Travel Products Tech Essentials The 10 Best Portable Speakers of 2023 These lightweight speakers don't sacrifice sound quality for size. By Stefanie Waldek Stefanie Waldek Stefanie Waldek is a freelance space, travel, and design journalist with expertise in aviation, meteorology, and polar regions. She was a former editor at Architectural Digest, TripAdvisor, and ArtNews. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Updated on April 3, 2023 Fact checked by Rich Scherr Fact checked by Rich Scherr Rich Scherr is a seasoned journalist and editor who has traveled across the U.S., Canada, and Europe, and spent more than a decade reviewing hotel room. Travel + Leisure Fact Checking Process Share Tweet Pin Email In This Article Expand Jump to a Section Our top picks Reviews Tips for Buying FAQ Why Trust T + L We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Travel + Leisure / Kristin Kempa Just about any activity can be made better with a bit of music — or maybe even a podcast or audiobook. And when you're away from home with a group, whether in the park for the afternoon or at the beach for the day, cell phone speakers aren't going to cut it. Instead, opt for a portable speaker that will project your audio selections anywhere, anytime, in excellent quality. Portable speakers come in many shapes and sizes, but they have several things in common: they're small enough to toss into a backpack or carry-on suitcase, and all of them can connect to Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. What you need to pay attention to are the battery life and wireless range — these characteristics determine speakers' usability. Our favorite portable speaker is the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3. We love that this model can handle rugged environments yet delivers excellent sound quality indoors and out. But if you're looking for something else, read on for our full list of the best portable speakers. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 at Amazon Jump to Review Best Budget: Dosmix Retro Bluetooth Speaker at Amazon Jump to Review Best Splurge: Devialet Mania Opéra de Paris at Audioadvice.com Jump to Review Best Waterproof: Sonos Roam Portable Speaker at Abt.com Jump to Review Best Ultra Compact: Bose SoundLink Micro Bluetooth Speaker at Amazon Jump to Review Best Smart: Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 Wireless Portable Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Biking: Tribit StormBox Micro 2 Speaker at Amazon Jump to Review Best Clip-on: JBL Clip 3 Bluetooth Speaker at Amazon Jump to Review Most Stylish: Marshall Emberton II Bluetooth Speaker at Nordstrom Jump to Review Best for Parties: Sony SRS-XG300 X-Series at Amazon Jump to Review Best Overall Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 5 Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Walmart Why We Love It It's impressively loud for its size and even floats. What to Consider It lacks smart features like a voice assistant. This is the ultimate portable speaker for all types of adventures — it’s waterproof, floatable, and dirt-resistant for heavy-duty use. We like the 131-foot wireless range, which is better than most comparable portable speakers, as well as a special mode to amplify its sound for outdoor spaces. (That’s great for a pool party, campsite, or beach spot — but be considerate of your neighbors!) If you want to amplify the sound further, the device can be paired with a second speaker for left/right stereo sound. The Wonderboom 3 also has a substantial battery life of 14 hours, which should easily cover a full day's use. Price at time of publish: $100 The Details: 4.65 x 4.53 x 4.65 inches | 1.17 pounds | 14-hour battery life | 131-foot wireless range Best Budget Dosmix Retro Bluetooth Speaker Amazon View On Amazon Why We Love It It has a fun, retro look. What to Consider It has a short battery life. This handy — literally, it’ll fit in your hand — speaker does what you need it to do without breaking the bank. Via Bluetooth, you can connect your phone to the stylish speaker within a 33-foot range and keep the music or podcasts playing for about six hours before the battery needs to be recharged. Because of the range, we recommend using this device in indoor spaces like hotel rooms or Airbnbs, or smaller outdoor spaces like a patio or balcony. This speaker is small enough to stash away in a purse, or even a pocket, which makes it ideal for travelers who never know when or where they might need it. Price at time of publish: $17 The Details: 4 x 2 x 2.2 inches | 6.9 ounces | 6-hour battery life | 32.8-foot wireless range Best Splurge Devialet Mania Opéra de Paris Devialet View On Audioadvice.com View On Devialet.com View On Saks Fifth Avenue Why We Love It This is a stunning and smart piece of audio equipment. What to Consider For a luxury speaker, it has a relatively short battery life and is quite heavy to transport daily. The Devialet Mania Opéra de Paris delivers high-quality 360-degree sound in an elegant yet compact package — with 24-karat-gold detailing inspired by the Opéra Garnier in Paris. With Airplay, Bluetooth, Spotify Connect, and Wi-Fi capabilities, there are plenty of ways to connect and play your favorite songs, podcasts, or audiobooks. The speaker also comes with Amazon Alexa voice assistant for ease of use. The one downside to this speaker is that it lasts just 10 hours on a fully charged battery, a pretty short time for a speaker that costs nearly $1,000. If you'd like to knock a few hundred dollars off the price, skip the gold plating and choose another colorway instead. Price at time of publish: $990 The Details: 6.9 x 7.6 x 5.5 inches | 5 pounds | 10-hour battery life | Alexa Best Waterproof Sonos Roam Portable Speaker 4.2 Sonos View On Abt.com View On Best Buy View On B&H Photo Video Why We Love It It’s a reasonably priced smart speaker equipped with Amazon Alexa. What to Consider It’s better for music than dialogue-heavy sound, like podcasts or audiobooks. The Sonos Roam is waterproof, Amazon Alexa–equipped, and it delivers 10 hours of sound on a single charge. It also has a useful feature in which the Roam will adjust its audio settings based on your surroundings — which makes the speaker especially great for travel as it can adjust to any room or outdoor environment. Although this speaker is excellent for music (it almost sounds like you’re listening to your favorite band live), it does tend to be a little bass-heavy for podcasts and audiobooks. The Roam can also be paired with other Sonos speaker models for an even more advanced sound experience. Price at time of publish: $179 The Details: 6.61 x 2.44 x 2.36 inches | 7.1 ounces | 10-hour battery life | Alexa, Google Assistant The Best Waterproof Speakers With Superior Outdoor Sound Best Ultra Compact Bose SoundLink Micro Bluetooth Speaker Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Abt.com Why We Love It It has a handy strap that attaches the device to your backpack or bicycle with ease. What to Consider It has a short battery life. Looking for a small speaker that can be clipped to your bike’s handlebars, your backpack, or even your arm? The ultra-light, ultra-compact Bose SoundLink Micro can be affixed to just about anything with its attached strap. It’s also waterproof, which means you don't have to worry about sweat or rain affecting the equipment. The six-hour battery life is a little on the weaker side, which is a downside to its tiny size. But, when it comes to high-quality sound for adventurous, outdoorsy types, this Bose speaker is ideal. Just be sure to pack a portable charger if you plan on using it for an entire day. Price at time of publish: $119 The Details: 1.4 x 3.9 x 3.9 inches | 10.2 ounces | 6-hour battery life | 30-foot wireless range Best Smart Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 2nd Generation Wireless Portable Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker With Microphone Amazon View On Amazon View On Bang-olufsen.com View On Best Buy Why We Love It Despite having energy-sapping smart features, this speaker has a long battery life and comes in several color choices. What to Consider It's on the pricier side if you're planning occasional use only. This smart speaker has a built-in Amazon Alexa feature and uniquely features three microphones for those who might want better audio quality for hands-free phone calls. You can also use voice commands to change audio tracks, check the weather, and more. Though one might assume these features might reduce its battery life, the speaker can run for an impressive 18 hours on a single charge. It’s also waterproof and dust-resistant with an easily transportable puck-like design that, given its durability, you can feel comfortable taking pretty much anywhere. Plus, despite the petite size, this speaker does a remarkable job of delivering a big sound. Price at time of publish: $279 The Details: 5.24 x 1.83 x 5.24 inches | 1.23 pounds | 18-hour battery life | Alexa Best for Biking Tribit StormBox Micro 2 Portable Speaker Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Tribit.com Why We Love It The sound is loud and clear enough to combat wind and cars. What to Consider It’s no frills and more practical than exceptional. The Tribit StormBox Micro 2 is best suited for attachment onto your handlebars as you navigate mountain paths or urban bike lanes as it’s designed to be extra loud to combat ambient road noise. The small speaker has 12 hours of battery life, so you can likely fit in several adventures before it needs to be recharged. Its wireless range of 120 feet is more than enough for use while cycling so it makes a great addition to any cyclist’s gear, while doubling as a solid portable speaker for those times when you're not on a bike. Price at time of publish: $60 The Details: 4.1 x 3.9 x 1.6 inches | 1.08 pounds | 12-hour battery life | 120-foot wireless range Best Clip-on JBL Clip 3 Bluetooth Speaker 4.2 Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Guitarcenter.com Why We Love It It's extremely lightweight. What to Consider The audio quality isn't the strongest. The JBL Clip 3 comes equipped with a built-in clip that makes this speaker a perfect add-on to your backpack when you're off on long hikes. The speaker can also be used to take phone calls so you can stay hands-free on the trail. With a solid 10 hours of battery life, the device can handle some of your longer treks, though it'll likely need to be charged overnight on multi-day adventures. Although it lacks some of the fancier features of more advanced speakers, such as a voice assistant, the waterproof speaker is more designed for durability and portability, weighing just a scant 7.8 ounces. Price at time of publish: $50 The Details: 2.17 x 4.33 x 4.3 inches | 7.8 ounces | 10-hour battery life | 25-foot wireless range The 11 Best Noise-canceling Headphones of 2023, Tested and Reviewed Most Stylish Marshall Emberton II Bluetooth Speaker Nordstrom View On Nordstrom View On Best Buy View On Marshallheadphones.com Why We Love It The battery life is beyond impressive. What to Consider It's a little heavy for its size. While some portable speakers have a kitschy look, the Marshall Emberton II has a classic, amp-like design that's a touch rock and roll and stands out in the crowd. In addition to just looking cool, this speaker boasts an impressive 30-hour battery life with solid audio quality, though it’s a relatively simple model, with no smart features or voice assistant. But in terms of aesthetics, it’s hard to go wrong with this one. The most important thing to note is that even though it's small in size, it's a bit heavier than most of the speakers on this list. Price at time of publish: $170 The Details: 2.68 x 6.30 x 2.99 inches | 1.5 pounds | 30-hour battery life | 30-foot wireless range Best for Parties Sony SRS-XG300 X-Series Amazon View On Amazon View On Abt.com View On Best Buy Why We Love It This powerful speaker has big sound, a long battery life, and custom LED lighting, too. What to Consider The features cause it to be a little on the large and heavy side. Music is a crucial element for any sort of fête, from a beach bonfire to a backyard pool party, and that's why you need a powerful yet portable speaker to bring along with you. The Sony SRS-XG3000 gets the job done, striking the right balance between providing booming sound while also still being small enough to pretty easily transport (it’s roughly the size of a large Thermos, though it weighs more than 6.5 pounds). It features customizable ambient lighting to help get the party started, and its 25-hour battery life should be more than enough for a celebratory event. Perhaps most importantly, this speaker has the technical capabilities to fill up a large space with high-quality sound to keep everyone dancing. Price at time of publish: $350 The Details: 13.94 x 6.5 x 8 inches | 6.61 pounds | 25-hour battery life The 12 Best Wireless Headphones of 2023, Tested and Reviewed Tips for Buying a Portable Speaker Know where you'll use it Consider where you’re most likely to use your speaker, as this will help determine the size and features that are most applicable to your specific needs. For example, if you're an avid hiker, you'll probably want a tiny portable speaker that can clip onto your backpack. Or, if you're a frequent beachgoer, waterproofing is key. Consider size and portability All speakers on this list are small enough to fit inside a backpack or carry-on bag, making them ideal for travel. But "small" in this instance is a relative term. If you’re hiking, a party-sized speaker is probably too much of a burden. Similiarly, a small speaker that can easily attach to your backpack likely won’t be sufficient for a pool party. When shopping for portable speakers, always keep in mind how much weight you can take on during your travels and/or how much space you’re willing to cede in your bag. Prioritize durability Whether you’re bringing it aboard an airplane or clipping it onto a bicycle, portable speakers will get tossed around a bit. That’s why it’s always smart to seek out a model that is specifically designed to be durable, with features like shock and dust resistance. Every speaker on this list is easily portable, but some are more durable than others. One important consideration in terms of durability is whether or not you need a speaker that is either water-resistant or waterproof — waterproofing is always the better option, but it may make the speaker more expensive. Frequently Asked Questions What do I need to use a portable speaker? First, you’ll need an electrical outlet or a portable battery to charge the speaker. Then use a Bluetooth-enabled device like a phone or tablet (or an aux cord) to connect with the speaker to play music, podcasts, or audiobooks. Can I bring portable speakers on a plane? Yes. Portable speakers are generally lightweight and small enough to be transported in your carry-on. Some very large speakers might be better accommodated in checked luggage, but that’s unlikely to happen for the majority of the speakers you’ll want to travel with. No matter what, please don't use them on the plane itself! Why Trust Travel + Leisure Stefanie Waldek is a freelance travel writer with nearly a decade of experience. For this article, she evaluated portable speakers based on their features and read dozens of customer reviews. The 22 Best Travel Tech Essentials of 2023 Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we'll send you our favorite travel products each week. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit