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Itching to play your music, podcasts, or Netflix when on the road, but stumped on what type of portable speakers to buy? We’ve asked our readers to choose the best portable Bluetooth speaker for travel, and their picks speak volumes!
Best Small Bluetooth Speakers
Written by: Tae Haahr
Table Of Contents
Hopefully, travel for you means relaxing, and some like having music, or other media to do that. If you’re headed out for a trip and want to bring the best portable wireless Bluetooth speaker that’s compact, our readers happily share their top picks to help you decide.
Whether you’re looking for range, quality, bass, or waterproof, we’ve got something for everyone on our list, and they’re budget-minded to ease the wallet and worry if it gets lost somehow!
What Are the Best Mini Speakers for Travel?
Editor’s Pick for Best Bluetooth Portable Speaker: Veho
The TFG editor swears by Veho and rates this brand the best portable mini Bluetooth speakers for their power and usability. Not only is it Bluetooth capable, but it also has a built-in MP3 player that can house a selection of songs that you simply plug in with an SD card.
This travel speaker is packable, less than three inches and has a rechargeable battery (which has to be transported in your carry-on), with six hours playtime before needing to charge it again,
TFG editor-in-chief Alex has been traveling with this speaker for over four years and loves its compact size and sound quality. It’s simply perfect to cart along anywhere!
Find some more great travel gadgets for your next trip!
Wonderboom Portable Waterproof Speaker
Best Mini Wireless Speaker for Under $10: Wonderboom
The Wonderboom is truly a great deal with a price tag that’s under $10! It’s lightweight and tiny, making it easy to pack and put in a daybag on your travels.
One reader who uses this speaker says, “Wonderboom is waterproof and travels with me everywhere including sailing trips.”
It’s shockproof, durable, and comes with a carrying case so it’s safe when you pack it in your carry-on. It’s called “semi-waterproof,” so a few drops of water won’t affect it, but don’t take a chance with a whole glass of water!
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Altec Lansing Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker
Best Waterproof Portable Bluetooth Speaker Under $50: Altec
The Altec compact size and ability to play from long distances make it one of the best mini portable speakers for range. You can listen up to 30-feet away when you’re using it. Because it is waterproof and floats, it makes a stupendous beach or outdoor speaker for some fun times!
A TFG reader shares her experience, “I bought this for my husband and he loves it, small, great price, and waterproof.”
It holds a six-hour charge to create memorable beach excursions and is lightweight and fits easily into a backpack. When out and about, just clip it using a carabiner for a hands-free experience!
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Anker Soundcore Mini 3 Bluetooth Speaker
Best Sounding Portable Bluetooth Speaker: Anker
The Anker SoundCore is recommended by TFG readers for its durability and the fact it’s waterproof. It’s also one of the best Bluetooth mini speakers for another reason: pocket-sized dimensions with size-defying sound.
A reader says it “works great” and you can truly take it anywhere by attaching it with the included string to your backpack, bike, belt loop, or anything else! Listen for up to eight hours on a single charge and bonus—if you want more sound just pair two minis together!
And if you’re a fan of this brand, the Anker Soundcore subwoofer has a lot of power and also plays up to 15 hours. And it fits into small spaces, including a handbag! The only thing though is that it’s not waterproof, just a small detail we think!
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WEYANG Waterproof Bluetooth Wireless Speakers
Best Portable Bluetooth Speaker Under $50: WEYANG
When looking for the best buy mini speakers, readers recommend WEYANG. One shares she’s been using it for six years and it’s still working great. It can also integrate with your phone so you can take calls or your other devices.
This will connect with any of your Bluetooth enabled devices has a distance of 33 feet away. It has a whopping 10 hours of listening time due to the built-in rechargebable lithium battery. This tiny speaker booms out great sound quality for any occasion, be it travel or for use at home.
If you’re old-school and prefer to still plug in a speaker to your devices, the Rokono collapses into a packable ball that travels well and has a 3.5-millimeter cable to connect to a phone, tablet, or laptop and is considered to be the best wired mini speakers by our readers.
Find out which reading device is best for you!
OontZ Angle 3 Ultra Bluetooth Speaker
Best Portable Bluetooth Speaker with Bass: OontZ
If you’re looking for the best mini wireless speakers for bass quality, TFG readers recommend the OontZ which has three angled speakers. Not only is the sound quality good, but it has a 100-foot range so you don’t have to sit next to it with your device for it to work.
One reader adores this one so much she gives them away, saying, “I love this little speaker. Have gifted it several times.”
Its battery life can last up to 20 hours on a single charge. And it’s weather and splashproof, so you can bring it poolside—though it’s recommended that you don’t take it in the pool with you!
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JBL Clip 3 Portable Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker
Best Bluetooth Speaker Under $100: JBL
If you want something that’s easy to cart around with you, the JBL Clip 3 has a built-in carabiner clip and good sound quality for such a tiny thing.
It’s Bluetooth capable, splash-proof (though don’t bring it swimming with you), and even allows you to take calls. With the ability to play audio for up to 10 hours on the rechargeable battery, this portable and packable speaker packs a punch.
These are the best mini Bluetooth speakers for being out and about and enjoying a park or streaming Netflix in your accommodation. One reader shares, “I really like our JBL Clip. We’ve had it for three years and it still works great!”
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SoundLink® Micro Bluetooth® Speaker
Best Bose Bluetooth Speaker: SoundLink
Bose is a popular brand among our readers and the TFG editor-in-chief loves them too! We adore them so much, we did a review on the Bose QuietComfort noise cancelling headphones! Their SoundLink Bluetooth speaker is no different and will have your head bopping with joy.
This puppy has a 30-foot range, is water-resistant, plays up to 8 hours, and comes with a USB charging cable to keep your tunes or Netflix going and is worth the slightly higher price point. Not only that, it’s resistant to scratches and dents, which means this tough cookie can handle the rigors of travel!
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EWA A106 Portable Mini Bluetooth Speaker
Best Mini Portable Speaker Under $20: EWA
So tiny it fits between your fingers, the EWA mini bluetooth speaker may seem small but can pound out the bass, for up to 4-6 hours on battery life and it comes with a metal hook and case so it’s super portable but it’ll also be protected wherever you take it—whether the beach, hiking, traveling, or at an Airbnb.
And just how small is it? At 6.2 ounces i’t totally wins for “tiniest best speaker” out there!
MiLi Magnetic Small Bluetooth Speaker
Best Magentic Compact Speaker for Devices: MiLi
A truly nifty thing, the MiLi magnetic speaker is able to be affixed to any metallic surface, including your phone, mini tablet, laptop, and more. But it also comes with two metal rings that can be placed on non-metal surfaces, like a wall.
The battery life lasts 8 hours and takes about 1.5 hours to charge. And bonus? If attaching to your phone, it acts as a stand as well! An awesome travel companion which is easy to keep track of when attached to your devices.
Insiq Smallest Portable Bluetooth Speaker
Best Smallest Wireless Speaker for Mobile Phones: INSIQ
If you’re looking for a bluetooth speaker that you don’t need to set on a table, the INSIQ is very, very compact at 1.2” wide (about size of a quarter!) and at about 2.1 ounces! And it comes in numerous fun colors too.
Though it doesn’t have more than 2 hours of play, it’s a super handy accessory to take along when out and about for shorter excursions or a quick plane ride, and it comes with a phone strap to carry it around easily. Despite the size, users describe it has having strong sound and the coverage goes to 30 feet.
Compass Rose International Power Adapter
How Do I Power My Mini Bluetooth Speaker?
If you plan on taking your devices and a wireless speaker on a trip overseas, you’ll need to bring a travel adapter, and in some cases a converter to account for different voltages, dependant on everything you end up packing. Since most Bluetooth speakers operate on USB charging, you’ll likely only need a travel adapter.
Determine whether you need a travel adapter or a converter in this video!
However, in order to understand the difference between an adaptor and converter watch the video above to learn more. A simple way to remember it is, an adapter fits the outlets and a converter changes the electrical current so your electronics don’t blow a fuse!
Compass Rose Carryon Size Packing Cubes: Slim Size Cubes | Medium Size Cubes
Packing Ideas for Your Bluetooth Speaker
A portable Bluetooth speaker can be packed in several ways, either in a laptop bag or a specific carrying case for electronic cords and such. However, if you want to pack your speaker in a carry-on another way to store it is by using packing cubes. Simply wrap the speaker in some clothes and slip it inside a packing cube.
Many of our readers use Compass Rose Packing Cubes to organize and compress their clothing and other items they plan to bring. These packing cubes are the only ones on the market with a number and color-coded system, so you know where you packed everything.
And now the Compass Rose Packing Cubes are offered in two sizes: slim and medium. The slim size cubes measure 13” x 5” x 2.8”, and the medium size cubes measure 2.8” x 13” x 8.5”. Both fit an international carry-on suitcase. Users say the medium size is great for bulkier items!
We put together a five-part YouTube series showing the different methods to use packing cubes for travel. If you use this specific packing strategy, packing cubes can also compress your belongings. This is the secret to traveling carry-on only!
Learn our hacks with packing cubes in this video!
They’re truly the best packing cubes. Our readers rave about them! Buy them here!
Compass Rose Digital Luggage Scale
Not many people are familiar with luggage scales, but they’re incredibly helpful when you’re a frequent traveler.
We recommend bringing along a lightweight luggage scale to weigh your cases before going to the airport. This will ensure you are below the weight limit and avoid extra charges.
With a compact luggage scale in hand, you’ll never have to worry about excess baggage fees!
What do you think is the best portable Bluetooth speaker for travel? Share and comment below!
For more electronics for travel, please read:
- Travel Electronics: Staying Connected on the Road
- Bose QuietComfort 20 Review: Noise Cancelling Headphones
- Business Travel Essentials: 15 Products to Simplify Your Life
- What are the Best Noise Cancelling Headphones for Travel?
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