A Bluetooth Speaker for Every Occasion. Which One is Best For You?

The most common way to play music these days is from the phone, but phone speakers are quiet and low-quality. Headphones are fine, sure, if you’re alone. With friends, it’s key to have a bluetooth speaker.

But which is right for you? We consider the various needs of consumers and picked the best speaker for every use.

The affordable speaker

For those on a budget, the Anker SoundCore is a great choice. For $35 you get a good-looking speaker that offers a balanced, clear sound. It also boasts respectable battery life—the SoundCore will play up to 500 songs before it needs to be recharged.

The waterproof speaker

Throwing a pool party? Try the UE Boom 2, which is waterproof up to three feet for up to half an hour.

For $200, the surprisingly rugged and portable Boom 2 gets commendably loud with decent bass, too. Upgrade to the slightly larger Megaboom ($300) for bigger and better sound, as well as longer battery life.

The indestructible speaker

The Skullcandy Air Raid takes inspiration from ammo cases, vintage field radios, and rugged military cases. Protected by an outer layer of silicone, the Air Raid is water-resistant, shock-absorbent, and generally immune to the rigors of daily use.

For $100, this speaker offers a balance of good volume, bass and music quality, with a design that is sure to impress.

The loud speaker

The Marshall Stanmore is not cheap at $400, but boasts dual tweeters, a woofer, and an amplifier—in short, this bad boy gets loud. As a bonus, Stanmore’s classic design is “a throwback to the golden days of rock’n’roll,” with analogue interaction knobs, a vintage-looking front fret, and an iconic script logo. For $700, you can get even louder with the Woburn model, or town it down with the Action model for $300.