6 Best Compact Bluetooth Speakers: Perfect for Travel

The right compact Bluetooth speaker transforms your phone or tablet into more than just a “boombox on the go”.

Compact Bluetooth speakers are perfect for people that are on the go.

Conveniently small (weighing less than half a pound), this compact speaker sounds a lot larger than it looks.

The carefully constructed 4.2 watts sound system is the reason for this. 

While it would have been nice for this JBL device to be compatible with their mobile application (a mobile app that works with other, larger JBL wireless speakers), you’re not missing much.

The Bluetooth 5.1 technology is known to add considerable range (and reliability) to wireless devices, and you can expect to play audio from up to 30 feet away from your media source without much interference at all.

Small, stylish and about as portable as they get, this is a “don’t leave home without it” kind of Bluetooth speaker.

It’s our favorite for having music while hiking, biking, hitting the gym or just generally something to keep in your bag or in your car.

One of the loudest of all the compact Bluetooth speakers we’ve tested, this remarkable little device has clear and loud sound for its size.

This is all thanks to the 48 mm proprietary sound driver and passive radiators under the top shell of this speaker, combined with XBass technology that really pumps.

Nothing about this speaker sounds thin or tinny the way that other compact options can.

The RunStretch technology inside this device leverages the high-capacity lithium-ion battery to not only power the speaker itself, but also provide extra “juice” to any mobile device you connect through the USB port.

Because of those capabilities, not to mention up to 120 feet of wireless range, this is our favorite compact Bluetooth speaker for folks off the grid.

Camping, hiking or just taking a trip to the lake will never be the same when you have this speaker with you.

The bigger speaker, which is 5 watts, produces cleaner sound and a lot richer bass as well.

Proprietary JBL sound components help to squeeze every drop of power out of this speaker, too.

A little room was left over to add to the battery life of this Bluetooth speaker.

The controls are simple and straightforward. Add in Bluetooth 5.1 wireless technology, and you can expect a strong, stable connection good for up to 30 feet or so.

If you’re looking for a little compact JBL portable speaker for use in dusty or wet environments like the beach, then this is a great option for you.

It takes approximately 5 hours to charge this ultra portable speaker. 

As far as crystal clear audio is concerned, the design of the speaker system and the audio drivers is the secret to its clarity.

A 5-watt speaker is the heart of this system, pumping out a full tonal range with audio authenticity tough to find in speakers this size.

Mix in Bluetooth 5.0 (which means 30 feet of wireless range, give or take), auto-pairing capabilities, quick charge technology and water/dustproof construction thanks to a full IP68 rating, and it’s not hard to see why this unit is so popular.

If you want loud but balanced audio, and a speaker that you can drop underwater without worrying about killing it, Soul has you covered.

360° sound will be heard in every direction.

The highs, mids and bass are all perfectly balanced with the added ability to crank that bass all the way up using the built-in EQ system and BassUp technology.

You can also link two of these speakers for even larger sound. 

The battery will last up to 12 hours and recharges in approximately four hours via a micro USB port. Not bad, right?

Customizable LED lights that pulse and surge to the beat of your music, audio enhancement technology built by GRAMMY-winning audio engineers, and one of the better warranties (18 months) in the industry help make this unit a must-have.

Pair two of these together, and it’s the ultimate “party on the go” speaker.

This is our pick for entertaining small groups of people.

The IPX7 waterproof rating guarantees that this compact speaker can take a dip with no concern at all.

It produces rich and authentic sound at all levels of volume.

You can bump up the bass quite a bit with this little speaker, too.

As far as the battery capacity is concerned, you’ll be able to party all day – and well into the night – with 15 hours of battery life on a single charge.

Quick charging technology (via USB-C) gets you back up to 50% battery in an hour or so, and back to 100% in 3 to 4 hours.

And, of course, you can still use the speaker while it is charging.

The ability to daisy-chain up to 100+ of these little speakers together makes this the ultimate choice for fleshing out your whole home sound setup.

You can’t go wrong with this little gem!

Think about how you’re going to use your new Bluetooth speaker before you pull the trigger on a purchase.

We are sure you’ll find something to suit your needs in the list we covered above!