RS Recommends: Best-Sounding Mini Wireless Speakers
5 min read
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From the outdoors to the shower, every music fan needs one of the best mini speakers to jam on on the go. Carrying bulky wired speakers wherever you want to go isn’t realistic, and even trying to travel with some of today’s best Bluetooth speakers won’t always cut it. But luckily a few well-known brands, from Sony to JBL, have found a way to fit into the mix of serious tech and quality sound—all at a budget-friendly price.
With high-tech features like a microphone for wireless calls and the ability to pair them with others for a mini stereo setup on your next trip, today’s best mini speakers deliver louder sound than ever before. Sure, you won’t need to go out and replace your high-end stereo system, but these portable powerhouse devices are a worthwhile purchase to take with your music on any trip.
Below, we’ve picked the best mini Bluetooth speakers for any situation that won’t disappoint.
Mini Bluetooth Speaker Buying Guide
When researching this guide, we only picked brands that have great sounding models. When you’re streaming music, each speaker in this guide guarantees high-quality sound for its small size. Here are some other features to keep in mind when choosing your next mini speaker.
Shape: When we talk about mini Bluetooth speakers, we mean gear that’s super easy to stash in a pocket, backpack, and travel with. The version of “mini” for everyone may be different, but now it’s a lot easier to find better-designed speakers with a smaller overall footprint. After all, the point of a mini speaker is to make sure you always have music with you when you’re on the go, so you want something that’s almost at hand, or can clip to a bag. We’ve picked the best mini speakers that are lighter and smaller in size than your typical wireless units.
Portability: Along with their small size, a handful of mini speakers come with smart design features that make them even more portable, from built-in handles and clips that you can attach to luggage or bikes.
battery life: A common misconception about the best mini speakers is that they have to have battery life to match their size, but that’s no longer the case. The new Mini Bluetooth speakers come with a surprising amount of runtime that makes them contenders for your all-day music source. In this guide, we chose speakers with a battery life of around 10 hours or more.
Which are the best mini speakers?
Go ahead and plan the rest of your trip – these are the best mini Bluetooth speakers you can trust to do the job on the road from brands like JBL, Sony, Bose, and more.
1. JBL Clip 4 Portable Bluetooth Speaker
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Our pick for the best mini Bluetooth speakers comes from JBL, the latest, greatest entry in its Clip speaker line. Of course, the JBL Clip 4 uses a clip-on handle that you can attach to almost anything, whether you’re at home or on the road. Although it’s one of the best-designed and durable portable models out there, its sound may surprise you even more with its 5 watts of output power and what it’s branded as “rich audio and punchy bass.” Bottom Line: Consider JBL the new frontrunner for the best ultra-portable speaker in the audio game.
2. Sony Xtra Bass Wireless Portable Travel Speaker
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We’re fans of Sony’s extra bass headphones because of their stellar audio. But for those days when you just want to listen to a playlist out loud, go for the brand’s Extra Bass portable speaker—a must-have mini speaker for any music fan. Its small size delivers booming bass and plenty of power for clear and crisp audio. It’s both waterproof and dustproof for days at the beach or camping, and it can play music for up to 16 hours on a full charge—one of the longest-lasting mini speakers we’ve seen. You can also use it for calls thanks to its built-in microphone. Pro Tip: Get a second so you can pair them for stereo sound.
3. Bose SoundLink Portable Speaker
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Despite its small size, this excellent-sounding Bose portable speaker can blast out tunes for up to 12 hours on a single charge. It has one of the longest runtimes we’ve seen in a speaker of its size. As far as sound goes, expect the kind of solid audio quality that music lovers rely on in Bose’s line of speakers, headphones, and earbuds. The SoundLink is one of the largest speakers in this guide, but it’s still small enough to stash in a pack or cup holder.
4. JBL Go 3 Portable Bluetooth Speaker
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Another entry from JBL, the Go 3 actually comes with a mini frame that, as its name would suggest, was made for getting out and about on the road. With a built-in hanging loop, you can tie it to a belt, backpack, or loop it around a latch on the cooler so you’re never without tunes around. We love its rugged and durable construction, so you don’t have to worry about it getting rusty.
5. Parent Portable Mini Outdoor Speaker
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Whether you hang it in your shower or you tie it to your hiking pack, this Bluetooth mini outdoor speaker can last about 10 hours on a charge. Bass-heavy tracks come through loud and clear, while the built-in mics make it easy to hop on calls without taking your phone out of your pocket. It has an IPX7 waterproof rating, which means it’s tough enough to withstand getting wet outside. Best of all, you can get it on Amazon for less than $17 at the time of this writing.