Portable Bluetooth Speakers

Portable Bluetooth Speakers are compact rechargeable speakers that can play audio from any device it's paired with like a Tablet or Mobile Phone. Bluetooth pairing is quick and easy because it doesn't require a network, so any device stays connected provided both devices are in range of each other. The range of a Bluetooth connection will depend on obstructions like walls but can scale from 10 to 30 meters.

Whilst a Bluetooth connection gives freedom to play music and audio anywhere, this type of connection has a much more limited bandwidth than other connections like Wi-Fi. Because of these limitations, audio played over a Bluetooth connection will be compressed leading to some loss in quality.

Wireless Speakers that stream audio over Wi-Fi instead of Bluetooth can support uncompressed audio, although the need for an available network connection limits their portability.

Historically Bluetooth connections have only allowed for one device pairing to work at a time but this is changing. Depending on the equipment, there are a few different ways of connecting two Bluetooth speakers that can play Audio from the same source simultaneously.

Newer Phones, Tablets and Portable Speakers come with Bluetooth Version 5.0 which extends range and allows for two simultaneous connections. This technology is now quite widely available so keep an eye out for both devices and speakers that are Bluetooth v5.0 before buying.

Some Portable Bluetooth Speaker brands manufacture models that can connect to each other in addition to a device depending on the brand and model. You may be able to connect more than one compatible speaker that can play from a single device like Bose or Ultimate Ears ranges. Stereo settings can be used to play left and right channel audio from each paired speaker.

The battery life of Portable Bluetooth Speakers varies considerably depending on the model. In general the smaller and more portable the speaker, the shorter the battery life. A larger speaker may be able to house a larger battery but can become bulkier and less portable as a result, with some larger capacity Bluetooth Speakers even charging Phones or Tablets.

Before making a final purchase, think about how to use the speaker factoring size, weight and battery capacity into the decision. On average a Portable Bluetooth Speaker can run between 10 to 20 hours on a full charge. If a speaker has Wi-Fi in addition to Bluetooth, turning off Wi-Fi when not in use will give more use from a single charge.

Connecting multiple devices at once will drain the battery quicker so remember to disconnect devices when not in use. Keeping a speaker charged between 20% and 80% capacity will help preserve the battery long term.

Check out Portable Bluetooth Speakers that are built to be durable if there's a chance of damage on the go. Many are dust and water resistant with an IP rating that tells how resistant they are to either. These will be displayed as IPXX, where the first X is the rating for dust resistance and the second X is water resistance. The higher the number the better the resistance, but if there's an X instead of a number it has not been rated for that category.

Newer models may come with Bluetooth 5 that allow connection between two speakers to the same device (or vice versa) if both have Bluetooth v5.0 or higher. Some models can also pair with other compatible speakers to run in stereo mode for enhanced listening or allows multiroom setup of speakers for a Party Mode.

Some Bluetooth Speakers also have a built-in microphone for making and answering calls.