Portable Bluetooth speakers are an essential device for every music lover on the go. With so many options on Amazon, it’s difficult to find a Bluetooth speaker that is affordable, portable, offers high-quality sound, and is loud enough for outdoor use.
After being disappointed by many of the less expensive options available on Amazon, our team of experts set out to test and review the top-rated Bluetooth speakers in the $40-$200 price range.
Amazon reviews cannot always be trusted because the reviewers are only judging one product and the result is usually either good or bad. It is difficult to accurately rate and review a product when you have nothing to compare it to.
That’s why we purchased the top five Bluetooth speakers on Amazon and tested them side-by-side evaluating the two most important aspects of a portable Bluetooth speaker: Maximum volume and sound quality.
If you are at the beach, tailgating, or hosting a cookout, you want the music to sound good and be loud enough so people can actually hear it. Sometimes the wind at the beach can carry the sound away from you to the point where you can’t even hear it. When this happens, you will wish you bought a louder speaker.
Our goal was to find the loudest and highest quality speaker for a reasonable price.
Here’s what our experts discovered.
What is the best portable bluetooth speaker?
JBL Charge 4
The JBL Charge 4 is hands-down the best value Bluetooth speaker for your money. It boasts the highest quality sound and is loud enough to make your neighbors hate you if you max out the volume indoors.
Get the JBL Charge 4 on Amazon
JBL Charge 4 vs. JBL Charge 3
The other bluetooth speakers we tested did not even compare with the JBL Charge 4 and JBL Charge 3.
Our tests revealed the Charge 3 was actually slightly louder than the Charge 4, but the Charge 4 gives a more full, high-quality sound with more bass. The added bass of the Charge 4 makes the speaker sound especially better outdoors.
JBL Charge 4 vs. JBL Flip 5
We tested the JBL Flip 5 at the beach but it wasn’t nearly loud enough for a small group hanging out and playing beach games.
The Flip 5 would be perfect for personal use or a small group sitting close together outdoors.
What we love about the JBL Charge 4
Loud and clear sound – Powerful bass sounds great outdoors.
IPX7 waterproof – You don’t need to worry about getting it wet or even submerging it in water. I dropped mine in the ocean and it still works like new. It also floats making it a great choice for pool parties.
- Battery life offers 20 hours of playtime.
- USB charging port for your phone and other devices
- Affordable – At just $130, this speaker outperforms most speakers up to the $200 range.
The JBL Charge 4 retail price is $179.95 at most online stores but sometimes Amazon has sales for this product. I have seen it listed on Amazon for $129.95. You can also buy them refurbished on Amazon for even less.
JBL Charge 3
The JBL Charge 3 is the loudest portable bluetooth speaker that we could find on Amazon for under $200. The sound quality and clarity is great, but it has slightly less bass than the JBL Charge 4.
What we like
- Very loud (even outdoors)
- Great bass but not quite as good as the Charge 4
- Portable and fits nicely in a backpack or beach bag
- Waterproof
- Long battery life
- Takes a long time to charge
Price: $119.95 – $149.99 on Amazon
Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3
Overall, the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 portable bluetooth speaker sounds good, but it didn’t meet our expectations.
People clearly like the speaker because it has over 3,000 5-star reviews on Amazon. If I didn’t compare the speaker with the alternatives, I would probably be happy with my purchase as well.
However, I expect a lot more out of a speaker that costs over $100.
The Amazon description highlights the “powerful sound” and “thundering bass”, but this speaker does not have either. The bass was very weak and we were underwhelmed with the volume.
The description also claims it has up to 20 hours of battery life, but the battery really only lasts about 6 hours while playing music.
Honestly, the Megaboom 3 seems like a $50 speaker compared side-by-side with the JBL charge 3 and 4.
What we like
- 360 degree sound
- Waterproof
- Drop-proof and durable
- Expensive
- Weak bass
- Not as loud as expected
- Battery only lasts about 6 hours
Price: $167.55 – $199.99 on Amazon
Is the Megaboom 3 worth the money?
Everyone has their own preference for sound and speakers, but our product testers do not believe the Megaboom 3 is worth $199.99. There are better alternatives at a much lower price point.
AOMAIS GO Bluetooth Speaker
The Aomais Go is an excellent bluetooth speaker for around $70. It has comparable loudness and sound quality to many speakers in the $100-$200 range. In addition to its impressive sound quality, it has some advanced features like speaker pairing, USB charging port, waterproof construction, and up to 40 hours of battery life.
What we like
- IPX7 waterproof
- 40-hour battery life
- Affordable
- It’s large and difficult to fit in a backpack filled with other stuff.
- Lacks bass
- Not as loud as I hoped
Price: $69.99 on Amazon
Is the Aomais Go worth it?
Yes, the Aomais Go bluetooth speaker is a great choice if you want a long-lasting battery and plan on using it for small outdoor gatherings. You can’t expect amazing sound quality from a speaker under $100, but it gets the job done.
Anker Soundcore 2 Portable Bluetooth Speaker
The Anker Soundcore 2 offers an amazing value for the price. This is an impressively loud speaker for the size and price. It stacks up against some speakers above $100, but it lacks bass and isn’t loud enough for outdoor gatherings.
What we like
- IPX7 waterproof
- 24-hour playtime
- Budget-friendly
- Small and portable
- Not loud enough for outdoor use. It’s fine for personal use outdoors or a small gathering in a quiet space, but not ideal for a noisy and windy beach.
- Lacks bass
Is the Anker Soundcore 2 worth it?
Yes. If you’re looking for a high-quality speaker for under $50, you can’t go wrong with the Anker Soundcore 2.
Price: $39.99 on Amazon
