Don't spend a lot on these great Bluetooth speakers under $100
You don't need to spend a lot of money to get a great Bluetooth speaker, so we've rounded up what we believe are some of the best Bluetooth speakers under $100 to help save you money. So whether you're looking to pick up a speaker to listen to music or play your favorite podcasts at the pool or need one for streaming music from your phone, there are plenty of great affordable options available. Our top pick would be the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 for versatility and excellent sound quality.
Best overall Bluetooth speaker under $100: Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2
The Wonderboom 2 delivers everything you're looking for in an affordable Bluetooth speaker. It has IP67 water resistance, astonishingly great sound quality, and 13-hour battery life. The speaker also has multi-directional sound, and you can even pair two speakers together to create a stereo effect (although you can only pair it with other Wonderboom speakers).
The versatility here makes the Wonderboom 2 stand out from the pack. You can take it to the pool without having to worry about water getting into the innards as long as the Micro-USB port is covered, and you can even submerge it in up to a meter of water for 30 minutes without any issues.
The design itself is rugged enough - it's rated to withstand tumbles from 5 feet - so you don't have to worry about long-term durability issues. Oh, and it's available in several exciting color options. Combine all of that, and you get a fantastic Bluetooth speaker choice in this category.
Pros:- IP67 dust and water resistance
- Great sound quality
- 13-hour battery life
- Multi-directional sound
- Charges over outdated Micro-USB
- No adjustable EQ
- No Party Up feature
The best budget Bluetooth speaker around
The Wonderboom 2 combines excellent sound quality with a rugged design, IP67 water resistance, and 13-hour battery life.
Best alternative Bluetooth speaker under $100: Anker Soundcore Motion+
The Soundcore Motion+ may not have a distinctive design, but it certainly has an array of features that make it stand out in this segment. The speaker is Anker's first with USB-C connectivity, and it also has Bluetooth 5.0 as well as AptX, a rarity in this category.
You get 30W of sound from the Soundcore Motion+, and there's the option of pairing two units together to create a stereo soundstage. The Motion+ also has a BassUp mode that turns up the bass in real-time. You get the ability to customize the EQ via the Soundcore app, and the 6,700mAh battery lasts 12 hours on a full charge.
There are playback controls at the top, and the Soundcore Motion+ is also IPX7 waterproof, making it ideal for taking to the pool. The powerful sound combined with Bluetooth 5.0 and USB-C charging gives the Motion+ a distinct edge in the affordable Bluetooth category.
Pros:- Bluetooth 5.0 with AptX
- IPX7 water resistance
- Wireless stereo pairing
- Charges over USB-C
- 12-hour battery life
- Boring design
- Flat highs
Outstanding sound with the latest tech
The Motion+ comes with Bluetooth 5.0 and AptX connectivity, and you get great sound, IPX7 water resistance, and USB-C charging.
Best classic sounding Bluetooth speaker under $100: Bose SoundLink Micro
Bose is a well-known brand to audiophiles and speaker novices alike, and as you can imagine, it has several Bluetooth options in its arsenal. We like the SoundLink Micro because it delivers on that Bose sound experience in a petite package.
The speaker is not much bigger than a hockey puck, and it has a clip-on attachment so you can attach it to a bag for portability. It's also IPX7 water-resistant and is quite durable with its rugged rubberized construction.
The speaker comes in three colors - black, bright orange, and dark blue - and it can be paired with another SoundLink speaker to create stereo sound. It also features a microphone for access to your voice assistant or taking calls from your smartphone.
Pros:- Bose heritage
- Super portable
- Durable construction
- Water-resistant
- Average battery life
- Charges over outdated Micro-USB
Big Bose sound in a portable package
The Bose SoundLink Micro has excellent sound and durable construction to go with you on the go.
Best battery life in a Bluetooth speaker under $100: Anker Soundcore Flare+
The Soundcore Flare+ is an interesting product. It has four drivers that deliver 360-degree sound, but what makes it stand out is an LED ring around the base that lights up in sync with the music. The light adds another dimension to the listening experience and makes the Soundcore Flare+ the ideal Bluetooth speaker for parties.
You can also pair two speakers together for a stereo effect, and there's the option to customize the EQ to your liking from the Soundcore app. You get up to 20 hours of playback from a full charge, and the Flare+ connects over Bluetooth 5.0. You even get IPX7 water resistance, making it a great choice for pool parties.
Overall, there's a whole lot to like with the Flare+. The sheer number of features on offer combined with the unique light ring at the bottom and the 360-degree sound make it a fantastic option.
Pros:- Quad drivers for excellent sound
- Halo LED is pretty cool
- Stereo pairing
- IPX7 water resistance
- Not very portable
- Charges over Micro-USB
The ideal Bluetooth speaker for parties
The Flare+ lives up to its name thanks to an LED light ring at the bottom, along with its great sound.
Best rugged Bluetooth speaker under $100: JBL Flip 4
JBL is one of the most recognized players in this segment, and the Flip series continues to be a best-seller for its rugged design and versatility. The Flip 4 may not be the latest in the series, but it still offers plenty. Thanks to its 8W drivers, it sounds great, and you get IPX7 water resistance, making it ideal for the pool.
The 3,000 mAh battery delivers 12 hours of music playback from a full charge, and you can pair the Charge 3 with other JBL speakers via Connect+. You get the option of connecting two devices to the speaker simultaneously, and you can invoke the Google Assistant with the press of a button. If you already have a JBL product with Connect+ tech, the Flip 4 is an easy sell.
Pros:- Rugged design
- IPX7 water resistance
- Google Assistant integration
- Can connect to devices simultaneously
- Charges over outdated Micro-USB
- Google Assistant is not voice-activated
A great option for the road
The Flip 4 has several standout features, including a rugged design, Google Assistant integration, and 12-hour battery life.
Best Bluetooth speaker under $100 for a rave: Oontz Angle 3 Pro
Oontz makes some of the most durable and most fun-looking portable Bluetooth speakers on the market today. The company's name invokes the steady techno-beat sound you'd expect to hear from a DJ at a hip new club, and now trust me - you're going to have an "oontz oontz oontz" playing in your head all day now. You're welcome.
The Angle 3 Pro is special because it takes the iconic triangular Oontz design and cranks everything up a notch. It has 40% larger drivers than previous versions and can deliver 50% greater output than before. With its IPX7 waterproof rating, it can be submerged up to a meter for half an hour and still come out jamming.
The range on this device is impressive at around 100 feet, and its battery will last up to 15 hours. You can charge your phone or device from it, and it charges with USB-C. Oh, and it comes with a 3.5mm headphone jack if you want to plug it into headphones or another speaker. If you pick up a second speaker, you can pair them together, but that's the limit, unlike others on this list.
Pros:- IPX7 rating
- 50% greater sound output
- 15-hour battery life
- 100-foot range
- Can only pair a maximum of two speakers
- No wireless charging
Full sound in a unique package
The Oontz Angle 3 Pro features full sound, an IPX7 rating, a 15-hour battery life, and a range of up to 100 feet.
Best sounding Bluetooth speaker under $100: Sony SRS-XB23
If your primary consideration for an affordable Bluetooth speaker is sound quality, then look no further than the Sony SRS-XB23. The speaker offers outstanding sound from a relatively modest package, and its EXTRA BASS mode cranks up the output even more than you'd expect.
Like some of the Ultimate Ears speakers, you can pair this Sony with up to 100 other Sony speakers, and you can expect it to last quite a long time with its 12 hours of battery life. It's also the perfect device to take with you to the beach, the lake, or the pool, thanks to its IPX67 rating that gives it outstanding resistance to the elements. Unlike many speakers on this list, the SRS-XB23 charges via USB-C cable, but it does not support wireless charging.
Pros:- Outstanding sound
- IPX67 rating
- Hands-free controls
- USB-C charging
- No wireless charging support
Great sound in a modest package.
The Sony SRS-XB23 offers outstanding sound quality, an IP67 rating, and 12 hours of battery life.
Best value Bluetooth speaker under $100: DOSS SoundBox
DOSS' Bluetooth speakers are a fan favorite, and the entry-level SoundBox has a lot to offer. The speaker is affordable enough to be an impulse purchase, but it's loaded with features to make it worth the money. You get a modern design with an aluminum grill that extends to all sides of the speaker, and it has touch gestures at the top for adjusting the volume and music playback. Just rotate clockwise on the volume ring to increase the volume and counterclockwise to turn it down.
The SoundBox has two 6W drivers that manage to deliver a decent amount of sound for a speaker of its size. You can easily pair your phone or tablet to the device over Bluetooth 4.0, and there's an aux jack if you prefer to plug it in. Best of all, you get an SD card slot that lets you quickly play tunes without having to connect the speaker to another source.
You get 12 hours of battery life from the 2,200mAh battery, and the SoundBox takes just over three hours to recharge over Micro-USB fully. Oh, and it also has an IPX4 rating, giving you the ability to use it in the shower. Based on the design and sound quality, it's easy to see why the SoundBox is so highly rated.
Pros:- 12W sound
- IPX4 water resistance
- Modern design
- SD card slot
- Charges over outdated Micro-USB
All the frills at a low cost.
The DOSS SoundBox offers fantastic sound quality and a robust set of features at a low price.
Best Bluetooth speaker under $100: Plenty of great picks to choose from
Ultimately, choosing the right Bluetooth speaker comes down to what you're looking for. There's no shortage of great products in this category, and it is down to you to decide if you want the latest connectivity, water-resistance, or the best sound quality.
If we had to choose one, it would be the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2. This speaker is a fantastic option for listening in the shower or at the pool, and the sound quality combined with the form factor and rugged design makes it the best choice in the affordable Bluetooth space. But if you're looking for an even cheaper option, you can always consider the best Bluetooth speakers under $50.
Credits - The team that worked on this guide
Harish Jonnalagadda is the Regional Editor of Android Central. A reformed hardware modder, he now spends his time writing about India's burgeoning phone market. Previously, he used to ponder the meaning of life at IBM. Contact him on Twitter at @chunkynerd.
Jeramy Johnson is proud to help to Keep Austin Weird and loves hiking in the hill country of central Texas with a breakfast taco in each hand. When he's not writing about Amazon products and services, he's defending his relationship with his side-chick Alexa to his family. You can follow him on Twitter at @jeramyutgw.