Bluetooth Speakers

When earphones are the wrong answer

Sometimes earphones do not suit: music while cooking, a podcast in the garden, a film for two, sound at a picnic or in the shower. A phone's own speaker is small and thin. A Bluetooth speaker gives fuller, louder sound and keeps the phone free in your hand or on charge. The speakers in this range are small ones made to go where the phone goes.

What the speakers here are like

• Small desk and travel speakers. A compact, rechargeable speaker for a desk, a bedside or a bag. The one here also has a memory card slot (TF, the same size as microSD), so it can play music without the phone.
• Wearable clip-on speakers. A small speaker that clips onto clothing, a bag strap or bike handlebars, with a microphone for taking calls. It suits walking, the gym and cycling.
• Outdoor speakers. Rugged speakers rated against water for the garden, the beach and the poolside. The one here also has an FM radio and a memory card slot.

All of them have a battery of their own and pair with the phone by Bluetooth.

What to look for

Size against sound. A small speaker that fits a pocket or clips to a bag is fine for speech and background music. A larger one gives more bass and fills a room or a garden.

Water. For outdoors and the bathroom, the IP rating tells you what a speaker was tested against. IPX5 means jets of water from any direction, such as rain and splashes, and IPX7 being dropped in water up to 1m deep for up to 30 minutes. The tests are separate, and neither means a speaker is made for swimming. The speakers here that carry a rating say which on their page.

Calls and extras. Some speakers let you take calls through them, and some add a radio or a memory card slot.

Questions people ask about Bluetooth speakers

How far from the phone will a speaker play?

Bluetooth works best with the phone in the same room and nothing too thick between them. Walls, bodies and other wireless equipment can make the sound cut out at a distance.

Will a speaker work with my phone?

Yes, with any phone that has Bluetooth, which is almost every phone, whatever its port. You pair it once from the phone's Bluetooth settings.

Can I take a speaker cycling?

A clip-on speaker can ride on the handlebars, but keep it quiet. The Highway Code lists loud music, which may mask other sounds, among the distractions to avoid when riding.

How long does delivery take?

Delivery is included in every price and tracked to your door. Each product page says when it usually arrives.

More to look at

• Wired earphones
• Bluetooth earbuds
• Power banks
• For cyclists
• For runners
• Guide: Earphones and earbuds for your phone