Best Bluetooth speakers under $100: budget models tested by our experts

JBL Flip 5
(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)

What's the best Bluetooth speaker under $100? It's a question we get asked rather a lot - people want quality on the go without breaking the bank. We want you to get the best value Bluetooth speaker you can, so here are our best bets that sneak in under that magical figure. 

All said, part of the point of a great Bluetooth speaker, aside from being durable, hardy and portable, is that it can fill practically any space (Carnegie Hall and Westminster Abbey aside) without leaving you penniless in the process. Price and practicality are very much watchwords here, so nothing we've listed below with set you back more than a handful of dollars.  

Listed are our favorite budget Bluetooth speakers, all under $100 and all put through their paces across a spectrum of use cases, locations and purposes to ensure you're getting a model that doesn't suffer from cheap sound or cheap build but which instead provides you will plenty of cheap thrills.  

Find out more about our testing process here, or carry on scrolling to see the best Bluetooth speakers under $100 that we've tested. 

Harry McKerrell headshot
Harry McKerrell

I'm a staff writer who has listened to and reviewed dozens of products during my time at What Hi-Fi?. Aside from trying out the heavyweight hi-fi we permanently have populating our testing rooms, I've spent hours and hours with some of the best affordable and portable Bluetooth speakers you can get hold of. For these units, we're looking at value for money above most else, and while some sacrifices are inevitable, we've sought out models that still have key areas of performance and functionality covered across the board. I've had hands-on experience chatting with every entry on the list below, probing and pushing the limits of their sonic and capabilities, durability and features to ensure you're getting a great buy.     

Best Bluetooth speakers under $100

JBL Flip 5

The JBL Flip 5 sets the standard for sound quality in this price range. (Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)
No frills and fantastic sound quality – this is the best value Bluetooth speaker around.

Specifications

Power: 20W
Battery life: 12 hours
Features: Waterproof (IPX7), PartyBoost, stereo mode
Connections: Bluetooth 4.2, USB-C charging
App: Yes
Dimensions (hwd): 7.4 x 18.1 x 6.9cm
Weight: 540g
Finishes: 9 (pink, blue, green, teal, white, camo, red, grey, black)

Reasons to buy

+
Solid bass and timing
+
Great sense of acoustics
+
PartyBoost stereo pairing

Reasons to avoid

-
No aux-in or microphone
-
Not Connect+ compatible
-
Basic app

Yes, it's still going strong. Despite being released nearly five years ago, the Flip 5 is still around, and because of its advancing years, it's only getting cheaper. 

It's also still great. If all you need is a portable speaker that sounds great for around $100, you’ll be hard-pressed to better the Flip 5. JBL’s old-timer sounds excellent for the price and is more than rugged enough to cope with a night on the town or a day at the pool.

Ok, so the new Flip 6 has arrived to steal some of the Flip 5's thunder, but the fifth-gen model shows its worth by edging in under the $100 mark, with frequent deals often taking this figure even lower as stocks now begin to diminish. The Flip 5 is waterproof to an IPX7 rating, boasts a 12-hour battery life and has a USB-C charging port, meaning it goes from flat to fully juiced in just 2.5 hours. 

It's simple and satisfying to use and scores highly for portability, with a wrist strap that slips comfortably over your hand. A PartyBoost button also helps you pair two PartyBoost-enabled speakers to create a stereo pair, or you can link over 100 PartyBoost-compatible speakers in mono. 

The sound is impressively weighty and agile, with a good bass punch and a real sense of openness and texture. Assuming you don't mind the lack of an aux-in port or inbuilt microphone, you'll almost certainly be wowed by this speaker's sonic chops. 

The JBL Flip 5: great after all this time.

Read our full JBL Flip 5 review

Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 speaker on desk

This small, portable Bluetooth speaker manages to produce a punchy sound and still come in at under $100. (Image credit: Future)
A pocket-sized, cheap Bluetooth speaker that delivers an entertaining sound.

Specifications

Power: 10W
Battery life: 12 hours
Features: Waterproof (IP67)
Connections: Bluetooth 5.3, USB-C for charging
App: Yes
Dimensions (hwd): 9.98 x 9.98 x 4.29cm
Weight: 315g
Finishes: 1 (black)

Reasons to buy

+
Mature, musical sound
+
Surprisingly weighty bass
+
Great price

Reasons to avoid

-
Only one colour option
-
Can sound strained at higher volumes

Tribit Audio was relatively new to the Bluetooth speaker game when it revealed the Stormbox Micro, hitting the ground almost immediately with a debut that was as satisfying as it was surprising. The big question for Tribit after the debut of the excellent Stormbox Micro was whether it could repeat the feat when it came time for the tricky second album. 

Fortunately, it could. The small-form-factor sequel doesn’t have the 360 grill design of rivals like the dinky UE Wonderboom 3, but during our tests, we found it is one of the best value options on the market right now. If you don't want to spend a fortune but still need substantial sound on the go, please don't overlook the excellent Stormbox Mico 2. 

Building on the success of the original Stormbox Micro and featuring a thick, durable woven finish design, the Micro 2 surpasses its older sibling with superior audio and majorly bolstered battery life. Although a speaker of such dimensions is limited in terms of bass weight, the Micro 2 does remarkably well; close your eyes while listening and you’ll picture a far larger product than the one before you. 

The only issue is that the Stormbox can suffer from distortion at louder volumes, but based on our head-to-head checks, you’ll have to pay more and invest in either a JBL Flip 6 or Wonderboom 3 to get better. 

Read our Tribit Audio Stormbox Micro 2 review

Apple HomePod Mini

You'll ideally need an Apple device, but the HomePod Mini sounds great and comes with loads of smart skills. (Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)
What Hi-Fi? Awards winner. Apple’s budget Siri-powered smart speaker is small but mighty.

Specifications

Power: 20W
Battery life: N/A (mains-powered)
Connections: Wi-fi, AirPlay 2, Bluetooth 5.0
Features: Siri voice control, Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos, stereo pairing, multi-room
Connections: Wi-fi, AirPlay 2
App: Yes
Dimensions (hwd): 8.4 x 9.8 x 9.8cm
Weight: 345g
Finishes: 5 (white, yellow, orange, blue, space grey)

Reasons to buy

+
Sophisticated, engaging sound
+
Substantial smart skills
+
Impressive music discovery

Reasons to avoid

-
Limited third-party service support
-
Lacks a full control app
Top Tip
Harry McKerrell headshot
Top Tip
Harry McKerrell

The HomePod Mini is unquestionably an attractive proposition, but hold your horses; it may not be the smart speaker for you. Great sounding as it is, the Mini has been designed specifically to work within Apple's ecosystem, which is great if you're an Apple Music subscriber but less convenient if you're an Apple or Tidal devotee - Siri's curated playlists only really work with Apple Music, for example. If you're considering the Echo Dot (5th gen) below, that rival speaker is a little more open in its compatibility but is still more appropriate for Amazon users and doesn't slot in particularly well with Apple's wider ecosystem and dedicated platforms. 

It's close, but Apple's HomePod Mini just qualifies for this list and is the value alternative to the full-sized HomePod 2 smart speaker, although given its quality, it can be hard to see exactly how Apple got the price to drop under the $100 mark. Make no mistake: this is one of the best smart Bluetooth speakers in the business.

If the HomePod 2 is too big for your living space but you still want a smart speaker to integrate into your Apple ecosystem, the Mini is your next best bet. At just 8.4cm tall and 9.8cm wide, it’s quite a bit dinkier than the similarly spherical Amazon Echo and Echo Dot models. Get Siri up and running though and you'll see just how smart and sophisticated the HomePod Mini can be.

Siri is excellent with the Mini, learning what your preferences are in a way that makes it (or her) one of the best musical companions around. After a short while, she will respond to the phrase “Hey Siri, play something I'll like” by playing tracks that you probably haven't heard before but which have been curated to fit in with your listening habits and overall tastes. It's a real trump card that Alexa can't quite match.

The HomePod Mini goes loud and proud, too. From the moment we start playing music, the Apple-made unit reveals its capacity to outperform its size and price, embarrassing most direct competition with the sophistication and maturity of its sound. 

Five stars all round.

Read our full Apple HomePod Mini review 

Bluetooth speaker: Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3

The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 is a decent all-rounder Bluetooth speaker that you won't have to spend a bunch to enjoy. (Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)
A fun, likeable Bluetooth speaker that's a solid alternative for under $100.

Specifications

Power: N/A
Battery life: 14 hours
Features: 360-degree sound, waterproof (IP67), stereo mode, outdoor boost
Connections: Bluetooth 5.2, micro USB for charging
App: No
Dimensions (hwd): 10.4 x 9.5 x 9.5cm
Weight: 420g
Finishes: 6 (white, pink, blue, black, green, lavender)

Reasons to buy

+
Punchy, entertaining sound
+
Hefty bass
+
Decent battery life

Reasons to avoid

-
JBL rivals have more nuanced and dynamic sound 
-
Still uses outdated micro USB

The third-entry in the Wonderboom trilogy is a dynamic and detailed performer, but it's the model's portability and affordability that set it apart from most of its competitors. Battery life is a very respectable 14 hours in total, while the Bluetooth range extends to 10 meters, making the Wonderboom 3 well-suited to getting out and about. Better still, the speaker's IP67 rating should keep dust, dirt and water from ruining the speaker during your muddy bike ride or beach volleyball session, even if the weather decides to turn against you. You also get a ‘boost’ button on the underside of the unit that restricts the bass frequencies and pushes the midrange forward, making it easier to listen to outdoors.

It's an enjoyable listen, too. Bass remains impressive given how small the unit itself is, with a sound that seems more roomy and detailed compared with the older Wonderboom 2. Sometimes the colourful Wonderboom 3 veers a bit too much on the lean side to be considered a true all-rounder, and we find the JBL rivals can often dig out more texture in detail and deliver more effective dynamics, but it's still a hugely enjoyable listen.

Sadly, there's no built-in mic or app. Despite that, the Wonderboom 3 is an eminently portable, decent-sounding Bluetooth speaker that won't break the bank.

Read our full Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 review

Amazon Echo Dot 5th gen speaker on shelf

If you're ready to enter the Alexa world, the Echo Dot (5th Generation) has an expansive sound and is packed with smart features. (Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)
Affordable Alexa-powered smart speaker is more than capable of punching above its weight.

Specifications

Power: N/A
Battery life: N/A (mains-powered)
Features: Alexa voice control, snooze alarm
Connections: Wi-fi, Bluetooth
Dimensions (hwd): 10 x 10 x 8.9cm
Weight: 340g
Finishes: 3 (Charcoal, Deep Sea Blue, Glacier White)

Reasons to buy

+
Impressively expansive sound
+
Great Alexa integration
+
Pleasing, understated aesthetic

Reasons to avoid

-
Sound distortion at the higher ranges
-
Very Amazon-focused
-
No 3.5mm output

Like the HomePod Mini above, the Echo Dot (5th gen) isn't a classic What Hi-Fi? Bluetooth speaker; it's not portable, for one thing, as it requires a plugged-in connection to the wall to work, and it relies on wi-fi for Alexa to work. You can (and will), however, use Bluetooth to link your iPhone to the Echo Dot, especially if you want to play music, qualifying it as a Bluetooth speaker on more than a mere technicality.

Either way, the Dot earns its place thanks to its five-star capabilities, all-round excellence and supremely attractive price tag. It may be super affordable, but nothing here feels tacky or cut-price, and whereas once Alexa was a one-note performer capable of answering basic questions, she's as filled to the brim with skills and knowledge as Keanu Reeves in The Matrix. The Dot's AI assistant is more useful than she's ever been, loaded with so many tricks, quirks and even jokes that you'll often find yourself falling speaking to Alexa as though it (or she) were a real person.

And boy has the audio come a long way. We haven't been sold on the sound of Amazon's early Echo models, but continual improvements within the walls of Amazon Towers have clearly been paying dividends. The super-corp's so-called “best-sounding Echo Dot yet” actually manages to live up to its billing thanks to a single 44mm front-firing speaker which sprays out a sound that feels weighty, listenable and surprisingly versatile given the size. 

Read our full Amazon Echo Dot (5th Generation) review

JBL Go 3 lifestyle

While small, the JBL Go 3 can pack a mighty punch in terms of its sound quality, even at higher volumes. (Image credit: JBL)
JBL’s budget, soap-sized speaker sounds good, but the finish and battery life won’t wash with today’s class leaders.

Specifications

Power: 4.2W
Battery life: 5-10 hours
Features: Waterproof (IP67)
Connections: Bluetooth 5.1, USB-C for charging
App: No
Dimensions (hwd): 8.8 x 7.5 x 4.1cm
Weight: 210g
Finishes: 8 (white, green, blue & pink, blue, red, black, pink, camo)

Reasons to buy

+
Sensible treble
+
Fuller bass
+
More volume

Reasons to avoid

-
Poor battery life
-
Not very durable finish
-
No app support 

Good news: there's a new JBL Go on the way! The JBL 4 is set to arrive later this year alongside the JBL Clip 4 and the Xtreme 4, and we're pretty excited by all three. 

For now, though, we're happy to settle with the small, charming Go 3. The soap-on-a-rope-style speaker features Bluetooth 5.1 plus a maximum power output of 4.2W, up from Bluetooth 4.1 and 3W respectively from the previous Go 2. What we want from the upcoming Go 4 is more stamina, as this current model takes 2.5 hours to juice up fully and only gives you a meagre five hours of playtime from said charge. For most hardened adventurers seeking horizons new, that's just not enough, so the seven hours teased for the fourth-gen model are very welcome indeed.

If you can live with the diminished battery life, though, there's much to celebrate in the sound department at the level. The Go 3 is a five-star performer in the sound department, delighting us with strong levels of timing, accuracy and even some emotive vocals added into the mix.  

And you know what, it's an aesthetically pleasing little fella, too, built to JBL's rigorous standards and satisfying to hold, use and look at. The problem with the Go 3 is that it's limited by its poor battery life and a pretty middling sound range, so if you're only planning a trip to the end of your street, you'll be fine. Any further, you might want to consider moving up a notch to the JBL Flip 5 or Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 above.

How to choose the best Bluetooth speaker

When choosing a Bluetooth speaker, ask yourself what you want from it. Does the speaker need to be portable and versatile enough to use both indoors and outdoors? Or are you happy with a mains-powered speaker that can fill a big room with brilliant audio?

Sound, of course, should play a huge part in your decision, because there's absolutely no guarantee that two models of a similar price will end up sounding the same in terms of quality, audio presentation and general timbre. Some Bluetooth speakers will be peppy and exciting, while others will prioritise pulsating bass to get the party started. Most of the units on this list are pretty small, so they'll likely not be the booming floor-shakers you'd find on our list of the best Bluetooth speakers overall, say.

Size and power should be a consideration, although again, we're in the realm of the rather small with these affordable wonders. The Tribit Micro 2 is a handy little speaker to take into the shower or clip onto your rucksack during a hike, but you'll find it practically useless if you plan to rave away your nights to the sound of the best house, dance and electronic floor-fillers every weekend. If you want a bigger option like the JBL Charge 5, you might have to spend north of $100. 

If you're focusing on portability, you'll want to think about battery life and other aspects such as how waterproof, dustproof and rugged the design is. How durable a Bluetooth speaker is can quickly become a determining factor, especially if you want to, say, take one to the park or the beach and on holidays.

Generally, the more you spend the more features you get, such as multi-room functionality, higher-quality Bluetooth codec support (for aptX or aptX HD, for example), and the ability to answer calls hands-free. Some portable Bluetooth speakers even allow you to charge a smartphone or tablet using their own built-in battery. Naturally, you should only consider treating a buying decision as a box-ticking exercise based on the features you think you'd benefit from.

Once you've narrowed down your search, it's time to draw up a shortlist of contenders. There should be something for everyone here...

How we test budget Bluetooth speakers

At What-Hi-Fi?, we review hundreds of products each year – always as a team and always at our acoustically treated sound test rooms in London and Reading (and outside when it comes to portable products). This gives us complete control over the testing process, ensuring consistency and impartiality.

All products are tested against rivals in the same price category – often the current What Hi-Fi? Award winner that sets the benchmark – and all review verdicts are agreed upon by the team as a whole rather than an individual reviewer, again helping with consistency and avoiding any personal preference.

When testing Bluetooth speakers, we don't just look at audio quality but all other aspects of performance too, like claimed vs actual battery life, the strength of Bluetooth connection, ease of use, and much more. It's important we get a good sense of a product's performance but also its value for the price as an all-rounder.

We choose only the best products from all of these reviews to feature in our Best Buys. There's no input from PR companies or our sales team when it comes to the verdict. At What Hi-Fi? we are proud to have been delivering honest, unbiased reviews for decades. Our goal? To help you find a product you'll be over the moon with.

FAQ

What's the difference between wireless and Bluetooth speakers?

Naturally, Bluetooth speakers are wireless in that they need wires to hook up to an audio source, instead using the familiar Bluetooth streaming protocol. That said, Bluetooth speakers don't necessarily also support wi-fi, which is a necessary feature of what we would call "wireless speakers". A wireless speaker can connect to an audio source via the internet (i.e. your home wi-fi) – via things like Apple AirPlay or Google Chromecast – whether or not it also has Bluetooth. By our criteria, then, the JBL Flip 5 is a Bluetooth speaker but it isn't a wireless speaker, as while doesn't use a physical tether, there's no support for internet-supported services like AirPlay or Chromecast.

Transmitting audio over wi-fi rather than Bluetooth does offer certain benefits: wi-fi doesn't have as limited a signal range as Bluetooth, often helps to attain better sound quality and is capable of transmitting higher-quality audio. Standard Bluetooth codecs (SBC and AAC) aren't widely capable of transmitting CD-quality (or higher) files and even the higher-quality codecs like aptX are lossy, so data gets lost during transmission.

That said, Bluetooth-only speakers are generally more portable, as they don't require an internet connection or being plugged into the mains, and are often more affordable than wi-fi-enabled wireless speakers. Sometimes you get both, like the new(ish) JBL Charge 5 Wi-Fi, which streams via Bluetooth when you go out and about and can connect via wi-fi if you've got a viable internet connection. 

Is JBL a good brand?

In short... yes, JBL is doing really well right now, especially in the world of portable speakers. 

There are a few JBLs represented on this list, but the US brand is doing extremely well at putting out great products across the board, be they big or small, cheap or a little more costly. At What Hi-Fi?, we have reviewed many products from both JBL and have found that many of JBL's current speakers provide excellent audio quality and great value, earning them many five-star reviews. 

That's the situation at the moment, but things change constantly. Today it's JBL that is dominating this corner of the market, but the Bluetooth and portable speaker industry is getting very popular. JBL won't be short of competition in the coming years, so don't expect things to stay this way forever. Plus, there are great alternatives out there now from the likes of Ultimate Ears or Tribit to make things a bit more interesting.

Recent updates

  • March 2023: Added references and comparisons to newly-announced JBL models.
  • February 2024: Added FAQ section to help with buying decisions and frequently asked questions.
  • November 2023What Hi-Fi? Award winners labelled after the 2023 Awards Best Buys and Product of the Year announcements.

MORE: 

This week's best hi-fi and audio deals

Discover our pick of the best Bluetooth speakers – budget to premium

Expert advice: How to choose the right wireless speaker 

Harry McKerrell
Staff writer

Harry McKerrell is a staff writer at What Hi-Fi?. He studied law and history at university before working as a freelance journalist covering TV and gaming for numerous platforms both online and in print. When not at work he can be found playing hockey, practising the piano or forcing himself to go long-distance running.