How we tested
We created this guide by sifting through our past Bluetooth speaker reviews from Mashable staff and freelancers, as well as testing out new speakers specifically for this article.
When testing speakers, we take into account brand reliability, sound quality across a variety of genres, battery life, companion apps and features they offer, as well as user reviews. We take all of those factors into account to determine if the price of the speaker matches its feature set, especially in relation to the competition. Where possible, we compare speakers’ sound to other models in their price range.
The audio market is huge, so we’re regularly testing products and updating this guide to make sure we’re giving you the best possible recommendations. The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 is our most recent addition to our roster, followed by the Sony ULT Field 1 speaker and the JBL Go 4 speaker.
Earlier this year, we updated our recommendations to include the JBL Clip 4 and Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 (prior to the release of the Wonderboom 4).
In Sept. 2024, we tested out the Ultimate Ears Everboom speaker. We loved how loud it could get without sacrificing its clarity and found that its size would be perfect for hosting parties, either indoors or in the backyard. Plus, the Podcast Mode sounded much better than it did on the Wonderboom 4. However, the size was awkwardly big for taking on the go, and other than some EQ settings, it didn’t offer many extra features. Ultimately, it didn’t sound quite as good as we expect a $250 speaker to sound. For that reason, it didn’t make the final cut.
Previously, we tested portable speakers such as the Sonos Roam, Sonos Move, JBL Flip 6, and the Bose SoundLink Flex. As of March 2024, we removed the JBL Go 2 from our guide due to low availability (and just one month after deeming it our favorite speaker under $40). Also in March, we replaced our Sonos Move recommendation with the newer Sonos Move 2. Finally, we removed the only speaker on our list that we haven’t hands-on tested, the Bose Soundlink Revolve II, as we’re beginning the process of testing a new surround sound pick.
