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Affordable and super-portable Bluetooth speakers that can get the party started wherever you are

Portable Bluetooth speakers are a convenient and easy way to stream music from your smartphone without having to worry about cables, proximity to sockets etc, which also means they are great for taking to the beach, the garden or anywhere you need your tunes to sing out. The speakers we have picked out here are at the more affordable end of the market, but all will do a fine job of presenting your music wherever you need it.

When choosing a Bluetooth speaker, consider not just price but what you will be using it for, and where. If portability is key, think about battery life, waterproof rating and how rugged the design is.

Whether you like the idea of taking the cute JBL Go 3 into the shower with you (don’t mistake it for a soap-on-a-rope, though!), partying by the pool with the colourful Wonderboom 3 or linking a pair of JBL Flip 6 up for a modest rave in your back garden, you are sure to find something here to suit.

JBL GO 3

How does this soap-sized speaker scrub up for sound?

JBL’s most popular and pocketable speaker is so-named to invoke a call to action – to ‘Go’ out and seek adventure. One look at the latest version, the JBL Go 3, however, and we want to head for a shower; it really does look like a soap on a rope.

Though it is still a small speaker, it’s almost 1cm thicker, 30g heavier and has a more rounded feel than previous Go speakers. It has a chord loop on its left side when looking at the branding, which is a useful addition despite not being able to stretch or detach. Underneath that, you will find the USB-C charging port, which no longer needs a cover to boast an IP67 rating for dust and water ingress.