Best Bluetooth Speakers (2026): JBL, Sonos, Bose, and More
Honorable Mentions Here are some other good speakers we've tested that didn't quite make the cut for our top picks Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1
Honorable Mentions Here are some other good speakers we've tested that didn't quite make the cut for our top picks Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 (Gen 3) for $399: Gorgeously designed, flawlessly finished, and this is still one of the most covetable Bluetooth speakers around. The brushed aluminum puck has barely changed since 2016, which says plenty about the strength of Cecilie Manz’s original design. The latest version adds a richer, more powerful 360-degree sound from its 3.25-inch woofer, 0.6-inch tweeter, and 60 watts of amplification. It is IP67 rated, lasts up to 24 hours, and is appreciably more repairable and upgradable. I loved using it, but it’s just a little too expensive when the KEF Muo exists and sounds as good as it does. Photograph: Chris Haslam JBL Go 5 for $55: Great looks, cute dimensions, and instantly stolen by my tweenage daughter, the new Go 5 is a meaningful, if not massive, upgrade over the also awesome JBL Go 4. Buy the Go 4 if you’re looking to save a few bucks, but the new option does have improved bass response and clearer dynamics, Auracast for quick pairing, a solid, 8-hour battery life, and beefier IP68 protection. It’s just a great little speaker packed full of cool tech that takes up no space. If only I knew where my daughter had put it. We Are Rewind GB-001 for $580: The fact it has a cassette deck steals the headlines, but the reality is, most people will spend most of their time using this as a wonderfully retro Bluetooth boombox. The 19-inch-wide body, chunky rotary controls, full-width folding handle, and backlit VU meters give it real presence—it’s not for travel, obviously—which is matched by the enjoyably bassy 104-watt output which gives it real scale.
I love that you can record directly onto blank tape, but without a radio it doesn’t scratch all my nostalgic itches. Up to 15 hours of battery life is acceptable, and recharging is much cheaper than shelling out for another pack of size-Ds like the old days. Photograph: Chris Haslam Gomi Collection One for $380: Handmade in the UK from waste plastic, the Gomi Bluetooth speaker is a rare example of genuinely impressive sustainable design. No two cases are the same, and the extruded plastic feels wonderfully tactile. Inside, they’ve repurposed waste lithium-ion e-bike battery cells, which is a genius move and gives up to 32 hours of listening. For its mid-range audio performance it does feel expensive—the KEF Muo is better and cheaper—but for me that’s not the point and the sound quality from the 3-inch full-range driver is more than enjoyable. There’s free and fast shipping to the USA too. Trelab HD-360 Pro for $128: Imagine if the Apple HomePod had a 22-hour battery, worked over Bluetooth, and cost peanuts. OK, I’m being flippant, but with 360-degree sound, 90 watts of peak output, five active drivers, eight passive bass radiators, and a ridiculous amount of low end for a portable speaker, it’s a surprisingly good alternative. At 5.7 pounds it’s a brute and could actually do with a handle, but the weight helps with the audio, and means it houses a 22-hour battery too. Understandably, there’s no smart control or Wi-Fi, but it’s good if you only have space for one (very) loud (compact) speaker. Bose Soundlink Max for $399: The Bose SoundLink Max has quickly become my favorite speaker to drag along to outdoor events. It's not as big as the boombox that John Cusack held over his head in the '80s, but this robust, rubberized speaker has bold sound and gets loud enough to woo your sweethearts with a love song.
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