The Ultimate Bluetooth Speaker Buying Guide

If you are just about to buy a new portable speaker choosing the right one for your needs can be a tough decision.

The market of Bluetooth speakers is huge, there are several brands and thousands of models you can choose from.

Most of them are average or even bad, some of them are good but expensive.

Currently, I own more than 30 speakers and although I make regular reviews and comparisons here and on my YouTube channel, I still get plenty of question from you what are the best Bluetooth speakers and what are the speakers I personally recommend to buy.

Although it is pretty hard to answer this question, since it highly depends on your needs and budget, today, I try to help and compile a top 10 list to see what are the best speakers under 100 dollars.

Of course, the price of the products always varies but I think most of the listed speakers here will fit into your 100 dollars budget.

Some of them are more expensive, some of them are cheaper than the others but what is mutual in all of them that they provide an outstanding value for their price.

So let’s see what are the best Bluetooth speakers under 100 dollars in 2019.

Pros Cons Bottom line Best all-around JBL Flip 4 Check Price Pros: Solid, durable design

Nice, well-balanced sound

Completely waterproof

Excellent Bluetooth range Cons: More music control buttons would be nice Bottom line: The Flip 4 is an excellent outdoor speaker, with outstanding sound quality, this is the best speaker you can get under 100 dollars. Best sounding pocket-sized Bose SoundLink Micro Check Price Pros: Waterproof, rugged design

Portable, useful strap

Exceptional sound quality Cons: High price

Short battery life Bottom line: The Bose SoundLink Micro is a good choice if you are after the best sounding pocket-sized speaker. Tribit XBoom Check Price Pros: Good bass

Durable body

Completely waterproof Cons: Design is not unique Bottom line: XBoom is a great outdoor speaker with an excellent sound and strong battery life. JBL Clip 3 Check Price Pros: Durable body

Long Bluetooth range

Good battery life

Integrated carabiner Cons: Weak lows Bottom line: If the portability is the most important factor for you and you want a speaker what you can easily carry everywhere then the Clip 3 is a very good choice. Best budget speaker SoundCore Motion Q Check Price Pros: Full water protection

Good Bluetooth range

Nice build quality Cons: No battery indicator

Only average battery life Bottom line: The SoundCore Motion Q provides a great value for a budget price.

Best All-Around: JBL Flip 4 If you want a good speaker which fits well for any usage and do not want to spend several hours researching, choose this one. The JBL Flip 4 is a very durable, stylish speaker which is loud enough to use it even outside or in a larger room. It is completely waterproof and has a much better sound than most of the speakers in this category. Check the current price on Amazon

Best Pocket-Sized: Bose SoundLink Micro If you want something small and compact but do not want to compromise on the quality than buy the SoundLink Micro. It is a premium device with powerful features and excellent sound. Apart from other speakers in this size, the Micro has a full and balanced sound with solid bass.​ Check the current price on Amazon

Also Great: Tribit XBoom You can tell from its shape and design that the Tribit XBoom was inspired by the JBL Flip 4. And while it is not a really unique model, Tribit made a pretty good job and in some aspects, they could even surpass JBL. The XBoom is a very durable, waterproof speaker with an excellent sound.​ Check the current price on Amazon

Also Great: JBL Clip 3 If you are looking for something which can accompany you a whole day, then the JBL Clip 3 is the best fit for you. It is small and lightweight enough to be carried everywhere and it got a built-in carabiner which makes this very easy. You can attach it to your belt or bag and don’t have to worry about the rain and water since it is completely waterproof.​ Check the current price on Amazon

Best Budget Speaker: SoundCore Motion Q If you want the best value for your money than you should definitely check the speakers of Anker. I especially recommend the Motion Q, which is my favorite budget speaker. Despite its low price, it is a well-built, premium device, which has a surprisingly clear and full sound. Check the current price on Amazon

1. JBL Flip 4 Undoubtedly the most popular Bluetooth speaker in this price range is the JBL Flip 4 which well deserved its popularity and I also agree that currently, this is the best all-around Bluetooth speaker under 100 dollars. The Flip 4 is the perfect combination of size, sound, portability, and design. It is one of the most popular outdoor speakers on the market thanks to its excellent sound and durable design. With its mesh fabric coverage and rubberized plastic endings, you can toss it into your bag without worrying about scratches and dents. If you want to take it outside, you can use its removable lanyard to hang it on hooks or loop it to your backpack. Although it is not a pocket-sized speaker, it is still small and light enough to easily carry around. The Flip 4 got full water protection which allows a very versatile usage from using it as a shower speaker to blasting music at a pool or on the beach. Its sound is excellent in this size category, thanks to its two good looking, external passive radiators which ensure the proper bass production. At maximum volume, it is surprisingly loud, it is strong enough to fill up even a larger room, although in this case, its sound becomes a bit flat and mainly the highs dominate in its sound profile. However, at around 70% volume it has a nice, clear and balanced sound with much better and deeper bass than the most speakers in this category. The Flip 4 is an excellent outdoor speaker, with outstanding sound quality, this is the best speaker you can get under 100 dollars.

2. Bose SoundLink Micro Bose is well known about their premium audio products and the Micro is the smallest model in their Bluetooth speaker lineup. If you want something very portable but you do not want to compromise the sound quality, then the Bose Micro is the best choice. It is quite expensive compared to other speakers in this category but it is a very premium device built from quality materials. While most speakers in this size have a tiny, lifeless sound with almost zero bass production, the Bose Mini is a refreshing exception. Its sound is nice and balanced, it has a proper bass production which is much better than the bass of other speakers in this size category. Of course, it cannot compete with the larger devices like the JBL Flip 4 but considering its super compact size it is surprisingly good. The whole speaker is covered by a rubberized, scratch-resistant coating, which makes the Bose Mini a very durable outdoor speaker. On top of that, it got a built-in elastic strap which comes really handy when you want to attach it to your bike or to your backpack. It is also completely waterproof, so you can use it in rain or as a shower speaker. Its battery life is not outstanding you can find speakers with longer battery life but regarding build and sound quality the Bose SoundLink Micro is unbeatable in this pocket-sized category.

3. Tribit XBoom Tribit is a new name in the market of Bluetooth speakers and it became quickly popular thanks to its well sounding budget devices. The XBoom is their larger model, which is a very durable, solid outdoor speaker. If you are looking for something which is easily portable but still sounds good then you should definitely check the XBoom. It was built from premium materials, which is resistant to scratches and dents and can easily survive some accidental drops as well. It is ideal if you are looking for something to your extreme or water sports. Especially because the XBoom is fully waterproof and it even floats on the water, so if you are doing jet ski or canoeing you do not have to afraid of dropping it into the water. In terms of sound quality, it is definitely one of the best choices what you can get under 100 dollars. It has deep lows and punchy bass which is even better than the bass of the JBL Flip 4. Only cons we can mention here that the XBoom does not have a unique design, with its shape and external passive radiators, it resembles the JBL Flip 4. However, apart from that, the XBoom is a great device with an excellent sound and strong battery life. The XBoom is a good deal if you are looking for something in the durable outdoor speaker category.

4. JBL Clip 3 The JBL Clip 3 is definitely the king of the portability. If you are looking for a speaker which can accompany you a whole day and light enough to attach it to your belt or backpack, then you will not find better options. It is a tiny speaker with a single driver built into a solid durable body. Its unique design element is the built-in carabiner which is not just super useful but as a metal frame, it embraces the whole speaker giving extra protection and strength to its body. Thanks to its carabiner you can quickly clip it to your belt, backpack or hang it on a hook and use it as a shower speaker. Especially because the Clip 3 is fully waterproof and it can be submerged into 1-meter-deep water. The sound of the speaker is clear and distortion free, however, do not expect house shaking punchy bass from this tiny device. Its true strengths are rather the small size, long battery life, and the Bluetooth range. At maximum volume, I measured 5 hours 20 minutes play time, while at 70% volume I got 8 hours 50 minutes with the speaker. Which is not the best on the market, however, considering its small size it is pretty decent battery life. If the portability is the most important factor for you and you want a speaker what you can easily carry everywhere then the Clip 3 is a very good choice.

5. Soundcore Motion Q The SoundCore Motion Q provides incredible value for a budget price. It got a cylindrically shaped body built from premium materials since the whole body is covered by an elegant, durable mesh fabric material. While it is a great outdoor speaker it looks also good on a computer desk or on a shelf in a living room. The Motion Q provides an omnidirectional sound which means you get the same audio experience from any angle you are listening to the speaker. This is ensured by two passive radiators and two full range drivers firing into the opposite directions. Considering its price, the Motion Q has a surprisingly good sound quality, which is clear and balanced. While in the deeper lows, it lacks behind compared to some more expensive speakers, its overall sound quality is pretty decent. In addition to the nice sound, it has a long Bluetooth range and full water protection. The Motion Q is a good example that you do not have to spend a fortune to get a decent speaker. It’s a nice budget speaker which will not disappoint you either you are looking for something at home or on the go.

6. UE Wonderboom The UE Wonderboom is the smallest outdoor speaker in the UE’s portfolio. This cute, ultra-portable speaker was designed to be used as a shower speaker or to blast music on the beach. It got a completely water and dust resistant body with plastic panels on the top and the bottom. Underneath, it has two drivers and two passive radiators shooting the sound out in different directions. The speaker has a 360° omnidirectional sound, you can put it in the middle of the room and you will get similar sound quality everywhere. It comes with a small, built-in elastic hook on its top which can be used to attach a carabiner to the speaker or to hang it on something. Despite its compact size, the wonderboom has a surprisingly big sound with deep lows, which is loud enough to fill up even a larger room. The only con we can mention about the Wonderboom that it is a bit bass heavy, it is boosted too much and often overpowers other frequencies. Overall the Wonderboom is a well-built, sturdy and stylish outdoor speaker, which has a decent sound.

7. Anker SoundCore 2 Undoubtedly the Anker SoundCore 2 is one of the most popular Bluetooth speakers in the budget speaker category, which is not a surprise. While it is way under 100 dollars, it is a really solid speaker with powerful functionalities. Although it is not the most stylish device on the market with its classic brick shape, it feels premium and durable thanks to its metal speaker grill and the rubberized body. You can toss it into your bag wherever you go without worrying about dents and scratches. It is splash-proof and got large buttons, so you can use it even on the beach or next to a pool. Just be careful to do not immerse it into the water. Anker is a well-known power bank and battery manufacturer, so it is not a surprise that the SoundCore 2 got an exceptionally large 5200mAh battery unit. According to my tests, the speaker can provide 8 hours of play time at maximum volume and 12 hours at 70% volume, which is really outstanding in this category. So if you want something, which can last a whole day, then the SoundCore 2 is an excellent budget choice. Especially considering that its sound is pretty good. It is clear, nice and balanced, there are no distortions, it has a much better sound than the most speakers in this price range. Only the deeper lows where it slightly lacks compared to the more expensive speakers on this list like the JBL Flip 4. If you are on a budget, the Anker SoundCore 2 is one of the best speakers you can get.

8. Sony XB20 Although the Sony XB20 is not a new device on the market, it is still available and it is a so good construction that it definitely deserves to be on this list. First, it looks pretty cool with its interesting oval shape and two LED lights next to the speaker grill which can provide a nice light effect when the speaker plays music. While it is not the smallest device on this list, it is still fairly portable and durable thanks to its premium materials. It got splash resistance, so it can survive even your hardest parties. However, what really makes the XB20 stand apart from others is its excellent sound and bass production. Just like the bigger models, the XB20 got the Sony’s Extra Bass feature which turning on gives an extra boost to the low frequencies. Thanks to this, the speaker produces a crisp and more powerful bass than the other speakers in this category. On top of that, it comes with an NFC chip which means that NFC enabled devices can be easily paired and connected to the speaker just by touching them to it. Its successor, the XB21 has been already released, however, according to my tests the XB20 still has a slightly better sound quality and longer battery life. Only cons of the XB20 that unlike some other speakers on this list it is not completely waterproof and if you would like to use it as an outdoor speaker it is not so durable with its plastic body as some other speakers like the JBL Flip 4 or the Tribit XBoom with their mesh fabric coverage. If you need something that you would mainly use at home then the XB20 is an outstanding speaker with an exceptionally good sound.

9. Anker SoundCore Mini 2 Anker has a growing portfolio of Bluetooth speakers and now they have an offering in each size category. Their speakers deliver so much value for their price that the Mini 2 is the third device from Anker I present on this list. As its name implies, the SoundCore Mini 2 is the smallest one, it got a circular shape, which is smaller than a can of soda, so it fits well into your palm or any drink holder slots. It is an ideal choice if you are looking for something very portable which does not take up much space in your bag and not too heavy to carry around a whole day. The Mini 2 got a full matt finished metal chassis with a rubber base, which prevents it from sliding on slippery surfaces. Its design is clean and minimalist, you can tell immediately that the Mini 2 is a premium device. What makes it even better that you get this premium quality for a very decent budget price. The Mini 2 got IPX7 water protection, it can be submerged into water, so you can take it pool-side and you do not have to worry even if you accidentally knock it in. According to Anker, you can expect 15 hours of play time at moderate volume from the Mini 2, which is pretty decent battery life and besides the durability, a very important factor when you choose an outdoor speaker. All of these attributes are great but why I really think the SoundCore Mini 2 is one of the best speakers you can get under 100 dollars is because of its excellent sound quality. Underneath, it has a 6 watts driver firing up and a passive radiator firing down. Usually, the sound of these tiny speakers are quite thin with mainly trebles and lacking lows, however, the Mini 2 produces clear and crisp audio with solid bass. In this size category, the Mini 2 has an exceptionally big and balanced sound. If you are looking for a compact speaker but do not want to compromise the sound quality then the SoundCore Mini 2 is the ideal choice.