It’s not easy to find an affordable Bluetooth speaker that checks all the boxes in the unending sea of options. Right now, if you search Amazon for “Bluetooth speakers under $50,” you’ll find over a thousand hits. If you’re planning on reading them all, best of luck! You can’t just go out and buy the first thing that strikes your eye.
There are a lot of low-cost Bluetooth speakers on the market that look nice but aren’t up to pace in terms of quality. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. We diligently sifted through the plethora of low-cost speakers available to find the finest of the lot so you can make the best decision possible based on how and where you’ll be listening.
Right now, these are our top recommendations for the finest Bluetooth speakers under $50.
1. Best Bluetooth Speaker Under $50: JBL Go 3
The best portable speakers are small, lightweight, and take up little room in your backpack or back pocket. The JBL Go 3 fulfils all of these requirements and more.
It’s one of the lightest Bluetooth speakers you’ll find, weighing in at less half a pound. The small cube, with dimensions of 3.4 x 2.7 inches and a height of an inch and a half, fits comfortably into a pocket.
It’s also water and dust resistant, with an IP67 rating. While no speaker is entirely waterproof in every condition, that rating is about as good as it gets, and the Go 3 can withstand being flooded or dropped in the sand with ease. You wouldn’t anticipate outstanding sound quality, high sound volumes, and booming bass from such a compact speaker. Surprisingly, this is the case.
The JBL Go 3 produces powerful music with punchy bass, so you won’t be disappointed if you use it for your rooftop party. Its 4.2 watt power is adequate for outdoor listening as long as there isn’t a lot of background noise. However, there is a cost.
At greater volumes, the sound quality degrades, putting a strain on the battery, which is already small. At lower volumes, you’ll get about five hours of battery life, but when it’s turned all the way up, you’ll only get about half that. That’s not ideal, but it’s passable for a Bluetooth speaker this small, especially one priced under $50.
Pros
- Portable, lightweight, and compact
- Very loud for its size
- IP67 water and dust resistance
Cons
- Below-average battery life
2. Best For On-the-Go Use: JBL Clip 3
The JBL Clip 3 is the ideal option if you’re looking for a cheap on-the-go Bluetooth speaker. It has an IPX7 rating, which means it can gladly be submerged in water for 30 minutes up to one metre. What this implies is that this speaker will gladly play your music in the shower despite everyday splashes or sudden dips in the shallow end. Unless you plan on taking this speaker deep sea diving, it will not be harmed by water.
The Clip 3 has a cool design, with a flat spherical shape that is odd in a positive way. It’s not too big and just weighs half a pound, plus it comes with an attached clip so you can easily attach it to your backpack or belt loop and take it around. On a full charge, the JBL Clip 3 will give you ten hours of playback, at least at lower settings, which is excellent for a speaker this compact that costs under $50.
Most of us don’t listen to music for that long, so unless you’re using it at full blast for several hours, you’re unlikely to empty the battery. In terms of sound quality, JBL never disappoints. It’s a $50 speaker, so don’t expect thunderous bass or to be able to hear it across a football field, but it’s amazing for the price. Unlike much of the competition, the sound is clean and not tinny or distorted.
Unless the speaker was almost on the edge of its range, we didn’t notice any lags or unexpected Bluetooth disconnections. The volume isn’t scream-inducing, which isn’t a problem indoors, but during outdoor events, you might be able to hear each other above the death metal.
The replacement Clip 4, which is a little louder and has adequate dust protection, but is otherwise substantially the same, was just introduced by JBL. However, it is more expensive, so if you don’t require those features, save some money and stick with the 3!
Pros
- Strong water resistance
- Good battery life
- Compact
- Very easy to carry thanks to inbuilt clip
Cons
- Not especially loud
3. Best With Voice Assistant: Creative Muvo Play
If you’re a techie who enjoys the ease, novelty, and power of having your own personal voice assistant, the Creative Muvo Play Bluetooth speaker is for you. It was created by Creative Labs, a Singaporean company known for producing high-value electronics. Once the speaker is connected to your iOS or Android device, you may activate Siri or Google Assistant by simply pressing a button on the speaker.
The speaker includes an excellent mic, so you can voice orders and even make calls with it from a surprising distance. It features a long battery life, allowing you to play for up to 10 hours on a single charge. There’s also USB C charging for faster charging and an IPX7 water resistance rating. Because the Muvo Play uses Bluetooth 5.0, it is quick and easy to connect, and it seldom drops out or disconnects.
Even some of the higher-end speakers still use Bluetooth 4, so this is a surprising nice aspect. It boasts a power output of 10W at maximum volume, which is adequately loud even for outdoor listening. Although there is a lack of bass, the audio quality is excellent for the size. The one slight annoyance is that, while being a little speaker, it has a thick form that prevents it from fitting into your pocket.
Pros
- Voice assistant support
- Good battery life
- Impressively loud
- Strong, stable connections
- Charges quickly over USB C
Cons
- Bulky shape makes it harder to transport
- Lacks bass
- No official dust resistance
4. Best in the Shower: Tribit XSound Go
Nothing beats letting off steam in a long shower while listening to music you enjoy. However, not every Bluetooth speaker is appropriate for this use. It can easily be broken if it isn’t totally water resistant, and if the sound quality isn’t good, it will convert your pleasant experience into an annoyance. The Tribit XSound Go Bluetooth speaker is perfect for use in the shower.
It has an IPX7 rating, making it suitable for pool parties, beach sunbathing, and other outdoor activities. The best thing about this speaker, despite its small size, is its outstanding sound quality. The built-in XBass system employs cutting-edge radiators to ensure a clean sound with deep bass.
With a robust eight watt output that gives plenty of volume even when there’s some background noise, the Tribit XSound Go is as good for outdoor listening as it is in the shower. Even at the highest settings, there is no distortion. Furthermore, the Tribit XSound Go provides up to 24 hours of continuous operation on a single charge, which is longer than any other device on this list.
The speaker has a wider range thanks to Bluetooth 5, but it’s more prone to occasional disconnections than other speakers we’ve tried. All of these benefits, however, come at a price. While it’s still a portable speaker, despite the provided strap, it’s not as easy to transport as some of the types indicated above.
It’s hardly the tiniest or lightest speaker out there, being large and heavy and weighing a little over a pound. If the extra size doesn’t bother you, the Tribit XSound Go has a lot to offer. This is especially true if you plan to use it in the shower or if you want a portable Bluetooth speaker with a long battery life.
Pros
- Impressive sound quality with rich bass
- 24-hour battery life
- Good water resistance
Cons
- Larger and heavier than some
- No official dust resistance
- Random disconnections, even with Bluetooth 5
5. Best With Strong Bass: DOSS Soundbox Plus
The DOSS SoundBox Plus is the way to go if you’re searching for a Bluetooth speaker that focuses on producing incredible bass. With 16W of stereo output to go along with that tremendous bass, it’s sufficiently loud for outdoor listening. It has two active speakers on each side and a passive bass radiator on the bottom, so you get vocals and music from each side and bass from the bottom.
There is minimal to no distortion even at the greatest volume settings. Hands-free calls are made simple thanks to a built-in microphone. With a Bluetooth range of 66 feet and a 3200mAh battery that provides up to 20 hours of continuous performance, this is the Bluetooth speaker to get if you’re going to be using it at parties. It’s also compatible with Siri and Google Assistant, which is a plus.
It isn’t the most portable Bluetooth speaker, though, like the XSound Go. It’s about a pound and a half in weight and over eight inches long, so don’t expect to stow it in your pocket as you leave the house. There’s also no official water or dust resistance rating, so use it with caution!
Pros
- Strong bass
- Impressive sound quality
- Voice assistant support
- Long battery life
Cons
- No official water/dust resistance
- Not all that portable
Summary
For most individuals, we recommend the JBL Go 3 as the best Bluetooth speaker under $50. This small Bluetooth speaker is highly portable, has a surprising amount of volume for its size, and is water and dust resistant, all for a very low price.
The only thing you’ll lose is battery life, but to be honest, up to six hours of continuous playtime should plenty for most everyday tasks. If you’re going to be operating it for longer than that, you can always throw a tiny power bank in your backpack to give it a rapid charge!
