Bluetooth speakers have always been a great addition to any music lover's arsenal, offering a portable and convenient solution to your on-the-go sonic needs.
Perhaps their most attractive quality is that often they aren't devastatingly expensive. Listed below are our picks for the finest budget models, all of which hover around or below the £100 / $100 / AU$200 mark and have been put through their paces across various locations, use cases and purposes.
The choice of models now available in the Bluetooth market is massive, and much like wireless earbuds, plenty of poor or cheaply-made models are trying to get a slice of the action. Thanks to hands-on comparative testing for every Bluetooth speaker below courtesy of our expert in-house reviewing team, you can be sure you'll find the perfect portable speaker on a budget.
You can read more about our testing process here, or keep scrolling to see the best cheap Bluetooth speakers we'd recommend.
Recent updates
23rd September: Added the JBL Go 4 to our main list and moved the JBL Go 3 to the also consider section.
The quick list
The Flip 6 ticks all the boxes when it comes to budget Bluetooth speakers: compact, durable, long-lasting, and a performance that packs a real punch.
It’s not just the price tag that’s small on this palm-sized wonder, but the sound it makes is bigger and more capable than it has any right to be.
A great-sounding speaker that can also answer questions and control your smart home kit with its voice-controlled AI assistant.
This colourful and competent Bluetooth speaker isn’t just waterproof, it actually floats, so you don’t have to worry about knocking it into the bath.
Bluetooth speakers don’t get more portable than the JBLs Go 4, but its sound is mightily impressive for the size.
It might not be the newest speaker available, but the no-frills JBL Flip 5 offers superb sound chops for an incredibly tempting low price.
I'm a staff writer who has listened to and reviewed dozens of Bluetooth speakers during my time at What Hi-Fi?. I love a great Bluetooth speaker, especially those budget models that offer fast, hassle-free audio for the everyday consumer. I've had hands-on experience with every speaker on the list below, putting them through their paces to ensure you know exactly which one to choose. Good sound quality, durability, waterproofness, ample battery life and seamless connectivity – we've assessed them all to put you fully in the picture before buying. Most of all, we've picked models that give you proper value for money, because there's no point in offering products that, while admittedly cheap, don't pass muster when it comes to performance.
The best budget Bluetooth speaker overall
For true value for money, the JBL Flip 6 is still king of the ring. Given that the older Flip 5 (see below) is a past What Hi-Fi? Award winner, there was plenty of expectation for the sixth generation of JBL's immensely popular portable, yet the US brand knocked it out of the park once again.
While there might have been a little pressure for JBL to rework the entire line, the Flip 6 looks and sounds so good that it simply doesn't seem logical to do so. There's a little extra durability here thanks to an IP67 water and dustproof rating (compared to the waterproof-only IPX7 Flip 5) as well as additional space within its trademark zealous and musical presentation.
We love the dynamic, cohesive sound of the Flip 6, although if you want more from the midrange and less from the treble, you can now tweak it thanks to a new EQ feature in the app, thus adding significant value. For a small price hike over the Flip 5's launch price, there’s certainly more detail on display as well.
Overall, the Flip 6 is another five-star performer, built to the highest standard and focused on delivering a hugely enjoyable sonic experience for a meagre outlay. Tracks are presented cleanly, cohesively and with barely any audible muddling, and while the Flip 6's new sonic prowess means that it can be slightly critical of overly harsh recordings, most of the time it works as a great companion to the music being played.
Enthusiastic, dynamic and full of fun, the Flip 6 is our go-to budget Bluetooth speaker.
Read our full JBL Flip 6 review
The best portable budget Bluetooth speaker
It may not look like much, but if you want a backpack-friendly Bluetooth speaker that won’t break the bank, Tribit Audio’s Stormbox Micro 2 is one of the best cheap models we’ve tested yet. We're trying out the new JBL Go 4 at the moment which is a little smaller and cheaper than the Stormbox, but for now at least, the Tribit rules in this corner of the market.
The small-form-factor sequel to the original Stormbox Micro doesn’t have the 360-degree grill design of many of its rivals such as the dinky UE Wonderboom 3, but during our review we found it to be well-made, easy to use and a solid performer over time. The Micro 2's woven finish design is pretty much the same as its predecessor, yet it has small design upgrades, improved battery life and better audio quality over its predecessor.
We easily coaxed 12 hours of listening out of a single charge, whereas the unit's IP67 rating allowed us to use it in the bathroom/shower/kitchen without issue or damage. As a candidate for outdoor use then, the Stormbox Micro 2 certainly has the requisite credentials.
Audio, meanwhile, is bigger, punchier and louder than you’d expect from such a small unit, keeping up with tricky rhythms and upbeat tempos while also bringing out vocals with personality and nuance. Our listening tests showed the midrange in particular is dealt with in a much more appealing manner than practically anything else we’ve seen at this budget price point.
The Micro 2 can suffer from a little distortion at louder volumes, but realistically you’ll have to pay more and invest in either a JBL Flip 6 or Wonderboom 3 to get much better overall sound.
Read our full Tribit Audio Stormbox Micro 2 review
The best smart budget Bluetooth speaker
Let's be clear that the Echo Dot isn't a traditional Bluetooth speaker – it isn't portable and does require a plugged-in connection to the wall to work. That said, you can use Bluetooth to connect your smartphone or tablet to the Echo Dot, especially if you want to play music, qualifying it as a Bluetooth speaker, and a smart one at that.
And what a good speaker it is too. The Echo Dot (5th Generation) earns its place here thanks to its all-round excellence, solid sound and hugely attractive price tag, and while it may be cheap, nothing about the Dot feels cut-price. Alexa voice control, meanwhile, is getting smarter by the minute, so filled to the brim with skills and knowledge that it's frankly getting a little scary. The Dot's cybernetic assistant is more helpful than ever before, stuffed with so many tricks and quirks that you'll often find yourself falling into the trap of speaking to Alexa as though "she" were a real person.
What's most impressive is how far the audio has come. We weren't that keen on the sound of Amazon's early Echo models, but continual improvement and refinement ensure that the company's “best-sounding Echo Dot yet” lives up to its billing thanks to a sound that feels surprisingly weighty, listenable and far-reaching.
For value and versatility, this Echo Dot is seriously tough to beat.
Read our full Amazon Echo Dot (5th Generation) review
The best waterproof budget Bluetooth speaker
If nothing else, there aren't many small-form Bluetooth speakers that look as good as Ultimate Ears' third iteration of the Wonderboom. Following up the five-star Wonderboom 2, the impressive threequel looks resplendent in our review sample's pink and lime green colourway, not a combination we ever thought we'd be endorsing so enthusiastically. (Other colour combinations are available, too).
Sonically, the Wonderboom 3 is a competent performer, and while this four-star sequel hasn't quite matched the heights of its fantastic predecessor, its strong waterproofing / dust-proofing (IP67) and ability to float in water make it a solid candidate for withstanding off-the-wall pool parties and muddy outdoor adventures. Those adventures should go on for a while, too, as battery life has been extended to 14 hours and a full charge takes around 2.6 hours to obtain.
Despite its size, the Wonderboom 3 remains a powerful, enjoyable listen. The bass is impressive given how small it is, and there's an exciting sense of dynamics on display. You also get a ‘boost’ button on the underside of the unit as a rollover feature from the Wonderboom 2, which emphasises the midrange when playing music outdoors – a handy attribute when you're on the move.
Fierce rivals at this price offer greater subtlety when it comes to detail and dynamics (see the Flip 6) and we wish there was just a bit more natural warmth and nuance to the Wonderboom 3's performance to gain that fifth star. There’s still no built-in mic or app - still, the Wonderboom 3 remains a very likeable, easy-to-use, and affordable Bluetooth speaker that often enjoys a significant discount during sales events.
Bear in mind that the Wonderboom 3 is on the way out. Ultimate Ears has announced a host of new fourth-gen models to replace its Boom, Wonderboom and Megaboom models, so the funky little wonder could be ousted by a new arrival.
Read our full Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 review
The best cheap budget Bluetooth speaker
The JBL Go 4, like a baby pitbull terrier or one of Ant-Man's insect comrades, is small and cute yet remarkably tough and tenacious. Sporting the same form and dimensions as, say, a chunky deck of cards or your standard bar of soap, the Go 4 has been designed for ultra portability – the sort of thing you can stuff into the bottom of a kit bag or even ram inside an accommodating back pocket. If you need something that offers more wallop and musicality than your phone's measly in-built speakers, JBL's dinkiest dynamo is your best bet.
In a straight competition with the best that your phone can handle, and quite a few larger Bluetooth competitors, the Go 4 is sonically supreme. It doesn't have the open, mature presentation of the crowd-pleasing Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 above, but we're still so impressed by how the JBL's taut bass, restrained trebles and smooth mids combine to craft a marvellously coherent sonic picture. Textures are revealed with clarity and character, but there's body and power to the music to which we're treated. Again, that's something you rarely see from units this small.
You also rarely see such impressive spec sheets and feature lists. We weren't so keen on the fact that the outgoing Go 3's battery life was frustratingly paltry (around five hours), but the fourth-gen sequel bumps those numbers up to seven hours as standard plus an extra two with Playtime Boost activated. Auracast lets you pair two Go 4 speakers together in stereo or hook up multiple compatible JBL units, helping to future-proof the speaker as newer JBLs will likely be compatible with the current model. You even get app support, with a five-band customisable equaliser for getting your Go 4 sounding just how you like it.
For around £35 / $45 / AU$50, there's nothing better than the JBL Go 4.
Read our full JBL Go 4 review
If you're thinking of getting a new JBL Go 4 or indeed any new JBL speaker, you might be wondering what all this talk of Auracast is. We've written a full explainer on what Auracast is and when it will be fully available, but the abridged version is that it's a Bluetooth audio-sharing technology feature that allows a source device, such as a phone or TV, to broadcast multiple audio streams to an unlimited number of audio receivers such as earbuds or Bluetooth speakers. What's exciting is that Auracast is near-limitless and not ecosystem-specific, meaning you could connect endless JBL Go 4s, for instance, or lots of JBLs to multiple other brands of wireless speakers or wireless earbuds.
The best-value budget Bluetooth speaker
Just because the Flip 6 is here, doesn't mean the Flip 5 has automatically become redundant. If all you want is a portable Bluetooth speaker that sounds as good as you can currently get for under £100 ($100 / AU$119), you’ll be hard-pressed to better the fantastic Flip 5. And considering that its days are numbered as time wears on and 2024 hopefully brings a next-gen Flip 7 into the world, bargains and discounts currently abound.
This isn't a speaker that feels out of date, though. The Flip 5 shows its worth by edging in under the £100 / $100 mark (discounts only take this further), boasting a hard IPX7 rating, 12 hours of battery life and a handy USB-C charging port that takes it from flat to fully juiced in just 2.5 hours. A PartyBoost button also helps you pair two PartyBoost-enabled speakers to create a stereo pair, or else link over 100 PartyBoost-compatible speakers in mono.
The real reason we love the JBL Flip 5, though, is the sound. The audio is impressively weighty and agile, with a good bass punch and a real sense of openness and texture. Assuming you don't mind the lack of an aux-in port or inbuilt microphone, you'll almost certainly be wowed by this speaker's sonic chops. A superb performer that will be missed when it finally departs this mortal coil.
Read our full JBL Flip 5 review
Also consider
JBL Charge 5: Possibly one of our favourite portable speakers in recent times, the Charge 5 is still scooping Awards thanks to its clear, open soundstage, supreme build quality and exceptional value. Prices are creeping down, too, so while it's slightly too costly to make its way onto the main list, the Charge 5 has to be recommended for anyone happy to spend a little extra to get a lot more speaker.
Beats Pill: The Beats Pill is back and, here's a pleasant surprise, it's actually rather good. With a clear, clean sound and some decidedly nice bass, not to mention a travel-friendly design and outstanding IP67 rating, long-term Beats fans will find it to be a worthwhile companion.
Audio Pro Addon C3: Even though its initial RRP takes it well beyond what you'd consider "budget", Audio Pro has a wonderful tendency to discount its wireless speakers considerably throughout the year. Currently hovering around the £160 / $160 mark, the C3 is a former Award-winner that combines portability, multi-room skills, and a more mature and subtle sound quality than you'd expect from your standard Bluetooth speaker.
Sony ULT Field 1: The Field 1 was supposed to officially retail at £119, but Sony seems to have had an attack of generosity and dropped that figure down to £99 (sometimes £89) where it seems to have stayed for a good few months. Well-furnished, very nicely made and a lot of fun to listen to, it's a very able alternative to the JBL Flip line.
JBL Go 3: Gone but very much not forgotten, the Go 3 should still be considered as a budget option if its price drops significantly lower than the current Go 4. The newer model is unquestionably better, but we still found ourselves impressed with the spritely, likeable sound of the third-gen Go.
How to choose the best budget Bluetooth speaker for you
Aside from something that sounds good for the money, we advise a durable design and waterproofing at this end of the market. IPX7 and IP67 (the latter meaning that on top of waterproofing, the speaker is IP-rated against dust ingress) are good numbers to look out for – and we have listed each speaker's rating. For the best portable Bluetooth speakers on a budget, these factors are essential, especially if you'll be using the speaker outdoors, on the go, or in the kitchen.
If portability is a key factor, the budget Bluetooth speakers we've recommended here are small enough to fit in a coat pocket or big enough to fill a room with serious sound. It's imperative that you also check the dimensions before clicking "buy" so you know exactly what you're getting for your needs.
Whether you want full-on portability or a speaker to move occasionally from your bedroom to the kitchen, you're sure to find something here that you – and your current budget – can truly enjoy.
How we test Bluetooth speakers
At What Hi-Fi?, we independently review hundreds of products every year, including the latest budget Bluetooth speakers hitting the market from JBL, Bose, Bang & Olufsen, Ultimate Ears and other renowned brands, plus propositions from lesser-known brands that catch our eye. So how do we come to our review verdicts – and most importantly, why should you trust them?
We have state-of-the-art testing facilities in the UK where our dedicated team of expert reviewers (who have more than 100 years of collective experience in reviewing, testing and writing about consumer electronics) thoroughly tests every product that comes our way. Of course, with portability a priority for budget Bluetooth speakers, we make sure we spend several days putting the product through its paces in real-life, on-the-fly environments at home and in the garden (and dunk them in the kitchen sink when they're waterproof, too).
We have price-appropriate competitors and class leaders (often our benchmark What Hi-Fi? Award winners) constantly on hand to compare and contrast every product we review with similarly priced ones, and we take considerable time to ensure every aspect of a Bluetooth speaker is tested thoroughly, from its performance to its battery life to how well it can withstand most weather conditions.
Of course, sound quality is a priority here, even at budget prices, so we make sure you're getting the most out of your money. We test every speaker with a broad range of music, from pop to 90s grunge to classical and everything in between.
All verdicts are agreed upon by the team as a whole rather than a single reviewer, helping to ensure consistency and avoid individual subjectivity.
You can read more about how we test and review products on What Hi-Fi? here.
FAQ
What's the difference between wireless and Bluetooth speakers?
Bluetooth speakers are wireless in the sense that they don't need wires to connect to their audio source, instead using the Bluetooth streaming protocol to get connected. Nevertheless, Bluetooth speakers don't necessarily also support wi-fi, a necessary feature of what we would term "wireless speakers". A wireless speaker can connect to audio sources via the internet (your home wi-fi, for instance) – via something like Apple AirPlay or Google Chromecast, whether or not it also has Bluetooth.
While this will all hinge on the kit you're using and your wi-fi's limitations, transmitting audio via wi-fi rather than Bluetooth comes with certain advantages: wi-fi's signal range is less limited than Bluetooth, generally facilitates better sound and can usually transmit higher-quality audio. The standard Bluetooth codecs (AAC and SBC) aren't widely capable of transmitting CD-quality files (or higher), and even the most high-end codecs like aptX are lossy.
That said, Bluetooth-only speakers are generally more portable, as they don't rely on an internet connection or being plugged into the mains, and they're often more affordable than their wi-fi-enabled counterparts.
Why are JBL speakers so popular right now?
It's true, JBL does seem to be doing exceptional work in the portable speaker space at the moment. The Charge 5, Charge 5 Wi-Fi, Flip 5, Flip 6 and Xtreme 3 have all earned five-star ratings (and a few Awards, too) over the past few years, and that's before we even mention those models that have garnered very respectable four-star hauls.
The truth is, we can't think of a brand right now that offers the sort of value for money as JBL. Almost every member of its ever-expanding speaker family blends rugged durability with sonic clout and prowess, resulting in models that are tough, dependable and unparalleled in terms of their audio capabilities. They also go heavy on features, offering benefits such as PartyBoost chaining and extensive app support for a more personalised, flexible experience.
That's not to say that we'd only recommend JBL models - far from it - but rather, they're something of a safe bet. JBL is on a roll, and there's no harm in taking advantage of that hot streak if you want a consummate performer at a great price.
Recent updates
July 2024: Added new Beats Pill to the also consider section.
March 2024: Added an 'also consider' section (above) to give more choice and a top tip to help readers make more informed buying decisions.
November 2023: What Hi-Fi? Award winners labelled after the 2023 Awards Best Buys and Product of the Year announcements.
MORE:
JBL Flip 6 vs Flip 5: which Bluetooth speaker is better?
Best Bluetooth speakers: portable speakers for every budget
For an alternative to Bluetooth, here are the best wireless speakers
JBL Flip 7: the 5 things we want from JBL's next portable Bluetooth speaker