Tried and tested: the best portable speakers
Having a party or just want amazing home surround sound? We tried out portable speakers - and here are our top picks.
These products are hand-picked by our team to help make shopping easier. We may receive payments from third parties for sharing this content and when you purchase through links in this article. Product prices and offer details are not assured, and should be confirmed independently with the retailer. Learn more
We put a range of portable speakers to the test to come up with our top picks to get the party started.
Here News Corp’s national technology editor Jennifer Dudley-Nicholson gives her verdict on the best portable speakers for at home and on the go.
Christmas parties are nothing without Mariah Carey’s famous track and these party speakers will make sure she’s heard.
An unexpected, lamp-like design but a guaranteed entertainer
PROS
– 360-degree audio
– Quality, room-filling sound
– Bonus light show
CONS
– 5.5kg weight
– Pricier than some
– Gimmicky DJ effects
Many portable speakers are designed for throwaway get-togethers but this model has a more stylish dinner party feel to it. The audio entertainer stands 50cm high, features a cone-shaped design, and has a light inside that can be programmed to glow in different colours. Its lantern shape and acoustics deliver 360-degree sound and, if you’re really keen, you can also use it and an app to add DJ effects to your music. The speaker also comes with a handle and controls up top, and can play music for 10 hours unplugged.
Verdict: 4.5/5 stars
The most portable Sonos speaker is surprisingly accomplished
$299, sonos.com.au
PROS
– Sound adapts to its location
– Works with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
– Doubles as a smart speaker
CONS
– Plays from one side only
– No power adaptor
– Very strong bass
This artfully designed column is the smallest and cheapest Sonos speaker on the market but it borrows heavily from its bigger, more expensive siblings. The Roam can play songs from a nearby phone using Bluetooth or directly from a music service using Wi-Fi. A mic button on its top delivers quick access to the Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa, its body is waterproof for use outdoors and, if you have other Sonos speakers, it can transfer music to them with the touch of a button. Best of all, it delivers surprisingly full sound for such a small device.
Verdict: 4.5/5
Siri’s favourite music machines just added colour
$149, apple.com/au
PROS
– Budget-friendly
– Works with others in stereo
– Three bold new colours
CONS
– No upgrades outside colour
– Won’t work with Spotify
– Works best with an iPhone
Apple didn’t make big changes to its smart speaker this year but it did make one bold one. The newest HomePod Minis now come in vibrant orange, yellow and blue, and each is accompanied by a matching cable. The baseball-shaped speakers feature touch controls up top, 360-degree sound, and can be paired with others to play music in stereo or as TV speakers. The HomePods are most useful for iPhone users, however, and will only work with a limited list of music-streaming services.
Verdict: 4/5 stars
Only a handful but this speaker is ready for a summer outdoors
$199, jbl.com.au
PROS
– Tough, waterproof body
– Plays music for 20 hours
– Can also charge a phone
CONS
– Distortion at high volume
– Limited app features
– No headphone jack
Like a puppy, this speaker is begging to be taken to the beach or pool this summer. The JBL Charge 5 features a waterproof shell, comes in a choice of five colours, and is shaped like a drink bottle for easy carriage. It has stylish, moulded music controls on one side and a charging connection on the other side that can be used to plug in a phone for recharging. Given its size, this speaker will only entertain a modest beach party but it’s a handy device to have on standby.
Verdict: 3.5/5 stars
A colourful, fully featured, “ear candy” speaker with microphone
$299, blueant.com.au
PROS
– Good value at $299
– Comes with a microphone
– Will work with others
CONS
– Lacks serious bass
– Quite large
– Only splash-proof
This party speaker bills itself as “ear candy” and you can see how it would be a hit with the kids. The BlueAnt X4 comes in five colours, including vibrant blue and pink, a ring of LED lights on its face, and it’s packaged with a microphone for impromptu karaoke sessions. The 2.6kg speaker also features a handle, simple controls including a large volume knob, and 50 watts of audio power. It doesn’t deliver as much bass as you’d expect of its size, but it can be paired with other X4 speakers to give it more oomph.
Verdict: 3.5/5 stars
Siri’s favourite music machines just added colour
$149, apple.com/au
PROS
Budget-friendly
Works with others in stereo
Three bold new colours
CONS
No upgrades outside colour
Won’t work with Spotify
Works best with an iPhone
Apple didn’t make big changes to its smart speaker this year but it did make one bold one. The newest HomePod Minis now come in vibrant orange, yellow and blue, and each is accompanied by a matching cable. The baseball-shaped speakers feature touch controls up top, 360-degree sound, and can be paired with others to play music in stereo or as TV speakers. The HomePods are most useful for iPhone users.
The most portable Sonos speaker is surprisingly accomplished
$299, sonos.com.au
PROS
Sound adapts to its location
Works with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
Doubles as a smart speaker
CONS
Plays from one side only
No power adaptor
Very strong bass
This artfully designed column is the smallest and cheapest Sonos speaker on the market but it borrows heavily from its bigger, more expensive siblings. The Roam can play songs from a nearby phone using Bluetooth or directly from a music service using Wi-Fi. A mic button on its top delivers quick access to the Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa, its body is waterproof for use outdoors and, if you have other Sonos speakers, it can transfer music to them with the touch of a button. Best of all, it delivers surprisingly full sound for such a small device.
An unexpected, lamp-like design but a guaranteed entertainer
$649, lg.com.au
PROS
360-degree audio
Quality, room-filling sound
Bonus light show
CONS
5.5kg weight
Pricier than some
Gimmicky DJ effects
Many portable speakers are designed for throwaway get-togethers but this model has a more stylish dinner party feel. The audio entertainer stands 50cm high with a cone-shaped design and has a light inside that can be programmed to different colours. Its lantern shape and acoustics deliver 360-degree sound and there’s an app to add DJ effects. The speaker can play music for 10 hours unplugged.
A colourful, fully featured, “ear candy” speaker with microphone
$299, blueant.com.au
PROS
Good value at $299
Comes with a microphone
Will work with others
CONS
Lacks serious bass
Quite large
Only splash-proof
This party speaker bills itself as “ear candy” and should be a hit with the kids. The BlueAnt X4 comes in five colours, with a ring of LED lights and it’s packaged with a microphone for karaoke sessions. The 2.6kg speaker has a handle, simple controls and 50 watts of audio power. It can be paired with other X4 speakers for more oomph.
hhhkj
Samsung speaker that’s like a ‘piece of art’
Samsung’s new unique gadget doubles as a piece of art, but doesn’t compromise on excellent audio quality.
‘Insanely good’ speaker that’s an ‘excellent buy’
If you're looking for volume and sound quality, reviewers say this Bluetooth speaker is the "best on the market".
‘Best speaker around’ now $80 off
Bringing big 360-degree sound and a rugged, waterproof design, this popular speaker is worth snapping up on sale.
Huge upside of new Sonos smart speaker
Taking everything we liked about the Sonos One and bumping it up a notch, this little speaker sounds superb.