A Thorough Review of 5 Outdoor Bluetooth Speakers 

Outdoor Bluetooth speakers can turn the scene on for bonfires, camping, poolside parties, and more. With the arrival of portable Bluetooth devices with yard-filling music, you are no longer bound indoors to have fun. Now that New Year’s Eve is approaching, you must be planning to throw a spectacular party: isn’t it why you are looking for an outdoor Bluetooth speaker? Or, you must be planning on going camping. 

Well, whatever the reasons are, I have got you covered because, in this article, you will find a detailed analysis of some of the best Bluetooth speakers for outdoors so you can spend your money on a device with great features and value for money. 

1. JBL Charge 5: Durability and Performance

Specifications 

• Connectivity: Bluetooth
• Battery life: 20 hours 
• Waterproof: Yes 
• Dimensions: 22*9.6*9.4 cm
• Weight: 2 lbs 

Pros: 

• Excellent battery life 
• Rich and clear audio 
• Excellent built 

Cons: 

• No multi-room function
• Distortion at max volume 

Design and Portability 

JBL 5 has the same signature JBL design as its predecessors, but it’s more portable with just 2 lbs of weight. You can pack it in your bag or carry it in one hand easily. The build quality is where JBL 5 shines more. It has an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, making it an ideal device to carry for camping. 

Controls

The controls of JBL 5 are pretty straightforward. There is a “+” and a “-” button to adjust the volume, a Bluetooth pairing button, and a play/pause button to start and stop the music. 

However, you can also double press the play/pause button to skip to the next song, but there is no command for playing the previous track. The controls work smoothly and have a satisfactory feel while pressing. You will also find a dedicated PartyBoost button for pairing compatible devices. 

Sound Quality

The sound quality of JBL 5 is fantastic. It gives natural and consistent sound with different types of audio content. The mids are balanced, so you will clearly hear vocals and lead instruments. However, there is a little distortion at maximum volume. Moreover, you can also set your preferred music profile via graphic EQ in the app. 

JBL Portable App

JBL app is user-friendly and offers basic functions that make your listening experience even better. You can adjust the EQ and access the Party Mode function to connect PartyBoost-compatible speakers. 

Here, you can pair two speakers for stereo. However, a multiroom function for playing different music in different rooms simultaneously would have been a great inclusion. 

Battery Life

The battery is advertised to have 20 hours of runtime, but I could only play it for 14 hours continuously, which I guess is long enough to get through a party. There is also a power-saving button that shuts the speaker down after being inactive for a specific period. 

Overall, it is one of the reasonably well-made outdoor Bluetooth wireless speakers to spend your money on. 

2. JBL Xtreme 4: Premium and Almost Perfect

Specifications 

• Connectivity: Bluetooth
• Battery life: 24 hours 
• Waterproof: Yes 
• Dimensions: 29.7*14.9*14. 1cm
• Weight: 2.1 kg

Pros: 

• Excellent battery life 
• Impressive audio
• IP67 rating 
• Excellent built 

Cons: 

• No mic for calls 
• Expensive

Design and Portability

JBL Xtreme 4 is another great Bluetooth speaker for outdoors. It has an IP67 rating for water and dust resistance and gives a rugged feel. It is almost similar but a little heavily built to JBL 5, so if you want a smaller, more portable device, go for it later. However, the Xtreme comes with some excellent features that can really add to your audio experience. 

Controls

The controls are responsive and have plenty of tactile feel. There is a play button to play and pause music, a Bluetooth connection button, and a power button. You also get a multispeaker button to pair other speakers and volume buttons. Unlike JBL 5, here you also get a command for playing the previous track by triple-pressing the play/pause button while double-pressing skips to the next track. 

JBL App 

JBL app and Xtreme together make the listening more fun. You can set the sound profile of your liking via EQ presents or graphic EQ. There is also a Playtime Boost feature that adds to battery life. Lastly, it allows you to pair new JBl devices (with Bluetooth 5.2 or more) via Auracast for a limitless multispeaker experience. 

Sound Quality

Xtreme sounds great, regardless of the song you are playing. Its woofers bring new life to music with richness and clarity. You might think that this relatively large speaker gives off overbearing bass, which is not true at all. 

Playing Weeknd’s Starboy on Xtreme was surprisingly refined. JBL is not only good for outdoor music but also is one of the great wireless Bluetooth speakers for TV. So, if you are planning a movie night under the starry sky, it will serve you well. 

Battery life 

The battery life of this speaker is 27 hours, 3 hours more than the advertised runtime. Therefore, you can take this speaker to all-night gatherings without having to worry about frequent plugins, making it one of the best outdoor Bluetooth speakers.

3. Ultimate Ears MegaBoom 3: Affordability and Performance

Specifications 

• Connectivity: Bluetooth
• Battery life: 18 hours 
• Waterproof: Yes 
• Weight: 2 lbs 

Pros: 

• Attractive design 
• Great battery life
• Immense sound quality 
• Affordable

Cons: 

• Distortion at max volume 

Design and Portability 

Megaboom’s cylindrical design is incredibly portable and sturdy. You can place it in a small bag and carry it to parks, beach parties, or to the farthest edge of the Grand Canyon for camping. It is also IP67, so you won’t have to worry about dusty roads or water drops. 

Controls

There are large volume controls on the sides of the speaker that catch immediate attention. A beep will indicate when you reach the maximum volume. There is also a button on the top side to play/pause music, double pressing it skips to the next track, holding it to access the preset playlist from the companion app. You also get a dedicated Bluetooth button to enter pairing mode. 

Sound Quality

The audio sounds amazing on this speaker, no matter which song you are playing; while testing, I did notice some underemphasized low bass. Overall, you will get a boomy sound with clear lead vocals and instruments. 

The Ultimate Ears App 

The app has almost the same features that you get with the more expensive Xtemre 4. There are graphic EQ and presets to let you toggle the mix. You can also pair up another device with the” Party Up” feature to create stereo sound. 

Battery Life

The battery life of these speakers is also near 20 hours (advertised). You can get your music on for around 18 hours in practical use. Also, the speakers automatically shut off after 15 minutes of inactivity. If you want great audio with amazing battery life, this is one of the best affordable Bluetooth speakers, you can buy. 

4. JBL Boombox 3: Big, Bold, and Booming 

Specifications 

• Connectivity: Bluetooth
• Battery life: 30 hours 
• Waterproof: Yes 
• Dimensions: 48.2*25.7*20.0 cm
• Weight: 6.9 kg

Pros: 

• Loud and clear sound 
• Excellent battery life
• Graphic EQ option
• Portable 

Cons: 

• Expensive 
• Heavy

Design and portability 

If you are looking for big Bluetooth wireless speakers for larger gatherings, Boombox 3 is a good option. It’s heavy with 6 kg of weight and the build is sturdy enough to survive any road trip. 

It is also water and dust-resistant with IP67. Unlike its predecessor, JBL 2, it comes with an aluminum strap that makes it portable, so you can carry it to a distance with much ease. 

Controls

Like all other JBL devices, Boombox has pretty easy controls. You have a play/pause button for audio; double pressing this button skips to the next track. There is a volume button, Partyboost, and Bluetooth button. The power and Bluetooth buttons are backlit, and the buttons are defined enough so you never press the wrong ones. 

Sound quality 

As the name suggests, Boombox is really Boombastic. It is loud. At high volume, half of your street will be able to listen to what you are playing. However, the best thing about this loud and heavy speaker is its audio remains crisp and warm so it never gives off overbearing sounds. However, I did feel a little sound distortion at max volume while playing Starstruck by Lady Gaga. 

Battery Life

Its battery life is really impressive and exceeds the advertised number of 24 hours. Its runtime is around 30 hours. It also shuts down after 20 minutes of inactivity to save power. Furthermore, you can also save battery by playing music at a low level which is not that low, and can keep the party in your backyard going. 

5. Tribit StromBox Flow: Powerbox of Bass

 Specifications 

• Connectivity: Bluetooth
• Battery life: 30 hours 
• Waterproof: Yes 
• Dimensions: 3.5*7.9*2.1 cm
• Weight: 1.5 pounds

Pros: 

• Powerful battery 
• Great bass for a smaller size 
• IP67

Cons: 

• No multi-room function
• Ap EQ is not that great

Design and Portability 

The box-style speaker with a matte dark gray finish looks decent. It does not give a very premium or rugged feel, but it’s well-built. It also comes with water and dust resistance, so you can carry it on your road trip. 

Controls

You will find control buttons fashioned in a straight line at the side of the speaker. There is a Bluetooth button for pairing, volume up/down, power button, and EQ. However, you also get a multifunction button that can be used to control playbacks, calls, and launching voice assistance. 

Sound Quality 

The sound profile of Tribit is decent with the deep bass, but if the volume goes up too high, it can distort the audio. Overall, you will get good sound quality for a price under 100, making it one of the

best cheap Bluetooth speakers. Moreover, its sound profile also depends on its orientation, placing it forward-facing to get good audio. 

StormBox Flow App 

The app is quite basic. You will get a speaker, EQ, and a few other settings. There are three 5 EQ presets. You can keep it at XBass (default set) because it is the best sound profile. 

Battery life 

The speakers lasted for 30 hours in the test run, which is great for the smaller size. For me, Tribit is one of the automotive Bluetooth speakers because I tested them on a road trip, and they handled the runtime well enough. 

Activating Party Mode: How to Connect Multiple Bluetooth Speakers

Pairing multiple Bluetooth speakers is not difficult. Most of the speakers come with a pairing button. You can turn it on and pair devices. However, carefully read the instructions in the manual because every speaker has a different way of registering commands.

Some need a short press to turn on multiple pairing, while others operate through press and hold. Moreover, there are also companion apps with Bluetooth speakers that allow you to pair compatible devices with just a few swipes. 

Final Verdict 

Choosing the best Outdoor Bluetooth speakers for your outdoor gatherings is not a very challenging task, given you know what you are looking for. A normal consumer doesn’t have enough technological knowledge, and some of them might not even know what is bass or frequency range. So, all they look for is something that sounds pleasing, easy to operate, and lasts long. 

That’s why when you try to buy outdoor speakers, read the specs of a few devices and then search for reviews and testimonials of previous users. By doing this, you will end up purchasing a great device with zero regrets. 

FAQS

1. What is the best outdoor Bluetooth speaker?

The best outdoor Bluetooth speakers must have loud and clear sound quality, rugged built, and long battery life. You can look for JBL Charge 5, Xtreme 4, and Ears Megaboom 3 because these speakers offer all of the mentioned and more specs. 

2. What to look for when purchasing outdoor speakers? 

When buying outdoor speakers, look for sound quality, durability, and battery life. A good app to toggle your favorite music profile and voice control is a plus. 

3. How many watts do I need for outdoor speakers? 

The watts depend on the area. If you want to play in a 300-square-foot space, a 60-watt speaker will work but increase the space, and you will need more power, such as 200 or 300 watts.