Best Portable Bluetooth Speakers in the UK

A common complaint that many people often have about Bluetooth speakers is that they tend to not last for very long, in regard to their battery life. Although many models are advertised as lasting for a certain amount of time on a full charge, they most often fall well short of that amount, due to a variety of reasons. Furthermore, many of them tend to take forever to charge up when the battery life is depleted, further adding to the list of complaints that people will have about their Bluetooth speakers. Wouldn't it be nice to have a model that does actually last for a long time, and which doesn't require all day to recharge?

The JBL Flip 5 Waterproof Portable Bluetooth Speaker is the best solution for those who are concerned about the battery life of their Bluetooth speaker. The design provides a modern USB Type-C port, which provides amazingly fast charging of the built-in battery in 2.5 hours, letting you fully charged up the speaker in just a couple of hours so you can take advantage of its portability. By the way, from one full charge, the speaker is able to play music for 12 hours, which is long enough to last most users for a full day, so even the longest parties won't have to go without music.

One of the more unique and useful features of this JBL Bluetooth speaker is the built-in PartyBoost technology, which lets you pair up two identical speakers for true stereo sound. This essentially doubles the output power of your music while giving it the full spectrum of stereo sound that it deserves. It should be noted, however, that the process of pairing up two speakers can be a bit challenging at times, so it is best to do this beforehand so that you don't have to go for a while without music. Having said that, this feature along with the excellent build and sound quality will quickly make this model one of your favourite portable devices.

Starting your day off with a nice hot shower and some tunes is a great way to end up cheery even if work is swamping you hard. But you don’t want to accidentally drown your iPhone so it makes sense to choose a waterproof set of mini shower speakers like the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 984-000839.

Though this cross-bearing speaker might not actually walk on water, it does have IPx7 moisture resistance. This means you could practically douse it in shower water and still enjoy the music without any damage to the device. Now, while the speaker is also drop-proof and could withstand a fall off of a slippery shower shelf, we wouldn’t recommend combining the two problems and letting the device fall into a full tub of water, for example. If you want to make sure that doesn’t happen, you can use the special hanging loop. That way the speaker will stay safe even if you don’t have a shelf. Do note that the loop tends to the fray over time so check it before use.

Although these speakers are pretty small at just 10.2 x 9.35 x 9.35 cm, they still provide pretty loud and clear sound with 36 W of power. Most importantly, they are pretty bass-heavy so the sound of running water shouldn’t drown out your tunes and leave them a mess. Good bass also means a broad range of frequencies and that’s exactly what the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 984-000839 offers. With 80Hz to 20kHz range, this set offers good bass and high-quality sound, especially for mini-sized speakers.

Portable speakers can deliver quality sound without being oversized or overweight. The W-KING is a prime example of compact but powerful speakers that can be taken just about anywhere.

To start with, this unit gives you the excellent sound quality both at low and high volume. Get ready to enjoy the punchy bass and clear mids and highs that you will never get from your smartphone speakers. What’s more, the W-KING delivers 30% more volume and better sounding bass than other units with a similar price tag.

Planning a boat trip with some nice music? Absolutely no problem with these speakers. Being IPX6 waterproof, they stand their ground against gentle sprays and splashes (but not submerging). Sand, rain, or dust is also no match for this highly reliable unit.

Weighing less than 1.6 kg, the W-KING is a perfect travel companion that can be carried manually by using a sturdy handle – or packed up with no fuss. Play your favourite music while enjoying the nature’s beauty on a hiking trip or a picnic in the countryside. And don’t worry, the Bluetooth 5.0 support allows you to use the speakers at a distance of up to 20 metres. On the downside, it’s somewhat hard to skip a track when using a SD card and a USB stick.

The battery life for this device is slightly less than stated but quite enough for hours and hours of playback.

Overall, this compact yet powerful wireless speaker by W-KING is pure gold for garden parties, hiking trips, or your own living room. Sturdy and reliable, it can be used for playing music at any place you choose.

If you feel limited by your smartphone sound, why not try the Anker Bluetooth speakers? This portable device will give you the 15-hour playback with extensive connectivity and high quality sound.

Extremely portable, these speakers will fit easily into your handbag or small backpack. Unpack them in a second – and hit the Play button to enjoy your favourite artists and tracks at any place or time. Perfect for active lifestyle users and avid travellers, the Anker always brings music to where you are.

The high sound quality is supported by the advanced 5W driver plus the passive subwoofer. Feel the energetic bass as well as crispy mids and highs that are so much better than your phone’s mediocre output. As for the loudness, it’s just right for chilling out in a small company.

With the up to 20 metres of Bluetooth coverage, you’re not tied to the speakers – and free to meet the guests, dance, and have fun. The microSD support plus the AUX capability boost your audio options even further. The control buttons are simple and minimalistic, which makes them user-friendly to a ‘T’.

As for the battery life, get ready for a pleasant surprise; the Anker can go on for up to 15 hours on a single charge. This time span is more than enough for any of your audiophile whims, a nice party backdrop, or a source of white noise to fall asleep to.

In short, the Anker portable speakers are simply perfect for active people, travellers, or non-stop parties in the open.

There are less portable – and more portable wireless speakers. The Betron model confidently falls into the second category. Widely compatible and brightly designed, it will bring quality music back into your life.

First things first; this speaker connects to any Bluetooth enabled device – and a 3.5mm jack device, too. Your tablet, laptop, iPhone, or Android smartphone all make the list of what goes along with this unit. If you’re not satisfied with the built-in speakers, get the Betron, start your favourite tracks, and enjoy.

Despite being a single speaker, this model can give you enough volume to cover a small house or apartment. The Bluetooth range is also sufficient to take your phone to another room for a call – and not get disconnected.

The Betron supports microSDs and has the AUX capability, which means that you can listen to the music anyway you want. Use an integrated mic to call hands-free and make the most out of the TF slot for MP3 audio files.

Planning to take this speaker on a trip? The built-in FM radio will brighten up your route. Just press the “Play/Pause” button and hold it for some time to scan for available stations.

Perhaps the only drawback of this model is that it has a rather limited battery life. You’ve got only 5 hours on a charge, which could be an issue when using it on-the-go.

Summing up, the Betron portable speaker is what you need to up the sound quality of your smart device, and do it at any chosen time or place.