Best waterproof speakers for 2024: top water-resistant speakers
Best waterproof speakers: Quick Menu
You need one of the best waterproof speakers if you like listening to music outdoors because nobody wants your speaker to be ruined by a sudden storm or an accidental drop in a pool or puddle.
We've reviewed hundreds of speakers over the years, which means we know what to look for when it comes to audio quality, robust design and, of course, best-in-class waterproofing.
Each one of the best waterproof speakers, like the options in our best Bluetooth speakers guide, has been thoroughly tested by the TechRadar team, which includes comparing each model against class-leaders at the level.
If portability and waterproofing aren't your top priorities and you need excellent sound that never leaves your living room, take a look at our best party speakers guide or best wireless speakers roundup. Prefer a more intimate device to soundtrack your swims? Take a look at our best bone conduction headphones and our best waterproof headphones roundups. Otherwise, read on for our selection of the best waterproof speakers you can buy today.
Written by
Written byBecky Scarrott
Senior Staff Writer, AudioBecky is a senior TechRadar writer (which she has been assured refers to expertise rather than age) focusing on all things audio. Before joining the team in early 2022, she spent three years at What Hi-Fi? reviewing everything from wallet-friendly wireless earbuds to huge high-end sound systems.
The quick list
Want to cut to the chase and find out which waterproof speakers are the absolute best? Below, you’ll find a roundup of our choices for different needs. You can also jump to a more detailed review of each product, and the best deals on them online.
Best overall
1. Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3
Best for most people
With a low price, small size and long battery life, the Wonderboom 3 ticks all the boxes you'd want from a waterproof speaker that you can take anywhere.
Best budget
2. Tribit Audio Stormbox Micro 2
Best budget option
Don't let its small compact size and equally small price tag fool you, this hardy speaker is packed full of great features and has superb sound quality for its design.
Best mid-range
3. JBL Flip 6
Best mid-range
Sometimes simple is often best and JBL is simply the best at doing simple. Its limited features mean that the focus is on sound quality, with the added bonus of multipoint pairing.
Best multi-room
4. Sonos Roam
Best for multi-room connectivity
Sonos knows how to do portable speakers well and the Roam is the best it has ever made so far. It has powerful sound, a rugged design and excellent connectivity.
Best for sound
5. B&O Beosound A1 Gen 2
Best for audiophiles
Bluetooth speakers come in all shapes and sizes but B&O is our pick of the crop when it comes to great design and supremum sound. This is an audiophile's dream for balanced audio.
Best for charge
6. JBL Charge 5
Best for charging
Who wants to carry around more than they need to? Doubling as both a charger for your devices and a waterproof speaker, this is an all in one solution for the tech connoisseur.
Load the next 3 products...
Best for battery
7. B&O Beosound Explore
Best for battery life
If you're looking for a tough and rugged speaker to take with you anywhere, then you don't want the music to stop when you're far from a plug, which won't be a problem here.
Best for parties
8. Tribit Stormbox Blast
Best for parties
This isn't exactly the lightest portable speaker, but it's worth the extra weight when you hear the big room-filling sound it can achieve (plus the flashy lights do turn off if you don't like them).
Best for features
9. Sony SRS-XG300
Best for features
From charging your phone and a long battery life to accessing premium Sony features like LDAC support, this speaker delivers above and beyond just a great sound.
The best waterproof speakers of 2024
Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
Below you'll find full write-ups for each of the best waterproof speakers in our list. We've tested each one extensively, so you can be sure that our recommendations can be trusted.
The best waterproof speaker overall
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The best waterproof speaker overall
Specifications
Weight: 14.8oz/420g
Battery life: 14 hours
Wireless range: 131feet
Drivers: 2x 40mm active drivers, 2x 46.1mm x 65.2mm passive radiators
USB charging: Yes (micro)
Waterproof rating: IP67
Reasons to buy
+Compact and lightweight
+Long-lasting battery
Reasons to avoid
-MicroUSB charging
-Struggles at higher volumes
Ultimate Ears didn't make that many upgrades to the Wonderboom 3 compared to its predecessor but sometimes if it ain't broke, why fix it? The second-generation Ultimate Ears Wonderboom was at the top of our best waterproof speaker list long (long) after its 2019 debut but since it has been discontinued, we've since replaced it for this third-generation, which is just as rugged, loud and feature-rich.
Although the UE Wonderboom 3 looks nearly identical to its original mould (released in 2013) and the second-generation model, Ultimate Ears has added some small upgrades (albeit not many) to the Wonderboom 3, including increased battery life from 13 hours to 14 hours and an increased Bluetooth range from 100 to 131 feet. It can also still be paired with other UE Wonderboom speakers in either mono or stereo mode to amplify sound.
It's only a small update, but with the Wonderboom 2 now discontinued, naturally this replaces it as the best waterproof speaker to suit most peoples' needs. There are few small niggles, including a micro USB charging port instead of USB-C and a lack of 3.5mm aux-in, but putting those aside the Wonderboom 3 is still fantastic value for money if you're looking for tunes on the go.
Read our full Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 review
The best budget waterproof speaker
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The best for portability and battery life
Specifications
Weight: 0.69 pounds
Battery life: 12 hours
Wireless range: 100+ feet
Frequency response: 70Hz-20kHz
Drivers: 48mm
NFC: Yes
Aux-in: No
USB charging: Yes, USB-C
Waterproof rating: IP67
Reasons to buy
+Great sound quality for the size
+Incredible value
Reasons to avoid
-No 3.5mm line-in for wired listening
-Can't chain with older models
Haven't heard of Tribit before? You're not alone. The Chinese audio specialist doesn't have the big-brand clout of heavy-hitters such as JBL, Sony and Bose in the best Bluetooth speaker realm. However, its latest speaker, the Stormbox Micro 2, is not only an improvement on the original Stormbox Micro, but is an extremely portable speaker that's excellent value for money at only $60 / £60 (around AU$86) with features you'd never expect at this price and a beefy, crisp sound that will bring even more fun to your picnic, hike or campfire.
The Micro 2 is about the size of a stack of drinks coasters, and it has a handy strap on the underside so you can attach it to a bag strap or your bike's handlebars. It weighs 315g and has an IP67 dust- and waterproof rating, making it perfect for taking to the beach, pool or anywhere else. It has 12 hours of battery life at moderate volume, which we found accurate during testing. This is great considering you'll only get five from similarly-sized options such as the JBL Go 3.
You can also pair two Stormbox Micro 2 speakers together to get either 'Party' (read: mono) sound or create a stereo pair. Although it's a little disappointing to see you must have two Micro 2s to pair them up at all, so you can't daisy-chain other original Stormbox Micros as you can with JBL's PartyBoost tech or the UE WonderBoom 2 and original Wonderboom. But that's a relatively small gripe at this level.
Read our full Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 review
The best mid-range waterproof speaker
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Great-for-the-price speakers with a well-balanced, bassy sound
Specifications
Weight: 1.2 pounds
Battery life: 12 hours
Wireless range: Not listed
Frequency response: 63Hz - 20kHz
Drivers: 16mm dome tweeter, 45x80mm bass driver and 2x passive radiators
NFC: No
Aux-in: No
USB charging: No
Waterproof rating: IP67
Reasons to buy
+Well-balanced, bassy sound
+Simple to use
Reasons to avoid
-No charging port for your phone
-No voice assistant
The JBL Flip 6 is a prime example of a Bluetooth speaker that sticks to the basics, and gets it right. This rugged portable speaker is super simple to use, sounds good, and can be paired with up to 100 other JBL speakers at once to create a huge wall of sound.
You won't find extra features like voice assistants or Wi-Fi connectivity, but the Flip 6 sounds so good that you won't miss them. We found that its warm, well-balanced audio performance is far more powerful than you might expect from a speaker of this size, and while we felt that trebles can sound a little harsh at higher volumes, you're getting plenty of clarity and detail.
A 12-hour battery life and IP67 water and dustproofing makes this an ideal speaker to take to the pool or beach, and it's available in an array of eye-catching colors. It's a shame it doesn't have a port to charge your phone, like larger JBL Charge speakers do, but that's not a big deal.
Like the JBL Flip 5 before it, the Flip 6 is an ideal speaker for anyone who wants to simply play their music, crank it up loud, sit back and enjoy – whether you're listening at home or on the go.
Read the full JBL Flip 6 review
The best waterproof speaker for multi-room connectivity
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The best premium waterproof speaker with lots of bass
Specifications
Weight: 0.95 pounds
Battery life: 10 hours
Wireless range: 100+ feet
Frequency response: N/A
Drivers: One tweeter, one mid-woofer
NFC: Yes
Aux-in: No
USB charging: Yes (USB-C)
Waterproof rating: IP67
Reasons to buy
+Powerful audio performance
+Easily portable design
Reasons to avoid
-Fairly pricey compared to rivals
-Bass can be overwhelming
The Sonos Roam is our pick for the best Bluetooth speaker on the planet, and with an IP67 dust and water resistance rating, it can handle the great outdoors with ease. Following in the footsteps of the Sonos Move, the Sonos Roam comes with both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, which means it can work as an outdoor speaker as well as part of your wider multi-room Sonos system. Plus, with Google Assistant and Alexa onboard, it doubles up a smart speaker too.
During our tests, we found this mini Sonos speaker to deliver a powerful sound, and that alone makes it a sound investment, especially for the more discerning listeners. Add in its rugged design, excellent connectivity features, and smart home control, and you're getting the full package. A bass-heavy audio performance makes it ideal for use outdoors, while a clever Automatic Switching feature means it's easily used indoors, too – though audiophiles may take issue with the occasionally-overwhelming low frequencies.
Read our full Sonos Roam review
The best waterproof speaker for sound
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The best waterproof speaker for audiophiles
Specifications
Weight: 1.2 pounds (0.54kg)
Battery life: 24 hours
Wireless range: 30m (100ft)
Frequency response: 55 - 20,000 Hz
Connectivity : Bluetooth
Drivers: N/A
NFC: No
Aux-in: No
USB charging: USB-C
Waterproof rating: IP67
Reasons to buy
+Crisp sound quality
+Tough but lightweight design
Reasons to avoid
-Flawed Alexa support
-Buttons are tricky to find
Almost identical to the original A1, the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 (2nd Gen) is an appealing and highly portable Bluetooth speaker that comes with (admittedly flawed) Alexa support without the need for Wi-Fi.
The puck- or even burger-shaped speaker looks sophisticated, while its IP67 water and dust resistance rating means it's more robust than it looks, making it suitable for use outdoors and it can take a dunking.
We found that its crisp audio performance and 360-degree soundstage makes the A1 ideal for soundtracking small gatherings. The impeccable balance between bass, mid and treble means that compared to a lot of Bluetooth speakers, it's like we were enjoying our favorite songs as if we were listening to them for the first time. Music is exciting, punchy and energetic, yet it achieves this without overloading the bass, or pushing the treble so far that it loses realism. It's what you expect from B&O (and for a premium price), but still – this is the best smaller portable speaker for hardcore music lovers.
Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity means that the speaker is easy to pair with your smartphone, while built-in Alexa voice assistance means it can double up as a smart speaker. The A1 is the first speaker to offer Alexa support without needing to be connected to your home Wi-Fi network – and while this is impressive in itself, we did find that the voice assistant was sometimes quite slow to respond to our commands, since it's routing over Bluetooth to your phone, and your phone is then making the request over whatever internet connection it has… which won't always be great.
Read our full Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 (2nd Gen) review
The best waterproof speaker for charging and listening
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A feature-rich waterproof speaker with room for expansion
Specifications
Weight: 2.11 pounds
Battery life: Up to 20 hours
Wireless range: About 50 ft
Frequency response: 60Hz–20kHz
Drivers: N/A
NFC: No
Aux-in: No
USB charging: Yes
Waterproof rating: IP67
Reasons to buy
+Balanced, powerful sound
+Long battery life
Reasons to avoid
-Long charge time
-Distortion at high volume
The JBL Charge 5 is still JBL's most recent Charge, having been released in April 2021. Thankfully, it inherited the Charge 4's winning formula, boasting the Charge series' balanced sound, high volume and long battery life. Back too are features that made it a winner, including a built-in power bank and the ability to connect with other compatible JBL speakers for a boost in volume and surround sound power.
At the same time, we found during our tests that this isn't just another iteration. It actually improves on just about every aspect of what makes these speakers great. That means fans of the line will be very happy to upgrade, even if it is a little pricier than its predecessor.
Naturally, it's dust and waterproof as well with a rating of IP67, aka total protection against dust and airborne particles as well as a high level of waterproofing – up to one meter of immersion, for up to 30 minutes – against freshwater and other liquids. If you want a great sounding waterproof speaker with nice features and high level of protection, this is worth the investment.
Read our full JBL Charge 5 review
The best waterproof speaker for battery life
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The longest-lasting waterproof speaker
Specifications
Weight: 637g
Battery life: 27 hours
Frequency response: N/A
Drivers: 2 x 1.8” Full Range Drivers
Aux-in: No
USB charging: Yes
Waterproof rating: IP67
Reasons to buy
+Excellent musical detail and insight
+Far more durable than classy looks suggest
Reasons to avoid
-A touch lean through the bass
-Tough competition – even from B&O itself
The Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore is an excellent go anywhere, do anything Bluetooth speaker. Designed like a tall cappuccino, it has a striking look and an even more striking sound that's both detailed and insightful.
While it's certainly not the cheapest option on the market when it comes to portable Bluetooth speakers, the Beosound Explore is Bang & Olufsen's most modestly-priced offering in the portability space.
It's also very outdoor friendly, with a long-lasting battery life of 27 hours, Bluetooth 5.2 and a durable quality design that has a scratch-resistant hard anodised shell – it even comes with a bundled carabiner to attach it to your backpack.
Read our full Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore review
The best waterproof speaker for parties
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The best waterproof speaker for room-filling sound
Specifications
Weight: 12 pounds (5.45kg)
Battery life: 30 hours
Wireless range: 40m
Frequency response: Not specified
Connectivity : Bluetooth
Drivers: 2x 4.2-in 30W woofers, 2x 1.2-in 15W tweeters
NFC: No
Aux-in: Yes
USB charging: USB-C, plus USB-A for charging your device
Waterproof rating: IPX7
Reasons to buy
+Meaty, room-filling, talented sound
+Simple and easy-to-use control panel
Reasons to avoid
-Lacks mics for speakerphone duties
-No dustproof rating
The Tribit Stormbox Blast is an unusual speaker and there are a few things you need to know before you consider it: it's quite heavy and you can't turn those lights off completely – although you can make it so they only pop up when you're switching the volume levels.
Honestly, it's not the subtlest looking device we've tested. But that's where the criticism ends. The Stormbox Blast is the biggest and most powerful Bluetooth speaker in Tribit's ever-growing arsenal of portable speakers and it sounds every inch as detailed – even at higher volumes – as models from better-known audio specialists at three times the price.
Want a shy, retiring sound so as not to irritate your neighbors? Look elsewhere, and it's important to note that during our tests, we found the difference of two to three volume increments was enough to go from too quiet to too loud indoors, if you want quiet background playlists.
But Tribit has made no secret of wanting to bring the party to both your ears and your body, and it has emphatically delivered. This thing can go loud and still sound good when it does. If you're worried whether one speaker will be enough for the garden party, it will here – and for this money, it represents unbeatable sound-per-pound value.
Read our full Tribit Stombox Blast review
The best waterproof speaker for features
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A feature-rich waterproof speaker that will surprise you
Specifications
Weight: 1.19 pounds
Battery life: 25 hours
Frequency response: 20 Hz - 20,000 Hz (44.1 kHz sampling)
Drivers: Tweeter Unit: approx 20mm, Woofer Unit: approx. 61mm x 68mm
Aux-in: Yes
USB charging: Yes
Waterproof rating: IP67
Reasons to buy
+Access to Sony's high-res LDAC codec
+Detailed, exuberant sound
Reasons to avoid
-Expensive compared to rivals
The Sony SRS-XG300 may not be the cheapest Bluetooth speaker but its packed full of so many features, including the ability to charge your phone, access to a great control app and up to 25 hours of battery life, that you can start to understand why the brand is asking for such a price.
The headline-grabbing draw for us, though, is the LDAC support, which is available through Sony's proprietary hi-res codec that can stream high-resolution audio up to 32-bit/96kHz over Bluetooth at up to 990kbps.
It's what make the sound quality standout from the rest. As we said in our review, "the taut, grippy, agile and exciting bass you get from this thing has to be heard to be believed, and vocals are admirably textured and placed centrally in an expansive mix".
Read our full Sony SRS-XG300 review
How to choose the best waterproof speaker
The first thing you need to know is that the best outdoor waterproof speakers can protect the internal circuitry and drivers nestling inside your speaker from splashes, rain and water-based wear such as being dropped in puddles or pools.
But not all waterproof ratings are equal, and it's vital that you get something that is at least IPX7 rated. Seen an IP67 speaker? Good, that means that in addition to waterproofing, the speaker has also been tested against sand and dust ingress — the 'X' in IPX7 just means the model hasn't been tested for this. Planning to hang out at the beach a lot? Look for IP67.
The '7' here signifies that the speaker can be submerged in a body of water up to 1m deep for up to half an hour, but you can now get IP68 speakers too, which can sink a little lower, to a maximum depth of 1.5m underwater for up to thirty minutes and still live to tell the tale.
As you'd expect, waterproof Bluetooth speakers such as these are also designed to be incredibly robust, rugged, and resistant to wear and tear, so you don't have to worry about them toppling off your camping table or sun lounger and into the drink.
We've tested more than our share of waterproof speakers and we know what makes one a better choice than another. To help you choose the best one for you, we've gathered together the best of the best based on the factors above as well as sound quality, price, design, connectivity, and feature set.
Behold! Our top picks of the best waterproof speakers, along with our price comparison tool for the best Bluetooth speaker deals.
Can you put an indoor speaker outside?
It's possible, depending on the type of power output. A wireless speaker can be put anywhere, providing it's near enough to its source device – smartphone, computer, or otherwise. Keep in mind indoor speakers won't usually be waterproof, though. So it's always best to get one built for the outdoors to be safe.
What's a good wattage for outdoor speakers?
5W might be suitable for a quiet picnic, but you'll want more for a bustling BBQ or party out of doors. For comparison, most smart TVs come with maximum 10W speakers.
How many outdoor speakers do I need?
This depends on the volume of the device and where you're putting it. For covering various spots around a garden or yard, you may want several. If you do need more than one speaker, look for models that support stereo pairing for a convincing soundstage.
What's the difference between waterproof and water-resistant speakers?
While waterproof and water-resistant aren't synonymous, they roughly translate to 'water won't ruin it'.
When hunting for the best waterproof speaker for the great outdoors, look for its IP rating. This is how water resistance gadgets are categorized. You'll see that IP mark, followed by two numbers – IP67 is one of the most common, and means the speaker can be submerged in water for up to 30 minutes. This is the one you want and means it's a great option for waterproofing and one of the best outdoor speakers your money can buy.
Waterproof is the better of the two, as it usually carries an IP67 rating that means it can withstand to float in around a meter of water for a half-hour before it bites the dust.
Water-resistant, on the other hand, means it could survive a splash or two, but it's not the kind of thing you'd just want to casually throw in the pool.
Of course waterproofing isn't the only thing we looked for when picking out this list of the best outdoor speakers. We also considered factors such as sound quality, price and feature set, all of which helped establish a set of criteria that we could measure all speakers against. What you see above is the result of that effort – our definitive list of the best waterproof speakers.
How we test the best waterproof speakers
We test countless portable waterproof speakers every year at TechRadar, and that means we know exactly which features, IP ratings and specs to look out for.
It's important for us to compare the performance of these speakers against the specs claimed by their manufacturers, which is why we take the time to make sure the stamina, durability and connectivity claims are legit. We don't like doing it, but yes, we do submerge review samples in water when testing those waterproofing claims — because surviving a dunk in the pool is not the same as thriving, and you'll probably want to carry on using it directly after the mishap.
We make sure to test each waterproof speaker in a range of environments and against its chief competitors too, so you can be sure that the product will work just as well in the great outdoors as it does in your home. We live with these speakers in our homes to make sure that their performances are consistent, and we don't finalize our testing until we are certain of the sound quality.
In order to test the audio performance, we play a range of musical genres streamed from different sources – this helps us to get a sense of how the speakers handles hardcore bass, delicate treble and everything in between. We'll try it with different levels of streaming quality to see if that affects things, and we'll try spoken audio, such as podcasts.
After more years in this game than we'd care to admit, we are truly confident that our star-rated reviews are the best indication of the quality of the waterproof speakers in this list. There are no sales teams involved in our verdicts, which means if we don't like it for sound, design, usability and features, we simply won't recommend it here.
Latest updates to the best waterproof speakers
February 13, 2024
Added in extra images from product reviews and an additional spec to each write-up that explains the waterproof rating of each speaker in this guide.
October 31, 2023
Updated lead image, added in quick menu navigation and swapped out the UE Wonderboom 2 for 3, the Anker Soundcore Flare 2 for the B&O Beosound Explore, the Cleer Audio Scene for the Sony SRS-XG300 and the JBL Boombox 2 for the Tribit Stormbox Blast.
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