There are tons of options available for home speakers. Wi-Fi speakers make are a great way to get exceptional sound quality in every room in the house. Smart speakers are an increasingly popular option for users who want to control their smart home devices with their voice. These options can get very expensive though, and many of them can’t be carried with you to the beach or camping. That’s where Bluetooth speakers come in, and you can easily find the best Bluetooth speaker under 100.
Many of these speakers are inexpensive and portable while still providing great sound quality. If you’re in the market for a high-quality, inexpensive Bluetooth speaker, read on to find out the 10 best Bluetooth speaker under 100 dollars.
FAQs
1. What Is a Bluetooth Speaker?
A Bluetooth speaker is a wireless speaker that uses a Bluetooth signal to connect to a smartphone or laptop. Users can then play music, podcasts, or other audio through the speaker using their phone or laptop as the controller. Whether you want to play MP3s you have stored on your phone, jam to your favorite Spotify playlist or Pandora channel, or listen to an audiobook while you clean your apartment, a good Bluetooth speaker can do the job.
2. What Else Do Bluetooth Speakers Do?
Not much, to be honest. If you’re looking for a wireless speaker that can control your smart home devices or order you a pizza, you’ll have to look elsewhere. A Bluetooth speaker, and in particular these best Bluetooth speaker under 100 dollars, are small, portable speakers that will allow you to blast your favorite tunes at a higher volume and better quality than you could with just your phone speakers, and that’s all.
3. How Do They Work?
If you’ve never used Bluetooth before, it’s pretty simple: you just sync your phone or laptop to the speaker, and you’re all set. From there, you can start, stop, pause, fast forward, and rewind your audio using your phone. Some speakers also have controls on them. They all have a rechargeable lithium-ion battery so you can take them with you, and many of these batteries can last for up to 24 hours of playback time.
3. Where Can You Buy Them?
We have included Amazon links to each of these speakers, but many can also be found at your local electronics or audio store.
How We Reviewed
We reviewed these speakers based on key criteria including sound quality, battery life, waterproofing, extra features, and overall price. We scoured the market to come up with these ten speakers, and at the end of this article will reveal the best Bluetooth speaker under 100 dollars.
Overall Price Range of These Speakers
Obviously, these speakers are all under $100. They still vary in price though; you can get simple Bluetooth speakers for under $30, while other options on this list push the $100 barrier. Which one will be right for you will depend in large part on how much you value sound quality and other features over price.
What We Reviewed
- JBL Flip 4 Waterproof Portable Bluetooth Speaker
- Bose SoundLink Micro Bluetooth Speaker
- BRAVEN BRV-1 Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker
- UE ROLL Wireless Mobile Bluetooth Speaker
- UE ROLL 2 Wireless Portable Bluetooth Speaker
- Anker SoundCore 24-Hour Playtime Bluetooth Speaker
- JBL Charge 2+ Splashproof Portable Bluetooth Speaker
- JBL Flip 3 Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker
- Sony XB20 Portable Wireless Speaker
- Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM Waterproof Super Portable Bluetooth Speaker
JBL Flip 4 Waterproof Portable Bluetooth Speaker
Features
The JBL Flip 4 is small but provides powerful sound. It’s the perfect speaker for pool parties: not only is it waterproof, but up to two smartphones or tablets can connect to it at once, allowing for two users to play DJ. It can also link to a second JBL Flip 4 to double the sound. Its 12-hour battery life is slightly disappointing, as is the lack of controls on its exterior. Neither of these small drawbacks can keep it from being a best Bluetooth speaker under 100 dollars, though.
Price
This product can be found on Amazon for around $82.
PROS
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- Great sound quality in a small package
- Can connect to two devices at once
- Can link with another JBL Flip 4
CONS
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- 12-hour battery life can’t stand up to the competition
- Lack of exterior controls
Bose SoundLink Micro Bluetooth speaker
Features
The Bose Soundlink Micro is, as the name would suggest, a tiny speaker from the venerable audio company Bose. It’s IPX7-rated waterproof, which means it can stand up to the outdoors with ease, and it comes with a strap so you can easily connect it to a backpack or belt when you go hiking or camping.
As you would expect with a Bose product, you’ll get loud, crisp, clear sound at the expense of battery life; the Soundlink Micro can only play audio for 6 hours before requiring a charge. Another small downside to this speaker is its occasional latency issues; there can sometimes be a pause between a command you input on your phone and the result playing on the speaker.
One advantage this speaker has over others is its built-in microphone. This allows you to make and take calls or access your phone’s digital assistant with your voice, and it even pairs with the Amazon Echo Dot. That combined with the fantastic Bose sound make the Soundlink Micro one of the best Bluetooth speaker under 100 dollars.
Price
This product can be found on Amazon for around $80.
PROS
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- Great sound
- Virtual assistant access
- Rugged waterproofing
CONS
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- Poor 6-hour battery life
- Occasional latency issues
BRAVEN BRV-1 Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker
Features
The BRAVEN BRV-1 originally retailed for around $180, but a price cut has brought it into the realm of the best Bluetooth speaker under 100 dollars. Its armor-clad exterior protects it well from drops and splashes, and it outputs great sound for the price.
Couple that with 15-hour battery life and a built-in charging port for your phone and you’ve got one fantastic little Bluetooth speaker. It even outputs surprisingly solid bass for such a tiny product. The only knock against this speaker is its speakerphone function; the mic isn’t strong enough to pick up voices unless they’re very close.
Price
This product can be found on Amazon for right around $100, bringing it in just under the wire for this article.
PROS
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- Rugged design
- Great sound in a small speaker
- Built-in charging port for your phone
CONS
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- Poor speakerphone performance
- Right on the edge of $100
UE ROLL Wireless Mobile Bluetooth Speaker
Features
The UE ROLL is a popular product, but is it one of the best Bluetooth speaker under 100 dollars? Its IPX7-rated waterproofing is top-notch, and it can take a beating like few other electronics and still work like a charm. One of the intriguing features on this speaker is its 360-degree sound output; no matter where you put it, you’ll get big, crystal-clear sound with bass that’s as good as you can ask for in such a tiny package.
If you download UE’s app, you can even connect to two ROLL speakers for double the sound. The only major drawback to this speaker is its disappointing 9-hour battery life.
Price
This product can be found on Amazon for around $95.
PROS
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- 360-degree sound output
- Durable and waterproof
- Good sound quality
CONS
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- Disappointing battery life
- Price is still equal to the superior ROLL 2
UE ROLL 2 Wireless Portable Bluetooth Speaker
Features
UE ROLL 2 is priced similarly to the ROLL and has all of the same features, plus one extra: it can pair with two smartphones or tablets simultaneously. This puts it on an even playing field with the JBL Flip 4, although it is significantly more expensive than that speaker. Still, with great sound quality and extra features, it’s one of the best Bluetooth speaker for under 100 dollars out there.
Price
This product can be found on Amazon for around $93.
PROS
-
- Can pair with two smart devices at once
- 360-degree sound output
- Durable and waterproof
- Good sound quality
CONS
- Disappointing 9-hour battery life
Anker SoundCore 24-Hour Playtime Bluetooth Speaker
Features
Anker is a budget electronics brand famous for products that are much higher quality than you’d think given the price. The ultra-low-budget Soundcore speaker boasts clear sound and a rock-solid Bluetooth connection that’s good for up to 66 feet, but the real draw is its remarkable 24-hour battery life. You can easily bring this speaker with you on a weekend getaway and not have to charge it once. That, combined with the price and shockingly good sound make it one of the best Bluetooth speaker under 100 dollars.
Price
This product can be found on Amazon for around $28.
PROS
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- 24-hour battery life
- Great price
- Surprisingly good sound
CONS
- Bass can’t compare to higher-priced speakers on this list
JBL Charge 2+ Splashproof Portable Bluetooth Speaker
Features
The JBL Charge 2+ offers excellent sound in a package that’s slightly bigger than the Flip 4. Its midrange is top-notch, and the bass is just about the best you can find in a Bluetooth speaker of this size at this price. It’s also splash-proof, although not entirely waterproof, making it a good choice for outdoor use. The biggest downside to this speaker is its limited 8-hour battery life.
Price
This product can be found on Amazon for around $90.
PROS
-
- Great sound quality
- Exterior controls
CONS
- Limited 8-hour battery life
- Not fully waterproof
JBL Flip 3 Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker
Features
The JBL Flip 3 is the precursor to the Flip 4. As such, it’s less pricey than that speaker but also lacks a couple of essential features. It’s splash-proof but not waterproof and cannot connect two smart devices to it at once. That said, it still packs a punch in the sound department and comes in at a significantly lower cost than the Flip 4. If you love the design but don’t need all the bells and whistles, Flip 3 will suit you just fine.
Price
This product can be found on Amazon for around $70.
PROS
-
- Great sound quality
- Less expensive than the Flip 4
CONS
- Not fully waterproof
- Can’t connect two smart devices at once
- Limited 10-hour battery
Sony XB20 Portable Wireless Speaker
Features
Sony has an excellent reputation in the audio world for a reason. The XB20 is on the pricey side when compared to other speakers on this list, but it makes up for it with sound quality that packs a punch, particularly in the bass department.
With 12 hours of battery life and IPX5-rated water resistance, this is a go-anywhere speaker that’s built for outdoor use. It can also chain together with other XB20’s for even more great sound. If there’s a downside to this speaker, it’s that the exterior buttons sometimes fail to register a press.
Price
This product can be found on Amazon for around $98.
PROS
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- Great sound, particularly bass
- Can chain with other speakers
- IPX5-rated water resistance
CONS
- Exterior buttons sometimes fail to register a press
UE WONDERBOOM Waterproof Super Portable Bluetooth Speaker
Features
UE’s WONDERBOOM is another compact waterproof speaker from UE, but does it stack up to the ROLL enough to earn it a spot as a best Bluetooth speaker under 100 dollars? It can output some serious volume for its size and can pair with a second WONDERBOOM if you need even more sound.
It even offers a decent amount of bass for a compact package, and its 10-hour battery life will get you through a long day at the beach. It is a little chubbier than the ROLL models though, making it slightly less portable, and it lacks any kind of speakerphone capabilities.
Price
This product can be found on Amazon for around $75.
PROS
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- High maximum volume and solid bass
- IPX7-rated waterproof
- Can link with another WONDERBOOM
CONS
- Chubbier profile than the ROLL
- No speakerphone capabilities
The Verdict
You can’t go wrong with any of these speakers, but if you’re looking for the best combination of low price, high-quality sound, and great features like waterproofing and multiple device pairing, the JBL Flip 4 is probably the best Bluetooth speaker under 100 dollars. If that’s a little too expensive for you, the Anker Soundcore is a good option and another one of the best Bluetooth speaker under 100 dollars.