The Best Outdoor Speakers for 2024 (2024)

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Why We Picked It

For under $100, the Anker Soundcore Motion 300 offers a surprisingly loud and capable stereo driver setup, a full-featured app with an adjustable EQ, and a fully waterproof IPX7 rating. It also supports the AAC and LDAC codecs in addition to SBC for higher-quality playback from Apple and Android devices. Other highlights include a clear speakerphone, rubber feet on the sides and bottom for flexible placement, and decent battery life.

Who It's For

If you want tunable stereo sound, a companion app, and a speakerphone for under $100, the Soundcore Motion 300 fits the bill. It doesn't offer the bass depth of larger models, but it still packs all the most important features of an outdoor speaker into a highly portable design.

Why We Picked It

Some outdoor speakers we've tested get louder than the JBL Boombox 3, but they all start to resemble R2D2 and focus more on extras like lighting effects or karaoke inputs. If you would rather avoid toting something around on wheels or losing battery life to unnecessary features, this JBL model is the way to go. It still offers an appreciable amount of volume and can handle both poolside splashes and surprise rainstorms without issue.

Who It’s For

It's heavy at 14.7 pounds and a bit pricey, but the JBL Boombox 3 is worth lugging around if you want loud sound and deep lows to accompany your next outdoor excursion. Just note that you must plug it into an AC outlet if you want to take full advantage of its 80W sub, 40W midrange drivers, and 10W tweeters. On battery, power levels drop a bit across the board: 60W for the sub, 30W for the midrange drivers, and 8W for each tweeter.

Why We Picked It

The JBL Charge 5 is just the right size, has a fully waterproof build, and packs a punch in the audio department. You can certainly pay more to get a bigger soundstage or stereo playback, but the driver setup here is quite good. Internally, the combination of a single 20mm 10W tweeter and a racetrack-style 52mm-by-90mm 30W woofer deliver substantial thump.

Who It’s For

This JBL speaker strikes a nice balance between size, price, and power. Other entries on this list might be smaller or get louder, but this is a reasonable place to start your search.

Why We Picked It

The Sony SRS-XG300’s stylish, cloth-lined exterior and sleek, understated design might make you want to keep it in your living room, but this speaker is just as appropriate for the outdoors thanks to its portable, weatherproof design. Its drivers produce a bass-forward sound signature and you even get support for the hi-res-capable LDAC codec. Party LEDs that sync to your music add a touch of fun, but you can disable them to prolong the battery life.

Who It’s For

If you can afford its high price, Sony's fashionable and durable SRS-XG300 rewards you with some true low-end power. Few outdoor speakers have a sound that purists can enjoy, but a three-fader EQ in the companion app can help you tweak things to your preference.

Why We Picked It

The waterproof and affordable Anker Soundcore Mini 3 comes in at just 3.3 by 2.8 inches (HD). It puts out a full sound despite its small size and even lets you make audio adjustments via an in-app EQ. A speakerphone function also adds value.

Who It’s For

If you don't need or want a 15-pound speaker that can rattle the walls, the 8-ounce Soundcore Mini is about as small as you can go without losing out on audio quality or features.

Why We Picked It

The Anker Soundcore Motion Boom is significantly larger and heavier than the company's Mini 3, but it's the real deal in terms of volume output. An in-app EQ lets you tweak the sound to taste, and, as a bonus, the whole thing floats.

Who It’s For

If you like the concept of the JBL Boombox 3 or the Sony SRS-XG300, but can't afford them, the Soundcore Motion Boom is a worthwhile alternative. It's not nearly as stylish, but it offers competitive audio quality.

Why We Picked It

The Bose Soundlink Flex isn't a standout in any particular area, but it's certainly the best portable Bose model we've tested. It has a waterproof and dustproof frame and comes in black, white, or bluish-gray. Beneath the grille, a 60mm transducer delivers rich, clear audio with reliable clarity. The speakerphone mic works well, too.

Who It’s For

If you're loyal to Bose, the Soundlink Flex should be at the top of your list. Other speakers on this list are a better value, but we don't have much to complain about here otherwise.

Why We Picked It

JBL's Flip 6 speaker isn't as bulky as the Charge 5 or nearly as large as the Boombox 3, but it still produces surprisingly robust sound with rich lows from its weatherproof, oblong frame, thanks in part to passive bass radiators at both ends. It also comes in an attractive array of colors.

Who It’s For

If you prefer JBL speakers, but the Charge 5 and Boombox 3 are out of budget, this is an excellent near-$100 alternative.

Why We Picked It

The rock-inspired Marshall Middleton Bluetooth speaker provides some impressively punchy bass and crisp highs. And despite looking the part of a guitar amp, it's still fully waterproof and dustproof. You can charge external mobile devices from its battery, and the top panel conveniently features discrete bass and treble controls.

Who It’s For

For those ready to rock (or anyone who wants to bring a bit of '70s glam to their next outdoor gathering), the Middleton is your best bet. Marshall makes an entire lineup of portable speakers, but this is our favorite for the great outdoors—it's compact and produces compelling, sculpted sound.

Why We Picked It

The Sonos Move 2 is a bit of a rarity in the company's lineup—an outdoor-friendly portable speaker with Bluetooth. It's on the large side, but we like the robust sound from its dual tweeters and its ability to seamlessly integrate into an existing Sonos setup over Wi-Fi. Amazon Alexa and Sonos Voice Control options are welcome too, even if the speaker is now missing Google Assistant support. This latest version also offers far better battery life than its predecessor.

Who It’s For

If you already have a Sonos speaker system in your home, this is an excellent addition that you can easily take with you on road trips. We're big fans of the intuitive Sonos app that makes it easy to get the best sound out of the speaker in your particular environment.