A waterproof Bluetooth speaker is the best choice if you plan to use it outdoors or at the pool. Many speakers come with an IP rating. These are scores for water and dust resistance that have been independently verified by accredited third parties. An IP rating of IPX4-7 is the best, but this will depend on your specific needs. An IPX4-rated speaker can withstand water splashes. Speakers with an IPX7 rating, on the other hand, can be submerged in water for as long as 30 minutes. An IP rating is the best way to determine how speakers handle water.
Below are our top picks for waterproof Bluetooth speakers. We have tested more than 80 speakers. You can also check out our recommendations for the most powerful outdoor speakers, the best waterproof speakers, and the best inexpensive speakers.
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Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3, the Best Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker
Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3 is our favorite waterproof speaker. The portable speaker has an IP67 rating which means it is dust-tight and can be submerged in water up to a meter for up to 30 mins. This study speaker is also advertised as being floatable by the manufacturer, so it won’t get dropped in the pool.
It has a boomy sound profile thanks to its Standard preset. The balanced mid-range makes vocals and lead instruments clear and present. However, they can sometimes sound a little dark. It lacks low bass so it can’t hear the deep thump or rumble of bass-heavy music such as EDM. You can adjust its sound with the companion app’s graphic EQ and presets. The battery lasts more than 17 hours, making it ideal for outdoor listening.
It can be quite loud but there are compression artifacts at a maximum volume which may reduce the clarity of your audio if the speaker is turned up to higher volumes. You can only pair it to one device at once, so it is difficult to switch between audio sources. It’s still an excellent choice if you want a waterproof speaker that you can use to relax by the pool.
Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2, the Best Portable Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker
Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 is our favorite waterproof Bluetooth speaker. The lightweight speaker comes with a carrying strap that makes it easy to carry around. It is also advertised as floating in the water. The IP67 rating for dust and water resistance certifies that it can be submerged in up to one meter of water for 30 mins.
This speaker’s 360-degree design allows for incredible directivity, which results in a large and natural sound stage. The speaker has a neutral sound profile and a balanced middle range. This allows vocals and lead instruments to sound clear and present in your mix. It can’t reproduce the bassy thump and rumble of EDM and hip-hop, as it is smaller than most speakers. The speaker does have an Outdoor Mode preset that can boost its bass.
It doesn’t have more advanced sound customization options like a graphic equalizer to adjust the speaker’s sound to suit your needs. Voice assistants are not supported, which can disappoint those who depend on them. Despite being able to get loud, it has very few compression artifacts at maximum volume. This means that your audio will sound clear and clean even during loud listening sessions.
Best Versatile Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker: Sonos Move
We have tested Sonos Move, which is the most versatile waterproof Bluetooth speaker. This sturdy Bluetooth speaker has an IP56 rating for dust and water resistance. It can withstand direct water contact for as long as three minutes, and dust for between two and eight hours. The speaker features excellent voice assistant support with Alexa or Google Assistant and can be heard from far away and in noisy settings.
The neutral sound profile allows it to be used for listening to many audio sources. It also has a balanced mid-range that ensures that vocals and other instruments are heard clearly in the mix. It does not have a low bass that is thumpy or rumbling. You can adjust the sound of this device to your preference using its companion app’s bass and treble sliders. You can also carry it outside with you, thanks to the built-in handle and battery power.
To play stereo audio, you will need to pair it with another unit. It downmixes stereo content into mono when it is used on its own, making it less immersive. It doesn’t have a room correction function and is only compatible with iOS devices. This may disappoint some Android users. This versatile Bluetooth speaker is still an excellent choice if you are looking for a speaker that you can use indoors and outdoors.
Bose SoundLink Flexible is the best small, versatile and waterproof Bluetooth speaker:
The Bose SoundLink Flex is our favorite small and versatile waterproof speaker. The Bose SoundLink Flex is a sturdy, compact speaker that’s very well built. It has an IP67 rating for dust resistance and water resistance. This means it can be submerged in water up to one meter for 30 minutes. This speaker is advertised as being rugged and capable of floating in the water. The speaker also has a carry strap that can be attached to your bag or suspended from a hook.
Its sound profile is quite balanced and neutral out-of-the-box, making it ideal for listening to much audio content. You can pair it to multiple devices simultaneously, which is useful when switching between audio sources quickly. It supports Siri and Google Assistant from your smartphone. This makes it easy to understand your commands even in noisy settings and far away.
It lacks low bass and, unlike most speakers of its size, there are no sound customization options like a graphic equalizer or presets that can be used to customize the sound profile. It’s an excellent choice if you are looking for a waterproof Bluetooth speaker that you can take with you on the go.
Anker Soundcore Flare 2, the best budget waterproof Bluetooth speaker:
Anker Soundcore Flare 2 is our top-rated waterproof speaker in the budget price range. The speaker’s waterproof rating is IPX7, which means it can be submerged in water up to one meter for approximately 30 minutes. The speaker is lightweight and has RGB lights that can be customized. It can also be paired with compatible speakers to make a stereo pair, or amplify audio over a wider area.
The app has a balanced middle-range and its BassUp feature activated. Vocals and lead instruments can reproduce clearly and accurately in this mix, but they can sometimes sound dark or veiled. Its companion app has a graphic EQ, presets, and other options to personalize the sound to your taste. Its 360-degree design allows for excellent directivity and results in a natural soundstage.
It is not loud enough to be heard, and the speaker can produce compression artifacts at a maximum volume which can cause audio quality issues when the volume is increased. It struggles to reproduce deep bass, as do most speakers of its size. This may disappoint those who enjoy bass-heavy music such as EDM or hip-hop. It’s still an excellent choice if you want a Bluetooth speaker that you can leave at the pool.
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