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The Best Outdoor Bluetooth Speakers
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Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore Wireless Portable Bluetooth Speaker
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JBL Charge 5 Portable Bluetooth Speaker
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Bose SoundLink Flex Bluetooth Portable Speaker
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SoundCore Motion Boom Plus Bluetooth Speaker
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Anker SoundCore 2 Portable Bluetooth Speaker
Outdoor Bluetooth Speaker Reviews
- The best looking Bluetooth speaker I’ve ever seen. The minimalist design and thoughtful colour scheme are really pleasing on the eye, but it’s still built like a brick outhouse.
- IP67 certified, this is a seriously rugged speaker. It can stand being submerged in water up to 1 m deep for up to 30 minutes, while dust and dirt won’t cause it any problems either.
- B&O have really pushed the envelope when it comes to making this an adventurer’s best friend. The anodised aluminium is incredibly robust and scratch resistant in all weathers.
- The internal battery can last for up to 27 hours and can then be recharged via USB C in as little as two hours. It’s the ideal portable speaker for a weekend getaway adventure.
- If you’re a dedicated bass hunter, the B&O Explorer might not be the perfect speaker for you. Compared with the deep rumble that comes from the Soundcore Motion Boom Plus, anyway.
- The Explore lacks a rubber flap to protect the USB C port. It’s certified IP67, but there’s nothing to stop sand or Pinot Grigio from getting in there and making things dirty.
- For a supposedly very portable and adventure-ready speaker, it’s a bit heavy. The special anodised aluminium is tough, but means the speaker weighs a whopping 637 g.
High end audio and visual experts Bang & Olufsen are one of the key names in the industry. Their quality speakers are found in some of the best places too, including Lamborghini and Aston Martin cars. The Beosound Explore is just as beautifully designed, and twice as capable off-road.
This speaker is a stunning piece of craftsmanship. Made from anodised aluminium and available in several muted colours, it’s a gorgeous and very Skandinavian-looking piece of kit. It’s designed and manufactured there as well, which is great to see.
I’m testing the green version, and the colour scheme runs through everything that comes with the speaker. The fast charging USB C cable is the same green, as is the lanyard strap and even the miniature carabiner you use to strap the speaker onto your rucksack or tent lining.
The buttons on the top of the speaker are self-explanatory and have a pleasing action to them. It takes seconds to work out what they do, and I really like that you can skip the track with a double press of the play/pause button, and even go back with a triple tap.
Running on Bluetooth version 5.2, the speaker has a pair of full-range drivers that deliver a 360° sound experience. It’s perfect for placing on the middle of a table at a barbecue because it doesn’t just blast sound in one direction. It’s loud enough to deliver the soundtrack to a party and delivers a range of tones that sound marvellous.
The Bang & Olufsen app that pairs with the speaker is a rather handy companion to have too. You can use the Beosonic equaliser to select different sound modes to suit the mood or pick a preset like “party”. As an added feature, you can tune in to different internet radio stations straight through the app. Overall, this is a wonderfully designed and luxurious speaker that is well worth the money if you lead an exciting and adventurous life.
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- Using one of the more modern versions of Bluetooth, you can take advantage of connecting two phones or tablets at once without needing to disconnect and reconnect. It’s brilliant.
- At first, I wasn’t keen on the lurid red design of this speaker that looks a bit like an alien egg or weird trainer. But it has grown on me to the point that I think it looks great!
- The clever use of silicone rubber “feet” on the bottom mean that it won’t roll about even though it looks completely round. It helps to avoid unwanted vibration as well.
- I love that you can use this speaker as a power bank. You never want to run low on battery in the middle of a garden party, so being able to plug in and charge up is an excellent feature.
- It’s a shame that a premium priced speaker like this doesn’t come with an internal microphone, especially when compared with the budget friendly Anker SoundCore 2.
- You can’t plug your non-Bluetooth devices into this speaker because it lacks a 3.5 mm auxiliary in port. Although most listening will be done wirelessly, it’s nice to have options.
- Although I like the tactile cloth material on the outside of the speaker, it looks like it will do a good job of picking up dust, sand, and dirt if used outside all the time.
US-tech firm JBL have a great reputation for wireless speakers, noise cancelling headphones, and huge party speakers. The Charge 5 is a one of the best garden speakers you can get, thanks it’s rugged design and huge battery life.
This is seriously eye-catching speaker. Available in a range of funky colours from jet black to woodland camouflage, the model I tested out was in vivid red. The exterior is made from a tightly woven material that feels wonderful- it’s a bit like the fabric you get on classic speakers, it’s immensely tactile and makes for a decent grip too.
The design is all curved, with rubberised buttons on the top that control all the features. You don’t get a handle or strap and weighing 960 g it’s not the most portable speaker on my list, but the sound quality makes up for these shortfalls.
Now for the sound. This thing is loud. It’s got something called a long excursion driver inside it that helps to push the sound around, separate tweeters for high end, and bass radiators on either end that vibrate with the music. It makes up for not being amazingly portable with its crystal clear sound and impressive volume.
It’s called the Charge because it’s not just a speaker, but a portable power bank as well. You can plug whatever device you want into the USB A port on the back, which is great for trips away from home when you need power for your phone or tablet. It can run for up to 20 hours on a single charge, and the front light has a very pleasing little feature- when you’re charging it plays an animation that shows the current charge level.
As you’d expect from a portable and surprisingly rugged speaker like this, you get IP67 protection from water and dust ingress that includes a seriously chunky rubber flat that protects the ports on the back.
If you want to amp up the fun, you can use JBLs PartyBoost feature to link two compatible speakers for a stereo experience, or as many more as you like for an immersive audio explosion. You can connect to the speaker via Bluetooth or use the JBL Portable app if you want to play with EQ levels.
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- It’s great to have an inbuilt microphone on this speaker. You can use it to make calls or control your phone using the multifunctional button the top of it. It’s really handy.
- The sound is impressive from such a little device. The instruments have good separation, and there’s minimal distortion, even at high volume.
- Compared with the micro-USB charging port on the Anker SoundCore 2, it’s good to see fast USB-C charging on this speaker. You can go from 0 – 100% battery in less than 4 hours.
- You can easily connect this speaker with another SoundLink Flex for a stunning stereo sound experience.
- Although 12 hours of battery life is impressive, it falls way behind the Bang & Olufsen’s massive 27 hour possible run time.
- It lacks a 3.5 mm auxiliary in port. Compared with the Anker SoundCore 2 or SoundCore Motion Boom Plus, you are tethered to a Bluetooth connection only.
- The speaker falls behind compared with the SoundCore Motion Boom Plus because it runs on Bluetooth 4.2. This older build can only broadcast up to 9 m away.
US audio experts Bose know a thing or two about making the best outdoor speakers. The SoundLink Flex is up there with the best thanks to its rugged build quality and excellent sound. Its rounded corners and rubberised silicone texture might show up fingerprints, but it’s an unfussy and clean piece of design.
Starting with the looks department, it’s not quite as stunning architectural good looks as the Bang & Olufsen, and it doesn’t have the crazy visual flare of the bright red JBL Charge 5, but it’s really hard to beat the sound quality in an outdoor speaker that is this small.
The main sound driver is found on the front of the device, with the bass specific one on the back, but it’s clever enough to know whether it’s laying down or on its side and will adjust the sound levels accordingly. This, plus the Bose Connect app that allows you to play with the EQ settings, makes for a highly customisable listening experience.
The highly functional little strap on one end of the speaker cements its portable credentials too. You can hang the speaker from a backpack and take it with you as well as leave it on a garden table for your next barbecue party.
With an IP67 rating, you don’t need to worry if the heavens open during play either. In fact, you could take it with you into the shower or even paddling pool as it’s happy to spend up to 30 minutes in as deep as 1 m of water.
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- The volume. If you’re planning on having a big party, the Motion Boom Plus has more than enough power to bring the house down. It’s an astonishing machine at full volume.
- The massive internal battery gives you up to 20 hours of loud volume, and even the option to recharge your gadgets straight from the speaker. No more dead phones at the party!
- There’s a standard 3.5 mm auxiliary in port on the back of the speaker. It means you can listen to music off your PC, TV, or other non-Bluetooth device.
- The Motion Boom Plus runs on Bluetooth 5.3, which is currently the most up to date version. It means you get the fastest and most stable connection with your device possible.
- Although it’s highly portable thanks to the big handle and detachable strap, this massive speaker won’t easily fit in your bag like the SoundCore 2 can.
- It’s a real shame that the Motion Boom Plus doesn’t feature an internal microphone. Even much more affordable SoundCore 2 lets you control your phone by voice alone.
- Compared with the funky stylings of the JBL Charge 5, or the tactile silicone of the Bose SoundLink, the ABS plastic used and lack of flair make this the least exciting speaker on my list.
If you’re looking for big sound and a mighty bass rumble, the Motion Boom Plus is a winner in my eyes. Designed with a classic 80’s boombox in mind, you can liven up any size party with this speaker’s huge volume and excellent sound quality.
The huge sound comes from a pair of titanium 30 Watt woofers and dual 10 Watt tweeters that make a massive 80 Watts of music volume. And as if the bass rumble wasn’t enough, there’s a dedicated “Bass Up” button on the left side of the speaker. Hit that, and you can feel the vibrations from across the room.
The rugged outdoor credentials of this speaker include IP67 protection against water and dust ingress, so you don’t need to worry about spilled sangria or sand at your next garden or beach party. The huge handle on the top of the speaker makes it fine to carry around, while the detachable shoulder strap makes it just right for taking your music with you wherever you go.
What makes this the best outdoor speaker for a pool party is that not only can it withstand up to 30 minutes under water, but it floats too! If you accidentally knock the speaker into the pool at your holiday villa, you don’t need to worry about it sinking to the bottom.
If you want to fine tune the sound that comes from the Motion Boom Plus, you can download the SoundCore app and tinker with the EQ there. There are presets for things like voice and treble boost, if you want to dig deep into how this speaker sounds.
And just when you think the sound couldn’t get much bigger, Anker, the parent company of SoundCore have developed PartyCast 2.0, a feature that allows you to connect to more than 100 speakers for a frankly ridiculous sound and light experience.
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- There’s an internal microphone for controlling your phone’s virtual assistant. You can even make calls through the speaker without having your phone in your hand. Excellent!
- The price. If you want decent sound quality and good battery life without breaking the bank, Anker is hard to beat.
- It’s really portable. The size, shape, and weight of this speaker makes it ideal for chucking in your bag and taking it with you.
- An auxiliary in port for connecting non-Bluetooth devices is really useful. You can instantly improve the sound coming from your laptop or other wired machine.
- Compared with the incredible sound that comes from the Bang & Olufsen, the lack of bass is noticeable here. If you’re expecting to vibrate the foundations, you’ll be disappointed.
- For a really portable speaker, a little wrist strap or loop to add one yourself would have been good to see on this device.
- No dedicated app to control the sound EQ like you get with the Bose or B&O speakers. If you’re a bit of an audiophile, you can’t tweak the levels to suit the mood or music style.
There’s plenty of reasons why the fun little Soundcore 2 has almost cult-like status in the Bluetooth speaker world. It’s a seriously impressive piece of kit for the price. With its bright stylings and unfussy layout, it’s well suited to an intimate garden party. And thanks to the incredible 24 hour battery life, you won’t be reaching for the charger too quickly.
Available in black, blue, and red, the outer skin of this speaker is made from a grippy but smooth rubber that’s nice and easy to hang on to, but does pick up a few fingerprints. The IPX7 rating is about as good as it gets for water resistance. You can submerge this speaker in water up to 1 m deep for 30 minutes without damaging the internals, which is ideal if you plan on spending the summer in your paddling pool.
The sound comes from a pair of 6 Watt drivers that join forces to make 12 Watts of sound power. Running on Bluetooth 5.0, you get a decent bandwidth that’s not far off what you get from much more expensive speakers like the Bang & Olufsen Explore.
Although it doesn’t quite have the rich bass or huge volume you get from the more expensive speakers on my list, it’s a pretty amazing piece of technology for the money. It’s certainly loud enough to listen to music in your garden while you potter around, but it’s not quite enough for a big family barbecue.
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Product Tester
Harry's Smart Buying Tips
How to Choose The Best Outdoor Bluetooth Speaker
Taking your favourite music with you has never been so easy, or so much fun. Long gone are the days of tinny little speakers and poor battery life, too. The best Bluetooth speakers available today are loud, deliver incredible musical clarity, and are rugged enough to withstand an active lifestyle.
Battery Life
Having a portable speaker means you’re relying on battery power to make the fun happen. The size of a battery is usually measured in Amp hours, or in the case of these small devices, milliampere hours. The bigger the number, the bigger the battery and the more time you have to play music between charges.
Some of the best garden speakers on my list, like the SoundCore Motion Boom Plus and the JBL Charge 5, have such big batteries that you can use them like enormous power banks. Not only will they run for tens of hours, but you can use them to keep your phone battery topped up too!
The drawback of having a bigger battery is size and weight. If you want a truly portable speaker that you can throw in a bag and take with you, you might need to sacrifice some run time.
Bluetooth
What exactly is Bluetooth? It’s a Machine-to-Machine (M2M) technology that transfers information over short distances using high frequency radio waves. It has a huge range of uses, from wireless headsets for your phone to your computer mouse.
It simply means that you can play music off your phone without the need for wires. As Bluetooth technology has improved over time, more devices can connect to the same network, while the speed of transfer and stability of the connection has improved. The best outdoor speaker uses the latest version of Bluetooth, which at the time of writing is 5.3.
Water and dust protection
What’s the point of having the best Bluetooth speaker if you can’t take it outside with you? Everyone knows that water and electricity don’t mix, so speaker companies have worked hard to make sure their products remain safe.
By protecting the delicate internal parts with sealed cases and chunky rubber gaskets on the ports, you can ensure that a bit of rain or a spilled drink won’t spoil your garden party or BBQ.
Any device that’s protected against the elements get an “ingress protection” or IP rating, followed by two numbers (or an “X” if it’s not certified). The first number stands for solids like dust or sand, and the second for liquids like water or lager. In simple terms, the higher the numbers, the better the protection.
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