Best Bluetooth Speakers (Fall 2021 Edition)

Bluetooth speakers offer you all kinds of flexibility in where and how you listen to music. They’re perfect for the backyard, the beach, the park, or any space where you want music for a group on the go.

There are plenty of options on the market spanning every price point from $10 up through several hundred bucks, but which are the best Bluetooth speakers for your money right now?

These are among the best options on the market as of Fall 2021. In the list below, you’re sure to find one that meets your needs.

The Anker Soundcore Motion Plus Bluetooth speaker won CNET’s top spot for best Bluetooth speaker around $100 as well as its Editors’ Choice designation, both for very good reason. As far as prices go, $100 is a sweet spot, not so cheap as to degrade sound quality but not so expensive that you’ll be afraid to do anything with it.

The Anker Soundcore Motion Plus sits somewhere between a mini and a full-sized shape, and it’s capable of churning out more sound and deeper bass than other speakers at this price. It’s also IPX7 rated, which means it’s fully waterproof, too.

The speaker weighs in at 2.31 pounds, so you can sling it in your bag and head to the park with it. You’ll get 12 hours of playback time under ideal conditions, too.

USB-C, Bluetooth 5.0, and even a 3.5mm jack (under a gasket) are all here, and you can even pair two of these speakers for a stereo pair.

The Sonos Move is a compelling choice for buyers with discerning tastes (and appropriately sized wallets) as it’s arguably the best-sounding mainstream Bluetooth speaker on the market. At $399, it isn’t cheap, but Sonos isn’t trying to be.

Sound quality is the primary star of the show here, with a down-firing tweeter, a mid-woofer, and two Class-D digital amplifiers doing the work. The speaker simply sounds fantastic in any setting.

Drop resistance and weatherproofing round out a very portable package. That said, before you buy one for heavy travel, beware that this is a chunky speaker, weighing in at 6.61 pounds.

This is a true wireless speaker with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2. It charges via USB-C and has a wealth of smart features when connected to Wi-Fi. (Some of these features don’t work via Bluetooth for obvious internet reasons.)

As you might expect if you’re familiar with the Sonos brand, the Sonos Move can be integrated with other Sonos speakers in your home if you have them. But for smaller settings, you might not even need both.

Another well-reviewed option is the UE Boom 3, a powerful but petite 1.2-pound Bluetooth speaker with IP67 dust and waterproofing and a rugged design that can stand up to harsh use.

Powering the audio experience here are two 1.75-inch drivers, along with two passive radiators. The sound is good but not necessarily as good as the two other speakers reviewed thus far. Perhaps the additional dustproofing leads to a little more muffle to the sound. That said, the sound can get plenty loud without distortion, enough to fill a room or be well heard on the beach.

The budget end of the Bluetooth speaker market is full of terrible speakers. Because of that, you don’t want to go ultra-cheap. But, on the other hand, $50 seems a good sweet spot that’s affordable for most and allows for enough functionality and power to be worth using. And that’s right where the Tribit Stormbox Micro sits. This speaker is tiny and can sit in the palm of your hand. Yet, it can crank out a genuinely surprising amount of volume for a speaker of this size.

Bass response is good, too, given the size and price. There’s even IP67 dustproofing and water resistance here. The smaller size includes required trade-offs, like shorter battery life (around 8 hours). But for the size and price, you’ll be quite happy.

Weatherproof speakers can stand up to some level of use and abuse. However, this doesn’t mean they are indestructible. For added protection no matter where you take your speaker, purchase a quality portable audio extended warranty.

Upsie’s extended warranties for Bluetooth speakers are refreshingly affordable and straightforward. Coverage terms are easy to understand, and Upsie’s claims service team is ready for any questions customers may have. In addition, Upsie protects your speakers from damage, including manufacturing defects and accidental damage.

Ready to get protected? Get an Upsie plan now for Bluetooth speakers purchased in the last 60 days.