15 Best Bluetooth Speakers Our Testers Jammed With in 2025

The Bose SoundLink Max (9/10, WIRED Recommends) has quickly become my favorite speaker to drag along to outdoor events. It's not as big as the boombox that John Cusack would hold over his head in the 1980s, but this robust, rubberized speaker has bold sound and gets loud enough to woo your sweethearts with a love song. I also like that you can plug in your phone while it plays music, which is nice for those of us who are forgetful on our days off. Bold bass, even when outside, makes this good for dance parties in the middle of nowhere, and the handle is easy to tie up to packs, kayaks, or tents. —Parker Hall

The latest JBL Charge speaker offers big and beautiful sound from its football-shaped frame. As you'd guess, the Charge's marquee feature is its ability to top off other devices via its USB-C port, and its beefy battery makes it well-positioned to do so. Like the new Flip, the speaker can be plugged in for lossless playback on supported devices and uses Auracast to sync up with other new JBL models, though that leaves out older versions like the Charge 5.

The Charge isn't as easy to pack as our top pick, weighing 3 pounds and stretching 9 inches across, but if you bring it along you’ll be rewarded with clear, full, and loud sound with plenty of bass. A new removable strap offers a more convenient way to carry it, but mine arrived broken, so I’m not overly confident about its longevity. Strap and size aside, the Charge is an impressively loaded speaker for its price, with enough bravado to pump up crowded campgrounds or backyard parties. —Ryan Waniata