The best waterproof speakers of 2020 are more than just audio kit that can take a splash or two. These outdoor speakers are ready to take on the elements, while sounding great while they do it.
Plenty of portable speakers are easy to carry around with you wherever you go, but not all of them have the materials and protective coating needed to stop rain, waves, or puddles messing with its circuitry. Rather than risking your current devices, then, it's best to opt for a waterproof speaker able to withstand whatever you throw at it.
All the choices in our best waterproof speaker 2020 guide come with IPX7 waterproof ratings, so even if you're not planning on swimming with your outdoor speaker, you can rest easy knowing it could withstand an accidental dip or downpour – or even a trip into your morning shower, should the mood take you.
The best part is that many of these waterproof speakers aren’t only designed to be waterproof but robust too, which means you shouldn't needed to worry about an accidental drop on the ground, either.
But durability and waterproofing isn’t everything. Below we've gathered up the best models based on a range of factors, including price, sound, design, and connectivity – not only are these devices rain-friendly, pool-friendly and spill-friendly, they're also the best waterproof speakers you can buy right now.
Read on for our top selection, with commonly-asked questions and an explanation of water resistance below that.
Top picks
1. Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2
Big sound for a small waterproof speaker
Weight: 0.93 pounds | Battery life: 10 hours | Wireless range: 100+ feet | Frequency response: 80Hz - 20kHz | Drivers: Two 40mm active drivers, two 46 x 65mm passive radiators | NFC: No | Aux-in: No | USB charging: Yes
The original UE Wonderboom has been at the top of our best waterproof speaker list since its debut and for good reason: It’s rugged, plays louder than its diminutive sound suggests, and could be paired to other UE Wonderboom speakers to amplify sound.
Although the UE Wonderboom 2 looks nearly identical to the original, Ultimate Ears packed in a slew of upgrades that make the Wonderboom 2 even better, like the increased battery life (up 30% compared to the original), better bass response, and the new Outdoor Boost feature that helps the speaker get even louder than before.
Combined, these seemingly minor upgrades not only keep the UE Wonderboom 2 on our list of the best outdoor speakers for another year, but they help to make it one of the best Bluetooth speakers you can buy, period.
Read the full review: Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2
2. Denon Envaya DSB-250BT
Great sound and a grown-up look with this waterproof speaker
Weight: 0.93 pounds | Battery life: 13 hours | Wireless range: 100+ feet | Frequency response: TBC | Drivers: Two 40mm active drivers, one 53 x 135mm passive radiator | NFC: No | Aux-in: Yes | USB charging: Yes
If you want a waterproof speaker that doesn't look like a waterproof speaker, get the Denon Envaya DSB-250BT.
It'll fit into a classy living room but has IP67 water resistance, letting it withstand a full-on dunk. This is also the best-sounding speaker of its size, with meaty bass and audio balance you might expect from a hifi master like Denon. There's an Envaya Mini if you want something smaller, too.
Any complaints? To make the water resistance work, the speaker has rubbery panels instead of clicky buttons, and they aren't half hard to depress sometimes. But if that isn't a minor quibble, what is?
Read the full review: Denon Envaya
3. JBL Flip 5
A fun, no-frills waterproof speaker
Weight: 1.2 pounds | Battery life: 12 hours | Wireless range: N/A | Frequency response: 65Hz - 20kHz | Drivers: 40mm | NFC: No | Bluetooth version: 4.2 | Aux-in: No | USB charging: No
The JBL Flip 5 is proof that the best Bluetooth speakers aren't always the ones with the most impressive specs – and with an IPX7 rating, it's suitable for use as a waterproof speaker.
JBL’s Flip 5 is a simple soul with Bluetooth-only playback and modest features, but if you desire a rugged, great-sounding portable speaker and can sacrifice voice control or hands-free call functionality, you won’t be disappointed.
Thanks to its neat design (camouflage grille anyone?) and great sound, it's a steal at $119.95 / £119.99 / AU$149.95. Looking for USB charging too? Check out the JBL Charge 4.
Read the full review: JBL Flip 5 review
4. Anker Soundcore Flare
A vibrant outdoor speaker that packs impressive sound
Weight: 1.2 pounds | Dimensions: 5.25 x 5 x 2.25 inches (H x W x D) | Battery life: 8 hours | Wireless range: 30 feet | Frequency response: N/A | Drivers: N/A | NFC: No | Aux-in: Yes | Bluetooth version: N/A | Weatherproofing: Yes | Charges devices over USB: No
You may know Anker best for its electronic accessories and chargers, but its flagship waterproof speaker, the Anker Soundcore Flare, combines the best features of its competitors into an affordable package that’s tough to beat.
For the price, the Flare offers good sound, a tough waterproof build and excellent user experience. The LED light show is a bit of a gimmick, sure, but it's certainly fun and can be disabled entirely. While other outdoor speakers may sound better, you’re going to have to spend much more money.
Read the full review: Anker Soundcore Flare
5. Ultimate Ears Boom 3
One of our favorite waterproof speakers
Weight: 1.2 pounds | Dimensions: 5.25 x 5 x 2.25 inches (H x W x D) | Battery life: 8 hours | Wireless range: 30 feet | Frequency response: N/A | Drivers: N/A | NFC: No | Aux-in: Yes | Bluetooth version: N/A | Weatherproofing: Yes | Charges devices over USB: No
The UE Boom 3 is one of the best outdoor speakers money can buy in 2019. This is a speaker that can get loud and not distort at higher volumes; be light enough to carry on the move but remain durable enough to tumble in a bag unprotected.
It's waterproof as well as dust-proof, and has a one-touch mix button that lets you pull up your favorite playlists without needing to pick up your smartphone.
There are certainly more detailed speakers out there (see: Bowers and Wilkins Zeppelin down below), but at a price that's relatively affordable to all, the UE Boom 3 hits all the right notes for the third year in a row.
Read the full review: UE Boom 3
6. Fugoo Style
A small outdoor speaker that raises the bar
Weight: 1 pound | Battery life: Up to 40 hours | Wireless range: 30+ feed | Frequency response: 60Hz -20kHz | Drivers: Two 28mm neodymium tweeters, two 39mm neodymium aluminum domed mid/woofers, two 43mm x 54mm passive radiators | NFC: No | Aux-in: Yes | USB charging: Yes
If you still don’t know about Fugoo, you’re certainly missing out on some of the best waterproof speakers in the world. The Fugoo Style not only offers the longest battery life of any speaker on this list (40 hours!), but it also comes in at a tiny one pound.
Fugoo’s design philosophy is to offer different ‘jackets’ (Style, Tough or Sport) to fit around its ‘core’ speaker to fit different styles. The Fugoo Style waterproof speaker offers a great blend of size, sound fidelity and battery life for an affordable price.
Read the full review: Fugoo Style
- This product is only available in the US at the time of this writing. UK and Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the UE Wonderboom
7. Ultimate Ears Megablast
Big sound and a big battery in this outdoor speaker
Weight: 1.93 pounds | Battery life: 20 hours | Wireless range: 100+ feet | Frequency response: 65Hz – 20kHz | Drivers: Two 2” drivers and two 2” x 4” passive radiators | NFC: Yes | Aux-in: Yes | USB charging: Yes
The UE Megablast is at the very peak of Ultimate Ears’ line of waterproof speakers. Its larger size means that the Megablast can get loud and can last up to 20 hours at a sensible volume.
Bass is stronger and richer than its smaller UE Boom 3 and Wonderboom 2 brothers, and this is the speaker for anybody who wants to really blare their music at a party. For people who want to save some cash, however, the other Ultimate Ears speakers cost much less and sound nearly as good. Still, it's not a bad option if you want a personal assistant with you at the beach.
Read the full review: Ultimate Ears Megablast
8. JBL Boombox
A waterproof party speaker that sounds great
Weight: 11.57 pounds | Dimensions: 10.01 x 19.48 x 7.69 inches (H x W x D) | Battery life: N/A | Wireless range: N/A | Frequency response: 50Hz – 20kHz | NFC: Yes | Aux-in: Yes | Bluetooth version: 4.2 | USB charging: No
In terms of sheer audio prowess, the JBL Boombox was a pleasant surprise – it's a monstrous waterproof speaker that not only gets loud, but stays pretty crisp when pumping the volume. It’s heavy, and not the easiest thing to carry around, but it’s rugged enough to handle any pool or tailgate party.
That said, we can’t recommend the Boombox as a speaker for the home. You can find comparable sound in form factors that take up less real estate, but if your plan is to hit whatever patio, pool, beach or tailgate party you can find, then this one should be in the running to play the tunes.
Read the full review: JBL Boombox
9. Tribit XSound Go
This budget outdoor speaker has no right to sound this good
Weight: 0.83 pounds | Dimensions: 56 x 59 x 170(mm) | Battery life: Up to 24 hours | Wireless range: 30m or 100 ft | Frequency response: 85 – 20,000 Hz | Drivers: N/A | NFC: No | Aux-in: Yes | USB charging: No
If you believe the old adage about getting what you pay for, you might not expect much from the Tribit XSound Go’s sound quality. Thankfully, that adage has never been less applicable: the speaker gets loud enough to fill up a medium-sized room, and at full volume, there’s only a little distortion on the highs.
Honestly, the Tribit XSound Go shouldn’t sound this good for the price, but it does. The speaker impressed with balanced sound, is near distortion-free at high volumes, and lasts and incredible 20+ hours of playtime at medium volume. Plus, the speaker is IPX7 water and dust resistant so it’ll put up with a day at the beach or pool without a problem. While it’s design may be forgettable, you won’t care once you hear how good the XSound Go sounds.
Read the full review: Tribit XSound Go
10. Braven Stryde 360
A versatile, weatherproof speaker at an affordable price
Weight: N/A | Dimensions: N/A | Battery life: N/A | Wireless range: N/A | Frequency response: N/A | Drivers: N/A | NFC: No | Aux-in: No | Bluetooth version: N/A | USB charging: No
Last on our list is the Braven Stryde 360 that, in all fairness, is a solid waterproof speaker that is average in just about every way. Sound quality is good but the speaker struggles with bass response. Battery life is an average 12 hours and its design doesn’t particularly stand out. For the price, there are better options - see: any of the speakers above - but if you've gotten this far and still haven't found what you're looking for, the Braven could be it.
Read the full review: Braven Stryde 360
- This product is only available in the US and UK at the time of this writing. Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the UE Roll 2
FAQ
Outdoor speakers FAQ: quick questions answered
- Can you put an indoor speaker outside? It's possible, depending on the type of power output. A wireless speaker can be put anywhere, providing it's near enough to its source device – smartphone, computer, or otherwise. Keep in mind indoor speakers won't usually be waterproof, though. So it's always best to get one built for the outdoors to be safe.
- What's a good wattage for outdoor speakers? 5W might be suitable for a quiet picnic, but you'll want more for a bustling BBQ or party out of doors. For comparison, most smart TVs come with maximum 10W speakers.
- How many outdoor speakers do I need? This depends on the volume of the device and where you're putting it. For covering various spots around a garden or yard, you may want several.
Waterproof vs water resistant
Waterproof vs water-resistant speakers
While waterproof and water-resistant aren't synonymous, they roughly translate to 'water won't ruin it'.
When hunting for the best waterproof speaker for the great outdoors, look for its IP rating. This is how water resistance gadgets are categorized. You'll see that IP mark, followed by two numbers – IP67 is one of the most common, and means the speaker can be submerged in water for up to 30 minutes. This is the one you want and means it's a great option for waterproofing and one of the best outdoor speakers your money can buy.
Which is best for you?
There are lots of speaker styles to choose from – that's why we've put together lots of guides on the best speakers you can buy in 2020:
And don't miss our round up of the best turntables to go with your new speaker.
Waterproof is the better of the two, as it usually carries an IP67 rating that means it can withstand to float in around a meter of water for a half-hour before it bites the dust.
Water-resistant, on the other hand, means it could survive a splash or two, but it's not the kind of thing you'd just want to casually throw in the pool.
Of course waterproofing isn't the only thing we looked for when picking out this list of the best outdoor speakers. We also considered factors such as sound quality, price and feature set, all of which helped establish a set of criteria that we could measure all speakers against. What you see above is the result of that effort – our definitive list of the 10 best wireless portable waterproof speakers.
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