What would a day at the beach be like without ice-cold drinks, blazing sun, cool water, and of course your favorite music to relax to. The only issue is this – water and speakers generally don’t mix!
Luckily, speaker manufacturers have come up with a solution to this problem. Bluetooth beach speakers with varying degrees of waterproofing or water resistance.
This means you’ll have no problem taking your speaker right next to (or in) the water at your nearest beach, pool, or lake. Many are also extremely portable, so they won’t take up much room in your backpack or beach bag.
Let’s take a look at some of the best beach speakers on the market right now – so you’ll be able to enjoy your music by the waterside without worry.
Quick Answer: 5 Best Beach Speakers
- Best Overall: Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3
- Also Consider: JBL Charge 4
- Best Compact Speaker: UE Roll 2 Volcano
- Budget Pick: Anker Soundcore 2
- Best Large Speaker: Ultimate Ears Hyperboom
Best Overall: Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3
When it comes to the world of Bluetooth speakers, Ultimate Ears have been on the cutting edge for some time. They consistently produce some of the best performing speakers on the market – and this one is certainly no exception.
The speaker is packed with many of UE’s best features including Party Up Bluetooth multiple speaker pairing, the magic button for controlling streaming music, and bold 360° immersive sound. The impressive battery lasts for up to 20 hours of use on a single charge, while the optional Power Up charging dock lets you wirelessly charge the speaker anywhere.
While it might be pretty looking on the outside, the speaker is actually incredibly tough. It sports an impressive IP67 waterproof and dustproof rating, which means it can be completely submerged in 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes. It also floats, so in case you drop it in the ocean, it’ll be easy to recover.
The Party Up feature means you can pair over 150 speakers on the same Bluetooth connection! This feature is backward compatible, so you’ll be able to pair the speaker with older Boom, Boom 2, and Megaboom speakers.
Key Features
- Up to 20 hours of battery life.
- IP67 waterproof rating.
- Bold 360-degree sound.
- Magic button for controlling streaming music.
- Party Up button allows you to pair multiple speakers together with Bluetooth.
- ULTIMATE SOUND: Super portable wireless bluetooth speaker with 360° bold, immersive, crystal clear sound and up to 20 hours of battery. It brings your music to life wherever you take it.
- POWERED FOR ADVENTURE: Rechargeable battery stays powered and pumping tunes for 20 hours on a single charge. Add the POWER UP charging dock (sold separately) to charge Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3 wirelessly so it’s always ready to go on your next musical adventure.
- EXTREME PERFORMANCE FABRIC: MEGABOOM 3 is covered in shimmering two-tone fabric that’s tough, beautiful and engineered for extreme applications like motorcycle jackets and fire equipment which means this performance textile is bult for extremes.
- SUPER PORTABLE, WATERPROOF & VIRTUALLY INDESTRUCTIBLE: Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3 is seriously waterproof and floats. MEGABOOM 3 was born to get wet and is completely waterproof with a IP67 water and dustproof rating, which means it and can be totally submerged in water up to 1m for 30 minutes. No matter how wild things get, your music will always be on point.
- ALL-NEW MAGIC BUTTON: With MEGABOOM 3 you can play, pause, skip and control any streaming music directly on the Bluetooth speaker with one touch of a button. Just push for convenient control of any streaing music. Match the moment with vibes without reaching for your phone.
- PARTYUP: Use PARTYUP on the BOOM & MEGABOOM App to pair 2, 3, 4...and over 150 speakers and create the ultimate surround sound experience. You can combine multiple BOOM 3 and MEGABOOM 3 speakers or even pair them with previous generation BOOM, BOOM 2 and MEGABOOM.
- These are FCC regulated products: FCC ID JNZS00
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Also Consider: JBL Charge 4
The JBL Charge 4 strikes an ideal balance of portability, performance, and versatility. It sports a healthy 7800mAH battery, which provides up to 20 hours of usage, and can also be used as a battery bank to recharge your smartphone and other electronics.
The speaker features a rugged design, complete with IPX7 waterproofing – which means the speaker can be submerged in up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes at a time. The exterior is made from durable fabric and rugged rubber housing, which can withstand the rough and tumble of outdoor adventures.
Dual bass radiators deliver strong, powerful bass that resonates over long distances. They also create that signature bass-thumping visual on either end of the speaker.
Similar to the Ultimate Ears above, the speaker can be wirelessly linked with more than 100 JBL speakers at a time using JBL’s Connect+ feature.
Key Features
- 7800 mAH battery provides up to 20 hours of continuous usage.
- Battery can be used as a USB battery bank to charge phones and other electronics.
- Excellent sound quality and resonance.
- Dual bass radiators deliver powerful, crisp bass.
- IPX7 waterproofing makes it ideal for the beach.
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Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Best Compact Speaker: UE Roll 2 Volcano
If you’re after ultimate portability without sacrificing volume and sound quality, you’ll have a tough time beating this well-engineered speaker. It’s ultra-portable, fitting comfortably in the palm of your hand, and weighing less than a can of soda. A stretchy, marine-grade bungee on the rear of the speaker allows you to mount the speaker to a backpack, bike, or even hang on a hook in the shower.
The sound quality is surprisingly good for a speaker of this size, providing crisp vocals, good sound clarity, and excellent volume. Ultimate Ears’ Roll app features an excellent built-in equalizer, which allows you to adjust the bass level and sound profile to your preference.
The Bluetooth range is also excellent, with a 100-foot distance. The battery life is slightly less than other speakers at 9 hours, but this is to be expected from a speaker of this diminutive size.
UE also throws in an inflatable pool float that you can mount the speaker to. That means you’ll be able to float in the pool with your speaker comfortably by your side!
Key Features
- IPX7 waterproofing.
- Wireless range of up to 100 feet.
- Built-in bungee on back of the speaker for mounting to bike, pool float, backpack, and more.
- Surprisingly good sound quality for the size.
- Includes pool float for mounting your speaker.
- This refurbished product is tested and certified to look and work like new. The refurbishing process includes functionality testing, basic cleaning, inspection, and repackaging. The product ships with all relevant accessories, and may arrive in a generic
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Budget Pick: Anker Soundcore 2
If you’re looking for the performance and portability of more expensive speakers without spending an arm and a leg, look no further than the Anker Soundcore 2. This highly portable speaker features an impressive 5,200 mAH Li-ion battery which puts out a full 24 hours of continuous music.
Like most of the other speakers reviewed above, the speaker sports an excellent IPX7 waterproofing level. This means you’ll have ample protection from water, dust, sand, and spilled drinks.
While it costs significantly less than the other speakers on the list, the sound quality doesn’t compromise much. It sports customized dual drivers which produce 12 W of stereo quality sound. A dynamic signal processor with a dynamic range ensures excellent distortion-free volume and bass.
Two Soundcore 2 speakers can be paired together on the same device – allowing you to increase the range and volume of your audio.
Key Features
- 5200 mAH Li-ion battery puts out a full 24 hours of continuous audio.
- IPX7 waterproofing.
- Intense bass output and crisp low-end frequencies.
- Can be paired with another Soundcore 2 speaker.
- Incredible Sound Loved by 20 Million+ People
- Bluetooth Speaker with Intense Bass: Exclusive BassUp technology and a patented spiral bass port boost low-end frequencies to make the beats hit even harder.
- Outdoor-Proof: IPX7 protection safeguards the Bluetooth speaker against rain, dust, snow, and spills. Get incredible sound at home, in the yard, or anywhere else imaginable.
- Wireless Stereo Pairing: Pair two SoundCore 2 (updated version only) together via a single device for big stereo sou
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Large Speaker: Ultimate Ears Hyperboom
If you’re planning a real beach rager, then you’ll need to step up your speaker game – enter the Hyperboom! This powerhouse speaker produces rich immersive sound, big booming bass, and a cutting-edge adaptive equalizer ensures it sounds perfect in any environment.
The battery lasts up to 24 hours per charge and the Bluetooth connection range is an impressive 150 feet. It also works as USB battery bank for topping up your smartphone with a fresh charge.
The speaker features IPX4 water resistance, which means it can withstand spills and splashes, but it’s not completely waterproof. This isn’t a big deal for a speaker of this size, as you’re not likely to take it out on the water or into the pool with you.
The adaptive equalizer automatically adjusts to the environment by customizing the sound to suit the surroundings. Whether your hanging at the beach, lounging on a rooftop, or having a house party, the speaker will deliver clean pitch-perfect sound.
Party Up connectivity allows you to connect with any UE Boom, Megaboom, or even another Hyperboom.
Key Features
- Big loud pristine sound + extreme bass ultimate ears Hyperboom is a portable Bluetooth speaker with supermassive beautifully rich sound with big booming bass
- Easy music sharing: Play music from four different devices and easily switch between them with just a press of a button connect via two Bluetooth inputs one auxiliary and one optical input
- All day 24 hour battery life Hyperboom sports an up to 24-hour rechargeable battery that keeps the party pumping wherever you take it or plug it in to rage for the rest of time
- Adaptive equalizer: This party speaker does all the heavy lifting to rock a pitch-perfect sound anywhere Its brainy adaptive EQ literally reads the environment—and automatically customizes the sound to whatever space it’s in
- Spill and splash proof: What’s more? Hyperboom is built to handle the sloshiest of soirées got a spill or splash — the IPX4 rating has got your back; Simply wipe it off and you’re good to go
- Party up connect Hyperboom with any Boom Megaboom or even another Hyperboom to kick-start a party of truly ultimate proportions Adding just two to four can reach noise-violation levels of fun
- USB charge out Hyperboom is the party powerhouse that even gives your phone a boost flip open the weather door plug into the USB charge-out and keep banging while your phone’s powering up
- One touch music control Hyperboom lets you play pause and skip tracks directly on the speaker; You can also set up one-touch to your playlist via the
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
How to Pick the Right Beach Speakers
With so many makes and models, finding the right beach speakers for your needs can be a little tricky. How much battery life is enough? What level of waterproofing do you need? And what size speaker should you get if you want it to fit comfortably in your backpack?
Let’s take a look at some of the most important features to be on the lookout for when picking out a speaker for the beach.
Battery
Anytime you’re dealing with wireless speakers, batteries are a major consideration.
Battery size is typically measured in milliamp-hours (mAh), which is a measurement of how much energy the battery can store. Generally, the higher the mAh, the more energy the battery can store, and the longer the speaker will be able to operate before it needs recharging.
This isn’t a perfect measurement though, as different speakers will have differing power draws, and hence will consume battery power and different rates. Most manufacturers will give a number of hours the speaker can be run before needing recharging, so also consider this figure in your decision-making.
Bluetooth Range
Another important consideration is a speaker’s Bluetooth connectivity range. This will be more important if your mobile with your speaker and smartphone.
Most models will have a decent range, but if you’re looking for an excellent connectivity range look for 100 feet or more.
Connectivity
One of the cooler features of newer Bluetooth speakers is the ability to chain multiple speakers together on the same Bluetooth connection. This means you’ll be able to play the same audio on multiple speakers at the same time.
This is a great feature for parties, boats, outdoor events, or anywhere where a single speaker isn’t quite enough. One thing to keep in mind is that you’ll only be able to connect speakers from the same manufacturer on the same Bluetooth connection. So, if you already have a speaker from one manufacturer, getting another from the same company makes sense.
Waterproofing
As we all know, water and electricity don’t mix. If you’re planning to use your speaker near the beach or pool, good waterproofing is a must.
Most of the Bluetooth speakers reviewed above feature IPX7 waterproofing (or the equivalent). This means the speaker can be submerged in 1 meter (3 feet) of water for 30 minutes. This is more than enough for typical beach use, but if you’re looking for the ultimate water speaker, be on the lookout for an IPX8 rated model.
Portability
The major advantage of Bluetooth beach speakers is their portability. There’s no need to an AC outlet, no need for an aux cable, just power up the speaker and you’ve got stereo quality music at your fingertips.
When it comes to portability, there’s always a trade-off between performance and portability. Smaller speakers will need to sacrifice some performance for increased portability. The ideal blend of portability and performance will largely depend on your personal preferences.
Also, when you’re bringing along beach coolers, tables, chairs, grills, and umbrellas, a portable speaker will make your life that much easier.
Extra Features
Beyond typical speaker functionality, there are a few extra features to be on the lookout for when picking out a beach speaker.
- USB Battery Bank: Some speakers include a USB out port which allows you to plug your electronics in and give them a charge from the speaker’s battery. This turns your speaker into a makeshift USB battery bank. This is a handy feature to have, especially if your somewhere without access to an AC outlet.
- Magic Button: A ‘magic button’ refers to a button that lets you control the music playback from the speaker. Typical speakers have buttons to power on/off, control the volume, and turn Bluetooth on and off, but a magic button enables you to skip to the next song without having to go find your phone, tablet, or laptop.
