The best Bluetooth speakers get better every year: we get improved batteries to deliver even more volume, wider connectivity and a dizzying array of designs. The market is so competitive that ‘good enough’ just isn’t good enough to stand out anymore, and this means that the speakers launched and launched in 2026 are often exceptional.
The first six months of 2026 have been fantastic for audio fans, with a range of very good portable speakers to cover pretty much every niche. There are ridiculously loud party speakers that will annoy your neighbors, small portables that are perfect for podcasts, small speakers that are ideal for when you shower and go anywhere, portable gaming—everything for the great outdoors. And we’ve tested a ton of them with in-depth reviews.
So I’ve picked out the five best Bluetooth speakers we’ve reviewed so far in 2026, now that we’re halfway through the year. The products I’ve chosen here are by no means the only Bluetooth speakers launching in 2026—for example, there was IKEA’s $10 Kallsup speaker, which is so cheap you can buy stacks of them to make a musical pyramid, which we also tried. I also haven’t featured stationary wireless speakers that might include Bluetooth, but tend to be more focused on Wi-Fi – we’re all about the portable options here.
I’ve chosen my top five based on our in-depth testing, their price tags and how well I think they’ll fit into most people’s lives.
5. Tribit Stormbox Micro 3
- List price of $64.99 / £62.99 (approx AU$130)
- Published in April 2026
- Rating: 4.5/5
The budget Bluetooth sector is absolutely packed with affordable options, but it’s hard to beat the Tribit Stormbox Micro 3: it’s super cheap even at full price, and it’s often discounted from its launch price of $64.99 / £62.99 (about AU$130).
With 24 hours of battery life, a solid build and IP68 dust and water resistance, it’s a great go-anywhere speaker, and although its single 48mm driver is small, it’s surprisingly powerful with impressive bass for such a compact design. We really like the sound that the Micro 3 delivers: it’s a good all-rounder for music, podcasts and audiobooks.
Read our Tribit Stormbox Micro 3 review
4. Marshall Bromley 450
- List price of $799.99 / £549.99 / AU$1,079
- Available from 31 March 2026
- Rating: 4/5
The Marshall Bromley 450 is the marginally more sensible member of the Bromley party speaker range: it’s considerably cheaper than its very expensive siblings, but still puts out a whopping 400W of Class D amplification – and it can keep playing for over 40 hours, albeit not at full volume. With a list price of $799.99 / £549.00 / AU$1,079, it’s still quite expensive, but you get a lot for your money.
In our review of the Marshall Bromley 450, we praised its 360-degree sound and noted that you can pair it with another Bromley over Auracast if 400W doesn’t rock the building enough. And as someone who has carried many Marshall amps up and down venue stairs, I love that it reflects the design of classic Marshall amps and cabinets. Like most of my favorite rock bands, it’s a little bit ridiculous and hugely entertaining.
Read our Marshall Bromley 450 Review
3. JBL Go 5
- List price of $54.95 / £39.99 (approx AU$75)
- Published in April 2026
- Rating: 5/5
JBL is one of the most well-known brands in the Bluetooth speaker space, and it consistently delivers very impressive products with equally impressive prices. Last year’s JBL Flip 7 and JBL Charge 6 are firm favorites of ours, and this year JBL has updated its sweet JBL Go ultraportable.
We gave this new model the full five stars in our JBL Go 5 review, calling it “the best small Bluetooth speaker” – while the 4.8W output means it’s hardly a party speaker, it delivers impressive sound from its small enclosure, along with attractive edge lighting and a durable, waterproof design. It’s one of the best-sounding small speakers we’ve ever tested.
Read our JBL Go 5 review
2. Sonos Play
- List price of $299 / £299 / AU$499
- Published on March 31, 2026
- Rating: 4.5/5
So far we’ve been focused on just Bluetooth speakers, but now let’s turn to a portable option that can also be used in multi-room setups over Wi-Fi. Sonos is the big name in that space, and the Sonos Play is an excellent new addition to the Sonos range, whether you want it to fly solo, take it with you on your travels or use it as part of a wider Sonos setup.
It’s slightly more expensive than the competition, but the Sonos Play delivers powerful and well-rounded sound, has excellent streaming support and connectivity options including Hi-Res Audio over Wi-Fi, and its USB-C port can be used as an audio input: you can get an adapter that allows you to connect a turntable or other wired audio source.
It delivers up to 24 hours of battery life and sits on a nifty charging cradle when you don’t need to take up that space, meaning you can grab and go in an instant without unplugging.
Read our Sonos Play review
1. JBL Xtreme 5
- List price of $399.95 / £329.99 (approx AU$560)
- Launched in April 2026
- Rating: 5/5
This beast makes the JBL Go 5 look like it was made into a Lego figure. The robust, thick and very loud JBL Xtreme 5 is a bit of a beast, delivering fascinating bass from its rather hefty frame. It is marginally larger than its predecessor, but the sound is also larger.
As we said in our review, “this is how you upgrade. This model has more power, punchier sound, lighting for extra beauty points and an even more durable build than last time.” It’s also solidly built, reminiscent of the old Nokia phones where if you dropped them you were more likely to break the ground than your phone.
Dustproof, waterproof and with a long-lasting battery that keeps the party going for up to 28 hours, the JBL Xtreme 5 is exceptional – but if it’s just a little too heavy for you, the 2025 JBL Charge 6 is also very good.
Read our JBL Extreme 5 review
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