A good cheap Bluetooth speaker is a useful thing to have for pretty much any occasion. Whether you just want something to use around the house and the garden, or you’re looking for something to take camping with you, a Bluetooth speaker is a necessity for many of us.
But in recent years, there have been more and more high quality speakers released on the market that just aren’t that affordable. With the Soundlink Revolve Pro costing £250 and upwards, not all of us want to spend this kind of money on a speaker.
So what if you’re looking to spend a little less, and get a good speaker for say, £100? Well, there are still some good options for you to choose from, and we’re going to take a look at the best ones.
Best Budget Bluetooth Speaker under £100
| Product | Image | Best Feature | Get More Info |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tronsmart T6 |  | Waterproof | Check Price at Amazon |
| Anker Soundcore Motion+ |  | Good Bass | Check Price at Amazon |
| JBL Flip 5 |  | Great Design | Check Price at Amazon |
| Sony Srs-XB12 |  | Low Price | Check Price at Amazon |
| JBL Charge 4 |  | Power Bank | Check Price at Amazon |
| Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 |  | Magic Button | Check Price at Amazon |
| Anker Soundcore Flare |  | Excellent Value | Check Price at Amazon |
| Bose SoundLink Micro |  | Compact Style | Check Price at Amazon |
| UE Wonderboom 2 |  | 360° Build | Check Price at Amazon |
Tronsmart T6 Bluetooth Speaker
Watt: 60w | Playtime/Battery Life: 20 hours | Charge Time: 6 hours | Frequency: 40Hz – 20KHz
If you’re looking for a high quality Bluetooth speaker at a budget price, then I’d advise that you check out this Tronsmart speaker.
For the money you’re spending, you’re getting a powerful audio speaker that’s ideal for a variety of different occasions.
Whilst it’s great to use when you’re on your own in the garden, it’s also powerful enough to use with a small party too, with it being loud enough to travel within a 10 metre radius pretty easily. The loud sound is supported by a very bassy speaker, so you don’t need to worry about tinny audio.
In addition to this, another area where this speaker is pretty impressive is in its battery life. Whilst it can take a little while to charge up (it has a 6 hour charge time), it will last you a good 20 hours. This means that worrying about your speaker running out isn’t a concern when you’re using the T6.
All in all, if you’re looking for a cheaper speaker to rival the more expensive options out there, then the T6 is one of the best Bluetooth speakers under £100.
Pros
Cons
Overall Verdict: Although you might not have heard of the brand before, this amazing audio quality of this model makes it the best Bluetooth speaker under £100 on the market.
Anker Soundcore Motion+
Watt: 30w | Playtime/Battery Life: 12 hours | Charge Time: 6 hours | Frequency: 50Hz to 40kHz
For those who are looking for a portable speaker that has the sound quality, then you’ll want to take a look at the Anker Soundcore Motion+. The Soundcore line in general is pretty good if you’re looking for low end speakers.
This is a ipx7 waterproof speaker that uses neodymium woofers, which helps you make it lightweight as well as sounding good. It provides an excellent listening experience overall.
Whilst its mids are good, it’s more impressive in the bass and lower frequency areas, where its 50Hz capabilities make it one of the better options if you need a speaker that can produce bass. But, it does still manage to deliver a flat and accurate frequency response.
This gives the speaker quite a lot of versatility, as you can use it portably quite easily. In saying this, it would also be a good substitute if you need something to use at home too.
As well as the quality of its sound, there are a few other things which make this speaker stand out. One of those is its connectivity, as you can connect to it via USB or Bluetooth. Plus, you can actually connect two of these speakers together as well, if you want to create double the sound (perfect for garden parties).
So, the Motion+ is amongst the top speakers that the Soundcore range have to offer, and it’s definitely one of the best Bluetooth speakers you can find when you’re on a budget.
Pros
Cons
Overall Verdict: The Soundcore Motion is excellent at delivering bass that’s powerful for its size.
JBL Flip 5
Watt: 20w | Playtime/Battery Life: 12 hours | Charge Time: 5 hours | Frequency: 20 Hz – 20,000 kHz
Another extremely well designed speaker you can pick up for around the £100 mark is the JBL Flip 5. It’s an improvement on the previous Flip 4, with the main difference being a slightly higher sound quality and a longer battery life too.
JBL tend to release quite a lot of speakers, and it can be quite difficult to tell which model would be the best option for your needs. This model is actually quite compact, and its pencil-case design makes it very easy for you to carry around with you.
But the main positive that this speaker has to offer is the sheer quality of its sound – it’s one of the clearest speakers out there, so any audiophile will definitely appreciate its sound. You can connect this speaker to another JBL Flip and create a multi-speaker sound too.
Bear in mind that if you already have a Flip but it’s an older model, then you won’t be able to connect this device to it to play Party Mode. This is a little frustrating if you’re already a JBL fan.
Another positive about the Flip 5 is that it’s available in a host of different colours (10+), so there’s sure to be one in there that you’ll like. Overall, it’s another solid speaker that deserves its place on this list.
Pros
Cons
Overall Verdict: If it’s a reliable design you’re after to withstand anything, the Flip 5 is a safe choice. It has very good water resistance, making it perfect for poolside parties.
Sony Srs-XB12
Watt: 5w | Playtime/Battery Life: 16 hours | Charge Time: 6 hours | Frequency: 20 Hz – 20kHz
For some people, they might be looking for a small and portable Bluetooth speaker they can easily take with them anywhere. If this is you, then you’ll want to look at the SRS-XB12. It’s a fully waterproof speaker that’s ideal for those looking for a compact design speaker.
The best selling point of the Sony SRS-XB12 is that it’s very lightweight and easy to carry around with you. In fact, it weighs less than 0.25kg, which shows just how easy it is to pop into your pocket and go. Although it’s a small device, it still has an impressive 16 hour battery life.
And for such a small device, it manages to pack quite a lot of bass. You can also link this up with another SRS-XB12 as well, which is a good way to add a lot of sound in a small space when you’re outside. As well as being waterproof, it’s also completely dust resistant too.
Whilst its sound quality isn’t quite on par with some of the bigger speakers on this list, if we’re talking size to power, then it’s a definite winner. For those that only want something small and nifty to take with them anywhere, you can’t find much better.
Pros
Cons
Overall Verdict: If you’re looking for something cheap and simple, it’s difficult to do better than the Sony Srs-XB12.
JBL Charge 4
Watt: 30w | Playtime/Battery Life: 20 hours | Charge Time: 6 hours | Frequency: 60Hz – 20kHz
The JBL Charge 4 hovers around the £100 mark and if you’re very lucky, you might see it dip below £100 during sales. But for the most part, it might be a little more expensive than our overall budget here.
However, you are getting a whole lot of speaker for the money. It weighs less than a kilogram, making it pretty good for those looking for something portable. It’s waterproof, and it will easily connect to another JBL speaker if you already have one.
There aren’t many speakers out there that charge via a USB connection, but this model does. As well as this, you can connect two devices to it at the same time, which is perfect if you’re going to be using it amongst a group of people.
And the other major selling point of this Bluetooth speaker is that it can also double up as a power bank. This means that even if your phone is running low on battery, you can easily charge your phone whilst you’re using the speaker. It’s perfect for those planning to go camping with their speaker.
This is a higher quality speaker than most others within the same price range. So, if you’re looking for a good Bluetooth speaker that doubles up as a power bank too, then this would be a good choice.
Pros
Cons
Overall Verdict: This absolute beast of a speaker has a high end build quality, and it’s one of the most reliable speakers out there.
Ultimate Ears BOOM 3
Range: 150ft | Playtime/Battery Life: 15 hours | Charge Time: 5 hours | Frequency: 90Hz – 20kHz
Another Bluetooth speaker which offers good value for money is the Boom 3 by the brand Ultimate Ears. Whilst they’re not a big brand name, this is definitely a speaker worth considering when you’re trying to stick to a £100 budget.
This is another fully waterproof model that can handle being in water for a ling time. It’s not just water resistant like some speakers – it can stand being completely submerged in water for a good amount of time too. So, you definitely don’t need to worry about water ruining the device.
As well as this, it also has a “magic button” on top of the device. This works with all the major streaming apps like Spotify and Deezer, as well as working with Apple music.
You can skip and pause songs easily directly from the device without having to use your phone. You can hold down the magic button and it’ll start to play your Apple music playlists, too. This means that it has really good usability, as well as audio performance.
This is undoubtedly a good Bluetooth speaker with a nice sound, with the only drawbacks being in its connectivity. This isn’t as strong as the other speakers here either.
Pros
Cons
Overall Verdict: Whilst it’s still a good speaker, there are better and more affordable Bluetooth options out there.
Anker Soundcore Flare
Watt: 12w | Playtime/Battery Life: 12 hours | Charge Time: 3 hours | Frequency: 50 Hz – 20,000 kHz
Not everyone is going to be looking for a big and bulky portable speaker. If you’d like something a little lighter, then the Anker Soundcore Flare could be the one for you. It’s a waterproof model that weighs around half a kilogram, and it’s very easy to carry around everywhere with you.
It has the typical 360 degree design which helps when emitting sound, and it’s able to withstand all different kids of weather. As mentioned it’s waterproof, but it’s also resistant to other potentially damaging things, like dust.
Something that might interest some people with this model is that it has a light system at the bottom of the speaker that flashes depending on what you’re playing – it will go along with the beat of the music. The passive radiators help the speaker to fill the room with sound.
Whilst this speaker doesn’t match up to the other Anker speakers out there, it can still do a good job if you’re searching for a speaker with good sound (just don’t use it at max volume where it begins to struggle a little!).
Pros
Cons
Overall Verdict: Another good option from Anker, this wireless speaker sounds great and has a unique design.
Bose SoundLink Micro
Watt: 5w | Playtime/Battery Life: 12 hours | Charge Time: 3 hours | Frequency: 50 Hz – 20,000 kHz
The Bose Soundlink series is one of the better series to opt for if you’re trying to keep costs below. Of course, at the more expensive end there is the Soundlink Revolve+. You can also check out this full review of the Bose Soundlink Mini II, which is another good portable speaker.
But back to the Bose Soundlink Micro, which manages to stay within our budget. It is known for being a rugged small speaker which should be able to survive whatever you throw at it. You can easily connect to it via Bluetooth.
A good aspect about this model is that it has an in-built mic. This means that not only can you use voice assistant with your phone, but you can also use it to take hands free calls as well. This can come in very handy if you want to use a speakerphone.
The sound quality that this speaker offers is definitely pretty good, especially when you consider the weight and size of it. It isn’t going to blow you away by any means, and there are definitely louder portable speakers available.
All in all, this small speaker definitely packs a punch, and it has a fair battery life too. Although if you want to fill your living room, maybe one of the other speakers would be more suitable.
Pros
Cons
Overall Verdict: If a small sized speaker is what you’re after, then the Bose Soundlink Micro might just be the best choice. It probably isn’t one of the best Bluetooth speakers under £100 if you’re looking for power and loud volume.
Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2
Watt: 9w | Playtime/Battery Life: 13 hours | Charge Time: 2.5 hours | Frequency: 75 Hz – 20,000 kHz
When it comes to mini wireless speakers, one that you may already be familiar with is the Wonderboom 2. Ultimate Ears have various different options to choose from, with this being their handy travel speaker that’s less than 4 inches tall.
Out of all the speakers here, it probably handles being fully submerged in water the best. This is likely due to the build quality, which is pretty high, even though there’s not much to the speaker itself at all.
The speaker weighs a little over 400 grams, which makes it very portable. Although compact, the buttons on the Wonderboom 2 are simple – they’re based on the bottom of the speaker. Here, you can connect, play and pause your music, and put it into Outdoor Boost mode, which delivers a little extra stereo sound.
For such a small speaker, the 13 hour battery life is quite impressive, and should be enough to see you through an entire day. With easy usability and a lot of sound, it’s one to check out if you’re looking for a 10cm speaker you can pop into your backpack.
Pros
Cons
Overall Verdict: Though not my favourite from the bunch, the Wonderboom 2 still performs to an above average standard.
Common Questions about Budget Bluetooth Speakers
Are cheap Bluetooth speakers good?
Many people wonder whether a cheap Bluetooth speaker is going to be enough, or whether you should up your budget a little bit and go for something better. In my opinion, there isn’t too much of a difference between a Bluetooth speaker that costs £100 and one that costs £150 or £200. So, if you’re trying to get a fairly cheap one, then stick to any of these models. You’d need to up your budget a lot to see a dramatic improvement, and for most people it’s not worth it.
What should I look for when buying a Bluetooth speaker?
When you’re going to purchase a Bluetooth speaker, there are various different things that you’re going to want to take into account. One of the main ones is obviously the quality of the audio that the speaker gives, but this isn’t all you’re going to want to consider. You should also look at things like the speakers frequency capabilities, and whether it can give out deep bass sounds if that’s what you’re looking for.
Is it worth buying a Bluetooth speaker?
If you’re still not sold on a Bluetooth speaker, then there are some pros and cons to purchasing one. The main reasons for getting a Bluetooth speaker are that you need portability – you plan to use the speaker outside, or take it away with you when you go to the beach or go camping. If you only plan on using the speaker around the house, then you can probably find a better option.
Do Bluetooth speakers need WiFi?
No, one of the defining features of a Bluetooth speaker is that you can use it without having to connect to any Wifi router. So, you will be able to use a Bluetooth speaker without ever connecting to Wifi.
Does a Bluetooth speaker use data?
The good thing about a Bluetooth speaker is that it’s not going to use any of your data up. This is because it’s not working with your wifi, it’s working over a different connection instead. These two are not reliant on your mobile data whatsoever.
Conclusion
All in all, if you’re looking for the best budget Bluetooth speaker, then there are some good options out there. With different smart speaker options like the Echo Dot popping up all over the place, it can be difficult to know what to go for.
Having around £100 to spend on a Bluetooth speaker is going to be more than enough to get yourself a good device that has a strong connection and produces a good quality sound, too.
