The best Bluetooth speakers for every occasion

Amazon's Echo Dot speaker gets great reviews, and demonstrates how consistently this speaker performs, generation after generation. Indeed, this is the fifth iteration of the Echo Dot this time it and comes with an added bonus — a clock face.

As always with the Echo Dot, you control your music and stream songs from Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, and other services via voice commands. The Echo Dot produces rich, stereo sound that fills your home with music.

Of course, it's not all about music with the Echo Dot. You can also ask Alexa to answer questions, read the news, check the weather, set alarms, create a shopping list, control compatible smart home devices, and much more. 

If nothing else, you'll get hours of entertainment just from talking to Alexa. She's got an answer for (almost) everything.

The Bose SoundLink Revolve Series II is the next-gen version of Bose's already impressive Revolve. It's handily portable and delivers true 360-degree surround sound for an all-round listening experience. Quite literally.

It's significantly smaller that other high-end 360-degree audio speakers. But don't be fooled by the size. The Revolve Series II packs plenty of volume. It's made to go loud, with zero distortion at top volume. That makes it great for outdoor shindigs — not to mention water resistance in case of poor weather.

If you're already a Bose fan, the SoundLink Revolve Series II can pair with a second speaker to create a stereo sound, or to integrate into the Bose audio system via SimpleSync technology. You can also access your voice assistant.

The speaker is controlled with the Bose Connect app, which allows you to switch between Stereo mode or Party mode (yes, the Revolve Series II is very much a speaker for all occasions) with enough battery for 13 hours.

The Ultimate Ears Boom 3 produces 360-degree sound and reaches high volumes, meaning it's perfect for playing outside in large gardens, by the poolside, or at the beach. In other words, anywhere you like.

It does take about three hours to charge, which can be a chore, but it's worth the wait. This speaker maxes out with a very impressive 15 hours of battery life — more than enough for an all-dayer in the sunshine. If you're a real raver, or you're trying to fill a wide area with rich sound, this speaker also has extra bass.

Not only is it waterproof (indeed, a little bit of rain is nothing to this speaker), it actually floats — handy for the inevitable moment that someone drops it in the pool. It can survive being submerged in the water for 30 minutes.

It also comes equipped with a "Magic" button, which allows you to control music playback from any streaming platform.

Who it's for:

Some people want a Bluetooth speaker that's first and foremost a way to listen to music, and some people want a better audio experience than other run-of-the-mill smart speakers might be able to manage. If you fall in the later group, we recommend the Sonos Move.

Why we picked this:

This durable, battery-powered speaker is a great Bluetooth speaker for your home, especially if you want one you can move around with you — say, from the pool area to your office to the dining room. It's also strong enough to take the occasional drop or bump.

While it is portable, this speaker might not be the easiest to travel with over long distances due to its weight and bulky size. The battery lasts up to 11 hours and comes with a charging base. You can also recharge it with a USB-C charger. 

This speaker is simple to set up, can be controlled through the Sonos app, and can switch from WiFi to Bluetooth streaming when needed. It’s also weather-resistant and able to stand up to humidity, rain, snow, dust, sun rays, and salt. 

Who it's for:

There are portable speakers, and there are speakers that are truly built to move with you. The JBL Clip 4 isn't just small and easy to carry around, but also easy to clip on just about anything, from a backpack to a belt loop. So, if you're looking for the absolute best blend of portability, affordability, and sound, this is a smart bet.

It's no longer the newest speaker in JBL's Clip line, but that means it's more likely to go on sale. Ahead of Prime Big Deal Days, it's marked down to $59.95 on JBL's website, compared to the Clip 5's $69.95 sale price at Amazon.

Why we picked this:

This is the ultimate portable speaker — it's compact and thin enough to slip into basically any bag, some pockets, and it gives you a backup plan with the built-in carabiner.

Even though you're getting maximum portability, the speaker doesn't sacrifice on basic functionality: you're still getting 10 hours of battery life and an IP67-rated water- and dust-proof speaker that can be taken along on most adventures. When we tested this speaker, we found that it reached an impressive volume, but in comparison to a speaker like the Wonderboom 3, which is only about $20 more, the sound does get muddled at higher volumes. In other words, if sound is more of a priority, we'd say spring for the Wonderboom. If you want something something small but built for staying in one place, save a bit of cash and get the JBL Clip 4.

The JBL Flip 6 doesn't have the best features, but it’s a rugged, great-sounding portable speaker that has everything you need. With Bluetooth-only playback, it’s easy to connect and use at home and on-the-go — indoors and outdoors.

It has IP67 waterproofing, so you can splash it worry-free at the poolside. In fact, this speaker is perfect for taking on your holidays — easy to stash in a suitcase without compromising much luggage space, while boasting solid battery power and audio. Indeed, the sound is punchy and balanced, with a touch more bass than the previous JBL Flip models.

The price might seem high but for the convenience and performance, it delivers. It's actually a steal. Good value is what JBL does best.

The SRS-RA3000 is one of the very best Bluetooth speakers from Sony, the most-trusted audio brand in the world. With the SRS-RA3000, Sony puts 360 Reality audio at the forefront, using unique spatial sound technology. The SRS-RA3000 is able to create an ambient, room-filling sound that is more immersive than your run-of-the-mill audio experience. 

That enhanced experience comes in a relatively compact design. It has five speakers, including a beam tweeter that produces over-lapping sound waves that ensures everything is full and rich, wherever you're standing.

That's all boosted by smart and easy-to-use Bluetooth, WiFi, Chromecast, and Spotify connectivity. It's also compatible with most smart speakers, allowing you to set up a voice-controlled multi-speaker system, and connects easily with your smart TV. The catch? It's for indoors only.