Bluetooth speakers have become very popular in the last few years. Some of the latest Bluetooth speakers also come with power bank function that lets you use the speakers’ in-built battery to charge your smartphones. As most of these Bluetooth wireless speakers are generally used outdoors, this additional phone-charging functionality is very useful to have as you can charge your phone in a pinch if you are running dangerously low on battery.
We have evaluated Bluetooth speaker power banks and selected our top picks mainly on the basis of their voice output quality, runtime, build quality, and value for money proposition.
Best Overall Bluetooth Speaker Powerbank
JBL Charge 5 Waterproof Portable Bluetooth Speaker
JBL Charge 5 Portable Bluetooth Speaker is our top choice among Bluetooth wireless speaker power banks. JBL Charge 5 offers a combination of high audio quality, portability, ruggedness, and features as well as reasonable price that easily makes it the #1 choice. The JBL Charge 5 has an impressive 20 hour playback time with extremely balanced output of high, mid, and bass. The speaker is IPX7 waterproof (can be completely submerged in 3 feet water for 30 mins) making it perfect for outdoors.
JBL Charge 5 comes with three important upgrades over the older JBL Charge 3 – USB-C port instead of micro-USB for charging it, a bigger 7500 mAH battery compared to the 6,000 mah of Charge 3, and 30-watt RMS output instead of 20-watts of Charge 3.
The speaker weighs just 2 pounds (about 900 grams) and comes in a number of eye-catching colors. The maximum sound output is 30 watt (2 x 15 watt). Multiple JBL Charge 4 speakers can be chained together to boost the audio experience. The JBL Charge 4 also comes with an in-built speakerphone as well.
The JBL Charge 5 sounds great even at the maximum volume level and the solid build quality seals the deal for us. To top it all, it is a better deal than its nearest competitor – the old Sony XB33.
The JBL Charge 5 has a 7,500 mAH battery, which will fully charge all iPhones or Android phones at least once with few hours of playback time still left in the speaker.
JBL Charge 5 What We Like
- Excellent sound quality with max 30-watt RMS sound output.
- 7,500 mAH power bank battery
- Can fully charge iPhone 8/7/6s/SE 2020/13/12 mini twice.
- Can fully charge iPhone 15, 14, 13/12, 11, all Samsung and other Android phones one time.
- 20 hour playback time
- Rugged build quality
- IPX67 waterproof (1 meter submersion)
- Light weight (2 pounds/900 grams)
- Eye-catching colors and design
- Multiple speakers can be wirelessly chained together
What We Don’t Like
- No NFC connectivity
Best Overall Bluetooth Speaker Powerbank
Sony XG 300
The Sony XG 300 currently our next pick as our favorite Bluetooth speaker powerbank. The Sony XG 300 delivers high quality sound though it is not exactly light at 3 kg and offers some fancy features as well.
It matches or beats the JBL Charge 4 (or the new Charge 5) in every single department. Sony XG 300 delivers slightly better music clarity and more punchy bass output than JBL Charge 4. It costs only slightly more for its performance advantage and this is the reason we have it at #1. Sony XG 300 easily offers the best balance between clarity, price, and portability.
While the claimed battery life is 24 hours, in our tests we found it it to have about 15-hour battery life at medium volume, which is only slightly better than JBL Charge 5 at similar volume levels.
Sony XG 300 offers many extra features over JBL Charge 5/4/3. For example, Sony XG 300 has NFC pairing that enable instant and hassle free pairing. It also supports chaining of multiple Sony XG 300s as well. Sony ULT Field 1 is IP67 rated meaning it is dust proof. JBL Charge 4/3 are IPx7 rated which makes them waterproof but not dust proof. Sony XG 300 also offers more punchy sound thanks to its 30 watt output vs 20 watt of JBL Charge 4/3. The flashy colorful lights further of Sony ULT Field 1 are another extra fun feature.
As a power bank, Sony XG 300 has a 8,800 mah battery which allows it to fully charge an iPhone 15, 14, 13/12/11/XR or Samsung S/Not/A or most Android phones (or iPhones) once and still have half of its battery.
Sony XG 300 What We Like
- Excellent sound quality & output (30 watt), better than JBL Charge 3 or JBL Charge 4
- About 20 hour playback time
- 8,800 mah battery gives excellent battery back up
- Can fully charge iPhone 8/7/6s three times.
- Can charge iPhone 15, 14, 13, 12, 11 series, XR/XS/X from 20% to 100% twice.
- Charges Samsung S/Note/A series and most other Android phones from 30% to 100% twice.
- Rugged build quality
- IP67 dustproof and waterproof (1 meter submersion)
- Floats on water
- Customizable ambient LED lighting
- 7 pounds or 3 kG
- 4 Eye-catching colors and design
- Multiple speakers can be wirelessly chained together
- NFC connectivity
- LDAC codec support
- USB-C chargeable
What We Don’t Like
- Heavy at 3 kg
Best Value for Money Bluetooth Waterproof Speaker Powerbank (Runner Up)
Anker SoundCore Boost
Anker SoundCore Boost is our next pick as the best priced waterproof wireless speaker powerbank. SoundCore Boost is an IPx5 water-resistant speaker powerbank with sound output of 20 watt (2 x 10 watt). IPX5 protection means that the speaker is fully protected from water splashes or rain.
However, it is not protected from complete submersion in water. Only IPx7 (or IP67) rated speakers are protected from submersion in up to 1 meter of water. This essentially means that it is an indoor (or occasionally outdoors) speaker that will withstand spills or rain/drizzle well as long as it does not get completely submerged in water.
The SoundCore Boost has a 12 hour playback time and weighs just 1.29 pounds making it the lightest bluetooth speaker powerbank in our list.
The sound output of Anker SoundCore Sport XL is extremely clear and incredible value for the price of the speaker. A unique and useful feature of the SoundCore Boost is its Bass boost mode that allows you to switch-on punchy bass at the touch of a button. This enables you to turn extra bass on or off according to your mood or the music.
SoundCore Boost has an inbuilt 5,200 mah battery. This will allow you to charge most smartphones at least half (0 to 50%) % and still leave you with at least 6 hours of playback time for the speaker.
The reasonable price, great sound output for the price (20 watt), bass boost feature and splash resistence also makes it an excellent gift option as well.
What We Like
- Excellent sound (20 watt)
- 12 hour playback time
- 5,200 mah power bank battery pack
- Can fully charge iPhone 8/7/6s almost two times.
- Can fully charge all Samsung and other Android phones, and iPhone XR/XS/X once.
- Bass boost feature is very handy
- Very light (1.29 pounds)
- Splash proof
What We Don’t Like
- Only available in black
- No speaker chain function
- Not fully waterproof – no absolute protection from accidental complete submersion in pool
Best High Volume Bluetooth Waterproof Speaker Powerbank
Anker SoundCore Motion Boom
Anker SoundCore Motion Boom is our pick as the best priced high volume waterproof wireless speaker power bank. Anker SoundCore Motion Boom is a floating IP67 dustproof and waterproof speaker powerbank with sound output of 30 watt (2 x 15 watt).
The Anker SoundCore Motion Boom has a 24 hour playback time and weighs 4 pounds making it the heaviest bluetooth speaker powerbank in our list but given its 30-watt audio output , it is still lighter than other similar high-output portable charegr speakers. Despite its 4 pound weight, it is floatable and floats on water.
The sound output of Anker SoundCore Motion Boom is pretty balanced and best among the mid-range bluetooth speakers that we have tested. The SoundCore Motion Boom can also function as a speakerphone as well, if needed.
The Anker SoundCore Motion Boom comes with a 10,000 mah battery . This means you can charge a iPhone 12/11/XR or any Samsung S20/S10 etc. at least 0% to 100% once and still have 12 hours (half of total playback time) remaining in the speaker.
The reasonable price and extreme ruggedness and high sound quality also makes it an excellent gift option as well.
What We Like
- Excellent sound clarity & output (30 watt)
- Superb high frequency clarity
- 24 hour playback time
- 10,000 mah power bank battery pack
- Can fully top-up iPhone 12/11/XR from 50% to 100% twice and still have half-charge.
- Can fully charge all Samsung S21, S20 etc. and other Android phones from 30% to 100% twice .
- Very Rugged build quality
- IP67 dustproof and waterproof (1 meter submersion)
- Floats on water
- Decent weight for output (4 pounds)
- 66 feet bluetooth range
- Integrated Carrying handle
- USB-C chargeable
What We Don’t Like
- No speaker chain function