If you love music and spending time outdoors, you need a speaker built to withstand the elements. Generally, water and electronics rarely mix, especially if the IP rating isn't up to scratch, but waterproof speakers are a decidedly different breed.
The best waterproof models are built to withstand being splashed or sometimes even submerged in water for several minutes without malfunction, or they'll just float like many of Ultimate Ears' colourful creations. Still, it's not an experiment we'd recommend unless you're sure of your hardware's integrity, especially if you don't want to end up with a fizzing speaker and a pond full of dead fish.
If you need a great-sounding, rugged portable Bluetooth speaker that won't break at the sight of water or dust, you're in the right place. We've tested every speaker in this list, both in our test rooms and out and about, exposing them to the elements so that you can be sure your purchase serves you well the next time you head out.
Find out more about our testing process here or keep scrolling to see our pick of the best waterproof speakers available.
The quick list
The Charge 5 is currently as good a sound as you can get in a portable Bluetooth speaker for under £200/$200, plus it's IP67 rated.
Bluetooth speakers don’t get more portable than the JBLs Go 4, but its sound is mightily impressive for the size.
A palm-sized budget speaker with toughness to spare – if you’re not keen on spending big, the Tribit's Stormbox Micro 2 is your best bet.
The Beosound's good looks and funky sound belie a tough and rugged speaker that will survive the worst the elements have to throw at it.
Despite its imposing, hardy looks, the Xtreme 4 is actually an extremely musical performer.
Best waterproof speaker overall
Bluetooth speakers come in all shapes and sizes, yet we can't think of many that offer the sort of value and reliability as the JBL Charge 5. We hope a new Charge model will come along soon, but for now, we're convinced that this is one of the absolute best performers around. Those multiple What Hi-Fi? Awards don't lie, after all.
The JBL Charge 5 rocked our world by showing itself to be even more durable and better sounding than the four Charge models that have been before it. Its predecessor carried an IPX7 rating, meaning it could handle being submerged in water to a depth of 1.5m, but the IP67-rated Charge 5 builds on that durability by also being almost completely dustproof. Like almost everything JBL makes, it's so reassuringly solid and well-made that you'd be forgiven for thinking that the fifth-gen Charge could survive a nuclear fallout. For all we know, it could.
Thanks in part to a 10W tweeter and racetrack-shaped driver, the Charge 5 provides as good a sound as you can currently get in a portable Bluetooth speaker design for around £200 ($200, AU$300), as well as boasting sonic and aesthetic improvements over its predecessors.
We're keen to see what JBL comes up with for the upcoming Charge 6 – for the time being though, our current What Hi-Fi? Award-winner remains king of the castle.
Read our full JBL Charge 5 review
Best portable waterproof speaker
The JBL Go 4 is small and cute yet remarkably tough and tenacious. Sporting the same form and dimensions as, say, a chunky deck of cards or your standard bar of soap, the Go 4 has been designed for portability and durability– the sort of thing you can stuff into the bottom of a kit bag or even ram inside an accommodating back pocket. If you need something that offers more wallop and musicality than your phone's measly in-built speakers, JBL's dinky waterproof speaker is your best bet.
In a straight competition with the best that your phone can handle, and quite a few larger Bluetooth competitors, the Go 4 is sonically supreme. It doesn't have the open, mature presentation of the crowd-pleasing Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 above, but we're still so impressed by how the JBL's taut bass, restrained trebles and smooth mids combine to craft a marvellously coherent sonic picture. Textures are revealed with clarity and character, but there's body and power to the music to which we're treated. Again, that's something you rarely see from units this small.
You also rarely see such impressive spec sheets and feature lists. We weren't so keen on the outgoing Go 3's battery life frustratingly paltry five hours, but the fourth-gen sequel bumps those numbers up to seven hours as standard plus an extra two with Playtime Boost activated. Auracast lets you pair two Go 4 speakers together in stereo or hook up multiple compatible JBL units, helping to future-proof the speaker as newer JBLs will likely be compatible with the current model. You even get app support, with a five-band customisable equaliser for getting your Go 4 sounding just how you like it.
For this price, there's nothing better than the JBL Go 4.
Read our full JBL Go 4 review
Best budget waterproof speaker
If what you want from your ideal outdoor speaker is portability, affordability and water resistance, the consistently impressive Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 is up there with the best. A small, satchel-friendly Bluetooth speaker that's one of the cheapest options on this list, the Micro 2 still delivers a surprising amount of sonic wallop.
Admittedly, it doesn't harness the 360-degree sound design of many of its rivals such as the JBL Flip 6 or the Charge 5 (see below), but we found it is one of the best value options if you’re on a tight budget. It sounds good, it's well-made and it performs time and again regardless of place, climate or your taste in music.
With a robust woven finish design and squat, compact design, the Micro 2 delivers enjoyable audio and impressive battery life – we coaxed 12 hours of listening out of a single charge. An IP67 rating, meanwhile, let one of our reviewers use it in the shower without any issues or damage. Again, the Stormbox Micro 2's diminutive size and durable design make it well-suited for travelling far beyond the confines of a bathroom or kitchen.
Audio is also really strong, and much bigger, punchier and louder than you’d expect from such an undersized device, with that midrange in particular offering real meat and muscle no matter the genre. The only issue is that it can start to suffer from distortion at louder volumes, but based on our head-to-head tests, you’ll have to pay more and invest in either a more expensive JBL Flip 6 or UE Wonderboom 3 to move up to the next level.
Read our full Tribit Audio Stormbox Micro 2 review
Best mid-price waterproof speaker
There's nothing better than seeing style and substance come together, and that's exactly what you're getting with the rather wonderful Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 (2nd Gen). It looks the part, it sounds the part, and by Jove, it's built to last, too.
Yes, most of B&O's range looks more at home in an art gallery than stuck on the side of Skegness beach, meaning you'd be forgiven for thinking that a go-anywhere bit of Bang tech would be a little like having a portable version of Rodin's The Thinker stuffed in your backpack. Happily, the Beosound A1 is tougher than its delicate looks would suggest, and the A1's IP67 rating should mean that it's happy being subjected to a 30-minute swim up to a metre deep.
Quoted battery life is also a solid 18 hours at normal listening volume, or up to 48 hours at a more conservative level, so running out of juice halfway through your camping trip shouldn't be too much of a concern.
The A1 supports Qualcomm’s aptX Adaptive Bluetooth 5.1 codec as well as Alexa voice control, which is a bonux. Sound performance is authoritative and expansive with a weighty, pleasing bass presentation, and there's even a convenient strap for ease of transport.
It's expensive, sure, but if you have money to spend, the Beosound A1 is a rather remarkable all-rounder.
Read our full Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 (2nd Gen) review
Best premium waterproof speaker
To tackle the elements with the best sound possible, you can't go wrong with the JBL Xtreme 4. The Bose SoundLink Max is an outstanding candidate at this price, but the all-around credentials of JBL's latest Xtreme make it almost impossible not to recommend.
Simply put, the Xtreme 4 is the Xtreme 3 but better. The design is essentially the same as the older model, albeit with some small tweaks. The speaker's button layout is now a block of six rather than a linear configuration, while a tweaked base with two strips of silicon feet grants more stability and grip to the ensemble. Those changes aside, it's the same robust, IP67-rated build as the Xtreme 3, and that's no bad thing; this design served JBL well in the past.
The Xtreme 4's driver configuration follows the previous model's, with two 70mm woofers and two 20mm tweeters behind the grille and those pulsating radiators housed at either end. Sonically, things have been taken up a notch, offering up the best audio performance we've heard at this price to make one of the best-sounding Bluetooth speakers of 2024. As our review praised: "For such a chunky speaker it produces a fantastically refined sound. It produces a wonderfully clear and consistent sound across tracks: low frequencies are poised and punchy but don’t lack weight, (whereas) highs are crisp enough so they don’t feel rolled off".
New features enhance the Xtreme 4's overall credentials. Auracast lets users pair two Xtreme 4 speakers together in stereo or connect multiple compatible JBLs in a chain. It also gives the new model some element of future-proofing should new features that require the tech emerge in the coming months.
The JBL app is as user-friendly and comprehensive as ever, whereas 24 hours is a big improvement on the 15 hours of the previous model. Like the Charge 5, the Xtreme 4 will charge up connected devices via USB-C, and there's even a replaceable battery if the built-in unit gives up the ghost.
All in all, an outstanding outdoor speaker from JBL. If you've got the cash to stretch further up the price ladder, the Xtreme 4 is the speaker to go for.
Read our full JBL Xtreme 4 review
Also consider
- JBL Flip 6: Still one of our favourite portable models around and a mainstay on our list of the best Bluetooth speakers overall, the Flip 6 is unmatched at its price for its musicality, authority and sense of fun. It's IP67 rated, supremely robust and ideal for granting super sound at a reasonable cost.
- Bose SoundLink Max: The SoundLink Max is excellent. It's so good, in fact, that it could easily have made it onto the main list had it not been for the outstanding JBL Xtreme 4. Still, for giving you a rugged, ergonomic design that fires out tunes with genuine spark and dynamism, the burly Max is a five-star delight.
- Beats Pill: Beats is finding its groove again. The Beats Pill offers up a clear, clean sound and some decidedly nice bass, not to mention a travel-friendly design and outstanding IP67 rating. A solid choice for long-term Beats fans.
- Sonos Move 2: If you love Sonos and want something bigger than the Roam, try the Move 2. It's heftier than the Roam, but the Move 2 is made semi-portable thanks to its Bluetooth connectivity, built-in rear handle and solid build. That said, it's more the kind of speaker you'd take around the garden rather than much further afield.
- Sony ULT Field 1: The ULT Field 1 hasn't quite managed to overcome the JBL Flip 6 sonically, but its flexibility and strong feature set make it an attractive option. The unit's ULT boost button works well considering the size and general use case of the Field 1, while DSD sound diffusion, hands-free calling, stereo pairing and Android Fast Pair add to its credentials. Never fear, it's IP67-rated too, meaning the Sony will handle most that's thrown at it with minimal fuss.
- Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3: There is a new UE Wonderboom 4 out right now, but the third-gen model is the one we're currently recommending. Sonically, the JBL Flip 6 is our preferred performer, though there's a lot to be said for the Wonderboom 3's attractive, robust build and three-dimensional sound. Plus, heavy discounts are now making it a bargain buy.
How to choose the best waterproof speaker for you
A good waterproof rating should be high on your checklist of things to consider when choosing a waterproof speaker. The most common rating used in consumer electronics is the IP (Ingress Protection) standard, with ratings written as "IP" followed by two numbers – the first represents dust resilience, the second represents water resistance.
Those models with a rating of IPX4, for instance, are only splashproof (the 'X' means the product wasn't tested for resilience against dust ingress.) But one of the most common specifications in newer models – in the speakers listed – is IP67, meaning that particular speaker is safe to immerse in water up to 1m deep for up to 30 minutes and it's dust-proof, too. For a full explanation of the IP ratings and what they mean, check out our IP ratings explainer.
While Bluetooth is pretty much a must for these portable designs, wi-fi connectivity is less important when it comes to a waterproof speaker. Still, it's a great addition if you'll be using your speaker at home too and want to integrate it with your smart home set-up (using Amazon Alexa, Siri or Google Assistant).
Decent battery life is also a key consideration – nothing spoils a long hike or away day like a flat battery. Whether you want a budget buy or can stretch to a much pricier and more capable model, there's bound to be something for you in our recommendations above.
How we test waterproof speakers
We review hundreds of products every year at What Hi-Fi?'s state-of-the-art testing facilities, including all kinds of Bluetooth speakers, and of course waterproof ones. We test all products that come through our doors as a team of experts with over a century of combined experience, ensuring no expert opinion ever goes unheard. While we listen to all speakers in the test rooms, we also take waterproof speakers outside to test how durable they are against the rain, drizzle or even a dunk in the pool (or a sink or bath).
Every Bluetooth speaker is judged on a performance-per-pound basis, and we make sure to compare speakers with similarly-priced class leaders to help ensure we get a good sense of a speaker's performance and context in the market as well as help us settle on a final verdict score.
Outside of evaluating the audio performance of every waterproof speaker, we also test features like battery life, water resistance, Bluetooth connection strength, ease of use and set-up, among other things – including whether it's as rugged as it is claimed to be. It's important we get a full sense of both a product's practicality as well as its performance to gauge its overall value.
As a matter of course, there's no input from PR companies or sales teams when it comes to reviews, with What Hi-Fi? enjoying a sterling, decades-long reputation for delivering unbiased, honest feedback.
FAQ
How does a Bluetooth speaker work?
Bluetooth is a low-powered, short-range and low-bandwidth streaming protocol for connecting devices wirelessly. Bluetooth uses radio waves; like wi-fi but at a different scale.
A Bluetooth speaker uses this short-range Bluetooth to connect to a Bluetooth-supporting source and accept data from it. Both the speaker and source device need compatible Bluetooth codecs to send such information between them – SBC and AAC are the standard ones. A wireless speaker works similarly but relies instead on a wi-fi network connection to accept audio data transmitted from its audio source.
Pairing a Bluetooth speaker and Bluetooth device is simple: put the speaker in 'pairing mode' (usually by pressing or holding a button), go into a device's Bluetooth settings, 'scan' for available speakers and then select your device when it appears.
What are IP ratings and how do they work?
If you want a completely comprehensive rundown of what IP ratings are, how they work and why they're important, our "IP ratings explained" page is your go-to guide.
If you want the abridged version, the IPXX system is essentially a simple method of classifying audio products depending on how resistant they are to their environment, broken down into physical particles (dust, sand etc.) and liquid particles, i.e. water and other fluids. The term "IP" stands for “Ingress Protection”, so how well a product can prevent the ingress of particles into its hardware.
The IPXX rating system thus informs consumers as to how waterproof and/or dustproof a given product is, with the first number denoting resistance to physical particles and the second denoting liquids (an X means untested or unrated), with 0 being the lowest and 9 the highest. So, for example, an IP67 rating means a dust-tight speaker that can withstand full immersion for 30 minutes in water up to a meter deep.
Recent updates
- August 2024: We've replaced the outgoing JBL Xtreme 3 with the new Xtreme 4 as our pick for the best premium outdoor speaker. We've also added the Bose SoundLink Max to our 'also consider' section.
- June 2024: Added new models to our also consider section and replaced single pictures with multi-image galleries.
- March 2024: Added FAQs and an "Also Consider" section to offer more alternative buying options for readers.
- November 2023: What Hi-Fi? Award winners labelled after the 2023 Awards Best Buys and Product of the Year announcements.
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IP ratings explained: how waterproof are your headphones?
