8 Best Outdoor Bluetooth Speakers: JBL Boombox 3 vs Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 vs Marshall Emberton II vs Turtlebox Gen 2 vs Sonos Move vs Bose SoundLink & More
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission. Here’s how it works.
Bluetooth speakers deliver quality sound while being portable and compact. However, some of these speakers can get pretty pricey. So it would help if you learn more before deciding where to spend your hard-earned money. We’ve reviewed the best Bluetooth speakers on the market with consideration of product features, pricing, pros, cons, and more so you can compare to know which is the best fit for you to keep the party going.
| Best Overall | Runner-Up | Most Attractive |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
| JBL Boombox 3 | Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3 | Marshall Emberton II |
| View On Amazon | View On Amazon | View On Amazon |
| Read Review | Read Review | Read Review |
Best Overall Outdoor Bluetooth Speaker: JBL Boombox 3 Review
While much heavier than other portable Bluetooth speakers on the market, the JBl makes up for it in terms of performance. The speaker is well-built, durable, and outdoor-ready, with a built-in handle and an IP67 rating for dust and water. It can be immersed in up to a meter of water for up to 30 minutes, and it also floats—though the drivers face downward in the water while floating, so you can’t listen to music while the speaker floats around you.
The JBL Boombox 3 is loud enough for large spaces and is suitable for listening to various music genres. The adjustable equalization (EQ) lets you set ranges for bass, midrange, and high end via the accompanying app based on your preference. Overall, it’s a fantastic speaker for outdoor use thanks to its quality build and dynamic range.
JBL estimates that the speaker lasts up to 24 hours on a charge; however, this will vary based on your volume levels. The biggest con? Because of its design, the JBL Boombox 3 mainly projects audio from one size. This means that the audio won’t sound the same from every angle around the speaker.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Graphic EQ | Narrow, direct soundstage |
| Gets very loud with little compression at max volume | Heavy |
| IP67 dust- and water-resistance rating | Expensive |
| Built-in powerbank | |
| Long Bluetooth range |
Price & Tech Specs
| JBL Boombox 3 | |
|---|---|
| Price | $449.95 |
| Color Options | Black, Camouflage |
| Dimensions | 19.0″ x 10.1″ x 7.9″ |
| Weight | 14.7 lb. |
| Battery Life | 24 hours |
| Charge Time | 6.5 hours |
| Maximum Sound Level | 91.9 dB SPL |
| Frequency Range | 40 Hz – 20 kHz |
Runner-Up Outdoor Bluetooth Speaker: Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3 Review
Despite its size, the Ultimate Ear MEGABOOM 3 packs a dynamic punch, with sound levels reaching 90dBc. Thanks to its portable design and IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, it’s a great speaker for indoor and outdoor use. The MEGABOOM 3 also floats in water, making it a quality, lightweight option for pool parties. According to Ultimate Ears, the MEGABOOM 3 is also drop-proof from a height of three feet.
While some compression is present at max volume, the 360-degree design ensures consistent sound from all directions. Its 20-hour battery life also lets you use the speaker throughout the day without interruptions.
The speaker is easy to use—even for the technology novice. The downside to this is that the speaker’s controls are very basic. For example, you can’t see the speaker’s volume levels, nor is there an indication of when you’ve hit max volume. That being said, you can customize the speaker’s EQ via its companion app.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 360-degree sound | Some compression at max volume |
| Customizable EQ | Charging dock not included |
| Very portable | Limited onboard controlls |
| IP67 rating for dust and water | |
| PartyUp feature lets you connect 150+ speakers |
Price & Tech Specs
| Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3 | |
|---|---|
| Price | $199.99 |
| Color Options | Night Black, Lagoon Blue, Sunset Red, Ultraviolet Purple |
| Dimensions | 3.5″ x 3.5″ x 8.86″ |
| Weight | 2.9 lb. |
| Battery Life | Up to 20 hours |
| Charge Time | ~2.5 hours |
| Maximum Sound Level | 90dBc |
| Frequency Range | 60 Hz – 20 kHz |
Most Attractive Outdoor Bluetooth Speaker: Marshall Emberton II Review
If you’re looking for a quality outdoor Bluetooth speaker that will also look great on your bookshelf, look no further than the Marshall Emberton II. This small, portable speaker features Marshall’s classic design, including a metal grille in a basketweave pattern and an iconic logo on the speaker’s front.
While the Marshall Emberton II isn’t going to be the top choice of audiophiles, this speaker isn’t all beauty, no quality, either. It has a balanced sound profile, superb soundstage, and EQ presets, available via the Marshall Bluetooth app.
While the speaker doesn’t get as loud as competitors, it has a great battery life and minimal charge time. According to Marshall, a 20-minute charge gives you four hours of playtime, and a full three-hour charge will give you up to 30+ hours of battery life.
Like all Marshall’s products, the Emberton II feels well-built. It’s submersible and dust-proof, and the metal grilles protect the speaker’s drivers. It’s easy to use, offers quality performance, and looks good in any space.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Quick charging (20-minute charge gives 3 hours of playtime) | Not as loud as competitors |
| IP67 dust- and water-resistance rating | No EQ customization (only presets) |
| Made from 50% post-consumer recycled plastic | |
| Remarkably long battery life | |
| EQ presets in app |
Price & Tech Specs
| Marshall Emberton II | |
|---|---|
| Price | $132.36 |
| Color Options | Cream, Black & Brass |
| Dimensions | 2.68″ x 6.30″ x 2.99″ |
| Weight | 1.5 lb. |
| Battery Life | 30+ hours |
| Charge Time | 3 hours |
| Maximum Sound Level | 87 dB SPL |
| Frequency Range | 60 Hz – 20 kHz |
Best Rugged Outdoor Bluetooth Speaker: Turtlebox Gen 2 Review
Turtlebox’s mission is to create the loudest, most rugged, portable speaker on the market, and they did just that with the Turtlebox Gen 2. This speaker is specifically made for the outdoors, whether you’re headed to the beach or riding an ATV. The speaker has a long list of features, including a USB-C output for charging other devices, mic and auxiliary inputs, a strong brick-patterned grille, stainless steel tie-down anchors, and large rubber feet on the bottom and back for stability. The speaker is also IP67 dust- and water-resistant.
The speaker itself is very portable despite its weight. The box is shaped like an old-school lunch box, with a grip-friendly handle at the top for carrying the speaker. As with the speaker itself, you have the option to pick between multiple handle colors. To view all color options, visit Turtlebox’s website.
How does the speaker perform? For a small speaker, it has some serious volume. At 120 dB, it’s the loudest speaker on this list. Its directional sound performs well in windy or noisy environments. You can also use the microphone input while using Bluetooth to play music—perfect for getting your karaoke on.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Built-in powerbank | Heavy |
| Extremely loud | Expensive |
| IP67 dust- and water-resistance rating | |
| Microphone input | |
| Customizable EQ |
Price & Tech Specs
| Turtlebox Gen 2 | |
|---|---|
| Price | $428.00 |
| Color Options | Speaker Colors: Bottomland (Camo), Thunderhead Gray, OG Green, Field Tan, Original Orange Handle Colors: Black, Tan, Yellow, Blaze Orange, Green, Camo, Purple, Blue, Navy, Maroon, Pink, Gray, Kelly Green, Teal, White, Royal Blue |
| Dimensions | 12″ x 7″ x 8.75″ |
| Weight | 10 lb. |
| Battery Life | 25+ hours |
| Charge Time | 3-4 hours |
| Maximum Sound Level | 120 dB |
| Frequency Range | 20 Hz – 20 kHz |
Best Outdoor Bluetooth Speaker For The Beach: Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 3 Review
The WONDERBOOM 3 is the most recent generation of Ultimate Ears’s budget speaker. It is fully waterproof and dustproof, making it a perfect choice for the beach. The speaker floats in water, and its 360-degree design ensures you hear audio clearly from every angle.
The speaker is also incredibly lightweight and portable; it has a built-in carrying hook that you can connect to your bag or bike by adding a carabiner.
At 87 dBc and a frequency range of 16 Hz—16 kHz, this speaker isn’t going to beat out top performers. Its sound is a touch bright, and it lacks low bass. Still, it provides clean, consistent sound and has a long battery life for a day at the beach.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| IP67 rating | Distorted bass at high volumes |
| Floats in water | Limited onboard controls |
| 360-degree sound | No customizable EQ |
| Extremely portable | No app |
| Outdoor audio mode |
Price & Tech Specs
| Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 3 | |
|---|---|
| Price | $71.42 |
| Color Options | Performance Blue, Active Black, Joyous Bright (Gray), Hyper Pink, Digital Lavender, Spruce Green |
| Dimensions | 3.72″ x 3.72″ x 4.08″ |
| Weight | .9 lb. |
| Battery Life | 14 hours |
| Charge Time | 2.6 hours |
| Maximum Sound Level | 87 dBc |
| Frequency Range | 16 Hz – 16 kHz |
Best Budget Outdoor Bluetooth Speaker: JBL Go 3 Review
The JBL Go 3 is a good budget option for outdoor use. It’s super lightweight, making it easy to take your music with you on the go, and it’s fully waterproof, making it ideal for outdoor use.
The speaker itself has a rectangular body with rounded edges. It is covered in a cloth grille and has rubber feet on the bottom. It also has a built-in strap to attach to your bag or backpack. The JBL Go 3 is available in various attractive colors, and you can also personalize your speaker on JBL’s website. Personalization options include changing the base design (solid colors, gradients, patterns, and prints), adding text and stickers, and even uploading an image to be pictured on the speaker.
Does the speaker have any cons? Sure. Its sound quality isn’t as good as others on this list, and its battery life leaves much to be desired. Still, it’s a solid, affordable Bluetooth speaker for your next outdoor adventure.
Image: Screen Shot 2024-03-11 at 1.22.45 PM.png Caption: JBL offers advanced personalization options via its website.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Lightweight and compact | Limited onboard controls |
| Lots of color options | Poor battery life |
| Customizable design | Lacks low-bass |
| Affordable | No as loud as other speakers |
| IP67 rating for dust and water resistance | No companion app |
Price & Tech Specs
| JBL Go 3 | |
|---|---|
| Price | $49.95 |
| Color Options | Black, Gray, Red, Blue, Camouflage, Green, Pink, Teal, White, Design Your Own |
| Dimensions | 3.4″ x 2.7″ x 1.6″ |
| Weight | .46 lb. |
| Battery Life | 5 hours |
| Charge Time | 2.5 hours |
| Maximum Sound Level | ~75 dB |
| Frequency Range | 100 Hz – 20 kHz |
Our Personal Experience With The JBL Go 3
I love my JBL Go 3 speaker. It’s so small and easy to bring with you anywhere. Despite its size, it has an amazing sound quality and holds a charge like a champ. I’ve taken it on many beach and boating trips, and it’s held up to getting doused with water multiple times. My husband loves to take it golfing because it easily clips onto his golf bag. Plus, it has such an edgy design!
– Sally Jones, True Crime Podcast Addict & Writer For Safe Smart Living
Best Cheap Outdoor Bluetooth Speaker: OontZ Angle 3 Review
The OontZ Angle 3 is petite enough to hold in your hand and super lightweight. For an inexpensive speaker, it has a long battery life—an impressive 14 hours. The speaker’s IPX5 rating for water resistance makes it a good option for a cheap outdoor Bluetooth speaker.
In terms of audio performance, the OontZ Angle 3 has good dynamics. While it doesn’t get too loud, it has minimal compression artifacts at max volume. Unfortunately, its uneven sound profile might be disappointing for fans of low-bass. If you love EDM or hip-hop, there might be a better speaker for you. It also has a narrow soundstage, so don’t expect an immersive experience with this option.
The OontZ Angle 3 offers a variety of color options: black, blue, golf-free, orange, pink, red, red-Coke, and white.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| IPX5 waterproof rating | Lack low-bass |
| Good dynamics performance | No EQ |
| Lightweight | |
| Portable | |
| Good battery life |
Price & Tech Specs
| OontZ Angle 3 | |
|---|---|
| Price | $27.99 |
| Color Options | Black, Blue, Golf-Green, Orange, Pink, Red, Red-Coke, White |
| Dimensions | 5.2″ x 2.6″ x 2.8″ |
| Weight | 0.6 lb. |
| Battery Life | 14 hours |
| Charge Time | 4 hours |
| Maximum Sound Level | 88.7 dB SPL |
| Frequency Range | 169 Hz – 13.9 kHz |
Our Personal Experience With The OontZ Angle 3
We’ve had an OontZ Angle 3 since 2016 and it still works like a boss! It’s been on multiple beach, camping, etc. trips, we’ve dropped it several times, and it continues to rock and roll for us. It still holds a charge well after all this time and the sound can’t be beat. So we’ve had no reason to buy a newer model!
– Alex Schenker, Electronica Musician & Editor For Safe Smart Living
Best Smart Outdoor Bluetooth Speaker: Sonos Move 2 Review
The Sonos Move 2 is the next generation of the Sonos Move. This speaker improves upon its predecessor in a couple of ways. First, a new dual-tweeter design allows for a better soundstage. Second, Sonos improved the speaker’s battery life and added new touch controls.
There are a few standout features of the Sonos Move 2 compared to other options on this list. First, it connects to Wi-Fi, and the built-in Alexa support allows for hand-free control. This speaker also uses Auto Trueplay, a feature that automatically adjusts the speaker’s setting based on the acoustics of the space around it.
While the speaker is designed to be used with your home’s Wi-Fi network, it’s also dust- and water-resistant, making it safe for outdoor use.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Wi-Fi and Bluetooth | Compression at max volume |
| Built-in voice assistant | Expensive |
| Autotuning system calibrates to any environment | |
| Adjustable EQ | |
| IP56 rating for dust and water resistance |
Price & Tech Specs
| Sonos Move 2 | |
|---|---|
| Price | $449.00 |
| Color Options | Black, White, Olive |
| Dimensions | 6.3″ x 5.0″ x 9.49″ |
| Weight | 6.6 lb. |
| Battery Life | 24 hours |
| Charge Time | ~3 hours |
| Maximum Sound Level | 93.9 dB SPL |
| Frequency Range | 49.7 Hz – 19.3 kHz |
Notable Mentions
JBL PartyBox 310 Review
If you’re looking for a speaker perfect for outdoor parties, consider the JBL PartyBox 310. This speaker has a boomy sound profile that you can add to with the Bass Boost feature. Thanks to the graphic EQ featured on the JBL PartyBox app, the sound on this speaker is completely customizable.
The speaker is quite large, but JBL improved its portability by including a handle and wheels. Plus, since it’s battery-powered, you don’t need to connect it to a power outlet.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Graphic EQ | Narrow soundscape |
| Bass Boost | Heavy |
| Gets very loud | Expensive |
| Karaoke function | |
| IPx4 rating (splash-resistant) |
Price & Tech Specs
| JBL PartyBox 310 | |
|---|---|
| Price | $499.95 |
| Color Options | Black |
| Dimensions | 12.8″ x 14.5″ x 27″ |
| Weight | 38.4 lb. |
| Battery Life | 18 hours |
| Charge Time | 3.5 hours |
| Maximum Sound Level | 100.9 dB SPL |
| Frequency Range | 45 Hz – 20 kHz |
Bose SoundLink Flex Review
If you’re a ride-or-die Bose fan, check out the SoundLink Flex. This small, portable Bluetooth speaker is suitable for outdoor use thanks to its IP67 rating. The speaker floats and also features a loop to connect it to your bag or backpack.
Like the Sonos, Bose’s SounLink Flex has a built-in sensor to automatically adjust EQ based on the space’s acoustics (Bose calls it PositionIQ). It’s also compatible with voice assistants through your smartphone.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| IP67 rating for dust and water | Not as loud as other speakers |
| Very portable | No EQ options |
| Good color variety | Compression at max volume |
| PositionIQ technology | |
| Compatible with Google Assistant/Amazon Alexa |
Price & Tech Specs
| Bose SoundLink Flex | |
|---|---|
| Price | $149.00 |
| Color Options | Black, Cypress Green, Stone Blue, White Smoke, Chilled Lilac |
| Dimensions | 2.06″ x 7.93″ x 3.56″ |
| Weight | 1.3 lb. |
| Battery Life | 12 hours |
| Charge Time | 4 hours |
| Maximum Sound Level | 87.5 dB SPL |
| Frequency Range | 60.8 Hz – 15.6 kHz |
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some questions our readers frequently ask about Bluetooth speakers. Don’t see yours? Ask us in the comments.
What Happened To Beats Pill?
The Beats Pill+ was featured in previous version of this article; however, this product is no longer being manufactured and can only be purchased through third-party distributors. Additionally, we removed this speaker from our best-of outdoor speakers lineup since this product is not dust or waterproof like many of the speakers manufactured today.
What Are The Best Portable Bluetooth Speakers That Sound Good Outside?
All the brands we recommend make high-quality speakers and headphones. We should also note that all come in various models (and colors), so you have quite the variety from which to choose.
Is My Speaker Sand & Water-Resistant?
Most of these devices are usable around sand and water. However, this does not make them all sand and water-proof. Check the device’s Ingress Protection (IP) rating, which is used to grade the resistance of the product to water and dust.
What Is The Bluetooth Range?
The typical Bluetooth range for these devices is about 30 feet. That means your Bluetooth-enabled device (iPhone, Android, iPod, etc.) can be up to 30 feet from your speaker, and the sound will still work. However, there are times when walls, shelves, and other objects may interfere with the connection. So the distance may vary depending on your surroundings. You can also use an auxiliary cord to plug your device into an electrical outlet, but then it’s not truly wireless.
Is It Possible To Get Wireless Surround Sound?
It is, and the audio quality has arrived as well. There are several other companies, including Sonos, Heos, Bose, and others, that have brought Bluetooth surround sound systems to the market. Read our experts’ wireless surround sound system review to learn more and find our top picks.
What speaker are you considering, and for what purpose?
Why Trust Safe Smart Living?
Tara is dedicated to finding the best information to help conscious consumers. She spends countless hours researching to provide the most up-to-date content for our readers. Our team averages 2-3 months on each piece to give you the most accurate, reliable information.
