Best mini Bluetooth speaker. Over time, audio technology has progressed. Not only have prices for portable wireless Bluetooth speakers decreased, but the quality of the speakers has also improved.
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Best Mini Bluetooth Speaker
Regardless of price, the sound quality is excellent across the board. True, the size of the speaker may impose certain limits (usually poor bass quality), but the convenience of a portable speaker outweighs these minor drawbacks.
1. JBL Go 3
The JBL Bluetooth speaker with the most upgrades for 2021 is one of the company’s tiniest. The JBL Go 3 ($40, £35, AU$70) has a whole new look, with a sturdy fabric cover replacing the bare plastic design of its predecessors, and that new style, along with surprisingly good sound for its small size, makes the Go 3 one of the best mini Bluetooth speakers available.
It features an IPX 67 water-resistance certification and comes in a variety of colors (it can be dunked in water and is dustproof). The battery life is up to 5 hours.
2. Tribit StormBox Micro
The StormBox Micro from Tribit is one of the best-sounding pocket-sized Bluetooth speakers I’ve heard, with more bass and loudness than most other small speakers. It’s listed at $50, although it’s frequently reduced to $45 or less.
Aside from its outstanding appearance, Bose’s SoundLink Micro stood out because it had more bass than any Bluetooth speaker in its size class and had little distortion at higher levels. And it’s the Tribit’s bass and overall loudness level, which makes it stand out despite its small size.
3. Bose Soundlink Micro
For its small size, the Bose SoundLink Micro is perhaps the best-sounding speaker. Although the Bose SoundLink is a touch on the expensive side, Bose did cut $10 off the original price, bringing it down to $99, and it’s occasionally reduced to $79. It’s a completely waterproof Bluetooth speaker with three color choices from Bose SoundLink. Read our review of the Bose SoundLink Micro.
4. Sonos Roam
The Roam, which comes in white or black and costs $169, is Sonos’ smallest and most cheap speaker (unless you count the $99 Sonos-compatible Symfonisk Ikea Wi-Fi bookshelf speakers), albeit it’s a bit pricey for a tiny wireless speaker. This device, like Sonos’ previous Move portable speaker ($400), has Bluetooth and Wi-Fi capabilities and can connect to an existing Sonos multiroom music system as well as other Series 2-compatible Sonos speakers. For those new to the Sonos universe, this gift idea makes a great beginning speaker.
5. Anker Soundcore Motion Plus
Anker’s Soundcore Motion Plus debuted in 2019 and somehow escaped my notice, which is a pity considering it’s one of, if not the best-sounding, speakers under $100 (it can cost somewhat more, but the black variant is generally $100). It’s a touch bigger than many little Bluetooth speakers, but it’s still small and manages to sound a lot fuller than the competition under $100, with greater bass, loudness, and clarity. It’s also fully waterproof (IPX7) and supports the aptX streaming codec for devices that support it, like Samsung’s Galaxy phones.
6. Sony SRS-XB23
The SRS-XB23 is an Extra Bass variant with a warmer tone. It has superior sound quality, with more bass and loudness than many of the cheaper generic Bluetooth speakers available on Amazon for $40-$70. It’s also a more streamlined Bluetooth speaker that comes in five colors: black, taupe, coral red, light blue, and olive green. Some hues are less expensive.
7. JBL Clip 4
JBL’s Clip tiny Bluetooth speaker has a circular shape for the first three iterations. However, with the fourth-generation Clip 4, JBL has adopted an oval form, increased the speaker’s weight, and incorporated USB-C charging. With a sturdier integrated carabiner “clip,” it appears to be more robust. Best mini Bluetooth speaker. It also sounds a little better, with a little more loudness, clarity, and bass. It’s not totally waterproof (the Clip 3 is), but it’s now dustproof with an IP67 water-resistance rating.
8. Tribit MaxSound Plus
The Tribit MaxSound Plus is approximately 30% larger and costs around $25 more than its smaller brother, the XSound Go, but it performs significantly better and is one of the best-sounding speakers in its size and price class. It features a rechargeable battery that lasts a long time and has excellent audio quality for a Bluetooth speaker.
9. JBL Flip 5
JBL’s Flip 5 ($120) is somewhat larger than the previous Flip 4, which now sells for roughly $80, and has better sound with a bit more bass. It’s waterproof to IPX7 standards, which means it can withstand being immersed in a meter of water for up to 30 minutes. Best mini Bluetooth speaker. The StormBox from Tribit is approximately $30 cheaper and plays louder, but I like the Flip 5’s tonal balance. It also has USB-C charging capabilities.
10. Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 2nd Gen
While the speaker’s drivers haven’t changed, the Qualcomm chipset that powers it has been upgraded (the speaker utilizes Bluetooth 5.1), which improves sound quality slightly, especially at higher levels, thanks to improved digital signal processing. It’s still one of the best-sounding tiny Bluetooth speakers, offering a richer, more tonally balanced sound than other speakers of its size — and it should sound excellent, given its high price.
