Best Portable Speakers for Durability (2024)

1

JBL Charge 5

Score: 9/10

JBL Charge 5

With an IP67 rating, the speaker is water and dust resistant, featuring a rugged design. Its angled ends may cause it to lean when placed upright.

Durability

9/10

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The Product Lab

The speaker is wrapped in a durable mesh fabric, providing an impressive IP67 water resistance rating, so you can safely use it poolside or at the beach.

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The Product Lab

It also has rubberized feet on each end for added stability and impact resistance. However, the ends are somewhat angled, causing it to lean when placed upright.

Sound Quality

8/10

The JBL Charge 5 offers powerful and balanced sound with strong bass and clear mids. It includes an additional tweeter for improved clarity but may experience distortion at higher volumes.

Quotes from Reviewers

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The Product Lab

Inside, the speaker utilizes a single high-quality 20-millimeter, 10-watt tweeter and a 90-millimeter, 30-watt woofer to deliver surprisingly powerful audio, considering its compact size.

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The Product Lab

It produces a clear and reasonably balanced sound, with plenty of low end for bass-heavy genres, bright and punchy treble for vocals and lead instruments, and a solid mid-range response to round out your audio and add some texture.

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The Product Lab

While it does occasionally produce compression artifacts at higher volumes, the overall sound remains controlled, and the digital signal processing doesn't thin out the bass too much.

Battery Life

9/10

The speaker boasts an impressive 20-hour battery life and can function as a power bank. However, it takes around four hours to fully charge and lacks fast charging.

Quotes from Reviewers

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The Product Lab

It's rated to deliver up to 20 hours of continuous playtime on a single charge, depending on your usage habits, which is longer than many premium models.

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The Product Lab

Unfortunately, it takes around four hours to fully charge and lacks a fast charging function, unlike some competitors in this range.

Connectivity

7/10

Equipped with Bluetooth 5.1, the speaker provides a stable connection and supports multi-point pairing. However, it lacks a 3.5mm jack and built-in microphone.

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The Product Lab

The speakers support Bluetooth 5.1 protocols, which is impressive considering the sub-$200 price, and they provide a more stable and efficient wireless connection than previous models.

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The Product Lab

It also offers Bluetooth multi-point pairing functionality, allowing you to connect with multiple audio sources simultaneously and seamlessly switch between them.

Portability

8/10

The compact cylindrical design makes it easy to carry, weighing around two pounds. Its trapezoid shape may affect vertical stability.

Quotes from Reviewers

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The Product Lab

It features a compact cylindrical design, weighing only around two pounds, and can easily fit into a bag or backpack for enhanced portability.

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The Product Lab

The JBL Charge 5 is easy to use and offers an intuitive setup process.

2

JBL Boombox 3

Score: 9/10

JBL Boombox 3

The Boombox 3 is made with durable materials and is IP67-rated for water and dust resistance. It has a sturdy handle but lacks a digital optical port.

Durability

9/10

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GYMCADDY

Construction-wise, I've had it for a year, and there is not a scratch on it.

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GYMCADDY

It's made to be durable, man; it's got good build materials.

Sound Quality

8/10

The JBL Boombox 3 delivers incredible sound with powerful bass and clear mid-range and treble. It performs well at high volumes without distortion, though it may struggle with harsh treble on acoustic music.

Quotes from Reviewers

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GYMCADDY

The sound is just incredible out here. It doesn't need walls or anything to bounce off of; it just hits, and it hits hard.

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GYMCADDY

In terms of sound, this speaker is not built like a typical speaker; it's built like a sound system.

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GYMCADDY

It's very loud, louder than any GBL boom box before; however, it's more refined.

Battery Life

7/10

The Boombox 3 claims a 24-hour battery life, but real-world usage at high volumes reduces this to about 8 hours. It charges via an AC port, but takes 6.5 hours to fully recharge.

Quotes from Reviewers

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GYMCADDY

The Boombox 3 has a 72.6 watt-hour battery, just like the Boombox 2.

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GYMCADDY

In real-world use, with the Boombox 3 playing at 80%, I have found that it is good for about 8 hours of playback time.

Connectivity

7/10

The Boombox 3 uses Bluetooth 5.3 for strong connectivity and supports JBL's PartyBoost. It lacks USB-C for music playback and has issues with Bluetooth multipoint.

Quotes from Reviewers

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GYMCADDY

Now, when it comes to Bluetooth connectivity, the Boombox 3 is using Bluetooth 5.3.

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GYMCADDY

The JBL Boombox 3 uses JBL’s PartyBoost.

Portability

6/10

The Boombox 3 is portable with a handle and IP67 rating, but its weight and size make it less suitable for hiking or short trips.

Quotes from Reviewers

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GYMCADDY

In terms of portability, it's portable enough for you to carry around town for a while. However, it's not something you can take on a hike.

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GYMCADDY

If you don't have a car, you can rent one for holidays, but you can't get it for a one-day short trip.

3

Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3

Score: 9/10

Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3

The speaker is highly durable with an IP67 rating, making it dust and water-resistant. It can withstand drops from up to five feet.

Sound Quality

7/10

The Wonderboom 3 offers 360-degree sound with good audio quality for its size. It includes an Outdoor Boost mode for enhanced outdoor sound. However, it can become distorted at higher volumes and lacks powerful bass.

Battery Life

8/10

The speaker boasts a 14-hour battery life, exceeding expectations in testing. However, it lacks fast charging and takes 2.6 hours to fully charge.

Connectivity

6/10

The Wonderboom 3 supports Bluetooth multipoint and can pair with another unit for stereo sound. It uses a micro USB port and lacks an aux port.

Portability

8/10

The Wonderboom 3 is lightweight and compact, with an attached loop for easy carrying. However, the micro USB charging requires an extra cable.
4

Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4

Score: 9/10

Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4

The speaker is highly durable with an IP67 rating, making it water and dust resistant. It is also drop-proof and can float on water, ensuring reliability in various environments.

Sound Quality

7/10

The Wonderboom 4 offers impressive 360-degree sound with strong bass for its size. However, it experiences slight bass drop and distortion at high volumes, and the Outdoor Boost mode can reduce sound quality.

Quotes from Reviewers

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New Stuff TV 2

The quality held. Did you feel a bass drop? I did. Did you? Yeah, I don't know. Let me see. Just a little, a little, a little bit. It's like not even enough to be worried about.

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New Stuff TV 2

In its normal mode, the bass is impressively strong for something of its size.

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New Stuff TV 2

The smaller Wonderbon 4, unfortunately, doesn't boast the same acoustic upgrades, but we do get some unique new functionality with a new podcast mode.

Battery Life

9/10

The speaker boasts a solid 14-hour battery life, often exceeding expectations during testing. There are no significant drawbacks noted for its battery performance.

Connectivity

7/10

The Wonderboom 4 features USB-C charging and Bluetooth 5.2 with multipoint connection. However, it lacks an aux-in, microphone, and app support for additional features.

Portability

8/10

The Wonderboom 4 is compact and lightweight, making it easy to carry. It includes a fabric loop for attachment, though it lacks a built-in carabiner and the strap is not very useful.
5

Soundcore 3

Score: 9/10

Soundcore 3

The Soundcore 3 is designed for durability with an IPX7 water resistance rating and a rugged design. However, the black version may show fingerprints easily.

Durability

9/10

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SoulOfTech

This device has an IPX7 rating, meaning it can easily withstand a splash in the shower.

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SoulOfTech

Its design is rugged, and it can definitely survive falls from arm's length.

Sound Quality

8/10

The Soundcore 3 delivers improved sound quality with its 16-watt stereo speakers, offering fantastic highs and mids with clear vocal clarity. However, it struggles with deep bass reproduction and can sound flat compared to larger speakers.

Quotes from Reviewers

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SoulOfTech

This speaker is definitely an improvement compared to its predecessors.

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SoulOfTech

The highs and the mids on the speaker are fantastic, and the vocal clarity really took me by surprise.

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SoulOfTech

Unfortunately, the lows are definitely on the weaker side, so the bass won't be as impressive as the highs and mids are.

Battery Life

9/10

The Soundcore 3 boasts an impressive battery life, claiming up to 24 hours of playtime, though realistic usage shows about 20 hours at 75% volume. It includes a power-saving feature to extend battery life.

Quotes from Reviewers

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SoulOfTech

Anker claims that you can get up to 24 hours of use on a single charge.

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SoulOfTech

In my realistic test at 75% volume, I achieved about 20 hours of playback before needing to charge it again.

Connectivity

7/10

The Soundcore 3 offers modern Bluetooth 5 connectivity with easy setup and automatic pairing. However, it lacks a headphone or auxiliary jack and cannot connect to home Wi-Fi.

Quotes from Reviewers

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SoulOfTech

You have a USB-C charging port, but I don't see any sort of headphone jack.

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SoulOfTech

Bluetooth 5 definitely provides it with the most modern-day standards in terms of general communication.

Portability

8/10

The Soundcore 3 is lightweight and compact, making it easy to carry with its included lanyard. However, its small size may limit sound quality in larger spaces.

Quotes from Reviewers

6

JBL Flip 6

Score: 9/10

JBL Flip 6

The JBL Flip 6 is highly durable with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance. Its rugged design includes rubberized end caps, though it does not float in water.

Durability

9/10

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The Product Lab

Its IP67 rating means you can happily take the Flip 6 to the beach without needing to worry about a little sand or a splash of sea water breaking it.

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The Product Lab

The Flip 6 feels just as rugged as the Flip 4, but this time, JBL has introduced dust resistance alongside water resistance.

Sound Quality

8/10

The JBL Flip 6 delivers powerful bass and clear treble, providing a warm and well-balanced audio experience. However, at maximum volume, the treble can become harsh, and it only offers mono sound.

Quotes from Reviewers

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The Product Lab

The woofer delivers powerful bass and rich mid frequencies, while a separate tweeter provides high levels of clarity for treble tones.

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The Product Lab

Despite its small size, the JBL Flip 6 easily reaches loud volumes, and the sound doesn't distort as you crank it up.

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The Product Lab

Increasing the audio to the highest volumes can lead to some harsh treble sounds, but generally, the audio performance is warm and well-balanced, with an excellent sense of clarity.

Battery Life

8/10

The battery life of the JBL Flip 6 exceeds expectations, lasting over 18 hours with quick USB-C charging. However, the battery indicator is not very accurate, and the life reduces significantly at full volume.

Quotes from Reviewers

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The Product Lab

JBL states that the Flip 6 should last for approximately 12 hours of playback.

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The Product Lab

I was able to listen to music for a little over 18 hours.

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The Product Lab

At 100% volume, the backup is around Rs. 7.5R.

Connectivity

7/10

With Bluetooth 5.1, the JBL Flip 6 offers stable connectivity and can pair with two devices simultaneously. However, it lacks built-in mics and AUX-in, and stereo pairing is limited to other Flip 6 speakers.

Quotes from Reviewers

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The Product Lab

The connectivity currently comes in Bluetooth 5.1, so you shouldn't experience any annoying connectivity dropouts while using the Flip 6.

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The Product Lab

You can use the party boost function to pair two compatible JBL speakers in stereo or multiple speakers, actually up to 100.

Portability

8/10

Compact and lightweight, the JBL Flip 6 is easy to carry with its lanyard loop. However, the rubber kickstand is not very stable, and it is slightly heavier than some competitors.

Quotes from Reviewers

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The Product Lab

Weighing in at 1.2 pounds and measuring 7 inches long, it's certainly a smaller Bluetooth speaker.

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The Product Lab

A small rubber kickstand stabilizes the Flip 6 on surfaces, although it's not the most stable design choice, in my opinion.

7

Sony XB100 Compact Bluetooth Speaker

Score: 9/10

Sony XB100 Compact Bluetooth Speaker

The speaker is highly durable with an IP67 rating for water and dust resistance. It is made from recycled materials and has a rugged design.

Durability

9/10

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The Product Lab

Durability is another area where the Sony SRS xp100 shines. It has an IP67 rating, meaning it's waterproof and dustproof.

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The Product Lab

The rugged design means it can accompany you on all kinds of adventures, whether you're hanging out at the beach, hiking through dusty trails, or just lounging by the pool.

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The Product Lab

I love the water resistance and dust resistance built into it.

Sound Quality

7/10

The speaker delivers powerful and clear audio with deep bass, suitable for personal use and small gatherings. It offers a surround sound experience but may not be ideal for large parties.

Quotes from Reviewers

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The Product Lab

It produces powerful and crystal-clear audio with a deep bass that resonates with every type of music.

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The Product Lab

The SRS xb100 boasts a sound diffusion processor, which expands into surround sound that fills the room.

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The Product Lab

Does this sound better than an iPhone and a Samsung Galaxy phone? Yeah, I think so. I think it does sound better than them.

Battery Life

8/10

The speaker offers up to 16 hours of playtime with a USB type-c port for charging. However, louder volumes may reduce battery life, and it takes 4.5 hours to fully charge.

Quotes from Reviewers

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The Product Lab

Battery life is key for portable speakers, and the Sony SRS xB 100 stands out with its remarkable playtime of up to 16 hours.

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The Product Lab

The speaker is equipped with a USB Type-C port, so it's fast and efficient to recharge.

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The Product Lab

Also, remember you get up to 16 hours of battery life with this. However, the louder you play it, the more energy it will use, so you won't get the full 16 hours.

Connectivity

6/10

The speaker maintains a consistent Bluetooth connection and supports Google Fast Pair. However, it lacks advanced connectivity options like Bluetooth Multipoint.

Quotes from Reviewers

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The Product Lab

It's straightforward, hassle-free, and best of all, the speaker remembers the device for future use, making reconnection even more effortless next time.

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The Product Lab

Maintaining a consistent and robust Bluetooth link to connected devices ensures an uninterrupted music stream.

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The Product Lab

There are not many connectivity options available. You only need Bluetooth connectivity.

Portability

8/10

The speaker is compact and lightweight, making it easy to carry. It includes a versatile strap for attachment, though the design is somewhat bland.

Quotes from Reviewers

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The Product Lab

The SRS xb100 is compact and very portable. It is just over 5 inches tall, about 4 inches in diameter, and weighs just over half a pound.

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The Product Lab

It comes with a specially engineered strap, which further increases the convenience factor.

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The Product Lab

Remember, this isn't the type of speaker that you're going to bring to a party to be the main speaker.

8

Sony SRS-XB100

Score: 9/10

Sony SRS-XB100

With an IP67 rating, the speaker is waterproof and dustproof, making it highly durable for outdoor use. However, the design may show fingerprints easily.

Durability

9/10

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The Product Lab

It has an IP67 rating, meaning it's waterproof and dustproof.

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The Product Lab

The rugged design means it can accompany all kinds of adventures, whether hanging out at the beach, hiking through dusty trails, or just lounging by the pool.

Sound Quality

8/10

The Sony SRS-XB100 offers powerful and clear audio with deep bass, making it impressive for its size. However, it struggles with high frequencies and can sometimes overshadow vocals.

Quotes from Reviewers

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The Product Lab

It produces powerful and crystal-clear audio with a deep bass that resonates with every type of music.

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The Product Lab

The SRS xb100 boasts a sound diffusion processor, which expands into surround sound that fills the room.

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The Product Lab

You do not compromise at all on the details regarding the audio part.

Battery Life

9/10

The speaker boasts a remarkable battery life of up to 16 hours, making it ideal for outdoor use. It charges via USB type-C, though the charging time is relatively long.

Quotes from Reviewers

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The Product Lab

Battery life is key for portable speakers, and the Sony SRS xB 100 stands out with its remarkable playtime of up to 16 hours.

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The Product Lab

It has a really handy battery indicator that eliminates guesswork and ensures users are always aware of the remaining playtime.

Connectivity

7/10

The speaker provides a stable Bluetooth connection with easy pairing, but lacks additional connectivity options and advanced app features.

Quotes from Reviewers

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The Product Lab

It's straightforward, hassle-free, and best of all, the speaker remembers the device for future use, making reconnection even more effortless next time.

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The Product Lab

Maintaining a consistent and robust Bluetooth link to connected devices ensures an uninterrupted music stream.

Portability

9/10

The speaker is extremely portable and lightweight, with a convenient strap for easy carrying. Its compact size enhances its portability.

Quotes from Reviewers

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The Product Lab

The SRS xb100 is compact and very portable. It is just over 5 inches tall, about 4 inches in diameter, and weighs just over half a pound.

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The Product Lab

It comes with a specially engineered strap, which further increases the convenience factor.

9

JBL Go 4

Score: 8/10

JBL Go 4

With an IP67 rating, the JBL Go 4 is dustproof and waterproof, and additional silicone protection enhances its durability. However, the fabric material may wear over time.

Sound Quality

7/10

The JBL Go 4 delivers clear sound with good bass for its size, and offers customizable EQ settings. However, it lacks depth in default settings and the bass quality diminishes at higher volumes.

Quotes from Reviewers

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GadgetByte

The sound that comes out of the Go4 is absolutely phenomenal, considering it only has a 1.75-inch driver.

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GadgetByte

The go4 sounds very impressive for its size, and at maximum volume, it's usable in the shower. You'll be able to easily hear your music if you're on a bike ride or a hike.

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GadgetByte

The go4 has a 40 mm transducer paired with a passive radiator for the bass, and it puts out 4.2 watts.

Battery Life

8/10

The battery life of the JBL Go 4 exceeds expectations, lasting nearly 10 hours. However, the PlaytimeBoost feature, while extending battery life, compromises sound quality.

Connectivity

7/10

The speaker supports Bluetooth 5.3 with multipoint connection and can pair with other JBL speakers. However, it only supports the SBC codec and may have initial connectivity issues with some devices.

Portability

8/10

The JBL Go 4 is ultra-portable and lightweight, fitting easily into a back pocket. However, it lacks an integrated carabiner and is limited to mono playback unless paired with another speaker.
10

Sonos Move 2

Score: 8/10

Sonos Move 2

The Move 2 is built with shock-absorbing materials and has an IP56 rating, making it resistant to rain and dirt but not fully waterproof.

Durability

8/10

6

6 Months Later

The Move 2 has definitely passed our drop test.

6

6 Months Later

This speaker also has an IP56 rating, which means it is not fully waterproof.

6

6 Months Later

The built-in handle on the back is quite good, and I haven't dropped it yet.

Sound Quality

8/10

The Sonos Move 2 delivers a powerful and balanced sound with excellent detail and separation. However, it struggles with bass at higher volumes and dense tracks.

Quotes from Reviewers

6

6 Months Later

The Sonos Move 2 still very much delivers a signature Sonos sound; it's nicely balanced and definitely powerful enough to fill a decent-sized space.

6

6 Months Later

The dual tweeter configuration provides a wider and bigger sound, and I think the vocals are also more open and projected.

6

6 Months Later

One thing I noticed with the Move 1, which is sadly still present in the Move 2, is that the bass seems to be clipped at higher volumes.

Battery Life

8/10

The Move 2 boasts an impressive 24-hour battery life, though it lacks quick charging and takes over 2 hours to fully recharge.

Quotes from Reviewers

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6 Months Later

Sonos says you will get a full 24 hours from a complete charge, which is more than double the previous 11 hours.

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6 Months Later

We turned off both power-saving modes to try and achieve minimum battery life and found that the Move lasted 22 hours at 50% volume over Wi-Fi.

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6 Months Later

We also tested the speaker's recharge time and found that it took just over 2 hours to go from dead to 100% battery on the charging base.

Connectivity

7/10

With Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0, the Move 2 offers reliable streaming but lacks Google Assistant support and mic functionality for calls.

Quotes from Reviewers

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6 Months Later

The original Move already ticked a lot of boxes, but we have upgraded to Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 in this new generation.

6

6 Months Later

You can't use this as a Bluetooth speakerphone, but I think that's actually a good thing.

6

6 Months Later

One thing you don't get is Google Assistant, which is not available on the Move 2 for whatever reason.

Portability

6/10

Designed for mobility with a built-in handle, the Move 2 is portable but heavy, making it less ideal for long-distance carrying.

Quotes from Reviewers

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6 Months Later

The built-in handle on the back is quite good, and I haven't dropped it yet.

6

6 Months Later

If you really want something portable, go for the Sonos Roam. It weighs less than a pound.

6

6 Months Later

The Move 2 is designed to be portable, featuring a built-in handle that makes it easy to transport.