

The UE Wonderboom 2 is a tiny yet powerful portable, delivering the biggest sound in its size range that we tested.

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The UE Wonderboom photographed for Engadget's 2022 portable Bluetooth speaker guide in front of a shelf full of records.
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It also supports voice assistants for both iOS and Android users.īuy StormBox Micro 2 at Tribit - $60 UE Wonderboom 2 ($100) While it’s small and affordable, the speaker doubles as a USB-C powerbank to charge your devices in a pinch and you can wirelessly connect two of them for party mode or stereo sound. The rubbery rear strap works well on relatively thin things like belts, backpacks and bike handlebars. If you’re bopping about outdoors on your bike or chilling in the park, it’s usually more about portability and volume anyway. The audio quality here is fine it doesn’t stand out in terms of fidelity, but the volume you get from this affordable little speaker is what makes it a good choice.

If you’re just looking for an ultra-portable speaker that can kick out some decent volume, the Tribit StormBox Micro 2 fits the bill. The Tribit Micro 2 photographed for Engadget's 2022 portable Bluetooth speaker guide in front of a shelf full of records. Price: $50 to $200 Tribit StormBox Micro 2 ($60) To avoid the issue altogether, though, consider getting one with a wired auxiliary input. Also make sure the speaker is close to the source device as distance can play a factor. If you plan to frequently use a speaker for video playback, look for devices with the most recent Bluetooth versions (4.x or 5.x) and lower latency codecs like aptX. Aside from occasional blips, all of our picks worked well in this regard. Only a handful of the few dozen speakers I tried had persistent, noticeable lip-sync issues. Luckily, it seems that most speakers these days don’t often have these problems. It’s annoying to find that your speaker’s latency isn’t low enough to avoid lip sync issues. This is a minor mention for those out there who use a speaker for their computer output, or as a mini soundbar solution for setups like a monitor and streaming box. In general, take range specs around 100 feet or more as a perfect-world scenario. It’s hard to gauge what aspects of any environment may interfere with a Bluetooth signal. If you’re hosting a patio party and duck inside, it’s wise to have the source device remain close by just in case. I ran into this issue across several devices regardless of their listed range. I’ve seen signal drop issues when crouching down, with my phone in the front pocket of my jeans, and barely 30 feet away from a speaker inside my apartment. That’s likely underselling the speaker's potential, but unpredictable environments can affect range and there’s little point in promising the moon only to get complaints. Other companies stick with a 30-foot range on the spec sheet and leave it at that, even though they may be running Bluetooth 4.x or 5.x. Some companies list their product’s longest possible range, usually outdoors and in an unobstructed line-of-sight test environment. If you're out and about, you'll want to remember to turn these speakers off manually when not in use to maximize battery life. Unlike normal Bluetooth speakers that go to sleep after a short period without use, these will usually stay awake (to listen for your commands) and slowly run down the battery.

Luckily, some manufacturers also list the expected battery life when used at full volume and that transparency is appreciated.Īdditionally, if your Bluetooth speaker also happens to have WiFi connectivity, they're usually designed for always-on functionality. If you like your tunes loud, it can often end up cutting the expected usage time in half or more. This usually means they tested at a low to mid volume. That said, be careful when looking at battery specs, as they frequently list a maximum runtime (“up to” x amount of hours). These days, around 12 hours of runtime seems to be the baseline but obviously, the more battery life you can get out of a speaker, the better. The focus of this guide is on portable Bluetooth speakers, and while “portable” can be a relative term, these devices are generally for people who are likely to find themselves far from a power outlet. It may be worth splurging on a better sounding model with a lower IP rating if you’ll mostly be using it indoors, for instance. Consider the IP rating and also how you plan to use your Bluetooth speaker when making your decision.
