Bluetooth audio quality has made great strides over the years. You still need to spend more money for a high-fidelity listening experience, but the sound quality that today’s sub-$100 portable Bluetooth speakers deliver is quite impressive.
Beyond quality sonics, a fairly common trait in the sub-$100 wireless speaker world is a rugged, outdoor-friendly build. Although you might be looking for something for your desk or bookshelf (we included a couple of smart home picks), many speakers in this price range feature tough, water-resistant exteriors that can take a beating on a hike and are small enough to easily tote around in a backpack.
Read on for the best affordable Bluetooth speakers we’ve tested, followed by everything you should consider before you buy one.
The Best Wireless and Bluetooth Speaker Deals This Week*
*Deals are selected by our commerce team
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
Amazon Echo (4th Gen)
Best Smart Speaker Overall
Why We Picked It
The fourth-generation Amazon Echo is our favorite budget-friendly Alexa speaker. Its spherical enclosure houses dual tweeters and a 3-inch woofer, an impressive array in light of its compact size. Internally, Amazon’s AZ1 Neural Edge processor improves speech recognition, while Zigbee compatibility enables you to control smart home devices. The device also supports playback from popular music streaming services and functions as a decent speakerphone.
Who It’s For
If you’re in the market for an Echo speaker that costs less than $100, this is our top pick. Not many others on this list offer stereo sound or as many smart home features.
PROS
- As powerful as the Echo Plus
- Strong bass for the size
- Built-in smart home hub
CONS
- High frequencies don’t get quite as much finesse as they could
- Alexa can still be awkward to talk to
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Amazon Echo Dot With Clock (5th Gen)
Best Small Smart Speaker
Why We Picked It
In addition to the time, the Echo Dot With Clock also shows weather forecasts and the names of currently playing tracks. Beyond that, it doubles as a node for Eero Wi-Fi networks. The speaker pumps out good sound too, and you get all the conveniences of any other Alexa smart home hub. We like the LED ring at the base that glows blue whenever it receives a voice command as well.
Who It’s For
If you’re looking for a bedside clock that also outputs quality sound, the Echo Dot With Clock is worth your attention. Just keep in mind that isn’t portable like most other entries on this list.
PROS
- LED display more useful than previous model
- Convenient tap gestures
- Well-balanced sound
- Can serve as eero mesh network node
CONS
- No 3.5mm jack
- Limited frequency range
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Anker Soundcore Mini 3
Best for Tunable Audio
Why We Picked It
Like most of Anker’s products, the Soundcore Mini 3 outperforms its price. Its top-firing 6-watt (W) driver and down-firing passive radiator combine to deliver a commendable sense of bass depth, while its companion app’s customizable EQ is a rarity in this price segment. An IPX7 rating means it can shrug off poolside splashes without any trouble.
Who It’s For
Even if a nine-band EQ seems like overkill for a 6W speaker, the Soundcore Mini 3 is still the best choice for listeners who want control over how their budget speaker sounds.
PROS
- Quality audio performance for the size
- Adjustable EQ
- Waterproof build
- Clear mics
CONS
- Not for those seeking booming bass
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JBL Go 3
Best Small Speaker
Why We Picked It
You should keep your expectations in check for a speaker that retails for under $50, but the tiny JBL Go 3 delivers more audio power than you might expect. It looks stylish and sporty, while a handy built-in lanyard lets you hang it from anything that can handle its 7.4-ounce weight.
Who It’s For
If you want to listen to tunes while you go on outdoor adventures, the highly durable and very compact JBL Go 3 is a good choice.
PROS
- Rich, crisp, relatively powerful audio for the size
- Compact, easily portable design
- Fully waterproof
- Affordable
CONS
- No speakerphone
- Limited onboard controls
- Weak battery life
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Tribit StormBox Micro 2
Best Clip-On Design
Why We Picked It
The Tribit StormBox Micro 2’s clip-on design makes it simple to attach to everything from bikes to backpack straps. It sounds relatively crisp and clean (with just a hint of rich bass), while an IP67 rating means it’s fully dust-tight and waterproof. A built-in speakerphone also works fine in a pinch, and we like that its companion app enables both EQ adjustments and firmware updates.
Who It’s For
This speaker is for outdoor adventurers who need something that won’t get in the way and that can survive inclement weather. It doesn’t offer the most impressive sound, but its other features still make it worthwhile.
PROS
- Powerful audio performance for the size
- Fully waterproof and dustproof design
- Offers speakerphone functionality
CONS
- Approaches distortion at top volumes on some tracks
- Mic signal occasionally dropped out in testing
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Sony SRS-XB100
Best for Clear Speakerphone
Why We Picked It
The Sony SRS-XB100 produces robust sound for its size, and we like its IP67 build and stylish removable strap. Echo-canceling mics also make its built-in speakerphone very usable for hands-free calls.
Who It’s For
It’s not hard to imagine people who work from home taking the SRS-XB100 into their backyard because of the quality mic signal it captures. And when a call ends, it can handle your music competently (especially if you pair it with a second unit for stereo sound).
PROS
- Rich, crisp sound for its size
- Fully dust-tight and waterproof design
- Clear speakerphone mic
CONS
- No companion app
- Cheaper alternatives offer similar performance
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Ikea Vappeby
Best Lamp and Speaker Combo
Why We Picked It
Ikea has quietly produced some of our favorite stylish home speakers in recent years, including the mushroom-like and IP65-rated Vappeby that doubles as an LED lamp. It’s not a powerhouse in either regard, but then again, it’s more functional than both standalone speakers and lamps.
Who It’s For
If you’re looking for a trendsetting portable speaker that can bring a little light into your life, the Vappeby won’t disappoint. The design is up for interpretation too, so we see appeal for both people who like mushrooms (don’t try to eat this one) and Star Wars (Darth Vader’s helmet, anyone?).
PROS
- Rich, balanced audio and decent volume output
- Doubles as a portable LED lamp
- Water-resistant and dustproof
- Compatible with Spotify Tap
CONS
- Limited onboard controls
- Cheap plastic feel
- No companion app
Learn More
Buying Guide: The Best Bluetooth Speakers Under $100
Do Cheap Speakers Have Good Bass?
Affordable portable speakers once relied only on the strength of tiny, powered drivers to produce sound, but passive radiators are now the norm—they don’t receive direct power like the drivers, but vibrate in concert with them to create a greater sense of bass. They won’t make you think there’s a subwoofer inside, but passive radiators work quite well to create a greater sense of the lows. You might notice that some speakers have tiny rubber feet on the bottom; those prevent the passive radiators from propelling the unit across flat surfaces.
Anker Soundcore Mini 3
(Credit: Anker)
What’s the Difference Between Mono and Stereo Speakers?
It seems like mono (single-driver) speakers are more popular than in the past because of how effective passive radiators are compared with a second driver. We don’t think this is too big a deal because you can’t get much stereo separation a few feet away from a small speaker, even if it does have two drivers.
Manufacturers, of course, want to sell you multiple speakers, however, so they often offer the option to wirelessly set up a stereo pair with a second unit. The advantage here is obvious: If you connect two speakers to your phone (usually via an app), with each handling either the left or right channel, you suddenly get a very wide stereo field. Of course, most of these speakers cost more than $50, so you might have to stretch your budget past $100 to do this.
Do Cheap Speakers Have Good Battery Life?
The battery range for most portable speakers typically falls between 8 and 12 hours per charge. It’s always good to keep in mind that whatever number the manufacturer lists is the very best you should expect. If you play your music loudly, revise your expectations downward.
Several speakers also have a built-in USB port for charging mobile devices on the go. This is useful if you’re away from home and your phone or tablet is running low on juice. Just note that charging other devices takes away power from the speaker itself. The batteries in these speakers are also usually much smaller than those in dedicated battery packs, which you should consider instead if you have frequent battery life worries.
The Best Waterproof Speakers Under $100
The terms waterproof and water-resistant seem interchangeable, but they’re poor descriptors of very precise measurements. Not every speaker we test in the below-$100 range can resist liquid ingress, but it’s a far more common trait than in the past. Thus, it’s becoming standard practice for manufacturers to provide a speaker’s IP rating.
Recommended by Our Editors
It’s important to understand what a rating means rather than just assume a speaker that is, say, merely splash-resistant is fine to submerge underwater. There are several levels of IP ratings(Opens in a new window), so memorizing them all is trickier than it seems. IPX7, for instance, means a device can handle immersion in up to one meter of water for 30 minutes or less, while IPX5 means it can handle the splash of low-pressure water jets from any direction for at least three minutes.
Tribit StormBox Micro 2
(Credit: Tribit)
If you see two numbers in the IP rating, as in IP67, the first number refers to protection against solids (often dust) and the second refers to protection against liquids. A 0 means it has no protection against solids, but an X means the manufacturer did not test the product against solids. In reality, most speakers likely have some level of protection against solids, but you can’t be sure to what extent without an official rating.
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