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Soundcore by Anker Select 4 Go: The Soundcore by Anker Select 4 Go doesn’t have quite the build quality as JBL’s Go 4 micro Bluetooth speaker (it has a budget feel), but it delivers comparable sound quality and costs half the price. Like the JBL Go 4, the similarly named Select 4 Go feels right for its small size and is able to put out enough bass to avoid sounding tinny. It is also completely waterproof and floats. Battery life is rated at an impressive 20 hours at moderate volumes, and you can pair two of these headphones together for stereo sound. It’s definitely good value.
Marshall Wellin 2: Marshall’s Willen 2 small mono speaker (about $90) is similar to Bose’s SoundLink Micro 2 and other small speakers like the Tribit StormBox Micro 3, but it doesn’t sound quite as good. Like those speakers, it has a built-in strap on its base so you can attach it to your backpack or even to the handlebars of your bike. The 2-inch full-range driver and two passive radiators emit more sound than you’d think it would for its small size, and it delivers decent clarity as well as enough bass to avoid sounding tinny.
Tribet Stormbox Micro 2: Now that Tribit has released the Stormbox Micro 3a budget version of Bose’s excellent SoundLink Micro 2 speaker, the second-generation StormBox Micro 2 is on sale for less than $50. The new Micro 3 offers improved acoustics and doubles the battery life, but the Micro 2 remains a good palm-sized wireless speaker that you can attach to your bike’s handlebars. Read our full review.
JBL Go 4: While JBL released the newer Go 5 with boosted battery life (10 hours versus 7 hours) and a lighting element, the fourth generation of JBL’s smallest Bluetooth speaker remains a good option for smaller speakers, especially when it comes at a discount. Despite its size, it sounds better than expected, though don’t get your hopes up – keep in mind that this speaker is really pocket-sized, so it can only deliver so much sound. However, it is able to put out enough bass to avoid tinny sound. This little speaker is also durable and has an IP67 waterproof rating, which means it can remain fully submerged in water and is dust-resistant. The Go 4 is available in multiple color options.
Sony Link Buds Bluetooth Speaker: Sony made some mistakes with its LinkBuds Bluetooth speaker. First, it launched it in its LinkBuds line with two… New Link Budsso it got lost in the shuffle. Secondly, it’s a bit pricey based on the list price. But ignoring all that, I was surprised at how good the sound was for its small size. It’s easily among the best-sounding small Bluetooth speakers out there and is equipped with a two-way speaker system that features a custom woofer and Sony’s X-Balanced tweeter unit (woofer), giving it a much fuller sound than you’d expect, with strong bass and good clarity. It’s still a mono speaker, although you can pair two of them together for stereo sound.
Sonos Room 2: Sonos Original ROM The speaker sounded pretty good considering its small size, but many users complained that it was difficult to switch from Wi-Fi mode at home and Bluetooth mode on the go. With the new Roam 2, which comes in five color options, these connectivity issues disappear. The truth is, the Roam 2 ($180) isn’t much of an upgrade. It has the same acoustic architecture (and the same impressive sound for its size), but it now has two buttons — one for power and one for Bluetooth — instead of a single power button. This Bluetooth button allows you to pair the speaker with any Bluetooth-enabled audio device right out of the box. Previously, setup was more complicated and required you to connect to the Sonos Home Wi-Fi network first.
Anker Soundcore Boom 3i: In some ways, Anker’s new Soundcore Boom 3i is the spiritual successor to the company’s popular speaker Soundcore Motion Plus A speaker released in 2020. It has a similar shape but is more outdoor adventurous, with Anker describing it as “designed for the wild” and describing it as the first Bluetooth speaker with operation in water, where it floats and “auto-corrects” to keep the speaker drivers facing up just above the surface. As you’d expect from a speaker that promotional photos show strapped to a kayak (it has a detachable carrying strap), the Soundcore Boom 3i is completely water and dust resistant, with an IP68 rating. Anker is taking things a step further, touting the Boom 3i as being “5X” saltwater resistant. Read our full review.
Anker Soundcore Motion 300: Bose makes the excellent SoundLink Flex Bluetooth speaker that retails for around $150 and occasionally goes on sale for less. The Soundcore Motion 300 is Anker’s answer to the Bose soundbar. About the same size as the Bose, it doesn’t look quite as good but it looks impressive considering its small size and price of just $80. Like the SoundLink Flex, it can be laid flat with its speaker shooting toward the ceiling or propped up as shown in the image above. It is IPX7 waterproof and provides up to 13 hours of audio at moderate volume levels. There is also support for Sony’s LDAC audio codec for Android and other devices that support Bluetooth wireless streaming with LDAC.