Best Outdoor Bluetooth Speakers of 2025, Tested

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The hero of any summer party is the person who remembers to bring ice, but the person who brings the Bluetooth speaker is a close second. Bluetooth speakers are an easy and relatively affordable way to bring music to any party or get-together, and the best outdoor Bluetooth speakers are also waterproof and dustproof for use by the pool, beach, or backyard. 

They’re not just for parties, either. Whether you’re in the shower or doing errands around the house, Bluetooth speakers are a convenient way to fill any space with sound.

How We Picked the Best Bluetooth Speakers 

We put the best Bluetooth speakers to the test to find which options are worth it, by considering factors like portability and durability, prioritizing options with a high IP rating. A top consideration when shopping for Bluetooth speakers is ease of use, and we prioritized options with easy, intuitive controls. 

And while Bluetooth speakers aren’t necessarily used for the most discerning listening sessions, audio quality is still a top consideration. We evaluated options based on both sound quality and their maximum volume. 

Many Bluetooth speakers also offer additional features, such as the ability to pair with other speakers for stereo sound, built-in microphones for making calls, support for wired connections, and fun extras like RGB lights.  

Read on for our top picks for the best outdoor Bluetooth speakers of 2025. If you’re looking for other audio gear, check out our roundup of the best workout earbuds and best bookshelf speakers.

The Beats Pill strikes the right balance between design, sound quality, and performance. At roughly 680 grams, it has some heft to it, but the slim pill-shaped design makes it easy to slip into a backpack’s water bottle pocket, for example, and the lanyard makes it easy to carry. The outer has a silicone covering to protect it from bumps, while the metal grille gives it a high-end look. 

Sonically, you get enough of the bass thump Beats is known for, but it doesn’t result in muddled-sounding mids and highs. The sound quality is impressively balanced, particularly for a speaker of this size, despite the inevitable audio tradeoffs associated with any portable speaker. Like most Apple products, there’s no option to customize the EQ. 

The speaker has an impressive number of extra features. You can pair it with another Beats Pill and use it in either “Stereo Mode,” which creates a left and right channel, or “Amplify Mode,” which plays the same mono audio from multiple speakers. The speaker also has a built-in mic, so it can be used as a speakerphone, and the quick recordings I took of my voice sounded clear. The USB-C charging port can charge other devices or be used as a wired connection for streaming audio (though I had difficulty getting the latter feature to work).

At $180, the Emberton III is pricey, particularly for a speaker of this size. But the amp-inspired design is stylish, and the speaker feels sturdy and well-made, with a textured faux-leather outer, metal grille, and Marshall’s iconic script logo. The top of the speaker features a power button, a Bluetooth pairing button, and a multifunction button that controls volume and playback, including skipping tracks.  

As for sound quality, songs sound crisp and clear. It gets surprisingly loud, though, like many small speakers, it can start to sound harsh at higher volumes. The Marshall app features customizable EQ if you’re looking for an extra bass boost. Unlike some Bluetooth speakers, which require smart placement, the 360-degree audio, with speakers on the front and back, allows for room-filling sound. 

The speaker features a built-in microphone for phone calls and boasts an impressive 32 hours of battery life. The top of the speaker also features an LED display showing the remaining battery life. 

The SoundLink Plus is Bose’s middle child between the Flex and Max models. At over 3 pounds, it’s not exactly svelte, but the handy nylon loop makes it easy to carry on the go. Design-wise, it has a stylish plastic grille with a silicone-covered exterior. The top of the unit features separate buttons for power, Bluetooth, playback, volume up, and volume down.

The sound quality is rich and detailed, and it doesn’t sound harsh at higher volumes. There’s a decent heft to the bass, even if it won’t make your skull rattle. For more room-filling sound, you can use it in “Stereo” or “Party” mode with other Bose speakers with the multifunction button, which can also be used to open Spotify with one tap. The USB-C port can be used to charge smartphones and other small devices.

The speaker doesn’t feature a built-in mic, and there’s no option to listen with an aux cord. At 20 hours, the battery life is decent, but the five-hour charging time is pretty sluggish. The tradeoffs are fairly minor for a speaker that sounds this good, but the high price might put some people off.   

The Bose app also features a straightforward three-band EQ that’s easy to adjust. If you’re looking for a relatively portable speaker for a larger outdoor gathering, or even as an around-the-house speaker, it’s an excellent option. 

For an affordable, small speaker that packs a surprising amount of punch, Sony’s XB100 is smaller and more lightweight than a soda can, and the long fabric strap makes it easy to carry on the go. The design doesn’t feel especially high-end, but it comes in a range of fun colors that add character, and the clearly labeled buttons make it easy to use. 

As for the sound, it’s impressively clear for a speaker of this size, even if the bass doesn’t have as much authority to it. But again, given its tiny size, it puts out surprisingly rich sound, and the fact that it’s so light and portable means it’s the kind of speaker you’ll want to bring everywhere, and the IP67 rating means you don’t have to be too precious with it.  

In terms of features, there are a surprising number of extras: a built-in mic means you can use it as a speakerphone. I didn’t try making any phone calls, but I recorded my voice using the mic and was impressed by the clarity. You can also pair it with another Sony speaker, and the 16 hours of battery life is solid for a speaker of this size.

JBL’s Clip 5 is an explosive little hand grenade of sound. The lightweight, palm-sized speaker features a built-in clip that easily attaches to belt loops, backpacks, or anything you can think to clip it to or hang it off of. It’s available in a plethora of colors, and you can even customize your own design. The front of the speaker features a play, pause, and volume button, while the side has controls for power, Bluetooth, and pairing with other JBL speakers. 

The speaker boasts surprisingly hefty bass, despite its small size, and you can adjust the EQ settings in the app. It can also get surprisingly loud, although like many smaller speakers, it can sound harsh when pushed to high volumes. One quirk is that the speaker sounds best when clipped or hung from something; laying it flat leaves it sounding somewhat muffled, and it doesn’t stand upright on its own.  

It doesn’t have a built-in mic, there’s no aux port, and the battery life tops out at 12 hours, or less at higher volumes. Still, it’s a great option if you want something ultra-portable. 

If pure ruggedness is what you’re after, Soundcore’s Boom 3i speaker has it in spades. It’s not necessarily the most stylish speaker I’ve seen, particularly the quirky Jungle Green colorway I tested, but it feels hefty and durable. Not only is it IP68 water and dustproof, but it can float and is even resistant to saltwater.

It can be paired with other speakers for stereo sound, and there’s a bass boost function, plus customizable EQ in the Soundcore app. The audio quality is solid, with plenty of volume and heft, although I’d give Bose or Beats the edge in terms of clarity. The speakers have built-in lights that sync with the music, which you can customize in the Soundcore app. 

The Soundcore Boom 3i is built for days by the water, and it’s even weighted to float speaker-side up when thrown in the water. There’s no mic, so you can’t use it as a speakerphone, but should you be taking conference calls on the lake, anyway? 

Go Party, that’s an order. JLab’s new line of party speakers is affordable, fun, and comes with built-in LEDs that sync with the music, or whatever you’re listening to (party lights with The Daily, anyone?). The speaker features a fabric grille and a cylindrical design, although it’s not a full 360-degree speaker.

The controls are fairly intuitive, with a tactile physical volume knob for easy adjustments that’s satisfying to use. Pressing the volume knob controls playback, and there are buttons to skip back/forth, plus a power button that also handles Bluetooth pairing. You can also pair it with other JLab speakers, and the built-in mic means it can be used for phone calls. You can also toggle through LED patterns with the power button or turn them off. 

The sound quality isn’t showstopping, lacking the clarity and oomph of some of our other picks. The voice prompts are also somewhat annoying, but you can turn them off in the app. Still, at just $30, it’s a great value pick.