natural sound: Enjoy crisp and nuanced sound with rich bass. You can sync two for a more powerful audio experience.
- Dirt, sand & water resistant: IP67 Rating
- Up to 12 hours of battery life: Stay entertained with reliable battery performance.
- Advanced Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity: Strong, stable connection for uninterrupted streaming.
- Apple or Android: Pairs easily; Find My or Find My Device.
- USB-C to USB-C Cable (included): Lets you charge other devices.
What we like most. Boasting eye-catching color options, the Bose SoundLink Flex 2 is perfect for outdoor use, with its rugged, waterproof build and crisp, natural, and immersive sound. Unlike some others on the list, it has the ability to adjust to various positions through PositionIQ technology, which means you can set it up in any spot and still get excellent audio. It’s also light, weighing just 1.3 pounds vs. the Beats Pill’s 1.5 pounds, but a little heavier than the JBL Flip 7’s 1.23 pounds.
Other considerations. While the SoundLink Flex 2 has stunning sound, the Beats Pill is all about the bass, which may be important depending on your favorite genre of music. Also, it only offers about 12 hours of battery life compared with the Beats Pill’s 26 hours, and the 28 hours offered by the JBL Charge 6—but that may be plenty of time for most adventurers.
Our best bargain portable speaker: Sony ULT Field
For audiophiles who demand top-tier sound on-the-go, the Sony ULT Field is also a standout choice, but at a lower price than the Beats and Bose speakers. Still, it delivers bass, clarity, and advanced sound features that are on-par with the slightly pricier devices.
Key features
- High-resolution audio: Enjoy premium sound quality with clear vocals and deep bass. Sync two UTL Fields for a more powerful audio experience.
- Portable & lightweight: At 1.43 pounds, it’s travel friendly with a flexible, durable design, and has a detachable, multi-way strap for easy carrying/hanging.
- Dirt, sand & water resistant: IP67 Rating
- Up to 12 hours of battery life: Stay entertained with reliable battery performance.
- Advanced Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity: Strong, stable connection for uninterrupted streaming.
- USB-A to USB-C cable (included): Charge other devices.
What we like most. Fans of the Sony ULT Field say it delivers nice sound if you love bass-heavy tracks (but there’s a little distortion when the bass isn’t center stage), and it also excels at orchestral music, providing crisp, clear audio even in outdoor environments. Plus, it’s a little less expensive than the other options so far, starting around $130.
Other considerations. While the ULT Field offers excellent sound quality, it’s slightly larger and heavier than some on the list, but lighter than others, putting it right in the middle in terms of portability. But most people won’t notice a huge difference.
Best small-but-mighty portable speaker: JBL Clip 5
If you need everything small but the sound—this tiny, easy-on-the-wallet speaker may be the perfect fit. The JBL Clip 5 weighs in at just over a half-a-pound (.63 lbs.) with a small price tag to match (about $50). It's compact, budget friendly, easy to carry or clip-on, and delivers impressive audio for its size, making it a perfect travel companion.
Key features
- Big sound: Powerful and punchy bass meets surprisingly premium sound quality. Pair two Clip 5s, or any JBL Auracast-ready speakers, for a more powerful audio experience.
- Compact and lightweight: Weighs in at just 0.63 pounds
- Integrated carabiner: The clip has wide opening that you can attach to purses, backpacks, belt loops, and more.
- IP67 waterproof and dustproof: Perfect for beach volleyball or group hikes.
- Up to 12 hours of battery life: Playtime Boost adds up to 3 hours more.
- Bluetooth 5.3: Offers a stable, wireless connection for your devices.
What we like most. The JBL Clip 5 is the ultimate pocket-sized powerhouse, delivering surprisingly rich sound for its compact form. It’s a great option for minimalists on a budget, but who also want a reliable, durable speaker to bring with them anywhere.
Other considerations. While impressive, the Clip 5 has a smaller sound compared to larger models, so it may not be the best choice if you need room-filling sound for a big party. However, for personal use or smaller gatherings, it’s more than enough.
Whether you’re looking for powerful bass, a long-lasting battery, great overall sound quality, or something else—the portable speakers on this list have you covered.
Still can’t decide?
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*Please note that product availability may vary, and some items mentioned may no longer be in stock or available at the time of reading. Browse all of our latest phones, devices and accessories here.
Sources:
https://www.beatsbydre.com/speakers/beats-pill
https://electronics.sony.com/audio/speakers/all-speakers/p/srsult10-b
https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/sony-ult-field-1
https://www.jbl.com/bluetooth-speakers/CLIP-5.html
https://www.t-mobile.com/accessory/jbl-flip-7
https://www.t-mobile.com/accessory/jbl-charge-6