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Affordable, portable speakers that won't break the bank.

Sometimes you want a wireless speaker that can move from room to room (or go al fresco). That's where a great portable bluetooth speaker comes into play, which you can easily pair with your phone for wireless playback. Many of the best bluetooth speakers we recommend below integrate with smart assistants, so you can control with your voice through Alexa or Google Assistant. The market for Bluetooth speakers is massive, and discerning which is best can be challenging. That's why engineers and scientists in the Good Housekeeping Institute Media and Tech Lab tested dozens of bluetooth speakers, evaluating everything from ease of use to durability and performance, to bring you our top picks for every lifestyle.

Our experts consider how easy each speaker is to set up, pair and control playback music through the device and app, if applicable. We evaluate voice assistant commands, as well as battery life and special features like built-in microphones. We also measure the physical footprint and weight of each speaker to factor in its portability. For sound quality, we listened to various songs across different genres (everything from rock with heavy bass to classical piano music) and also conducted frequency sweeps. Speakers that claim to be waterproof or weather resistant are reviewed to ensure accuracy of these claims, and outdoor speakers are dropped multiple times to make sure they still function.

Below are our top picks for the best bluetooth speakers in 2021, based on our expertise in this category, reviewing new and innovative products, and looking at the most popular models:

Our experts raved about this portable, wireless Bluetooth speaker with an IP67 rating that makes it waterproof, resistant to dust and ultra rugged. Perfect for at home or travel, this lightweight option has an impressive battery life making it perfect for listening all day long. You can even set up custom one-touch playlists for Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Music and more without reaching for your phone. Its sister speaker, the Megaboom 3, is a larger version with 20 hour battery life per charge that we also highly recommend

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This budget-friendly pick has a built-in speaker and built-in microphone. The detachable carabiner allows you to clip it on-the-go, perfect for use on strollers or backpacks. The IPX5 rating indicates it's durable as well. Available in four different colors, the battery charge is only 2.5 hours, but for the price, our experts say it's a great value.

This wireless bluetooth speaker aced our tests, with our experts noting that it was especially powerful for its size and its lightweight ergonomic design makes it super portable. The device has a built-in rechargeable battery, is compatible with both Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, connects to the Sonos App or AirPlay 2 and syncs via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. This drop-resistant pick is also waterproof up to three feet for 30 minutes and has a IP67 rating.

If you're looking to build a sound system throughout the whole house, the Sonos Move is ideal. This bluetooth speaker also connects through Wi-Fi and is strong alone but can also link together with other Sonos products to create an immersive sound experience with easy voice control (it has Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant built-in). Customize to your heart's content and group speakers to play music in sync throughout the house. Our experts appreciate the great Sonos app and easy pairing too.

At about four inches round, this extremely portable Bluetooth speaker comes complete with a hanging loop. It has a IP67 rating and floats, is ultra-lightweight and portable, making it a wonderful bonus for beachside fun. Sound quality was found to be superior in our tests and the device also paired very easily and readily.

With an IPX7 waterproof rating and long-lasting battery life, the Soundcore Flare+ is ideal for poolside fun. Connect via Bluetooth and customize the device's sounds and lights. The beat-driven light show pulses and shines with the rhythm of the music, elevating the pool party experience. You can connect two of them through a single device for a more immersive experience.

This home speaker doubles as an alarm clock and has two built-in USB ports to charge your smartphone. It also features various light modes that react to the beat of the music. Connect via bluetooth, listen to FM channels and more. Our experts found the sound quality to be top notch and said that the sensor control panel was very easy-to-use.

Combine a wireless Bluetooth home speaker with voice-control and you get the Bose Portable Smart Speaker. Available in both silver and black, the attractive design and great well-balanced sound made this a top pick in our tests. Grab the handle to easily move the speaker from room to room, around the house or take it outside. With an IPx4 rating, its durable and water-resistant design is suitable for the whole family. Sync it with other Bose smart speakers and sound bars for multi-room listening.

The seamless modern design on this bluetooth speaker from Bose provides 360 degree coverage for immersive sound. This lightweight pick is easy to transport from room to room in the house and has an IPX4 rating as well. Pair two SoundLinks together or sync with any Bose smart device. We're also fans of the more expensive Revolve+, with even better weather-resistance and sound output.

Our experts were impressed with the relatively powerful sound that this mini speaker delivers and elegant shape. The HomePod mini is designed to work effortlessly with your Apple devices, doing everything from picking up incoming calls from your iPhone to listening to music on your Mac. Touch controls make the device easy-to-use, and you can even pair two HomePod mini speakers in the same room for an even more immersive sound experience. Note that unlike many of the speakers on the list, the HomePod Mini requires it to be plugged in to operate and is not wireless.

Small but mighty, this mini bluetooth speaker from Sony delivers powerful sound for the size and a purported 16 hours of play time. The detachable carry strap allows you to hang, carry or clip the speaker to your bag. Upgrade the audio by wirelessly connecting two speakers for even more fun and stereo sound.

Pop this extremely compact and portable speaker on your backpack for a hike, attach it to your beach bag or clip it on your chair at the pool. The Clip 4 is battery-powered and offers decent sound quality, especially considering its miniature size. This bluetooth-enabled tiny smart speaker also comes in a variety of colors and is perfect for bringing along on any outdoor adventure.

This popular pick has a slightly larger driver size and power output than its previous model. Although the Flip 5 doesn't feature a mic for hands-free calling and has no 3.5mm jack for aux audio, it boasts a IPX7 waterproof rating and purported 12 hour battery life. Available in a wide variety of colors, you can also customize this smart speaker with your own images, text, designs and more.

The sleek, simple design on this sound bar offers great aesthetics and power. Stream music wirelessly from your phone or smart device via Bluetooth. Our experts found this sound bar easy to set-up and use.

When purchasing a smart speaker, you'll first want to have an idea of where you’d like your speaker to live. Is this a speaker that will sit in your living room and you’ll play music when friends are over? Do you want to be able to take your speaker with you as you travel? Is this a speaker you want in your kitchen so you can ask your voice assistant for measurement conversions and more? Your answers to questions like this will help guide you when choosing a speaker. A few other things to keep in mind include:

Compatibility: Many of our top-rated Bluetooth speakers have their own built-in voice assistants, like Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Some integrate more broadly into smart home ecosystems, like the HomePod mini. You should not only consider your music sources, but also if you have any smart devices already in your home, you should look up what voice assistant they’re compatible with.

Size: This is typically a decent indicator for how loud each speaker can get. If you want to play music in a loud environment, a larger speaker should likely be prioritized. However, if you plan on toting the speaker around with you, you might want to sacrifice some audio output for a more manageable footprint and weight.

Connectivity: Many of our top-pick speakers have Wi-Fi music streaming options, as well as Bluetooth streaming options. For instance, the Sonos Roam can operate over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, and also works with Alexa or Google Assistant. Our engineers find that setup using Bluetooth is generally much easier and faster, but Wi-Fi setup may be worth the initial setup time commitment since it can allow for easier use when returning to your speaker over the long term. Connecting through Wi-Fi is especially useful for wired speakers that will stay within the same Wi-Fi radius.

Weather resistance: When shopping, the experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute recommend you look for a strong Ingress Protection (IP) rating as well if planning on using outside (or have messy kids!). This is a standard that indicates ruggedness and weather-resistance. IP ratings have two numbers — the first for solids (i.e. dust); the second for liquids (i.e. water).