Akai Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker with Built-In Rechargeable Battery and Microphone, Crystal Clear 3 W Speaker, Elegant Fabric Design, Black

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What this all translates into is vastly improved sound, and while the Sonos One was mono only, the Era 100 distinguishes itself by providing a superb stereo experience. The bass is deeper and fuller, there's more clarity and detail throughout and even at higher volume, timing is excellent and the tonal balance is wonderfully even. It's predominantly a stationary, use-at-home type of product, but the Era 100's Bluetooth connectivity gives it more flexibility in use and makes it eligible for a spot on this list. No, the Echo Dot isn't a traditional Bluetooth speaker in the sense of what we traditionally deem to be a Bluetooth speaker here at What Hi-Fi?. It's not portable, for one thing, as it requires a plugged-in connection to the wall to work, and it relies on wi-fi to function as an AI-boosted virtual assistant. You can (and will), however, utilise Bluetooth to connect your iPhone to the Echo Dot, especially if you want to play music stored locally, qualifying it as a Bluetooth speaker on more than a mere technicality.

If you want more from the midrange and less from the treble, you can now tweak it thanks to a new EQ feature in the app, which adds significant value. For a nominal price hike over the launch price of the Flip 5, there’s certainly more detail here, too. The ( still) Award-winning JBL Charge 5 is even more durable and hardwearing than the four Charges that came before it. Its predecessor carried an IPX7 rating, meaning it could handle being submerged in water to a depth of 1.5m, but the IP67-rated Charge 5 builds on that durability by also being fully dustproof. The Addon C3 is basically the wi-fi-enabled, multi-room version of Audio Pro's Addon T3. It has the same minimalist looks that the Scandinavian company is known for, complete with textured surfaces and an embossed leather carry handle, but the wireless tech adds a whole new dimension to your listening. However, Bluetooth-only speakers are generally more portable (as they don't require an internet connection to work) and often more affordable. How many watts is good for a home Bluetooth speaker?

Want a speaker roughly the dimensions of a bottle of wine that'll charge your phone and sound great? Enter the Charge 5. And while we're not expecting audiophile-grade quality sound here, brands have realised that people do care about sound quality alongside other user-friendly features, so the quality of Bluetooth speakers' audio has risen significantly in recent times. Audio is really strong, too: bigger, punchier and louder than you’d expect from such a small box. Play Juiceby Lizzo and the Micro 2 does justice to the song’s upbeat tempo with the singer's vocals vibrantly portrayed. Midrange in particular is dealt with in a much more appealing manner than anything else we’ve seen at this price. Sound, of course, should play a huge part in your decision, because there's absolutely no guarantee that two models of a similar price will end up sounding the same in terms of quality, audio presentation and general timbre. Some Bluetooth speakers will be peppy and exciting, while others will prioritise pulsating bass to get the party started.

Bluetooth is like a short-range, low-powered, low-bandwidth version of wi-fi used to connect compatible devices together rather than to the internet. Bluetooth uses radio waves like wi-fi does but at a different scale. In the audio world, it is tough to compare how good one brand is to another on the whole, especially when it comes to big brands that have many products in their arsenal. While we do recommend some JBL speakers on the above list, don't assume that everything JBL makes is better than everything Bose makes. How we test Bluetooth speakers About the size of a burrito and weighing just 550g, JBL's Flip 6 is the one to go for if you're looking for a reliable, super-sounding speaker to take on your travels. Given that the Flip 5 is a past What Hi-Fi? Award winner, it will come as little surprise to learn that the Flip 6 is another resoundingly five-star product. We might have thought we’d be advising JBL to rework the Flip by now – add a few more features, change it up a bit to keep up with the competition – but instead, we are left praising the sonic chops of a proposition that offers extra durability (it is now IP67 water- and dust-proof, over the waterproof-only IPX7 Flip 5) as well as an extra ounce of space within its trademark zealous and musical presentation.Yes, it's still 'just' a Bluetooth speaker – but what a great-sounding Bluetooth speaker it is. It works a treat, too, delivering a pleasingly comfortable yet authoritative performance that you'd be happy listening to all day. Throw in its classy, well-made design, easy-to-use operation and the bonus of Alexa, and you're looking at a Bluetooth speaker sequel that has very much been worth the wait.

The Katch oozes a sort of continental class, finished to the highest quality and with a luxurious aesthetic that really can rival some of the best dedicated domestic speakers in the style stakes. When we took our Katch G2 home for some hands-on pics, we found it to be akin to a great model or a timeless beauty of the age; stunning from every angle. While this will depend on the kit you are using and your wi-fi limitations at home, transmitting audio over wi-fi rather than Bluetooth comes with certain benefits: wi-fi doesn't have as limited a signal range as Bluetooth, generally facilitates better sound quality and is capable of transmitting higher-quality audio (Bluetooth is not widely capable of transmitting CD-quality or above music).