Portable speakers continue to improve with better sound and battery life.
How do I choose a Bluetooth speaker?
When choosing a Bluetooth speaker, what it really comes down to is size and price. If you're looking for a very portable speaker, you'll want to get something very compact, but remember that smaller speakers usually produce less sound and bass than larger ones. So while there are plenty of mini Bluetooth speakers that deliver bigger sound than you might expect, they do have their sonic limitations. For a lot of people it's a question of finding a speaker that's not too big or too small -- one that travels well but also is capable of producing good sound for its size. But finding the best portable Bluetooth speaker also comes down to your budget.
If you're looking for the best sound quality, as I said, bigger is usually better, and some larger portable Bluetooth speakers -- sometimes referred to as Bluetooth boom boxes -- can put out a lot of sound and have an integrated handle for toting them around.
NPET BS10 Bluetooth Speaker
NPET's BS10 Bluetooth Speaker came out in 2021 and managed to slip beneath my radar, which is a shame because it's arguably one of the best-sounding speakers around $30, if not the best Bluetooth speaker for this price range. It's larger than many mini Bluetooth speakers, but it's still compact. It manages to sound quite a bit fuller than much of the competition under $50, with bigger bass, more volume and better clarity. It's also fully waterproof (IPX7-rated) and pair two NPET speakers via a single device for double the volume or bold stereo sound.
Due to its popularity, it's currently priced at $22.99.