Best Bluetooth speakers under $50 in 2024

Nothing makes a party better than some music., and nothing makes playing music easier than a Bluetooth speaker, especially as more phone manufacturers omit the 3.5mm headphone jack.

Fortunately, you don't need to spend a fortune to get the best Bluetooth speaker and get the good times rolling. 

There are plenty of excellent portable audio accessories priced under $50 that meet the requirements for the best Bluetooth speaker. Here are your best options in this segment.

At a glance

Best overall

JBL continues to carve out a reputation for making small speakers that can both fit in your pocket and play some big tunes on a whim. It's hard not to like a compact speaker that you can take just about anywhere. Even more so when you have no less than nine color options to choose from, including a camo one if you're into that sort of thing.

Now in its fourth iteration, the Go series continues to make headway as a more well-rounded speaker, with a boisterous sound belying its size. It holds up well at louder volumes so you don't hear distortion set in, making it a nice addition for ambient music around smaller groups. Not only that, but you can stereo pair two of them for even better sound, as well as adjust the audio through the EQ in the JBL app.

Its durability makes it right at home at the beach, by the pool, or near the tub. JBL manages to improve overall battery life up to seven hours but expect that to drop the louder you go. It takes up to three hours to fully charge it back up, so make sure you're good to go before taking it with you.

Best for outdoors

Tribit sure knows its way around audio accessories, and the StormBox Micro is no exception. This epic Bluetooth speaker isn't just compact: It puts out a huge kick with deep, booming bass, and 10W of power. The humble StormBox Micro 2 pays homage to its successful predecessor despite its higher price.

One of the most distinctive features of the StormBox Micro 2 is its ability to be easily mounted to bikes, backpacks, belts, or nearly anything else — get creative! The IP67 water and dust resistance means you don't have to worry about getting caught in the rain, and you can pair two of these speakers together for an immersive stereo effect.

The only downside is that the StormBox Micro 2 doesn't have an AUX port. But on the bright side, everything else about this speaker is perfect. You can charge any USB-C device with the speaker, it has a companion app so the sound can be customized, and the 4,700mAh battery lasts for up to 12 hours. Most importantly, the sound quality is impressively good for its size.

Best sound quality

If portability and budget are the names of the game, then Sony's SRS-XB100 is an excellent choice. This speaker impresses with its superb sound relative to how small it is. While its max volume levels won't knock your socks off, this speaker won't compromise on quality, either. 

It's just unfortunate there are so few features coming out of Sony's Connect app. Without an EQ, you can't do much to tailor the sound how you want, so what you hear is what you'll get. Still, you can expect punchy lows and solid clarity right out of the box, so you can enjoy your favorite songs. Sony also includes a built-in strap enabling you to throw it over your shoulder or attach it to a bag.

If you want to have a proper party outdoors, you'd need to pair two of these babies to achieve banging loud volumes. On its own, however, the SRS-XB100 can go up to 16 hours per charge at default volumes. 

Best value

When it comes to listening to your music or podcasts, you want to be able to hear them from wherever you are. That's where a speaker like the Anker Soundcore Mini 3 comes in, with its 360 degrees of sound. With the Soundcore app on your phone, you can easily customize the sound to your liking.

The cylindrical design, combined with two drivers and 5 watts of power, makes for an impressive yet lightweight package. As for battery life, you're looking at around 15 hours, which should be plenty long enough for pool parties and the like.

Best of all, you can pair over 100 Mini 3s (or virtually any other Soundcore speaker, for that matter), and each speaker is feather-light at just half a pound. Unfortunately, the IPX7 waterproof rating doesn't include dust proofing, so you need to be careful around dirt and other grime.

Best Alexa speaker

Amazon's Echo smart speakers serve two main purposes, which are to play audio and also provide a direct line to Alexa. Our review of the Echo Pop shows this small speaker can also do a couple of extra things, maintaining the ability to show off a bit when guests come over.

In addition to pairing via Bluetooth, you can also use Wi-Fi to connect to Alexa to control your smart home easily or settle a debate over what the real answer is to a question with friends during a party. Sure, it's not going to blow anyone away with how it sounds, but put it in smaller spaces and you get to enjoy more of what this small speaker has to offer.

One downside is that the Echo Dot is noticeably better at picking up your voice despite the same number of microphones (three) in the Echo Pop. It's super cool the speaker supports Matter and can act as an Eero extender, but you also have to park it wherever you plug it in. No carrying this around wherever you want to go unless you have a way to plug it in.

Best Google Assistant speaker

If you like the Amazon Echo Dot's voice control features, but you'd rather use Google Assistant, the Nest Mini is a great alternative. It puts out twice as much bass as its predecessor and features a touch-sensitive fabric cover that allows you to adjust volume with a quick tap.

Like the Echo Dot, the Nest Mini must be plugged in at all times, so while it makes a great Google Assistant smart speaker on a budget, it may not be the best mobile solution. Still, you can pair it with other Nest Minis for a stereo sound, and use it to control the rest of your smart home without lifting a finger. Maybe turn on some party lights?

Compared to the Echo Dot, the biggest downside is that the Nest Mini doesn't feature a headphone jack, meaning there's no way to wire audio directly into the speaker. Still, you can connect your phone over Bluetooth and play audio wirelessly, with hands-free voice controls to boot.

Best range

As you look at different Bluetooth speakers to consider, many of them have the same old design: Cylinders that pump out music at varying rates, shapes, and sizes. The OontZ Angle 3 Ultra (4th Gen) changes that with its unique triangular design so that you can cover as much area as possible.

Oontz also includes an IPX7 rating for water resistance, but we wouldn't recommend taking the Angle 3 Ultra into the wild. The "X" means that you miss out on dust resistance here, making the speaker vulnerable to sand and dust. However, this speaker's most significant benefit is the 100-foot range, allowing you to keep your phone with you and not with the speaker.

While that 100-foot range is incredible, you'll still be stuck in the past with the micro-USB charging port. The OontZ Angle 3 Ultra (4th Gen) bumps up to Bluetooth 5.0 over 4.2, but unfortunately, Cambridge SoundWorks did not think about updating the charging port over the last-gen OontZ Angle 3. The OontZ Angle 3 Ultra is also a bit heavier than some of the other speakers on this list, so you may not want to carry it if you go for a hike.

Best budget

Even if a Bluetooth speaker doesn't have all the extra frills or standout design, it can still make an impact when it sounds right. Sometimes, a great Bluetooth speaker is just your run-of-the-mill option, which brings us to the Tronsmart T7 Mini. There's no real "wow" to this speaker when you look at its feature set, and that only feeds into great value you get out of this thing. 

It offers up to 18 hours of battery life per charge, putting it among the leaders on this list. Not to mention IPX7 water resistance to make it easy to take with you to the pool, beach or tub. Even with all that, it has a 3.5mm Aux-In port and microSD slot to play music that way too. Throw in the mic and you're doing phone calls through it as well. All of that, combined with the 15 watts of power, and you have a tried-and-true speaker that will work for every situation. 

You won't be able to control the sound because there's no dedicated app support, which is a shame given the bass isn't always the deepest. For a delightfully cheap portable speaker that's super affordable, you can understand certain limitations. At least you can toggle through different colors for the LED ring.

Best soundbar

The Tribit XSound Go delivers rich sound with 16W of audio, and you can take that sound with you wherever you go. Weighing only 13 ounces, this speaker is extremely light and isn't a burden to carry around. With an IPX7 waterproof rating, it's perfect for a day at the beach or lake, and even comes in handy during a quick shower.

This speaker has a durable exterior coating and internal frame, so you can hook it to your bag or bike with its tear-resistant strap and not worry about it getting any bruises or bumps. It charges quickly through USB-C, but thankfully it has a 24-hour battery life. You can listen to music throughout the weekend without worrying about juicing it up too often.

Best of all, the Tribit XSound uses Bluetooth 5.0 and has a 66-foot range, so you can go on a walk without having to leave your phone behind. And if you're hosting a party, you can pair this speaker with another to double the volume.

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There's a good Bluetooth speaker for less

It can be tough picking out a speaker and it's even more difficult to find an inexpensive waterproof Bluetooth speaker, but the JBL Go 4 makes a strong case. Despite lower battery life than others on the list, it offers solid sound, plenty of app support, and durable body that lets you take it just about anywhere.

Its IP67 dust water resistance is an asset you can rely on for outdoor use, including at the pool or beach. Take your tunes with you by clipping it onto your bag or bike for easy transport. The only downside? Without an Aux-In port, you can only connect to the speaker via Bluetooth to listen to the content you like.

You can also still do well with other choices, like the Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 or Sony SRS-XB100, both of which offer excellent value as well. 

How to choose

It's no secret you sacrifice one or two things to buy a speaker for $50 or less. The immediate compromise is size since they will generally be of the smaller variety. Another is sound, simply because the confines and physics of a smaller speaker make it tough to pump out the same volume as larger models.

Chances are, you already know those two things going in, so if you're measuring your expectations, you can find real gems in this category. Sub-$50 speakers do best as background players, meaning you set them down to add some music to a space. They may not necessarily fill an entire room with music. Nor would they be appropriate to serenade larger groups, but they can certainly add some sonic ambience in more modest settings.

Most speakers in this category offer the ability to stereo pair two of them for left and right channels, which can deliver a nice sonic boost when you need it. They also often let you make adjustments via an EQ to tailor sound to your liking. Add in improving battery life, and you have more than a one-trick pony. That kind of flexibility can provide even more value for what you pay.

There may be an additional advantage if the speaker has a microphone for phone calls or voice assistant access. The feature set for sub-$50 speakers continues to improve, allowing them to do more than they would've been able to even a few years ago. With so many choices, and so many features to choose from, there's never been a better time to spend less on a small speaker.