Wireless bluetooth speaker water resistant

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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The 12 Best Waterproof Bluetooth Speakers for Making Outdoor Adventures Even More Fun

We spent weeks testing to find the best waterproof speakers out there.

By Stefan Vazharov Updated: May 25, 2023

Years ago, enjoying music outdoors came with the risk of damaging your speakers. All it took was one unexpected splash during a pool party or a wave or sand hit without notice at the beach for your speakers to become unusable. But today, waterproof speakers are a reliable option on the market for outdoor listening — and they’re smarter, more durable, and more entertaining than ever. Our top picks not only play your favorite tunes, but also charge your mobile devices and even deliver access to your favorite virtual assistant.

Best of all, you can find a great option regardless of your budget. So, to find the best waterproof Bluetooth speakers out there, I spent weeks scrutinizing and testing products from leading brands such as Bose, JBL, and Sony, to name a few.

The Best Waterproof Bluetooth Speakers

Best Overall

Sony SRS-XE300 Wireless Bluetooth Speaker

Runner-Up

JBL Charge 5 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

Best Big Speaker

JBL Xtreme 3 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

The Classic

Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

Best Budget

EarFun UBOOM L Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

Best Compact Speaker

Bose SoundLink Flex Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

Best Value

Soundcore Motion Boom Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

Best Micro Speaker

JBL Clip 4 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

Best Design and Battery Life

Marshall Emberton II Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

Best Sound Quality

Soundcore Motion X600 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

How We Tested

I’ve been researching and testing waterproof Bluetooth speakers for years. For this update, we looked for options with the most futureproof specs. Translation? We made sure these speakers would be able to adapt to new developments for years to come. Our process included reading reviews from other tech publications, sifting through consumer feedback, and consulting with industry experts.

I spent at least a week testing each speaker in this guide using the following criteria:

• Design and durability — focusing on the product’s build and ability to survive exposure to the elements, including water and dirt/sand. The last-mentioned bit is essential for using such a gadget at the beach, while camping, or in a backyard or garden.
• Sound quality — evaluating the ability of each speaker to deliver audible bass, treble, and mid-range, come rain or shine.
• Battery performance — observing how many hours’ worth of wireless playback the device is capable of and its charging methods.
• Ease of use and additional attributes — evaluating the product’s controls’ layout and tactility, any supplemental features it offers, and, when available, app-enabled functionality.

Learn more about how we test products, from the questions we ask our testing team, to the types of products we feel are actually worth testing, to the overall time we put in to our testing process.

What to Consider

Sound, durability, and battery life are the most important bits to consider when shopping for a waterproof speaker. Regardless of the type of outing you take it on, a high-quality product should be able to deliver a stellar sonic experience for many hours between charges.

Sound

When it comes to sound, the more audio drivers a speaker packs, the more detail-rich and entertaining sound it will deliver. For our top pick, we selected a product that can deliver high-quality stereo sound to the listeners in front of it. If you plan to make the gadget a true party centerpiece, consider an offering capable of delivering multidirectional, 360-degree audio.

Durability

Every speaker on our list has an official rating for water resistance (some can even float on the surface), and it is important to know the difference between an IP and an IPX moniker. An IP rating means that the product can handle water and dust, while the IPX rating attests that a speaker has only been rated for exposure to water. Ideally, you should choose a versatile speaker capable of handling more than just exposure to water to increase its lifespan.

Battery Life

Regarding battery life, the absolute minimum you should consider before buying a waterproof speaker is 10 hours. This will ensure that the device can entertain you during a daily outing. Most of the best waterproof speakers can easily blast a day’s worth of tunes with power to spare.

The charging connector your next waterproof speaker has is also crucial, and I highly recommend looking for products with a USB-C port. The futureproof connector will allow you to power up your audio gadget using the same cable as your laptop, tablet, or Android phone.

Additional cool features such as built-in lights and the ability to charge your phone or other gadgets are also worth considering. So are app-enabled tools for customizing the speaker’s sound for specific content and usage scenarios and adjusting its settings, among many others. An app can also allow you to update your speaker’s firmware and potentially expand its capabilities.

Ready to find the ultimate waterproof Bluetooth speaker? Learn more about our favorite picks at every price point.

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