Portable bluetooth water speakers

The 7 Best Waterproof Bluetooth Speakers — Summer 2023 Reviews

If you want to play audio at the pool or outdoors, or you’re looking for the best beach Bluetooth speaker, you’ll most likely want a waterproof Bluetooth speaker you can easily bring along with you. Many speakers have an IP rating: dust and water resistance scores tested by independent and accredited third parties. When looking for a waterproof speaker, an IP rating of IPX4-IPX7 is ideal, but it ultimately depends on your needs. A speaker with an IPX4 rating can tolerate splashes of water. In contrast, speakers with an IPX7 rating can be submerged in water for up to 30 minutes. An IP rating is the most surefire way to know how a speaker handles water.

Despite their IP rating, some product manuals advise against using waterproof speakers in certain situations, like the beach or shower. IP ratings don’t account for different types of water exposure like salty, soapy, or chlorinated water; depending on manufacturer specifications, you may need to rinse the speaker off with fresh water after exposure or avoid exposure completely. Frequent exposure to soapy, salty, or chlorinated water tends to deteriorate the speaker’s surface build with time, particularly if it’s covered in fabric instead of sturdier materials like silicone or plastic. As a general rule, it’s good to rinse or wipe off any substance the manufacturer hasn’t explicitly deemed safe for your product and double-check that the speaker’s ports are completely dry before using and recharging them.

We’ve tested over 115 speakers; below, you’ll find our picks for the best waterproof speakers. If you’re looking for more speakers, check out our recommendations for the best shower speakers, the best outdoor speakers, the best speaker brands, and the best cheap speakers.

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The 10 Best Waterproof Bluetooth Speakers

If you’re trying to narrow down the best waterproof Bluetooth speaker, then you’ve come to the right place. We have scoured the internet to bring you the 10 best options available. For the purposes of this article, we have stuck to the portable Bluetooth speakers.

We have included options based on budget, varying waterproof ratings, size, and features. Many of our top 10 choices include premium features like a built-in speakerphone, the ability to pair more than one speaker and there are a couple with cool LED light displays. We even have two of the best budget waterproof Bluetooth speakers, in case your decision is based on cost.

Our Pick!

Sony SRS-XB41 Portable Bluetooth Speaker

The bass on this speaker is awesome! Better than any other portable Bluetooth speaker of this size.

Quick Pick – Our Awards!

Cheapest Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

If cost is your deciding factor then the OontZ Angle 3 is going to be your best choice. We really love this little speaker. It’s really loud, fun to listen to, and only costs just over $25.

When compared to other Bluetooth speakers, the Oontz Angle 3 does lack a little bass but for its price, who’s complaining. The Oontz Angle 3 is also the most lightweight and compact Bluetooth speaker we reviewed for this article.

Loudest Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

The loudest waterproof Bluetooth speaker we reviewed for this article is the Sony SRS-XB41. Not only is this the loudest speaker but, it also has the most bass. The Sony SRS-XB41 is definitely a party speaker with the ability to pair multiple speakers together to make even more noise. The speaker carries an IPX7 waterproof rating and floats.

Best Battery Life

If you consider yourself a bit of an explorer and need a waterproof Bluetooth speaker with a good battery life, then there are two competitors to choose from. The Anker Soundcore 2 and Sony SRS-XB41 both feature a 24-hour battery life.

The Soundcore 2 costs only $40 while the premium Sony SRS-XB41 costs $150. The benefit of the SRS-XB41 is that you have a USB output for charging your other mobile devices.

Best Looking Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

If looks and style are what you’re after then the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM is one of the coolest looking waterproof Bluetooth speakers on the market. In fact, all Ultimate Ears speakers lead the way when it comes to good looks. A close second is definitely the Sony SRS-XB41 with its cool lights and sleek design.

Best Overall (Our pick)

The Sony SRS-XB41 is our top pick. The bass on this speaker is awesome! Better than any other portable Bluetooth speaker of this size.

What Qualifies as a Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker?

We consider a waterproof Bluetooth speaker to be portable and have a minimum IPX5 waterproof rating.

Waterproof Ratings Explained

Without getting too technical, here is a quick breakdown of the waterproof ratings featured in this article:

Update: This page was updated on June 3rd, 2020. For a full update history, click here.

1. Sony SRS-XB41 Portable Bluetooth Speaker

Power

Battery

Waterproof

Bluetooth

The Sony Extra Bass range of speakers and headphones is hugely popular. The products are well known for the serious bass boost these products offer which makes listening to music that much more enjoyable and exciting. The Sony SRS-XB41 is just small enough to be considered a portable speaker but big enough to produce some serious sound.

The SRS-XB41 is IP67 rated which, like IPX7, protects the speaker to a depth of 1m for up to 30 minutes. The SRS-XB41 floats too, which means it’s safe even around deep water. What’s most impressive is that the SRS-XB41 is also protected against salt water which makes this a great speaker for the beach.

The SRS-XB41 features dual 2.2” drivers producing an impressive 30W of power. In addition, there is a passive bass radiator to improve bass response. The speaker will easily fill a small to medium sized room with good quality sound. Even at high volumes, the SRS-XB41 experiences minimal distortion or break up.

Sound

The sound quality on the SRS-XB41 is as good as you would expect from Sony. The bass on this speaker is awesome! Better than any other portable Bluetooth speaker of this size. The SRS-XB41 delivers a nice punchy bass sound which makes the speaker exciting and fun to listen to. The mid-range and highs are upfront, delivering excellent clarity for a compact speaker.

The SRS-XB41 also features a LIVE mode which is supposed to improve the clarity of the speaker offering a better soundstage. The result is a slight improvement in audio separation but I found the normal mode sounds better.

Controls

The SRS-XB41 features an array of buttons to control various elements of the speaker and the sound. On the main panel you have your play/pause, volume up, volume down, LIVE mode and on/off/Bluetooth buttons. The SRS-XB41 has a built-in speakerphone with the play/pause button doubling as the control for incoming calls. Also on the top panel is an NFC tag for quick pairing your NFC enabled devices.

On the rear, behind a watertight seal, you’ll find another three buttons. The first is a battery button which lets you know the remaining battery life. The WPC and ADD buttons give you a couple options when pairing additional SRS-XB41 speakers. The WPC button allows you to pair multiple SRS-XB41 speakers together, 100+ according to Sony while the ADD button allows you to pair two SRS-XB41 speakers in stereo.

The LED lights and futuristic design aesthetic makes the SRS-XB41 one of the coolest looking waterproof Bluetooth speakers on the market. There is an LED strip that surrounds the speaker grille with LED strobes mounted on the speaker drivers. The lights pulse and change with the music adding a party vibe to your listening experience. You do have the option to turn the lights off which obviously saves battery life.

Battery

The SRS-XB41 features a built-in battery with 24-hours of battery life. This is assuming you don’t use the lights and the speaker operates at 50% volume. You have the option of recharging the SRS-XB41 battery using an AC adapter or micro USB. The AC Adapter will obviously charge the battery faster while the micro USB is convenient if you only have a laptop or power bank to charge off. There is even a USB power output so you can charge your mobile devices via the SRS-XB41.

What’s in the box?

Sony SRS-XB41 Portable Bluetooth Speaker Conclusion

If you’re looking for a really fun waterproof party speaker with big sound and even a light display, then the Sony SRS-XB41 should be at the top of that list. This amazing speaker allows you to pair an additional SRS-XB41 in stereo or multiple speakers to make one big sound system. The SRS-XB41 is also very rugged with an IP67 waterproof rating and the ability to even withstand saltwater. If you’re looking for the best waterproof Bluetooth speaker, then the SRS-XB41 is going to be your best choice.

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The 17 Best Waterproof Bluetooth Speakers for Water-Adjacent Adventure in 2022

Dunk it in the pool. Go white water rafting. Spill seltzer. These’ll hold up.

By Sarah Rense Published: Jul 21, 2021

Damn does it feel good to get loud again. For what felt like an interminably long time there, a hush had fallen over life. 2020, man. Now, we’re cranking the vibiest of playlists way the hell up. We’re funneling the viral hits straight into our ears, hoping that endorphin rush will get us through another workday. We’re pregaming and picnicking and partying, drowning out mopey thoughts—or at least trying to—with any song that’s over 110 beats per minute. If 2021 has a soundtrack, its theme could be described as «wild abandonment.» So we need portable speakers that are «wild abandonment»-proof. In other words, waterproof. Of those, there are many.

But first, hold tight for some rather dry, owner’s-manual speak to help make sense of what’s waterproof, what’s water-resistant, and what would melt under a splash from the faucet, wicked witch-style, in the Bluetooth speaker realm.

How Waterproof Speakers Are Tested

Most Bluetooth speakers come with a rating system formatted like «IPXX» to indicate just how strong that speaker is against the elements. It’s simple enough to translate. The first X will be a number between zero and six that rates the speaker’s ability to protect against solids, like dust and dirt. The closer to six, the better. The second X will be a number between zero and eight that rates the speaker’s ability to protect against liquids, like, you guessed it, water. The closer to eight, the better.

Understanding IP Ratings

Take the rating IP67: To you, that means the speaker has the best protection against dust (six) and the near-best protection against water (seven). If you come across a rating that held onto one of its X’s, it means its manufacturer didn’t have it tested and rated in that category; you’ll just have to trust what the manufacturer says. For instance, the rating IPX4 means the speaker is water-resistant—a.k.a. you can’t drop it in the pool, but a few splashes won’t kill it—but has not been tested and rated for dust protection.

All but two of the speakers on this list have a waterproof rating of seven (or higher), which means you can submerge them in up to one meter of water for 30 minutes. Since a lot of waterproof speakers are built to float, it likely won’t come to a half-hour dunking, but you can’t beat the peace of mind.

Other Speaker Features to Consider

In terms of audio quality, Bluetooth speakers will give you more decibels than the speaker on your smartphone, and most will sound significantly better. But it’s safe to say that the more you’re willing to pay for a speaker, the more impressive the audio. You know how it goes. Then there are additional features to keep in mind, like smart assistant integration, charging ports, portability accessories, durability, and, on a fun note, looks. You’ll want to take note of size as well, since the speaker you bring to the campsite or set up on the back patio will assuredly be a different size than the one you keep in the shower or haul to the tailgate.

Now, onto the speakers themselves. These are the best waterproof (or water-resistant) Bluetooth speakers to pair and play through 2021—whether you’re looking for pristine audio, killer bass, or something that’s cheap and rugged. Go forth and share the music.

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