New Bluetooth Travel Speakers For 2017

With smartphone storage improving as dictated by Moore’s Law each year and sound quality in Bluetooth speakers improving even in travel-sized offerings, perhaps it’s time you bought your first or upgraded your existing travel speaker(s).

Now, travel-sized speakers certainly vary depending on whether or not you’re going around the world with a single backpack or taking a two-week vacation with a carry-on bag and two checked suitcases. Clearly, sound quality and battery life will improve, as the speaker gets bigger especially. Suffice it to say you’re not going to get much in the way of base from a tiny speaker

A photo posted by JBL (@jblaudio) on Jan 2, 2017 at 2:27pm PST

Starting all sorts of small and reasonably cheap at around $50, the JBL Clip 2 offers surprisingly good sound for something the size of a hockey puck. The Clip 2 is fully waterproof and can certainly join you in the shower and the attached clip makes it easy to fasten nearly anywhere. It has a good battery life at about eight hours and also includes a mic in case you get a call when paired to the speakers and playing music.

A photo posted by Bose (@bose) on Jan 30, 2017 at 9:52am PST

Bose has been providing quality sound in small packages for years now and for something about the size of an airport paperback, the Bose SoundLink Color is a great option for about $120. It too offers a rechargeable battery, which delivers about eight hours of music and is not a burden in a backpack.

A photo posted by Ultimate Ears (@ultimateears) on Jan 24, 2017 at 3:15pm PST

Ultimate Ears’ Megaboom, as the name suggests, packs quite the punch and handles base about as well as any speaker can be expected to while still being small enough to travel with in your suitcase. It’s about the size and weight of a heavy size 13 Dr. Marten’s shoe. But that weight brings brilliant 360-degree sound and, of course, bass. It has about a 100-foot Bluetooth range, is fully waterproof and lasts an amazing 20 hours on a single, fast charge. PartyUp from Ultimate Ears allows you to pair it with up to another 50 speakers by the same company and an accompanying smartphone app unlocks additional features.