4 of the Best Portable Bluetooth Speakers under $100 in 2024

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By

Evan Shephard Avatar

Reviewed By

Evan Shephard
Updated Apr 12, 2024 12:24 PM
best portable bluetooth speaker under 100 guide that shows the top best bluetooth speaker model

A whopping 75% of electronic and appliance reviews are untrustworthy. That’s why every reviewer gets a Trust Rating so our True Score System filters out the fake reviews. See how we do it.

Finding the best portable Bluetooth speaker under $100 involves considering sound quality, battery life, build durability, and portability. Key features to look for include clean highs, decent bass, and a well-defined midrange. Durability and waterproof ratings (e.g., IPX7) are essential for outdoor use. A lightweight, rugged design ensures it withstands rough handling without compromising audio quality.

Our guide spotlights four winning Bluetooth speakers, selected from over 100 analyzed models and 1,149,026 reviews. We identified 92% of experts as unreliable, filtering out fake reviews using our proprietary Trust Score. This thorough vetting process ensures that our recommendations for the best Bluetooth speakers are trustworthy and accurate. The chosen products excelled by delivering top performance in sound quality, durability, and connectivity, ensuring you get the best value.

How Did We Rank the best Portable Bluetooth Speakers under $100?

Finding the best portable Bluetooth speaker under $100 involves meticulous research and analysis. Our guide is based on 1 required test result, 2 desirable features, and 1 crucial specification. We evaluated data from more than 200 sources, focusing on critical pain points and key performance indicators. By synthesizing expert reviews, customer feedback, and testing methodologies, we confidently present a curated list of speakers that offer the best bang for your buck. When you shop through our links, you’re backing our mission. Dive deeper to see how.

?️ Minimum Specifications

  • Must cost less than $100

? Test Criteria

  • Battery Life: 9 hours is the length of time this Bluetooth speaker can play before the battery goes flat.

? “Nice To Haves”

  • Volume Output: Provides a dynamic and immersive sound experience, achieving volume output levels exceeding 91 decibels, delivering powerful audio performance.
  • Low-End Roll-Off: Having a low-frequency roll-off below 60 Hz ensures the presence of subtle rumble in the bass, enhancing the immersive quality of your music or movie-watching experience.

Latest Updates

  • 04/12/2024: Completely and thoroughly overhauled the guide to include the best portable Bluetooth speakers under $100 based on our True Score system.

Top Portable Bluetooth Speakers under $100 For 2024

Prices accurate at the time of publishing

See how we test the testers

To secure a spot on our list, a portable Bluetooth speaker under $100 must meet our stringent criteria for audio performance and quality. If it doesn’t meet these standards, it won’t be featured!

  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 3

    • Best For Mini

    The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 3 balances performance and value. It offers an impressive wireless range, exceptional battery life, and durability, making it ideal for music lovers and outdoor enthusiasts.

    Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 3 Review →

    True Score

    82
    81
    26

    Experts

    92
    3k

    Customers

    SAVE $38
    $99.99
    $61.77

    Category Snapshot

    Speakers

    • Total Brands/Products Tested

      33 Brands, 109 Products

    • Top 2 Brands

      Bose, JBL

    • Price Range (Budget-Premium)

      $20-$500

    • Average True Score

      77.25

    • Important Test Criteria

      Frequency Response (Hz)

      Max Volume (dB or dB SPL)

    • Most Trusted Testers

      speakers top testers

    • Top Speaker Experts

      Becca FischerMichelle Powell

    • Typical Warranty

      1-2 years

    • Covered by Insurance

      Yes – AKKO

  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    Marshall Willen

    • Best For Golf Cart

    The Marshall Willen combines performance with smart feature convenience. It excels in high-frequency clarity for podcasts, music, and meetings and has a best-in-class high-end roll-off, though its bass is less pronounced.

    Marshall Willen Review →

    True Score

    79
    78
    8

    Experts

    90
    987

    Customers

    SAVE $40
    $119.99
    $79.99
  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    Anker Soundcore Motion Boom

    The Anker Soundcore Motion Boom excels for outdoor events with its unparalleled volume output and deep bass. Its exceptional battery life and range make it ideal for long, uninterrupted listening.

    Anker Soundcore Motion Boom Review →

    True Score

    79
    78
    6

    Experts

    90
    21k

    Customers

    SAVE $30
    $109.99
    $79.99
  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    Sony SRS-XB12

    The Sony SRS-XB12 delivers clear high frequencies and decent bass in a compact, water-resistant design. It is ideal for personal or outdoor, on-the-go listening, and it offers added convenience from a built-in microphone and smart app support.

    Sony SRS-XB12 Review →

    True Score

    79
    78
    5

    Experts

    89
    9k

    Customers

    SAVE $30
    $59.99
    $29.88

Which Criteria Matters for the Best Portable Bluetooth Speakers under $100?

By focusing on these criteria (1 required, 2 nice to have), anyone can quickly and easily compare these Bluetooth speakers and how they’ll perform. This helps you make an informed decision and purchase a Bluetooth speaker that is right for you.

CRITERIARANGEREQUIREDDEFINITION
Battery Life (Hours)> 9 HrYesThe length of time a Bluetooth speaker can play before the battery goes flat.
Low End Roll Off (Hz)< 60 HzNo (nice to have)The point at which bass response starts to fall sharply, causing it to rapidly become inaudible.
Volume Output (dB)> 91 dBNo (nice to have)The maximum volume that a Bluetooth speaker is able to output when turned to max.

Our Trusted Data Sources

We looked at 57 Bluetooth speaker reviewers and only 9 are trustworthy (60%+ Trust Score). The three we have listed below are our most trusted for Bluetooth speakers.

  1. Becca Fischer – Rtings, MuckRack
  2. Michelle Powell – TechGearLab, MuckRack
  3. Brent Butterworth – Wirecutter, MuckRack, LinkedIn

Interested in a comprehensive analysis of our data sources? We’ve got you covered. Below, you’ll find a detailed list of every Bluetooth speaker review website we’ve identified, organized by their respective Trust Scores from highest to lowest. But we didn’t stop there. We’ve meticulously reviewed each publication and verified the data by checking whether the authors have bio links to MuckRack or LinkedIn. We’re committed to not only checking the facts but ensuring their veracity.

Bluetooth Speaker Test Data & Results

1. Battery Life Test Results

Your Bluetooth speakers are more than likely going to be battery powered. They might not run solely on battery power, but it is more common than not for Bluetooth speakers to be able to play without being plugged into a wall. That means, you’ll want your speaker to be able to play for as long as possible without having to be plugged in to charge, so even if you forget your charging cable, you’re not shackled to 4 hours of play time.

It’s for this reason that we recommend that Bluetooth speakers have at least 9 hours of playtime – enough to get you through a full day of playing your speakers. That said, there’s no upper limit to battery life – the more you can get “under your belt”, the better. If your speaker can deliver more than 17 hours of battery life on a single charge, you’ve got more than enough for two days and change, which is plenty of time to remember you need to plug the speaker in.

Battery Life (in hours; higher is better)

2. Volume Output Test Results

Maximum volume is the most straightforward test to grasp when it comes to Bluetooth speakers: it simply refers to the loudest level at which the speaker can play. However, the importance of having a high maximum volume might not be immediately obvious. Beyond the ability to fill rooms with sound or serve as party speakers, higher maximum volumes play a crucial role in ensuring audio clarity at typical listening volumes.

This concept is known as “headroom.” Adequate headroom in a Bluetooth speaker means it can reproduce sounds at a level that is both loud enough and clear enough, ensuring that your usual listening levels for music or podcasts are crisp and free from distortion. Your Bluetooth speaker should have a minimum of 85 dB of maximum volume, but 91 dB or even higher is ideal. The higher the maximum volume, the better the speaker is at delivering sound that can fill increasingly large spaces without sacrificing sound quality.

Volume Output (in dB; higher is better)

3. Low End Roll Off Test Results

The low-end roll off is key in determining how deep the bass on your Bluetooth speaker will sound. A Bluetooth speaker with a roll off that doesn’t start at a sufficiently low frequency leads to bass that sounds weak or is missing entirely, which makes music sound weak. Essentially, the deeper the bass can extend before rolling off, the more robust the sound.

For the majority of Bluetooth speakers and typical usage scenarios, aiming for a roll off that begins no higher than 60 Hz is advisable. However, the lower the frequency where roll off begins, the better the bass experience. It’s important to understand that there’s a limit to how low the roll off can go, so expecting Bluetooth speakers to achieve roll off points in the teens might be unrealistic. It’s also important to remember that Bluetooth speakers don’t have subwoofers and are also generally small, which limits how deep their bass can get.

Low End Roll Off (in Hz; lower is better)

The Best Portable Bluetooth Speakers under $100: Mistakes To Avoid

  1. Ignoring Sound Quality: While budget speakers may not match the audio quality of higher-end models, don’t sacrifice too much on sound quality. Much like when looking for the top small Bluetooth speakers, search for the best Bluetooth speakers with balanced sound, clear highs, and decent bass for an enjoyable listening experience.

  2. Overlooking Battery Life: Portable speakers rely on battery power, so ensure that the model you choose offers adequate battery life, ideally over 9 hours, for your needs. Avoid speakers with short battery life that require frequent recharging, especially if you plan to use them for extended periods away from power sources. For more well-regarded options, check out our Anker Soundcore 2 review and Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 review, although the latter is slightly outside this guide’s price range.

  3. Neglecting Durability: Portable speakers are often used outdoors or in rugged environments, so durability is crucial. Avoid flimsy or poorly constructed speakers that may not withstand bumps, drops, or exposure to moisture. Look for speakers with sturdy build quality and, if possible, water-resistant or waterproof ratings. Although not cheap, party speakers are usually very durable and waterproof as well, with some great examples being our review of the JBL Partybox 110 and the JBL Partybox 710.

  4. Ignoring Connectivity Options: Check the connectivity options offered by the speaker, including Bluetooth version, auxiliary input, and NFC (Near Field Communication) compatibility. Ensure that the speaker can easily connect to your devices and supports the features you need for convenient playback. For those using auxiliary inputs, the best RCA cables can enhance audio quality by ensuring a clean, stable connection that minimizes signal loss.

The Best Portable Bluetooth Speakers Under $100 Tests Compared

Product
True Score
Battery Life
Volume Output
Low End Roll Off
High End Roll Off
82
  • 22.3 Hrs

  • 86.9 dB

  • 179.59 Hz

  • 13.47k Hz

$61.77
$100
$38

Marshall Willen

  • Best for Golf Cart

79
  • 14.5 Hrs

  • 87.9 dB

  • 179.59 Hz

  • 16.97k Hz

$79.99
$120
$40
79
  • 23 Hrs

  • 93.1 dB

  • 62.59 Hz

  • 13.47k Hz

$79.99
$110
$30
79
  • 13.3 Hrs

  • 79.7 dB

  • 142.54 Hz

  • 16.97k Hz

$29.88
$60
$30

Portable Bluetooth Speakers Under $100 Questions (FAQ)

What are the key features to look for when choosing the best portable Bluetooth speakers under $100?

When shopping for affordable portable Bluetooth speakers, consider factors like sound quality, battery life, durability, connectivity options, and any additional features such as water resistance or built-in microphone for hands-free calls.

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