Best Bluetooth Speakers under $100 in 2018 – Buyer’s Guide

Do you own a Bluetooth speaker yet? There was a time we would have said to save your money and blood pressure, and skip the Bluetooth speakers. Not anymore. Audio quality in recent years has skyrocketed, and Bluetooth technology is finally to the point where awesome, accurate, consistent sound can miraculously be transmitted through Bluetooth and come out the other end sounding pretty close to perfect. And if Bluetooth isn’t your style, all the speakers on our list come with wire connections as well.

Take a look at our top picks for portable Bluetooth speakers you can snag for less than $100! Each of these speakers comes highly recommended and has its own personality, strengths, and features. Read on, we think you’ll find just what you’re looking for!

1. JBL Flip 2Best for Being Well Rounded

Here’s a speaker that can keep up with you. Not only does it produce excellent, clear sound, but that’s only the beginning. With impressive volume capability and range, it also boasts a microphone and SoundClear echo cancelling technology for hands-free phone calls and the best “Okay Google”ing. We love that it has a rechargeable battery and also allows charging with a standard mini-USB cable. Comes in five colors (even bright yellow!) and includes a carrying case.

2. Anker Premium Stereo Bluetooth SpeakerBest for Getting a Screaming Deal

This Amazon #1 Best Seller is the spirit of a stage speaker trapped in a portable speaker’s body. Excellent audio comes from double 10W drivers and two subwoofers with MaxxBass technology. We like the convenient controls and sleek look of both the black and white options. We also like the booming bass and unreal volume that comes out of this comparatively small speaker (it only weighs 1.4 pounds). Perfect for parties, but don’t be surprised when your guests can’t figure out where the music is coming from! And hallelujah for Bluetooth 4.0, which keeps the connection strong so you can stop worrying about the music dropping in and out and start worrying about the deplorable state of your moonwalk.

3. ARCHEER 25W Bluetooth SpeakersBest for Quality Construction

Why do speakers all have to look like spaceships? Here’s a classier option with a natural bamboo finish and a decidedly mid-century modern look. Sounds even better than it looks, too. Two drivers and a strong 15W subwoofer make for soaring highs, clear mids, and tight lows—a perfectly balanced, warm sound. This is a speaker that was engineered and built with precision and care, and it shows in the consistency of beautiful tones it delivers. The Bluetooth 4.0 makes for a reliable connection, and we like that it charges with a standard mini USB for convenience. Battery-powered speakers shouldn’t sound this good, but ARCHEER has defied the odds with this beauty. Comes with cords, a carrying case, and an 18-month warranty.

4. Anker SoundCoreBest for All-nighters

Anker has sung and danced its way into our hearts with some of the highest quality speakers you can buy for this kind of money. Another Amazon #1 Best Seller, this little engine knows it can! With a jaw-dropping 24 hours of play time, it also features cutting-edge Bluetooth 4.0 for a connection range of over 60 feet. No wooly bass here—the SoundCore features a unique spiral bass port that keeps the bass controlled and minimizes distortion. It also happens to be the size of a smart phone and weigh 12 ounces. Never has a speaker been so convenient. Charge it once, put it in your bag, and take it with you all day—and night!

5. JBL Flip 3Best for Adventurous Types

Is an adventurer you? Don’t leave home without the splash-proof portable JBL Flip 3. Make calls with the integrated microphone and noise cancellation. Take it to the beach or in the shower thanks to the water-resistant rubber housing (JBL even suggests cleaning it in the sink, as long as you don’t completely submerge it underwater). Enjoy up to 10 hours of playtime between charges. And bask in the balanced, warm sound created in this surprisingly small, surprisingly sturdy Bluetooth speaker. Another fun perk—this speaker can be daisy-chained for a surround sound experience

6. UE ROLL 2Best for Indiana Jones

Speaking of adventures, the UE ROLL 2 is not only totally portable with a bungee attachment for strapping on, but it also can handle being completely submerged in water for up to 30 minutes. It even comes with a floatie so you can keep your tunes with you in the pool. We like that it can be controlled either directly through Bluetooth, or through a convenient app. All this, not to mention 9 hours of battery life and impressive sound for a speaker that weighs half a pound! As with any super-small speaker, the bass isn’t going to burst your eardrums, but it beats your cell phone’s tinny speaker by miles and miles. The unique design doesn’t just look great—it also affords 360° audio and unmatched flexibility. We also love that multiple speakers can connect to each other, and two Bluetooth devices can connect at once. It also looks great clipped on your belt next to your fanny pack. (Didn’t you hear? Apparently, they’re back.) Take it anywhere with ease. Seriously. A-ny-where.

7. Sony SRSXB3 SpeakerBest for Trap Rap

Sony has won its reputation fair and square for excellent audio quality. This speaker is no exception, and we love that it’s been engineered specifically to pump the bass for a full-bodied sound. It’s perfect for home workouts where you just can’t do another burpee to the harsh, tinny sound coming from your laptop’s speakers. When you can’t even. Because “Bad And Boujee” DEMANDS some bass. So here’s your solution, bass lovers. Oh, and it’s also water resistant, connectable through NFC and Bluetooth, and good for up to 12 hours of continuous play time. The nifty color options have us totally sold. Thank you, Sony!

8. RIVA S Premium Wireless Bluetooth SpeakerBest for Accuracy

They call this little speaker premium for a reason, you guys. This is THE low-cost portable speaker for audiophiles. The sound is true to life, accurate—no pumped-up bass or distortion at high volumes here. While the speaker does not get overly loud, the audio quality is unmatched in this price range. What does that mean for you? Clear, easily deciphered dialogue (movie buffs, rejoice). Warm, smooth music. A listening experience that feels more like a professional sound setup than a portable Bluetooth speaker. We also love that RIVA has updated its firmware to add a power feature, for tracks that could use some extra volume. If you love a rich, beautiful sound, we highly recommend the RIVA S.

9. B&O PLAY S3Best for Incredible Value

Here’s the thing. If you know much about speakers, then you’ve heard of Bang & Olufsen. If not, we’d like to educate you. B&O has been in the audio business for nearly 100 years and sets the bar worldwide for sound quality. Their speakers are high-end, attractive, long-lasting, full and rich sounding, and… well, expensive. So, we’re just a little bit excited that the PLAY S3 is available to us huddled masses with normal-sized bank accounts and negative net worth (we’re looking at you, art history majors). The best thing is that the relatively low cost of these speakers lends itself to purchasing TWO of these bad boys. One sounds great, but two sound simply amazing. This speaker reproduces sound with precision and accuracy, and the polymer body is rugged and gives consistent audio depth and richness. We could keep gushing about this speaker, but we think you should just see for yourself. Check it out.