Best outdoor speakers 2024: portable, wireless, waterproof models tried and tested

There was a time when the thought of combining electrical speakers and the outdoors – especially in soggy old Britain – would have been as laughable as pairing your morning bacon sandwich with a healthy dollop of homemade custard.    

Happily, the standard of portable models available has improved dramatically thanks to brands such as JBL and Ultimate Ears. The go-anywhere speaker market has grown hugely over the past 15 or so years, as everyone wants the convenience of loud, portable sound without the need for trailing wires or tricky, expensive setups.   

It can be hard, though, to know where to start in this crowded corner of the market. Thanks to the hands-on testing in our dedicated listening facilities (and the occasional trip to our local park or gardens), you can bet we'll have sniffed out the ideal model for your needs. Find out more about our testing process or keep scrolling to see our pick of the best outdoor speakers currently available.

The quick list

Written by

Written by

Harry McKerrell

I'm a staff writer who has listened to and reviewed dozens of products - from Bluetooth speakers to truckloads of wireless headphones - during my time at What Hi-Fi?. I have first-hand experience with all of the models below, all of which I can recommend given their respective sound profiles, spec sheets and durable builds. Bluetooth speakers, especially outdoorsy ones, are big business right now, so I'm here to help you navigate this endlessly rewarding corner of the market, assessing how they sound, how they'll cope with the pressures and strains of outdoor use and the sorts of features you'll receive with your potential new purchase. 

Best outdoor speaker overall

In the arena of outdoor speakers, few models come close to the might of the JBL Charge 5.

The Award-winning Charge 5 is even more durable and hardwearing than the four Charges that came before it, and while its predecessor carried an IPX7 rating for handling water submergence to a depth of 1.5m, the IP67-rated Charge 5 builds on that durability by also being fully dustproof.

Thanks in part to its 10W tweeter and racetrack-shaped driver, the Charge 5 is pretty much as good a sound as you can get in an outdoor speaker design for under £200 ($200 / AU$300), although the arrival of the slightly more expensive Charge 5 Wi-Fi (£230 / $230 / AU$330) has made things a tad more complex. Still, the inherent qualities of the classic Charge 5, specifically its invigorating, cohesive listen with lots of punch, body and rhythmic drive, make it a winner. 

Yes, the new Charge 5 Wi-Fi offers a slightly more refined sound and more flexible wi-fi-enabled capabilities such as AirPlay 2 and Alexa Multiroom, but the Charge 5 remains a superb portable speaker that offers enjoyable audio in a handsome, durable package. JBL has plenty more Bluetooth speaker options in the Charge 5 Wi-Fi and Flip 6 (below), but the standard Charge 5 remains a surefire winner. 

Read our full JBL Charge 5 review

Best portable outdoor speaker

Admittedly, it's another JBL, but at this rate, what were you expecting? The American audio brand remains king of the pile in the outdoor speaker realm, and with the company's proclivity for producing such great portable speakers, it's little wonder so many of its products are so well suited to outdoor use. 

The Flip 5 was a past What Hi-Fi? Award winner, a trick that JBL has more or less repeated with the five-star sequel (if only losing out on the top trophy to its Charge 5 bigger brother). We might have thought we’d be advising JBL to re-design the Flip by now, but it works so well that there really doesn't seem to be much point. The upcoming Flip 7 has room to improve on the current model, even if it has its work cut out to be even better than our beloved, burrito-shaped fave.

Waterproofed to an IP67 rating (dust won't get in either), the Flip 6 truly sounds the part courtesy of its punchy, rhythmically adept delivery that brings plenty of flavour and musicality to your favourite songs. If you want to boost the sound presentation to your liking, you can now tweak things thanks to a new EQ feature in the app.

All in all, by far the best small-form, outdoor Bluetooth speaker you'll find at this price.

Read our full JBL Flip 6 review

Best budget outdoor speaker

A small, bag-friendly waterproof speaker that's one of the cheapest options on this list, the Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 gets a strong recommendation from us thanks to its hardy construction and surprisingly robust sound. 

The small-form-factor speaker doesn’t have the 360-degree sound design of many of its rivals like the dinky UE Wonderboom 3, but during our tests we found it is one of the best value options if you’re really on a tight budget.

Sporting a handsome woven finish, the Micro 2 fires out enjoyably forceful audio alongside some solid battery life numbers. We easily managed to get 12 hours of listening from a single charge, while an IP67 rating let one of our reviewers use it in the bathroom/shower without any issue or damage. Again, the Stormbox Micro 2's diminutive size and durable design make it well-suited for travelling far beyond the confines of a bathroom or kitchen.

Audio is really strong, too, bigger, punchier and louder than you’d expect from such a small box. Midrange in particular is dealt with in a much more appealing manner than anything else we’ve seen at this price. The only issue is that it can start to suffer from distortion at louder volumes, but based on our head-to-head tests, you’ll have to pay more for either a JBL Flip 6 or UE Wonderboom 3 to get a better performer.

Read our full Tribit Audio Stormbox Micro 2 review

Best premium outdoor speaker

If you're going all-in on sound and are happy to spend more without reaching into the realm of the Dali Katch G2, say, JBL has you covered. The JBL Xtreme 3 is as rugged and hardwearing as its Charge 5 and Flip 6 siblings, earning its reputation as a versatile, talented five-star wireless speaker that’s as happy chilling at home as it is being the life and soul of a sweaty student party. It's bigger than its brothers, with an IP67 dust and waterproof certification that makes it perfect for getting its (metaphorical) hands dirty in the great outdoors. 

You might be forgiven for thinking that, given the bulkier construction, the Xtreme 3 might be more preoccupied with the amount of bass it’s producing rather than focusing on musical quality. Thankfully, the Xtreme 3 proves to be a careful and considerate performer from the lowest of lows to the highest highs, giving impressive detail, dynamics and a strong sense of timing.

Still, bassheads will be more than satisfied with the healthy low-end clout on offer, but there’s quality as well as quantity on display. The JBL Xtreme 3 gained five stars across the board during our rigorous in-house testing, never appearing out of its depth no matter how complicated the musical arrangement. 

If you want a burlier, more expensive upgrade from the Award-winning Charge 5 with just as much durability and waterproofness, the Xtreme 3 makes total sense. 

Read our full JBL Xtreme 3 review

Best outdoor speaker for durability

If you think of waterproofing, you think of Ultimate Ears. Well, that seems to be the intention of UE's outlandish branding and marketing campaigns which delight in showcasing just how aquatically inclined most of its speakers are by floating them in pools, rivers and the ocean at any given opportunity. For outdoor use then, a UE speaker makes a great deal of sense, especially if you live somewhere with heavy rainfall. Or you own a swimming pool, of course.

The third entry in the Wonderboom trilogy sounds dynamic and detailed enough to be a pleasing, exciting listen, but it's the model's portability and ease of use that make it ideal for outdoor excursions. Battery life is up to a total of 14 hours, while the Bluetooth range will reach 10 meters, making the Wonderboom 3 even more suited to when you're not confined to the four walls of your home. Better still, the UE's IP67 rating should keep dust, dirt and water from ruining the speaker during your muddy bike ride or beach volleyball session.

Sonically, the Wonderboom 3 is an enjoyable, exciting listen. Bass is impressive given how small the speaker is, and the sense of dynamics on display is similarly remarkable. You also get a ‘boost’ button on the underside of the unit that restricts the bass frequencies when pressed, allowing the UE to play louder through the midrange. That certainly helps if you're out on a trip and need a speaker with a sound that will carry. 

Sadly, there's no built-in mic or app as is the case for the Wonderboom 2, but even so, the Wonderboom 3 is a very hardy, great-sounding Bluetooth speaker that won't break the bank.

Read our full Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 review

Top Tip

Top Tip

Harry McKerrell

We've said it before and we'll say it again: don't immediately dismiss four-star products. Sonically, we'd like just a little more dynamism from the UE Wonderboom 3, but it does excel in a few unique areas. Firstly, it's visually appealing, with a 'look-at-me' aesthetic that will appeal to anyone who likes their speakers fresh and funky. more importantly, it floats, meaning that you can drop the UE Wonderboom 3 into water for half an hour and, thanks to said floatability and IP67 rating, it'll come out the other side unscathed. Worth considering if you're a pool party prince/princess and want something that'll survive endless trips to the proverbial drink.

Best multi-room outdoor speaker

The Sonos Roam is a fine option for those looking for an off-roading, hiking, beach-combing, deep-diving speaker with dimensions and a feature set to rival offerings from JBL and Ultimate Ears. The idea of a portable Sonos speaker is deeply appealing to many, with a lot of call for a more portable alternative to the battery-powered Move / Move 2 models.

Sonically, the Roam is a decent effort, but we can't help feeling that Sonos' diminutive portable can do even better when the sequel inevitably arrives. The US brand has placed a greater emphasis on usability, build quality and durability than truly refined sound, and while that's not an entirely bad thing for an outdoors speaker, the Roam's slight lack of crystal clear detail, coupled with some rather average timing and dynamics, means that we'd still favour the JBL Flip 6 above for true audio performance.

However, it's a nicely portable design with a pleasing, full-bodied sound, and unusually for this type of speaker, it can connect to your home wi-fi for integration within a wider Sonos multi-room ecosystem. Let's hope the upcoming Roam 2 sequel steps up its game in the sound department.

Read our full Sonos Roam review

Also consider

• Sonos Move 2: If you love Sonos and want something larger than the Roam, try the Move 2. It's weightier than the Roam, but the Move 2 is made semi-portable courtesy of its Bluetooth connectivity, built-in handle at the back and solid build. That said, it's more the sort of speaker you'd take around the garden rather than much further afield.
• JBL Go 3: If you're not sick of reading about JBL and you favour the smaller, cheaper speakers over their heftier cousins, we'd steer you towards the JBL Go 3. Über portable, über cute and über cheap (well, pretty cheap), it's the ideal speaker for boosting your sound on a budget.
• JBL Charge 5 Wi-Fi: A great spin-off from one of our favourite JBL speakers, the Charge 5 Wi-Fi adds wi-fi streaming and some added musicality to the Charge 5's Award-winning formula. It's a bit more expensive than the basic model at roughly  £200 / $200, so you'll have to spend more for AirPlay 2 and Spotify Connect. Still, it's got the same ruggedness as the standard Charge 5, making it a winner.

How to choose the best outdoor speaker for you

Fully waterproof speakers are a great option and will survive a lengthy dip in your private pool (you lucky thing, you) while dust-proof options can also shrug off sand with the best of us. If you want a speaker for the beach, look for an IP67 rating rather than the waterproof-only IPX7. Check out our IP ratings explainer for the full reasoning behind each of those numbers and what it means for your rugged speaker.

Most portable speakers feature hooks or handles for carrying, plus Bluetooth wireless connectivity if you want something for a camping holiday or road trip. Some models even offer access to voice assistants, should you need to ask Alexa the current temperature in Florida or the chances of decent surf this weekend in Cornwall.

Some of these models are great for slinging in a bag, but don't be fooled: there are bigger high-fidelity options too if you want to level up the sound quality outside. Read on for our pick of the best outdoor speakers, each with a full, in-depth What Hi-Fi? review attached. We'll let you select the best fit for your needs.

How we test outdoor speakers

We have state-of-the-art testing facilities in London and Reading where our team of experienced, in-house reviewers test all of the outdoor, portable and Bluetooth speakers to pass through What Hi-Fi? towers. Of course, we also take outdoor speakers, well, outdoors. We test out the outdoor speakers' durability and ruggedness in our gardens, in the park and in drizzly conditions (or sometimes dunk them in the sink) to test their waterproof abilities.

What Hi-Fi? is all about comparative testing, listening to one product up against its closest competition to figure out exactly how it differs and what each model does best. We keep class-leading outdoor speakers in our stockrooms so we can compare new products to ones we know and love.

Aside from the raw audio quality of an outdoor speaker (heard both inside and outside our test rooms), we also test and evaluate every aspect of its performance, including battery life, connection quality, ease of use, and versatility.

We are always impartial and do our level best to make sure we're hearing every product at its very best. Whatever your budget, we want you to have the best solution for the money, so we will test out all features, use any voice assistant integration and app support, try plenty of different types of music and give the speaker plenty of listening time (and time to run in).

All review verdicts are agreed upon by the team as a whole too, rather than an individual reviewer, thus eliminating any personal preference. Note that there's no input from PR companies or our sales team when it comes to our verdicts. We are proud to have been delivering honest, unbiased and thorough reviews since 1976 – and we're not about to change that.

FAQ

Recent updates

• April 2024: Added FAQs and an "Also Consider" section to offer more alternative buying options for readers.  
• November 2023: What Hi-Fi? Award winners labelled after the 2023 Awards Best Buys and Product of the Year announcements.

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IP ratings explained: how waterproof are your headphones?