No Outdoor Adventure Is Complete Without a Waterproof Speaker

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Years ago, enjoying music outdoors came with the risk of damaging your speakers. All it took was one unexpected splash during a pool party or a wave or sand hit without notice at the beach for your speakers to become unusable. But today, waterproof speakers are a reliable option on the market for outdoor listening — and they're smarter, more durable, and more entertaining than ever. Our top picks not only play your favorite tunes, but also charge your mobile devices and even deliver access to your favorite virtual assistant.

Best of all, you can find a great option regardless of your budget. So, to find the best waterproof Bluetooth speakers out there, I spent weeks scrutinizing and testing products from leading brands such as Bose, JBL, and Sony, to name a few.

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The Best Waterproof Bluetooth Speakers

• Best Overall: Sony SRS-XE300

• Best Value: Soundcore Motion Boom

• Solid All-Around Performance: JBL Charge 5

• Best Big Speaker: JBL Xtreme 3

• The Classic: Ultimate Ears Boom 3

How We Tested

I've been researching and testing waterproof Bluetooth speakers for years. For this update, we looked for options with the most futureproof specs. Translation? We made sure these speakers would be able to adapt to new developments for years to come. Our process included reading reviews from other tech publications, sifting through consumer feedback, and consulting with industry experts.

I spent at least a week testing each speaker in this guide using the following criteria:

• Design and durability — focusing on the product's build and ability to survive exposure to the elements, including water and dirt/sand. The last-mentioned bit is essential for using such a gadget at the beach, while camping, or in a backyard or garden.

• Sound quality — evaluating the ability of each speaker to deliver audible bass, treble, and mid-range, come rain or shine.

• Battery performance — observing how many hours' worth of wireless playback the device is capable of and its charging methods.

• Ease of use and additional attributes — evaluating the product's controls' layout and tactility, any supplemental features it offers, and, when available, app-enabled functionality.

What to Consider

Sound, durability, and battery life are the most important bits to consider when shopping for a waterproof speaker. Regardless of the type of outing you take it on, a high-quality product should be able to deliver a stellar sonic experience for many hours between charges.

Sound

When it comes to sound, the more audio drivers a speaker packs, the more detail-rich and entertaining sound it will deliver. For our top pick, we selected a product that can deliver high-quality stereo sound to the listeners in front of it. If you plan to make the gadget a true party centerpiece, consider an offering capable of delivering multidirectional, 360-degree audio.

Durability

Every speaker on our list has an official rating for water resistance (some can even float on the surface), and it is important to know the difference between an IP and an IPX moniker. An IP rating means that the product can handle water and dust, while the IPX rating attests that a speaker has only been rated for exposure to water. Ideally, you should choose a versatile speaker capable of handling more than just exposure to water to increase its lifespan.

Battery Life

Regarding battery life, the absolute minimum you should consider before buying a waterproof speaker is 10 hours. This will ensure that the device can entertain you during a daily outing. Most of the best waterproof speakers can easily blast a day's worth of tunes with power to spare.

The charging connector your next waterproof speaker has is also crucial, and I highly recommend looking for products with a USB-C port. The futureproof connector will allow you to power up your audio gadget using the same cable as your laptop, tablet, or Android phone.

Additional cool features such as built-in lights and the ability to charge your phone or other gadgets are also worth considering. So are app-enabled tools for customizing the speaker's sound for specific content and usage scenarios and adjusting its settings, among many others. An app can also allow you to update your speaker's firmware and potentially expand its capabilities.

Ready to find the ultimate waterproof Bluetooth speaker? Learn more about our favorite picks at every price point.

SRS-XE300 Wireless Bluetooth Speaker

Sony’s SRS-XE300 is the best waterproof Bluetooth speaker for most consumers. It has an elegant design with a fabric cover, a shockproof build with robust water and dust resistance rating, great sound, and long battery life — all at an agreeable price. Its design and performance also made it our favorite Bluetooth speaker overall.

The speaker packs a duo of full-range audio drivers and two passive radiators, producing a powerful, distortion-free stereo sound that’s customizable via an app. Unlike other top-rated waterproof Bluetooth speakers that aren't stereo-capable, the XE300 excelled in indoor and outdoor scenarios while I tested it. It’s a reliable speakerphone, too.

You can order the Sony SRS-XE300 in black, blue, and light gray. Consider the cheaper Sony SRS-XE200 if you are looking for a smaller waterproof speaker. It has a similar design and onboard features.

Motion Boom Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

Anker's Soundcore Motion Boom is the best waterproof Bluetooth speaker $100 can buy. Its design, build, sound, and additional features are impressive, and its companion app is the best you’ll find on a Bluetooth speaker, regardless of the price tag. The speaker can also float in water, though it lacks a rating for dust resistance.

The Motion Boom can deliver balanced stereo sound with impressive fidelity via a pair of audio drivers and two passive radiators. I like that the speaker has a button for instantly enhancing its bass. The Soundcore app, on the other hand, allows you to adjust the audio to your preference.

I enjoyed the convenient boombox-style handle of the Soundcore Motion Boom while using it outdoors. It reminded me of my childhood's portable stereo systems. Like many of our top picks, the Motion Boom can charge other gadgets via a USB port.

Charge 5 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

JBL’s Charge 5 Bluetooth speaker is an excellent alternative to our top pick from Sony, offering boomier sound and the ability to recharge other gadgets. Plus, you can order it in more colors: black, blue, gray, red, teal, and camouflage.

The Charge 5 has a different driver setup with a larger woofer and a smaller tweeter than its rival. Combined with a duo of passive bass radiators, the audio hardware produces a more powerful — if slightly less detail-rich — sonic experience. I found it to be very entertaining in outdoor open spaces like a beach and a large backyard.

I like the understated design of the JBL Charge 5. The speaker has no onboard lights, so it is lighter than our top pick without compromising durability. If you are looking for a more compact speaker that packs a punch, consider the cheaper JBL Flip 6 instead.

BOOM 3 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

Almost half a decade since its debut, the Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 is still one of the best waterproof speakers you can buy. It offers an elegant design, a rugged build with a class-leading 2-year warranty, a 360-degree sound with excellent quality, and long battery life. And since USB-C cables are most common for charging today, we only wish its micro-USB connector wasn't so dated.

Impressively, the Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 can survive submersion underwater and float on the surface — standout features that make it great for pool use. There are several colors to pick from: black, blue, red, gray, and an Amazon-exclusive dusk option.

The mobile app allows you to set up quick access to favorite Apple Music and Spotify playlists via the product’s multifunctional magic button. While testing the BOOM 3, I enjoyed being able to launch a playlist with my favorite downtempo tracks for work without having to look for my phone.

UBOOM L Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

The EarFun UBOOM L Portable Speaker waterproof speaker is our favorite for thrifty shoppers, offering design, audio performance, and available features that defy its sticker. In addition to blasting powerful sound with custom modes, the product has a tough build and solid battery life.

I enjoyed the bass-rich stereo sound that the UBOOM L pumped out while I put it through its paces. I could toggle between easy-to-switch modes for indoor and outdoor listening and streaming video on a paired smartphone or laptop. The simplicity of the device’s button controls was just as impressive.

Unlike pricier Bluetooth-only rivals, the speaker also has a standard audio input for a wired connection with an MP3 player or a laptop and a bundled cable for the task.

SoundLink Flex Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

The Bose SoundLink Flex is your best option if you're looking for a lightweight waterproof Bluetooth speaker that packs a punch. The gadget weighs just a little over 1 pound, so it's more portable than our top picks from Sony and JBL without skimping on audio performance and durability. Perhaps one of its coolest features is that it can even float in water.

Like all Bose wireless headphones and speakers, the SoundLink Flex delivers an enjoyable sound with slightly embellished bass and crisp treble. While testing this speaker, I enjoyed its amazing versatility. Depending on your needs, you can use it in an upright landscape position (great for a desk or table), place it on its back to become the centerpiece of an outdoor gathering or hang it via its fabric loop.

The dated Bluetooth 4.2 connectivity of the speaker is underwhelming for such a product in the 2020s. It gives it a more limited wireless range and lower battery life than similarly priced Bluetooth 5 speakers.

Motion X600 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

If sound quality is a major priority and you don’t mind lower durability and battery life, I highly recommend the Soundcore X600 waterproof speaker. Thanks to five audio drivers, including an upward-firing unit, and just as many amplifiers, the elegant speaker can deliver a sonic experience with higher fidelity than any competitor. To top things off, the X600 is the only product on this list compatible with spatial audio and Hi-Res (wired and wireless) content.

Like its maker’s excellent headphones and earbuds, the Soundcore speaker supports the audiophile-grade LDAC codec, allowing it to deliver more detail-rich audio when paired with a compatible device. While testing the X600, I was stunned by the lush sound it produced in tandem with a Sony Xperia 5 IV smartphone (the best for audiophiles). Playing my go-to tracks made me feel like I was listening to a much pricier speaker.

The X600 is available in black, blue, and green. Every color option features a matching metal handle.

Clip 4 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

JBL’s Clip 4 is the best ultra-compact waterproof speaker worth your attention. It has a cool and versatile design, headlined by the Clip product family’s signature carabiner. The last-mentioned bit will allow you to attach it to a bag, a backpack, or a bicycle, among many other things. There are several colors available including black, blue, gray, pink and red, as well as a camouflage pattern.

The speaker's housing has a premium fabric finish, a metal carabiner, and buttons with excellent tactility. While testing it out, it felt like I was interacting with a pricier product, not one that costs well below $100.

JBL has equipped the Clip 4 with a well-tuned 40-millimeter audio driver, making it deliver a surprisingly powerful sound for its size. I was pleasantly surprised by how balanced the sonic experience was during my testing.

More: We Tested the Best Mini Bluetooth Speakers Worth Buying

Emberton II Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

The Marshall Emberton II waterproof speaker stands out in this crowded product category by rocking an incredibly cool design inspired by the audio maker’s iconic guitar amplifiers. The compact speaker looks like a miniaturized version of the legendary equipment that has powered live music performances for decades. Its tactile control knob and battery indicator are just as impressive and a notch above rivals’ setups.

Equipped with full-range drivers and passive radiators, the Emberton II delivers a detail-rich stereo sound that belies its compact footprint — I consistently thought I was listening to a larger unit while testing it. In addition, the device’s remarkable battery life is the best on this list. However, given its sticker, I wish the Emberton II had a built-in microphone for making calls.

Stack mode lets you link multiple Emberton II speakers for a more immersive sonic experience. Alternatively, you can opt for the bigger and pricier Marshall Middleton waterproof speaker with more onboard audio drivers.

Xtreme 3 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

The JBL Xtreme 3 is bigger and more powerful than any other entry on this list. It weighs well over 4 pounds (almost 2 more than the Sony SRS-XB33), but the thunderous sound it offers makes the extra bulk worth dealing with. You can order the product in black, blue, or with a camouflage pattern.

Acoustically, this JBL speaker delivers a performance that lives up to its Xtreme moniker. It packs two woofers, two tweeters, and a pair of passive bass radiators, which produce the legendary audio maker’s signature sound. In addition to futureproof Bluetooth 5.1, the product has a standard audio jack for wired playback.

I applaud JBL for including a sturdy carrying strap with an integrated bottle opener alongside the speaker. The included accessory made the device easy to carry around while I tested it. I also liked being able to charge a duo of gadgets from the speaker's USB-A and USB-C ports while blasting tunes.

SRS-XB100 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

Sony's all-new, impressively tiny SRS-XB100 Bluetooth speaker will surprise you with a thunderous bass delivery and long battery life. Another bit I like about the XB100 is the option to link two speakers in a stereo pair. Given the impulse-buy price of the product, ordering two will allow you to enjoy high-quality sound without breaking the bank.

Compared to its excellent predecessor, the SRS-XB100 has a textured finish that improves its handling and a more eco-friendly build with recycled plastic used in its making. The tiny speaker has a robust rating for water resistance, guaranteeing it can survive rain, splashes, direct exposure to running water, and full submersion. It's fully dust-resistant, too.

Sony offers the speaker in black, blue, orange, and light gray. Every XB100 comes with a matching carrying strap.

Pulse 5 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

JBL's Pulse 5 is hands-down the most entertaining speaker on this list. In addition to blasting the brand's signature sound, the waterproof gadget can also deliver a striking 360-degree LED light show guaranteed to make it an evening party's centerpiece. Its battery life is far from the best in class, but an acceptable tradeoff for the visual experience it can provide.

The customizable lighting effects mentioned above make the Pulse 5 look like a lighting fixture, not an audio product. When I showed it to a few friends, some thought it was a minimalist lamp, not a Bluetooth speaker.

Even though it looks similar to the product it replaces, the JBL Pulse 5 delivers a tougher build and superior sound courtesy of a pair of audio drivers. The newcomer's Bluetooth 5.3 — the connectivity standard's latest version — is more futureproof, too. The JBL Pulse 4 has a sole audio transducer and older Bluetooth 4.2.

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