5 Mini Speakers That Actually Sound Good, According To Reviews
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Portable speakers are a great way to play music at outdoor locations, or at parties where a venue might not have any proper sound equipment. There are a lot of speakers available on the market, but the mini models are easier to bring with you, as other options might be too heavy to travel around with. These speakers also typically come with long battery life, have a surprising amount of volume (for their size), and many are durable, capable of withstanding outdoor dust and water splashes. We've gone through Amazon to narrow down what options you might consider purchasing, finding some of the best mini speakers recommended by users based on their experience with these products.
The items we have on this list are mini speakers that typically rely on a Bluetooth connection to another device. In the past, we've also covered the absolute best Bluetooth speakers on the market, but this time, we're focusing exclusively on the smaller, mini versions. We'll detail the exact methodology of this list at the end.
Amazon Echo Dot
The Amazon Echo Dot is a popular Bluetooth mini speaker, and as a small model, it is ideal for anyone who wants to travel with a device without it taking up too much room. It's why we recommend the Echo Dot for any first-time smart device owners. Many reviewers praise this device's design quality and how easy it is to set up. For $49.99, it's a product that has 172,460 reviews, with an average 4.7-star rating on Amazon. The massive amount of positive reviews reflects how confident customers are in recommending it to others. Unlike other models on this list, the Echo Dot does not have an internal battery.
Those who have picked up the Echo Dot greatly enjoy this product's sound quality, as users have operated it within offices or at locations where several people can hear it. Reviewers also note that the design is sleek and small, a modern device that fits anywhere without sticking out or becoming an eyesore alongside decorations. Some customers point out they've had trouble getting the Echo Dot to connect to other devices, every so often, but when it works, the connection sticks. Another highlight for why many customers recommend the Echo Dot is because of its low price, and as an Amazon device, there's a good amount of customer support and options should anything go wrong with it. This is a Bluetooth mini speaker that does a lot more than only playing music.
JBL Go 4
For those who like having their mini speaker close to water, customers recommend trying out the JBL Go 4, a mini speaker designed to be waterproof. You might have more confidence in taking it to the beach or operating it next to a pool than you would with other models. It's a device that goes for $49.95, and has 9,088 reviews, with an average 4.8-star rating, similar to many of the other highest-rated home audio products offered by JBL. This model is one of the best cheap Bluetooth speaker with excellent sound quality.
Many customers can attest to the claim that this model is waterproof, and some have shared they've accidentally dropped it in their tub. The speaker continued to play and operate just fine. Other positive reviews include customers praising this speaker's sound quality, and its size. They like attaching it to themselves or putting it in their pocket while it plays their favorite songs. Some users initially thought the size might lower the sound quality, but many were surprised with how powerful the speaker is and how much value they got for their purchase. Some customers detail that they do not like the battery life, as they say it only lasts about five hours, or less. Only a small portion of users had a problem with this.
Boss SoundLink Micro Bluetooth Speaker
For anyone looking to buy from a trusted audio brand when it comes to speakers, Bose has a solid reputation. It's why many customers think the Bose SoundLink Micro Bluetooth Speaker is a reliable choice. You can get it for $119 on Amazon, where it has 34,186 reviews, with an average 4.7-star rating from customers.
Reviewers highlight this mini speaker's portability, and they find it durable, capable of enduring minor drops without breaking. Some have it playing as a bike speaker while they ride around with it, placing it between the handlebars. Even in louder environments, users explain how the speaker quality is exceptionally high, as their music comes through clearly every time. The device also easily connects to their phone or other devices, making it simple to switch who's currently operating the device when there's a group of people who wants to control the music. Although this product is more expensive than other Bluetooth speakers, many reviewers believe it's worth its price.
Anker Souncore 2 Portable Bluetooth Speaker
The Anker Soundcore 2 Portable Bluetooth Speaker is another choice that many customers enjoy, and it's a product that comes in multiple colors. It's one of Amazon's most popular Bluetooth speakers, and one we've tried ourselves. The price does differ slightly based on what color you go with, but the standard black model goes for $44.99. Regardless of the option you go with, the Anker Soundcore has 139,511 reviews, with an average 4.5-star rating.
It's a water-resistant speaker that many reviewers praise for its superb sound quality, as customers frequently operate it when it's raining without fear of any water leaking inside. Other users share that they enjoy how long the device works with a reliably long battery life. When connecting it to other devices, reviewers find the Anker easy to sync, and according to them, it never takes long or has any issues. Many customer reviews note that the size of this mini speaker was a plus, as they found it was aesthetically pleasing wherever they placed it.
Tribit XSound Go Bluetooth Speaker
Another highly recommended Bluetooth speaker is the Tribit XSound Go. Reviewers praise this product's sound and build quality, its size, and how easily it connects to their devices. You can get the black or red model for $39.99, while other colors cost a little more. On Amazon, this speaker has 35,815 reviews, with an average rating of 4.6 stars.
Those who use it find the bass in this speaker has high sound quality, noting that whatever they play using the product comes through crystal clear. Those who increase the volume on the Tribit say it still sounds clear, and it doesn't drop the Bluetooth connection, which customers have said is a problem they've had with other speakers. Some reviewers say that they use this speaker in their office, and even at low volume, it's enough for everyone to hear. Many note that it has a USB-C port for charging, making it more future-proof than the mini USB alternatives. It's also a model with a surprisingly robust battery life, with customers detailing that they were able to use it throughout their day without it powering down.
Methodology
When selecting mini speakers for this list, our first priority was to choose models that were smaller and more portable than other speakers. These didn't have to fit in your pocket, but they had to be easy to move and bring to different locations. This trait was a significant factor when selecting which speakers to include.
When selecting the speakers, we analyzed the reviews associated with them. All items featured on this list have at least 1,000 reviews from verified customers, and each has at least 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon. We looked for users who detailed that these speakers had excellent sound and overall quality, as these products had to work properly, despite their small size. We also looked for reviews that shared how easy it was to connect to the speaker, how loud it could get, and if they liked the size and the battery life. Waterproof or water-resistant speakers were ranked higher, as portable devices have a higher chance of being close to water than standard models.