ur list of the best cheap Bluetooth speakers will help you find top-tier wireless audio at a bargain price. In fact, in this roundup we’ve stumbled on a bonanza of bargain Bluetooth speaker gems all for under $100 — and some for less than $50.
Whether you’re looking for a model to play at a cookout or BBQ in the backyard with family and friends, or want a reliable speaker to take along to a music festival that you can throw into a travel bag for carefree sounds, we’ve rated each of these cheap Bluetooth speakers for their sound and battery life performance, and robustness.
My recommendation for the best cheap Bluetooth speaker overall is the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3. This compact speaker impressed us with its bass sound both indoors and out. It also has some of the strongest durability around, but battery life can be bettered. Speaking of which, if battery life is a priority then the Anker Soundcore 3 lasts longer, has equally big sound, but is less attractive to look at. That might not matter, though, at the value price.
Read on to find out which models deliver top audio quality without breaking the bank.
1. Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3
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One of the most practical Bluetooth speakers under $100 with balanced sound inside and out. Its IP67-rating means it ranks as one of the best waterproof speakers too.
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Best value
2. Anker Soundcore 3
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The Soundcore 3 by Anker is big on sound and battery life, but lightweight enough to be easily portable. There’s plenty of competition at the price, but this is the best value.
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Best battery life
3. Tribit StormBox Flow
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The StormBox Flow lacks some style compared to rivals, but has everything we look for in an affordable portable speaker. It’s rugged, plays for a long time on a charge and produces impressive bass for its size.
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Lee Dunkley
Audio Editor
As Tom’s Guide audio editor with more than 30 years of listening and testing all kinds of audio products — from budget speakers to Hi-Fi systems that cost as much as a luxury car — I’ve listened to hundreds of speakers and I know what makes the grade when it comes to balancing great sound, durability and features. If you’re looking for a Bluetooth speaker on a budget, you can rest assured that each of the options listed below has a thumbs up from me and our team of audio experts.
Best cheap Bluetooth speaker overall
1. Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3
One of the best all-around Bluetooth speakers we’ve examined for under $100 is the UE Wonderboom 3. It’s a terrific companion because to its portable form and balanced sound, and the Outdoor Boost feature works as intended. And 14 hours of battery life is more than enough for most folks.
In case you require more powerful audio or extended battery life, the Megaboom 3 could be a worthy purchase. For stereo sound, it may also be coupled with more UE speakers. The one major letdown with the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 is its charging. The speaker took more than two hours to charge from dead to the full charge indicator chime. We wish it had USB-C instead of the somewhat antiquated Micro-USB charging, which is most likely the cause of this.
Best value Bluetooth speaker
A fantastic tiny Bluetooth speaker for outdoor sounds is the Anker Soundcore 3. This little powerhouse, which retails for little more than $50, has an IPX7 rating, meaning it can withstand dust and water damage in addition to daily impacts. It also produces powerful, well-balanced sound. Thanks to Anker’s best-in-class battery technology, the speaker can run for up to 24 hours. The Soundcore 3’s twin tweeter drivers, central mid/bass woofer, passive bass driver, and Anker’s BassUp technology guarantee that you’ll enjoy great sound in any environment.
The 6.75 x 2.25 x 2.25-inch Soundcore speaker’s small size makes it ideal for packing in a luggage for a fast road trip, while SharePlay enables additional Soundcore speakers to be synchronized for an
The sound quality of the Tribit Stormbox Flow is exceptional and comparable to that of the pricier Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3. Particularly when using the XBass or Rock sound mode, the bass is really strong. It may make you go elsewhere because it is a little heavier than the competition and not very attractive. For these reasons, it comes in third on our list of the best inexpensive Bluetooth speakers.
Along the top of the speaker are controls for power, Bluetooth connectivity, and volume if you prefer to play with tactile controls instead of navigating a control app. According to Tribit, the StormBox Flow has a 30-hour playback time on a single charge; however, when XBass is activated, that time drops to 24 hours.
Throughout our testing, Bluetooth connectivity was steady, and our reviewer saw that it could retain a solid connection with a phone that was placed 100 feet away. Although it lacks an auxiliary port for wired external sources, it can function as a speakerphone. When it comes to sound quality, the StormBox Flow will beyond your expectations.
Best cheap Bluetooth speaker for day sacks
4. Sony SRS-XB100
Packs a surprising punch that’s perfect for days out
The Sony SRS-XB100 Bluetooth speaker is a wonderful on-the-go listening experience in a gripping can-shaped packaging, and it costs less than $60. Though it can’t match the UE Wonderboom 3’s (above) volume, the XB100’s audio quality is incredibly good considering its small size. For optimal performance, you can divide the left and right audio channels between a stereo pair of speakers. Additionally, it can effectively project sound and handle outside noise, especially in windy conditions, although it lacks EQ control.
Recharging via USB-C takes 4.5 hours, so there’s not really a way to fast charge it before you leave. Furthermore, we wish the accompanying charging cable was longer. Still, considering the price, the XB100 is a fantastic purchase. It
5. Amazon Echo Pop
The company’s most affordable smart speaker right now is the $39 Echo Pop. In addition to its built-in Alexa capabilities, the Echo Pop is a Wi-Fi speaker that can also be connected via Bluetooth, making it a reasonably versatile tiny speaker considering its price. It comes in four colors: black, white, lavender, and teal, and costs $10 less than the Amazon Echo Dot.
The Echo Pop produces decent audio considering its size, just like the Echo Dot. Though it won’t take the place of larger speakers, it works well in smaller rooms or when you’re by yourself listening to music. All in all, though, if all you’re looking for is a cute tiny Bluetooth speaker that combines the intelligence of Alexa voice assistant with reasonably good sound quality considering its size when playing music,
The pocket-friendly JBL Go 4 very nearly does it all. It’s highly portable with a rope loop carry strap, is water- and dust-proof to the IP67 standard, and battery life has been boosted from 5 hours playback on the Go 3 to 7 hours on the Go 4. It’s also good-looking, with six color options to choose from, and its Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity is solid and dependable.
Sound quality impressed during our testing at the office and outdoors in a yard playing a range of pop music, from classics tracks by ABBA through to indie music like Mk.gee’s album, Two Star & The Dream Police. The small speaker remained distortion free even with the volume turned up, with mid- and bass frequencies nicely amplified but it misses out on sub-bass.
⦁ Read our full ⦁ JBL Go 4 review