The 8 Best Waterproof Bluetooth Speakers For The Beach and The Backyard

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What good is a pool party or a trip to the beach without music? Once upon a time, that meant carrying a 40-pound boombox, hoping the batteries would last, and keeping your cassettes in a separate bag so they wouldn't melt in the sun.

When it first arrived in 2010, the portable, rechargeable Bluetooth speaker seemed like the stuff of science fiction. Finally you could instantly play almost any song in the world using your phone's favorite music app….and then pause your music to take a phone call!

Today, Bluetooth speakers are everywhere, especially in social situations, and that has translated to a strong demand for water-resistant and waterproof models that are ready for road trips, beach days, pool parties, and backyard barbecues.

Waterproof Bluetooth speakers tend to fall into two categories. The first: hi-fi speakers with a bit of water-resistance built in for accidental spills. The second: products that are explicitly designed to survive immersion. I’ve rounded up the best of both kinds below so go ahead and make a splash!

The Best Waterproof Bluetooth Speakers

• Best Overall: JBL Flip 5

• Best Budget: Anker Soundcore 3
  

• Best for the Beach: DOSS Waterproof

• Best Rugged: AltecLansing LifeJacket 2

• Best Sound Quality: Harmon Kardon Onyx Studio 6

What to Consider in a Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

Weight and Size

Chances are, if you’re shopping for a waterproof Bluetooth speaker, you’re planning to use it outside at home or take it with you on outings, like day trips to the beach. Make sure the speaker you choose is also portable.

Spending top dollar for the best waterproof Bluetooth speaker won’t matter much if it’s too heavy and bulky to carry alone. Some systems are designed for pocket portability while others are sized more like the classic boom boxes of yore. Don’t make the mistake of getting a larger system that you simply won’t bother to use.

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Waterproof Rating

Many Bluetooth speakers have an International Protection Marking, or IP rating, which measures the product’s ability to withstand dust and liquid. The majority of Bluetooth speakers with water resistance are rated IP65 (resists light splashing), IP66 (resists some water pressure, like a hose briefly pointed at the speaker), and IP67 (can be submerged in three feet of water for thirty minutes). When in doubt, choose IP67.

Sound Quality and Volume

None of the Bluetooth speakers here can produce the same sound quality as a proper home setup. Likewise, very few of them are loud enough to be well-heard by more than a few closely spaced listeners, but there can be significant variation in both sound volume and quality among speakers.

To have a loud speaker, you’ll need powerful batteries, speakers with a large surface area, and some room within the enclosure to focus and reinforce the sound. This is particularly true for bass frequencies which is why several of the systems listed below have a cone or cylinder form factor.

It’s possible to have higher-quality sound even in a smaller enclosure. Look for exotic materials in the speakers like titanium and carbon fiber, familiar hi-fi brand names you might have at home or recognize from high-end automobiles, and enclosures that are designed and fitted together with a high degree of care and that display clean, tight gaps between parts and no rough edges.

Battery Life and Power

While most manufacturers list estimated battery life, there’s no consistent standard for measuring or testing it. On the other hand, there is a consistent standard for measuring battery power: the milliamp hour, or mAh. The higher the mAh is the louder and longer you can expect your speaker to play.

A few of the speakers in this roundup claim a “quick charge” feature; this is usually beneficial, but there’s no hard and fast way to compare the quick-charge abilities of two different products.

How We Selected Waterproof Bluetooth Speakers

As a lifetime audiophile and sound-system builder for both homes and cars, I’ve been using Bluetooth speakers since the very first Jawbones appeared, right up to the more modern systems from JBL and others. Having listened to and examined many of these systems, I’ve seen—and heard—firsthand what works and what doesn’t.

In cases where I had access to the product, I listened to the speaker with a HiDef rip of VDP-27, the first Japanese MCA pressing of Steely Dan’s Aja. I also conducted additional listening with a Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra smartphone. To obtain a point of reference for the capabilities of these speakers, I listened to the same digital media with a Bricasti Dual Mono Source controller and Bricasti amplifier through Magnepan speakers.

In addition to my own experience using many of these speakers, I also considered price, including both affordable and high-performance options, as well as each speaker’s capability and waterproof rating. These are the eight waterproof Bluetooth speakers I recommend.

Flip 5 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

The Flip 5 is JBL’s latest entry in a series of outdoor-focused Bluetooth speakers and is on the higher end of everyday offers in this segment, both in price and performance. Compared to its well-regarded predecessor, the Flip 4, it has more power (20 watts compared to the 4’s 16) and nearly double the battery life.

Its IP67 waterproof rating means it can sit by the pool and survive, even if falls in for an hour before anyone notices. Large and stout enough to convey a little bit of bass response, this isn’t the lightest, most portable option. Most interestingly, it can be linked with other JBL products to make a bigger soundstage for those once-in-a-lifetime celebrations.

Soundcore 3 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

The Anker Soundcore 3 is the slightly bigger sibling to the popular Soundcore 2. Its outstanding battery life remains at 24 hours (that’s almost 500 songs from your playlist on a single charge!) and weighs only half an ounce more, while delivering a punchier 16 watts of power, up from its predecessor's 12 watts.

The PartyCast pairing method offers more options for teaming up with other Anker products. Expect solid value, good volume, and a long life from the Soundcore 3.

E-Go III Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

The value proposition for Bluetooth speakers continues to get better—as shown by this product from Doss. It has all the bells and whistles from easy pairing for additional volume to Bluetooth 5.3 for maximum connection stability. It’s dust-proof, IP67 waterproof, and is claimed to be “crash-proof” impact resistant.

With its compact cube shape and attached carabiner, it’s easy to hang in the shower, too. All of this at a price barely above what you’d pay for two compact discs. Did we mention the 22-hour battery life?

LifeJacket 2 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

Altec Lansing’s LifeJacket 2 has been around a while, but in this case that’s a good thing, as customer experience has shown it to be durable and usable over the long haul.

You can also use it as a power bank to charge your phone while playing, but make sure you disconnect your phone before going in the water. Once you’re there, you will find that the LifeJacket 2 is waterproof, plus it floats. It also has a unique suite of voice controls in case you’re too busy swimming to change up your tunes.

Onyx Studio 6 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

This is about as hi-fi as wireless speakers get, and this model has enough bass response to be enjoyable in a small bedroom or living room. While the Onyx Studio 6 is IPX7 waterproof, it’s expensive and bulky enough that it won’t be the first choice of most for pool or party use.

At six and a half pounds, it’s also not as portable as most—though it does have a carry handle. Consider this a good choice for situations where listening to music is a focal point of your activity, not just background noise. Bass is clear and deep, and there’s even a bit of stereo effect at close range.

Onyx Studio 6

This is about as hi-fi as wireless speakers get, and this model has enough bass response to be enjoyable in a small bedroom or living room. While the Studio 6 is IPX7 waterproof, it’s expensive and bulky enough that it won’t be the first choice of most for pool or party use.

At six and a half pounds, it’s also not as portable as most—though it does have a carry handle. Consider this a good choice for situations where listening to music is a focal point of your activity, not just background noise. Bass is clear and deep, and there’s even a bit of stereo effect at close range.

Boombox 3 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

This is the largest and most powerful Bluetooth speaker JBL makes—in fact, it’s a solid candidate for largest and most powerful “portable” speaker, period.

We put “portable” in quotes because the Boombox 3 is nearly two feet long and weighs almost 15 pounds. What do you get for all this weight, size, and price? A three-way speaker system—and that’s a rare thing indeed. So expect big sound, solid quality, and a lot of memorable moments.

SoundLink Revolve+ II Bluetooth Speaker

The signature sound profile of Bose products is a controversial topic in the rarefied air of hi-fidelity enthusiasts. But for millions of satisfied customers around the world, it’s the very definition of “good sound.”

The SoundLink Revolve+ II serves that up in a portable dose with the traditional Bose attention to aesthetics and appearance.

It can pair with the larger home units in the Bose SmartFamily of products as well. It has an IP55 rating, so it’s splash-and-sprinkle ready, and is compatible with the Echo Dot and other modern Alexa devices. This is a good choice for in-home use, with an occasional trip to the pool—but maybe not the beach.

Go 3 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

JBL offers over a dozen Bluetooth speakers, with the Go 3 being perhaps the least ambitious of them. It’s a palm-size package with low wattage and just a few controls.

Submersible to IP67 standards, the Go 3 is meant to be taken along wherever you go, without bulk or difficulty. Available in a range of colors, it is easy to operate and sounds pretty good, given its modest 4.2 watts of power. Battery life is modest as well, at five hours, but that’s the price you pay for its very convenient form factor.

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Does waterproof mean the device can go underwater?

There’s a big difference between “water-resistant,” defined by the IP65 and IP66 standards, and “waterproof” as defined by IP67. The latter means you can submerge it in three feet of water for 30 minutes.

But even with IP67 devices, it’s always worth protecting your speaker from water if you can, as its water resistance will degrade over time.

Will size impact sound? Or can I go real compact and still get some boom?

Sound is all about moving air so speaker size is a big part of volume. While it’s possible to put more power into a smaller speaker and get additional volume, you can’t beat the laws of physics here. That being said, you may be surprised at how much boom you can get from a smaller device.

What about ports? How many do I want?

Adding ports to a Bluetooth speaker increases volume and bass response at the expense of sound clarity and quality. If you just want to hear your music from across a crowded pool, then ports are your friend. If you want low volume and high quality right next to you, then choose a speaker without ports.

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