Tribit Stormbox Lava: Tribit’s new-for-2025 Stormbox Lava speaker can be best described as a poor man’s JBL Xtreme 4 speaker. It doesn’t sound as good as that JBL speaker, which costs $380. The Lava looks a little generic, but it does output a lot of sound with pretty powerful bass and costs a lot less (a removable shoulder strap and carrying handle are included). This is not the most refined-sounding speaker — it lacks some clarity — but if big sound is what you’re after in a boombox-style speaker, the affordable Stormbox Lava fits the bill. With an IP67 dust- and waterproof rating, it also seems pretty durable and offers up to 24 hours of battery life at moderate volume levels. As for extra features, there’s a charge-out port, and you can link multiple Tribit speakers in party or stereo mode and tweak the sound via the Tribit app for iOS and Android.
Marshall Middleton: With Marshall recently releasing the Middleton in 2025, the original Middleton speaker is being discounted. It isn’t exactly compact, but tt also isn’t so beefy that you get a workout carrying it around. Weighing 4 pounds (1.8kg), it’s bigger than Marshall’s Emberton speaker and smaller and more portable than its Kilburn II speaker. Any way you look at it, it sounds very good for its size and puts out a surprising amount of quality bass while offering good treble detail and natural-sounding mids (where vocals live). I also liked that it has equalizer controls on the speaker itself and is fully waterproof and dustproof with an IP67 rating.
Sony SRS-XB100: Sony’s smallest Bluetooth speaker was once again modestly upgraded in 2023, with a new Bluetooth chipset, slightly improved sound and speakerphone performance. This portable Bluetooth speaker is both dust- and waterproof with an IP67 certification and, like its predecessor (the SRS-XB13), it’s rated for 16 hours of battery life at moderate volume levels and charges via USB-C. Equipped with Bluetooth 5.3 with support for the AAC and SBC audio codecs, the speaker plays bigger than you’d think for its small size, with some punch to its bass. It’s pretty impressive for a mini mono speaker.
JBL Clip 4: JBL has released the newer Clip 5, which features slightly better sound and a new carabiner design. But the Clip 4 is still a very good micro Bluetooth speaker and can be had at a discount.
JBL Flip 6: As JBL has launched the newer Flip 7, which has improved sound and a little better battery life, the Flip 6 is being discounted. While it doesn’t sound as good as its successor, the Flip 6 is still a good Bluetooth speaker that offers good sound quality in a rugged design (it’s IP67 waterproof and dust-resistant) — and it doesn’t look much different from the Flip 7.
JBL Charge 5: I still like the Charge 5, which also comes in a more expensive WiFi version, but JBL has released the improved Charge 6. That said, with that newer model available, we’re seeing some nice discounts on the older Charge 5. At that right price, it is worth considering.
Sonos Roam: Available in white or black for $179, the Roam is currently the smallest and most affordable Sonos speaker (if you don’t count those $99 Sonos-compatible Symfonisk Ikea Wi-Fi bookshelf speakers), although it’s fairly expensive for a mini wireless speaker. This Sonos Roam model, like the bigger Sonos Move 2 portable speaker, is equipped with both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi and can tap into an existing Sonos multiroom audio system and link with other Series 2-compatible Sonos speakers. Learn more about the Sonos Roam with our hands-on review.
Tribit XSound Go: Despite being on the market for several years, the Tribit XSound Go remains one of the top Bluetooth speakers for the money. Besides sounding decent for streaming your favorite music and more, this affordable Bluetooth speaker is also fully waterproof. It has had some small upgrades over the years. Read our full review of the Tribit XSound Go to find out more.
JBL Pulse 5: JBL’s Pulse speaker is now in its fifth generation, and both the sound quality and 360-degree light show have been improved. JBL has “expanded the transparent outer body” so the customizable light show looks more impressive. (There’s a companion app for iOS and Android that allows you to alter the colorful lighting effects.) The speaker is also IP67 dust-proof and waterproof, and it offers up to 12 hours of battery at moderate volume levels. I did a full review of the JBL Pulse 5 in January of 2023, and it still holds as an excellent speaker option.
Anker Motion Boom: Anker’s more expensive Soundcore Motion Boom Plus (see above) is a substantial sound upgrade over the original Motion Boom but this model remains a very good mini boom box for the money. Equipped with a handle and weighing a little over 4 pounds, the speaker reminds me of one of those giant flashlights or “floating lanterns” that were in vogue about 30 years ago. For the record, the Motion Boom actually does float and is fully waterproof with an IPX7 rating. Find out more in our full Anker Motion Boom review.
UE Hyperboom: Ultimate Ears’ Boom Bluetooth speakers come in a few different sizes, but none of them are as big as the Hyperboom. A supersize wireless speaker that tips the scales at a hefty 13 pounds, the Hyperboom makes the UE Megaboom 3 look unquestionably puny. It’s not cheap, but its sound quality is better than a lot of the jumbo portable speakers on the market right now. Read our full review of the UE Hyperboom.
Marshall Willen: Marshall’s little mono Willen speaker is similar to Bose’s SoundLink Micro and other micro speakers like the Tribit StormBox Micro 2. Also like those speakers, it has an integrated strap on its base so you can clip it onto a backpack or even to your bike’s handlebars. Its 2-inch full-range driver and two passive radiators put out more sound than you’d think it would for its tiny size, and it offers decent clarity as well as just enough bass to avoid sounding tinny (you can choose from three preset sound modes).
Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 (2nd Gen): A couple of years ago, Bang & Olufsen upgraded its dome-shaped aluminum-clad A1 speaker with improved battery life, better speakerphone performance (it now has a three-microphone array) and slightly improved sound. It’s not only the smallest wireless speaker from the Danish company, it’s technically the most affordable. You can learn more about the small-but-mighty B&O Beousound A1 in our full review.
Bose SoundLink Micro: Although a little pricey and due to be upgraded, the Bose SoundLink Micro sounds remarkably decent for its tiny size, delivering more bass than other pocketable speakers. It’s a fully waterproof Bluetooth speaker and is available in three color options, although the blue version appears to be hard to find. I tested the speaker in 2018 and rated it an 8.3 out of 10 in the Bose SoundLink Micro review.
Anker Soundcore Motion Plus: Anker’s Soundcore Motion Plus came out in 2019, but it remains one of the best-sounding speakers for around $100. It’s larger than many mini Bluetooth speakers, but it’s still compact. It manages to sound quite a bit fuller than much of the competition in its price range, with bigger bass, more volume and better clarity. It’s also fully waterproof (IPX7-rated) and has support for the aptX streaming codec for devices like Samsung’s Galaxy phones that support it. Read more in my Anker Soundcore Motion Plus review.
Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore: It’s a little overpriced for the sound quality it delivers, but the Beosound Explore is a very good little speaker that has a sleek, eye-catching design, is fully waterproof and dustproof (IP67 rating), and offers excellent battery life, with up to 27 hours of music listening at moderate volume levels.
Monoprice Soundstage 3 (Out of Stock): Monoprice tends to make pretty generic-looking electronic products, and its understated Soundstage 3 Bluetooth speaker probably isn’t going to wow you with its design although its minimalist aesthetic has its appeal. It’s a good value thanks to its ability to play big sound with strong bass and decent clarity, with 50 watts of power that drives a 5.25-inch “concave aluminum cone woofer” flanked by two 1-inch silk-dome tweeters. It also has good connectivity options, including digital optical, 3.5mm analog and RCA analog wired inputs that allow you to connect your television or another stereo component. There’s also a sub-out port.
Tribit XSound Mega (Out of Stock): Over the last few years, Tribit has made several Bluetooth speakers that deliver a lot of boom for the buck. Add its new XSound Mega to the list. Tribit is billing the XSound Mega as more of an outdoor speaker — a lanyard is included for toting it around as a sort of mini boombox — but it works just fine indoors. It has an LED light show that you can turn on or off and there are three EQ settings for sound: XBass, Music and Audiobook. Additionally, it can be used as a power bank to charge your mobile devices.
Tribit StormBox (Out of Stock): The StormBox looks like a cross between a UE and a JBL speaker. We suspect that’s not an accident. This fully waterproof speaker costs significantly less than the JBL Flip 5 and Flip 6 and produces a bigger sound. Its rechargeable battery offers up to 20 hours of battery life for playing music and more. Tribit’s XSound speakers are probably a better value, but the StormBox is more stylish.
