Best Portable Speakers
My five minimum requirements for any specific portable speaker to be considered for inclusion on this website are it must:
- have a handle and/or include a strap to carry it,
- weigh ≈10 pounds or less,
- have a built-in or replaceable rechargeable battery,
- INCLUDE INSIDE THE BOX an AC power adaptor or power cord for charging the speaker (not JUST a USB-C cable!), and
- play music wirelessly streamed from a Bluetooth-enabled smartphone, tablet, laptop, PC, Mac, etc.
(When a brand offers multiple portable speakers that meet each of these criteria, I might showcase their best two that do.)
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I realize my specific criteria eliminate some of the most popular so-called portable speakers from consideration. Here is my reasoning for each …..
- After spending hundreds of dollars on a nice portable speaker, the last thing you want to do with it is let it slip from your grip causing it to be potentially damaged, lost, or stolen.
- The heavier the speaker, the larger and less portable it becomes, making you less likely to want to spontaneously carry it with you to listen to it.
- The primary benefit to a portable speaker is that it can be listened to almost anywhere without the worry and hassle of finding and using an AC outlet (which may not even be yours to use) to power it.
- A dedicated AC power adapter provides a stable and higher power output in situations where you DO want to plug it in, and allows for faster charging. Charging with a USB-C cable (and maybe your own USB-C charger block) is marketed as “more convenient” and “eco-friendly”. But, what happens in the future when USB-C is no longer the “current” standard?
- While it’s a nice extra to have an input jack on a portable speaker, Bluetooth is the way to go in this current world. Those who want to listen to lossless music will also want WiFi capability which is usually found on select higher-end speakers.
Page last updated on 11/30/2025.
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