There are many portable Bluetooth speakers to choose from, and the top waterproof options come in all shapes and sizes. What they all have in common, however, is that they’re designed to keep delivering impressive sound even if they fall in your pool or take a dip in a nearby lake. They also pair via Bluetooth and provide on-device controls so you can keep your smartphone or digital audio player safely tucked away while enjoying the music. We tested and researched the best waterproof Bluetooth speakers for daily and adventurous use. Here are our top picks. With an IPX7 waterproof rating, the Charge 4 can stay underwater for 30 minutes at up to a 1-meter depth. It even floats, so you can easily retrieve it if it does end up going for a swim. The single, full-range “racetrack” speaker puts out the clean and crisp sound across all genres that JBL is famous for, and you can crank it up to maximum volume without worrying about distortion. The battery delivers up to 20 hours on a single charge—assuming you keep the listening levels reasonable—and you can use some of that capacity to charge up your smartphone via the USB port around the back. The Charge 4 is also compatible with JBL’s Connect+ ecosystem, so you can sync it to play alongside as many as 100 other JBL Connect+ compatible speakers for the ultimate party experience. Channels: Mono | Bluetooth: Yes | Physical Connection: 3.5mm/USB | Digital Assistant: None | Waterproof: IPX7 JBL accomplishes this quality with a unique 44-millimeter driver (the part that delivers sound) that puts out crisp and nuanced rather than overwhelming sound and just the right amount of bass for a speaker in its class. If you’re looking for something closer to a true stereo setup with the Flip 5, the PartyBoost feature allows you to link up another JBL Flip 5 to get real stereo separation, taking its already impressive sound quality to an entirely new level. The IPX7 waterproof rating also means you can take it to the pool or the beach with no worries, and the internal battery keeps you going for up to 12 hours on a single charge. Channels: Mono | Bluetooth: Yes | Physical Connection: USB-C | Digital Assistant: None | Waterproof: IPX7 It’s still a budget speaker, so don’t expect any miracles, but the XSound Go can hold its own against many speakers that are twice the price. The highs and mids are crisp, and there’s a reasonable bass presence here, but it can’t belt out distortion-free sound at a party as a premium speaker would. Still, XSound Go is an affordable and versatile speaker for casual listening, with the usual IPX7 rating that can withstand up to a meter of water for 30 minutes, speedy USB-C charging, and 24-hour battery life. It also features a built-in mic, so you can use it as a speakerphone or call up your favorite voice assistant, and a 3.5mm auxiliary input lets you use it as a wired speaker too. Channels: Stereo | Bluetooth: Yes | Physical Connection: 3.5mm / USB-C | Digital Assistant: None | Waterproof: IPX7 This softball-sized speaker is small enough that you can take it pretty much anywhere, yet it earns the Wonderboom name by producing surprisingly rich bass that doesn’t get in the way of a lighter music style. It’s much more than you’d expect from a 4-inch speaker and plays nicely with everything from hip-hop and metal to classical and jazz. With an IP67 rating, the Wonderboom 2 isn’t just waterproof, it’s also certified as dust- and sand-proof, making it a great choice for even the busiest beaches. Plus it’s available in UE’s usual array of fun colors. Channels: Mono | Bluetooth: Yes | Physical Connection: Micro USB | Digital Assistant: None | Waterproof: IPX7 With two full-range drivers (the units that create sound), two tweeters (a type of speaker that handles high sound frequencies), and a pair of passive bass radiators (speakers that handle low, bassy sounds), the Flare+ delivers strong sound throughout its entire range. It also gets loud enough for outdoor parties without too much distortion. If you want even more on the lower-end, there’s a bass boost feature that works quite well—with the right genres of music. For the most part, though, we found the speaker does just fine on its own. The design feels like a cross between UE’s Boom and JBL’s Pulse lineups, with a cloth texture on the exterior and an LED light ring on the bottom that pulses and phases in sync with your music. The IPX7 rating means you can take it to the pool or the beach, and you can pair two of them up for proper stereo playback. There’s also a microphone for taking calls or calling up your smartphone’s voice assistant, and it offers up to 20 hours of listening time on a single charge. Channels: Stereo | Bluetooth: Yes | Physical Connection: 3.5mm/Micro USB | Digital Assistant: None | Waterproof: IPX7
Designed for use in the bathroom rather than at the beach, the dust- and waterproof iFox iF012 has a sturdy set of suction cups that let you pop it right onto the tiles in your shower. The suction is also surprisingly strong, so it’s not going anywhere once you get it in place. The iF012 also features a complete set of accessible control buttons right on the front, so you don’t need to fumble with it to adjust volume, change tracks, or even answer calls using the built-in speakerphone. As a shower speaker, it can’t deliver the same audio quality you’d get from an outdoor beach speaker. It still achieves impressive results for listening in your bathroom. The iF012’s 22-hour battery life is another plus and more generous than most small speakers. Channels: Mono | Bluetooth: Yes | Physical Connection: 3.5mm (USB charging only) | Digital Assistant: None | Waterproof: IP67 The magic here comes from a custom-designed speaker for mids and highs in whatever you’re listening to. Combined with two passive radiators that handle lows, this arrangement allows SoundLink Micro to deliver clean sound with no shortage of bass. It also gets louder than you expect from a speaker this size, and although you can hear some distortion at the top end of the volume range, that’s par for the course in this size range. The SoundLink Micro also has a rubberized silicone exterior, integrated strap, and the usual IPX7 waterproof rating, making it a great speaker for your bike, backpack, or boat. An integrated mic offers the ability to handle calls or call up your favorite voice assistant, and it also has built-in voice prompts to walk you through the Bluetooth pairing process. Unfortunately, as surprising as the sound quality is for a speaker of this size, there’s less room for a battery, so you get only about six hours of listening time on a single charge. Channels: Mono | Bluetooth: Yes | Physical Connection: Micro USB | Digital Assistant: None | Waterproof: IPX7 The Pulse 4 also offers more than enough bass to keep an indoor party going, but it drops off at higher volumes, and you start to hear a bit of distortion. Even though the IPX7 rating lets you use it near the water, it’s best suited for smaller pool parties and intimate beach gatherings. You get up to 12 hours of listening time on a single charge with the lights on, but you can push that a bit further by running the speaker dark. Channels: Mono | Bluetooth: Yes | Physical Connection: USB-C | Digital Assistant: None | Waterproof: IPX7 Sony packed in some substantial drivers (the components that convert audio signals) to punch out an impressive amount of bass—and it does it without any noticeable distortion even at the maximum volume levels. The SRS-XB33 delivers so much bass that we had a hard time believing it was coming from such a small speaker; it feels like there’s a dedicated subwoofer somewhere in the room. The bass does drop off a bit at higher listening levels, but you still feel its presence across the entire volume range. Two LED light bands on either side also change colors and pulse to the beat of whatever’s playing, and you can adjust these with the companion smartphone app. A built-in mic provides speakerphone and voice assistant capabilities, and it even supports NFC for quick and easy Bluetooth pairing with modern smartphones. Sony also promises up to 24 hours of listening time on a single charge at normal volume levels. Channels: Stereo | Bluetooth: Yes | Physical Connection: Micro USB | Digital Assistant: None | Waterproof: IP67
Audio Quality
Key when picking out any speaker, audio quality is especially important for a waterproof Bluetooth model because you’ll use it outside. They need to be crisp and clear and powerful enough to compete with any ambient noise outdoor environments present.
Battery Life
Because they’re often used on the go or may live outside next to your pool, a generous battery is essential for these speakers. Something above 12 hours is a good place to start, though some of the best go all weekend long without quitting.
About Our Trusted Experts
Jesse Hollington is a tech journalist with 15 years of experience writing about technology. Jesse previously wrote and served as Editor-in-Chief for iLounge, where he reviewed dozens of portable Bluetooth speakers and related accessories over the years. He’s also authored books on the iPod and iTunes and published product reviews, editorials, and how-to articles on Forbes, Yahoo, The Independent, and iDropNews. Danny Chadwick has been writing about tech since 2008 and produced hundreds of features, articles, and reviews on a massive range of subjects. He specializes in mobile audio equipment and reviewed several of the speakers on our list. Jason Schneider is a writer, editor, copywriter, and musician with almost ten years of experience writing for tech and media companies. In addition to covering tech for Lifewire, Jason is a current and past contributor for Thrillist, Greatist, and more. He specializes in audio tech. James Huenink is an experienced tech journalist and copywriter who’s fascinated with how tech can help bind people together. He specializes in portable speakers and produced an insightful review of the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 for our list.
