Portable Bluetooth speakers
Group test
The freedom to enjoy your music anywhere
Reviewed by Hollin Jones
ON TEST…
> Audio Pro C3
> Bose Portable Smart Speaker
> JBL Link Portable
> Sonos Move Soundcore Motion+
> Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2
A s listening habits have changed in recent years, more of our music than ever is streamed from the cloud or a portable device. Being able to play your music outdoors – be it in the garden for a party, or in the park while working out – no longer requires the kinds of trade-offs it used to. Ranging from ultra-portable to more audiophile-friendly, modern Bluetooth speakers have really upped their game when it comes to things like battery life, volume, audio fidelity, and even waterproofing.
A portable speaker connects to your iPhone or iPad and Macs directly over Bluetooth, and in some cases Wi-Fi: AirPlay makes it really easy to stream your music to compatible devices on your network. Higher-end models can also integrate Spotify and other streaming services, for added ease. Typically providing controls both on the body and via a smartphone app, some also have physical audio inputs for connecting other audio equipment.
Whatever level of features appeals to your particular needs, a portable Bluetooth speaker lets you enjoy your music with others wherever you are, and their sonic capabilities may well surprise you.
How we tested