Best Cheap Bluetooth Speakers - Just Hear Us Out

SoundCore is one of Anker Innovations’ five main brands focused on delivering big sound without breaking the budget. That is why you shouldn’t be surprised to hear some bold claims from the manufacturers, like the guaranteed 24-hour playtime. 

As you might expect from inexpensive speakers, Anker SoundCore has a simple, minimalistic design. That is not necessarily bad; it just won’t really make any heads turn. You have the smooth tactile buttons at the top and the brand name on the front grille. Anker promises that its best budget portable speaker has a drop-proof design, but don’t rely on that. 

Considering that the device isn’t waterproof, it might not be the greatest option for outdoor activities. However, at home, it works great as it can be connected with AI-powered systems such as Alexa and controlled via voice commands.

Are you looking for a compact speaker that works almost like a stereo pair despite being a  single stereo speaker? The Anker SoundCore gives you full stereo sound thanks to its dual set of high-performance drivers. You will be surprised by the smooth bass, thanks to the unique spiral bass port that’s behind the grille.

This spiral design is a perfect example of the company’s innovation at work. All of these elements contribute to the incredible sound clarity and audio quality, with low harmonic distortion of under 1%. That being said, you might stumble upon some rare crackling in the high range.

Anker’s best cheap Bluetooth speaker also has very good battery life. The company says that the batteries can withstand 24 hours of playtime with a single charge, which is nothing short of impressive. This translates to around 500 songs, so you can easily pull an all-nighter with your friends. 

The Bluetooth sound system uses a classic Li-ion battery, which is further improved with Anker’s special power management technology. You can charge the device using a micro USB cable that is included in the box (no USB-C here, sorry!).

Officially, the Bluetooth range of the speaker is 66 feet, but you might experience some problems once you get past the 40-foot point. In any case, it’s highly unlikely you’ll need more than that if you’re using your speaker at home. 

Inexpensive Bluetooth speakers on the market usually don’t offer much in terms of max volume. Although SoundCore isn’t exactly immune to that trend, the speaker is reasonably loud for indoor use and will outperform the Anker Soundcore Flare and Anker Soundcore Flare Mini models in that regard. 

The built-in microphone lets you turn the speaker into a high-quality speakerphone. Connect it to Alexa as well, and you’ll get a fully functional smart speaker for your home.

Creative’s Muvo Mini is an excellent option for users who need a reliable stereo sound, with decent bass, at an affordable price. Mini is often featured on the lists of the best speakers with a Bluetooth connection under 50 dollars,  and for a good reason. Here are a couple of specifications to consider before buying the product.

Let’s first talk about the design of these speakers. Many speaker reviews have criticized what they believe to be an uninspired, simplistic, rectangular design of Creative’s Muvo. However, the critics may have been a bit too harsh regarding its looks, especially since these portable Bluetooth speakers are made of high-quality matte plastics with a protection level of IP66. 

This translates to exceptional protection from dust particles and water. The front grill sports an interesting pattern with 3D cubes, so it’s not like there are absolutely no artistic touches to it. The Creative Muvo Mini speaker comes in four colors - black, white, red, and blue.

The best inexpensive Bluetooth speaker should have a solid sound quality and be easy to operate, and Muvo Mini delivers on both accounts. It has only a couple of buttons: besides the power and volume, there is also the Bluetooth button that pairs devices and lets you control your calls. Pressing the button quickly switches between playback and speakerphone.

Creative’s Muvo Mini provides high-quality sound in stereo mode thanks to its two full-range micro drivers. Considering the price and the fairly small size of the device, the Muvo Mini is surprisingly loud. 

But even at its highest volume, the sound doesn’t break or distort. The front of the device has a large bass radiator, which ensures a bass response on a level you don’t often get with low-end speakers.

These speakers come with a built-in Li-ion battery that can be charged with a micro USB adapter. The cable is included in the package - actually, it’s the only other component you get when you order the speakers. 

With moderate use, the fully charged battery will give you about 10 hours of playback before it needs recharging. It also allows you to connect the speaker directly to your devices with a 3.5 mm auxiliary cable.

Overall, not only does  Creative’s Muvo Mini sound good, but we’d say it’s the best-sounding cheap Bluetooth speaker we found. It will provide you with crisp audio and 10 hours of playtime. It is a great deal by anyone’s standards.

Although TribitAudio is a fairly young company, it delivers devices that can easily compete with some of the biggest brands in the world. Tribit XSound Go is a perfect example of a high-quality device that delivers on all fronts yet remains true to the promise of being budget-friendly. Here is what you can expect from one of the best portable speakers under $50.

There is nothing wrong with having a simple and unobtrusive design for your speakers. Tribit XSound Go looks pretty generic but elegant in a way that you’ve seen with dozens of other devices. 

The front grille protects the driver and the radiator inside while proudly sporting the brand’s name on the front. The back of the device has a micro USB port for charging and a 3.5 mm jack, so you can do wireless stereo pairing and have a wired connection to the source.

The speaker is made out of sturdy material. And the IPX7 classification means that you can safely use it as the best cheap Bluetooth shower speaker. Moreover, since it comes with a strap for easy carrying, this device is also great when you’re on the go. With a 24-hour charge, you can explore the wild for an entire day without worrying about limited battery life.

The top of the device contains all the usual buttons you’d expect from a high-quality portable sound system. You can control the songs, pair up two speakers (or more), and make calls thanks to the built-in microphone. If you want to make a smart home, you can connect it to various devices with the press of a button. 

Of course, the reason why this might be the best bang-for-your-buck Bluetooth speaker is the more than decent sound that comes out of it, considering the very affordable price. The XSound Go has a pair of 6W sound drivers and a bass radiator for reaching those deep tones. 

Now, while the company presents the speaker’s bass options as something fascinating, it’s not really that good. The quality is decent, but that’s about it. 

The mid-range is probably its strongest point, while the high range tends to have some hiccups when the volume is cranked all the way up. Then again, for a cheap speaker like this, the sound profile is more than adequate, and you get more than you paid for, really.

JBL Clip 2 was released several years ago as a vastly superior version of the original Bluetooth speaker. Despite its many improvements in design and functionality, JBL’s Clip 2 remains one of the best affordable Bluetooth speakers on the market. Here is a short overview of the device.

At first glance, Clip 2 looks fairly similar to its predecessor. The main difference is in the materials used. It is made out of rugged rubber, fully covered with a special fabric that ensures durability and protects the wiring. 

As far as dust and water resistance goes, the speaker is classified as IPX7 waterproof, which means it can be fully submerged in up to three feet of water but has no protection against dust. Like the original design, this waterproof portable speaker also has a carabiner at the top, but it’s a lot more flexible than it used to be, so it can be positioned easier.

Minimalism is always appreciated when it comes to the best cheap portable Bluetooth speakers. The subtle buttons on the side of JBL Bluetooth speakers don’t disrupt its elegant design in the slightest. There is a volume knob for - you guessed it - controlling the volume and a button with a phone icon that lets you connect to your devices, answer calls, and control playback.

Considering that Clip 2 is a mono speaker, you can use this button to connect it to a second speaker to get a high-quality stereo sound. Of course, if you have to buy two of these, the price doesn’t exactly fall into the affordable category anymore.

As with the best affordable wireless speakers, the sound quality is quite good. However, as a small speaker following a compact design philosophy,  the onboard controls are basically the volume knob, and the JBL Portable app doesn’t officially support this model.

JBL’s portable Bluetooth speaker has a built-in cable if you prefer wired connections. It fits right into the back of the device, so you don’t have to worry about carrying an extra cable at all times. These cheap good portable speakers use a rechargeable Li-ion battery that offers an eight-hour battery life.

In most cases, the device can go past this mark but not by much - it’s not a short battery life by any means, but we’ve seen much better in this roundup. At any point, you can turn the speaker into a capable speakerphone with a built-in system for noise and echo reduction.

The Doss Soundbox Pro is an exceptional device in a number of ways. But one of the best things about this speaker is that it won’t cost you an arm and a leg. The company has been around for over two decades, working hard to create the best cheap Bluetooth portable speakers on the market. And, with the Soundbox Pro, they have done just that. 

The first thing you’ll notice about Soundbox Pro is that it looks a lot more expensive than it actually is. The body is made out of scratch-resistant polymer, so it’s soft to the touch but extremely durable. Unfortunately, it isn’t waterproof but has an IPX5 rating, which means it is only resistant to water splashes - you can bring it to the beach but don’t go diving with it. 

The most distinctive visual features are certainly the colorful LED lights that synchronize with the music and flash to the rhythm of the song. Sure, you can play music on it, but it’s also a great gimmick for house parties.

The sound quality - particularly the bass - is above average compared to most speakers in this price range. But such small speakers can’t always achieve the necessary depth for a bigger sound, so don’t expect these to compete with full-range drivers on more expensive gear.

The Doss Soundbox Bluetooth speaker uses compact subwoofers to provide superior bass sounds that can even be amplified by pressing the Extra Bass button. As far as the rest of the spectrum is concerned - mid-range is pretty good, but you may experience some distortion in the high range.

The speaker uses a built-in rechargeable battery that can get you 12 hours of uninterrupted playtime. However, this is only true if you turn down the volume to 50%, and is not a lot compared to the best cheap Bluetooth speakers on the market.

For the money you’re spending, though, this is entirely acceptable. Of course, if you crank up the volume to a hundred, chances are you won’t even pass the 10-hour point. The speaker comes with a micro USB cable for charging the battery. Many users have reported charging problems, but it probably depends on each individual device.

Compared to the competition, the Soundbox Pro has a fairly modest Bluetooth range of 33 feet. This is irrelevant for indoor use but might pose a problem when you’re out and about. The distance is also a slight problem with the speakerphone feature. It only works up to three feet. Go anywhere beyond that, and you’ll experience echoes and crackling.

Compared to the Aomais Sport 2, most Bluetooth speakers seem flimsy, fragile, and prone to breaking. This is a powerful device targeting highly active people who want to enjoy good music without changing their lifestyle too much. Here is a small presentation of why we feel this is perhaps the best cheap waterproof Bluetooth speaker on the market today.

First of all, let’s look at the design. Aomais Sport 2 looks a bit bulkier than most other entries on our list. The design resembles a modern toolbox, which seems appropriate. The body of the speaker is made out of smooth rubber, so it’s exceptionally resistant to all kinds of weather.

The manufacturers claim that it’s not only waterproof (with a protection level of IPX7), but it is also dustproof, mudproof, shockproof, rainproof, and snowproof. Basically, you get an almost indestructible Bluetooth speaker that will take all sorts of abuse and keep on going.

It’s interesting to note that, in order to make sure they were building cheap but good-quality Bluetooth speakers, the manufacturers tested these devices by running them over with a car.

The speakers deliver 20 W sound through dual high-performance drivers. Because of this, you get solid volume without distortions on the high end. There is better sound out there, even at this price range, but the bass is well-balanced and satisfactory, considering the size and price of the device. 

And if you feel like spending a little extra, you can combine two Aomais devices to create a 360-degree surround system and enjoy your music on a whole new level. The Lithium rechargeable battery allows for 12 hours of playtime, but once the battery runs low, it will take about four hours to get it back to full capacity.

You can easily connect Aomais Sport II  to a voice assistant of your choice and have your own custom smart device. Speaking of connection, the Bluetooth range of the speaker is around 33 feet, which is not spectacular, but it’s within industry standards. As is the case with many other similar devices, this one can also be used as a pretty solid speakerphone.

What can we say about an audio giant like Sony that hasn’t already been said? The company was founded more than seven decades ago and had, in all that time, revolutionized the world in numerous ways. 

Are their best portable Bluetooth speakers cheap? No, of course not. But Sony speakers are not meant to be cheap, they are meant to provide unmatched quality, and these deliver on that front.

When looking at the design, Sony’s SRS-X11 is a great example of a compact beauty. The cube-shaped SRS-X11 weighs less than half a pound and doesn’t take up much space on the desk. Grilles on three sides of the cube hide the powerful dual passive radiators. 

Buttons are located on the rubbery top of the speaker.  You control the power, volume, and calls if you decide to use the device as a speakerphone. To amplify the audio or create an excellent stereo experience, you can always add another Sony speaker to the mix.

When it comes to the actual sound, the Sony SRS-X11 will undoubtedly surprise you. The speaker packs a punch of 10 W, which is impressive for such a small device. The radiators provide a balanced audio experience that isn’t too thin or too heavy. 

All of the ranges have limitations, but the device does a good job of balancing everything out. Battery life is around 12 hours, which is slightly above the industry’s standard. But it can take up to four hours to charge it.

It may not be the best budget Bluetooth speaker around due to its price, but this portable device is an audio powerhouse ideal for trips. It can fit easily into your pocket or be mounted somewhere using the provided accessory strap. Unfortunately, the speaker has absolutely zero tolerance for water, so you won’t be able to use it in the shower or the pool.