February 29, 2020, 8:00 pm | Read time: 11 minutes

When smartphone sound reaches its limits (which is almost always), portable Bluetooth speakers provide music–whether indoors or outdoors. These handy music boxes ideally play music from the smartphone clearly and loudly. The range of Bluetooth speakers is vast, as is the price range. TECHBOOK explored the segment up to 100 euros and compared devices from various manufacturers based on four categories.

Table of Contents

1. Test Criteria
2. Bose Soundlink Micro
3. Sony SRS-XB32
4. Anker Soundcore Flare 2
5. Ultimate Ears Boom 3
6. Tribit MAXSound Plus
7. JBL Flip 5

How TECHBOOK Tests Portable Bluetooth Speakers

The portable Bluetooth speakers tested by editorial director Andi and music expert Basti aka MC Sublime had to prove themselves in the following four categories:

• Design (30%): This category focuses on appearance, size, weight, and shape. Speakers that want to score here must not only appeal subjectively but also be as handy and portable as possible.
• Sound (45%): This is the main focus of the test. We pay attention to sound quality, bass, treble, and volume.
• Battery Life (10%): Battery life is important for portable devices. We examine whether the stated hours match reality.
• Extras (15%): What additional features can the speakers offer? Are they waterproof or not? We check all of this here.

Our test always assumes that these are speakers under 100 euros, thus in the lower to mid-price segment. We avoid constant comparisons to high-priced products. Instead, we aim to provide a fair assessment of the capabilities and uses of the speakers for those who don’t want to invest more than 100 euros. This assessment is always found at the end in the conclusion.

Bose Soundlink Micro

Design (4.5/5)

With its compact size and a weight of just 290 grams, the Micro lives up to its name. It’s perfect for on-the-go use. Its outdoor suitability is further enhanced by the durable silicone coating. The strap on the back holds securely to a backpack or belt. If the orange color is too bright for you, there are also options in dark blue and black.

Sound (2.5/5)

Due to the size of the speaker, compromises must be made in sound quality. Compared to other speakers, the Bose Soundlink Micro falls short but still delivers a solid performance.

Battery Life (3.5/5)

The small Soundlink Micro surprised us here. The six-hour battery life stated by Bose was significantly exceeded in our practical test. Ten hours should be achievable.

Extras (3/5)

The Bose Soundlink Micro is waterproof for 30 minutes. Thanks to the party function, two speakers can be paired together. While this isn’t enough to power an entire party, the double output is noticeably audible and very practical. This allows different sides of a room to be more evenly covered. The hands-free function is also convenient. https://www.youtube.com/embed/JS7UuKq3n2s

Conclusion / Overall Rating (3.5/5)

Overall, the Soundlink Micro is the most portable speaker in our comparison. Just as easy and straightforward as it is to transport, the speaker is also easy to operate. We recommend the device for days at the lake or on vacation. While it can be used in small rooms, thanks to its handle and portability, the Soundlink Micro is the best choice for outdoor activities.

Sony SRS-XB32

Design (2.5/5)

The Sony SRS-XB32, weighing 922 grams, is the heaviest speaker in our comparison. The portable Bluetooth speaker seems more stationary for this reason. Our black test unit initially resembles an undersized soundbar. The well-crafted SRS-XB32 is also available in green, blue, red, and gray. The supposed visual highlight only appears during music playback. Thin LED strips snake around the actual speaker on the front, blinking in colorful hues to the music’s bass. As if that weren’t enough, two flashlights add a small strobe effect. In our test, we couldn’t endure this light show for an entire song–fortunately, the effects can be turned off with a button.

Sound (5/5)

Here, the Sony SRS-XB32 shines with full marks. We were impressed with what Sony’s speaker delivers for just around 90 euros. The sound is balanced, and the bass is rich. As with all models in this price segment, the speaker shouldn’t be turned up to maximum volume. Apart from this point, the speaker can compete with much more expensive models.

Battery Life (4.5/5)

The 24 hours the speaker is supposed to achieve according to the manufacturer were not quite reached in our test. However, it lasted 20 hours without any issues.

Extras (4/5)

Thanks to the “ExtraBass” function, additional bass can be extracted from the device as desired. For home use, the ability to pair the small speaker with large Bluetooth home speakers is absolutely great. In theory, up to 100 devices can be chained together. We were positively surprised by the (salt)water resistance of the device, as it isn’t immediately apparent. https://www.youtube.com/embed/5QIDyWpZoCY

Conclusion / Overall Rating (4/5)

This speaker impresses with rich sound, great craftsmanship, and useful extras. Unfortunately, the price for all this is the weight of nearly one kilogram. We find this too heavy to carry around for long periods. However, the SRS-XB32 doesn’t completely fail in this area. For example, if you’re traveling by car, you can pack the device. Otherwise, Sony delivers a very good wireless speaker here that can also power small parties.

Anker Soundcore Flare 2

Design (3/5)

The Soundcore Flare 2 initially resembles an Amazon Echo. In addition to the blinking ring at the top, there’s another one around the bottom. The wild blinking to the sound can be disabled, as with Sony’s model. With the rich color spectrum, Soundcore seems to compensate for the fact that the speaker is available in only one color. Weighing 602 grams, the Flare 2 isn’t lightweight but feels good and high-quality in hand.

Sound (3.5/5)

Due to its design, the Flare 2 delivers 360-degree sound, meaning it radiates sound in all directions. The sound quality is okay, though somewhat thin. As with all speakers in the comparison, the volume shouldn’t be turned up to maximum, as this speaker also noticeably distorts–though less than most competitors. Without the “BassUp” function activated, the speaker delivers almost no bass–it’s a must.

Battery Life (4/5)

The promised 12 hours of battery life are met by the Flare 2. Not a top time, but sufficient for most occasions.

Extras (3/5)

The Soundcore Flare 2 is also completely waterproof. Over 100 speakers can be paired. We consider the advertised “BassUp” function to be marketing hype, as without it, there’s essentially no bass. Otherwise, the Chinese manufacturer Anker highlights the light rings, which can be customized via an app–we prefer disabling the wild light effects here as well. A positive feature is the USB-C charging option.

Conclusion / Overall Rating (3.5/5)

The Flare 2 is a solid speaker that doesn’t really stand out in any category but also doesn’t fail anywhere. If you’re looking for an affordable 360-degree speaker that performs well in a quieter setting both indoors and outdoors, you can’t go wrong with this speaker.

Ultimate Ears Boom 3

Design (4.5/5)

In terms of appearance, the Boom 3 is ahead in our opinion. The cylindrical shape fits perfectly in hand, and the materials and controls combine quality and style. If you appreciate an iPhone for style reasons, the Boom 3 is also a great choice. The oversized “+” and “-” buttons add recognition value. Plus, there are 10 colors to ensure everyone finds their preference. Weighing 600 grams, the Boom 3 is in the middle range in terms of weight.

Sound (3/5)

Our expert MC Sublime’s verdict on sound isn’t as positive as it is for design. The Boom 3 struggles with weak bass, sometimes tinny sound, and noise in the treble. Overall, the speaker–mainly due to its size–isn’t a complete disaster, but we expected more from it. The 360-degree sound, however, is a nice feature.

Battery Life (5/5)

With up to 30 hours in the test, the Boom 3 leads the pack of portable Bluetooth speakers in our test. It scores full marks in this area.

Extras (3/5)

In terms of extras, the Boom 3 scores with its ability to float in water and its protection against dust and dirt. The accompanying app also hides a nice feature. The speaker can be directly paired with favorite playlists on Spotify. Multiple Boom 3 speakers can be connected–even a stereo setup is possible.

Conclusion / Overall Rating (3.5/5)

The conclusion for the Boom 3 is mixed. While MC Sublime isn’t a fan of the speaker due to its sound, Andi is convinced by its design, strong battery, and extras. Everyone must make their own judgment and set their priorities. The Boom 3 is definitely a genuine outdoor speaker that outperforms some competitors in certain areas.

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Tribit MAXSound Plus

Design (3/5)

The Tribit MAXSound Plus comes with an unremarkable and simple appearance. It’s entirely black and only available in this color–no lights and no blinking. Like most Bluetooth speakers in our test, it weighs around 600 grams.

Sound (2.5/5)

In terms of sound, the MaxSound Plus lags behind the slightly more expensive, similarly sized competitors in the test field. Especially at higher volumes, the speaker distorts extremely. At room volume, however, it’s absolutely solid.

Battery Life (4/5)

With around 16 hours, the speaker places itself in the upper mid-range. We couldn’t reach the promised 20 hours.

Extras (2/5)

At least for MC Sublime, the phone function is a very cool feature. If a call comes in while the speaker is connected to the smartphone, you can talk through the speaker. Otherwise, it’s worth mentioning that the Tribit is waterproof.

Conclusion / Overall Rating (3/5)

Thanks to the lower price, some weaknesses of the Tribit MAXSound Plus can be forgiven. We recommend the robust speaker as a gift for kids or for listeners who primarily care about podcasts and audiobooks. Otherwise, as usual: Set the volume to medium for music playback.

JBL Flip 5

Design (4.5/5)

In terms of design, the Flip 5 does many things right. It generally matches the idea of what a portable Bluetooth speaker looks like. The small tube forgoes blinking effects, but it’s available in eleven different colors. Weighing 540 grams, the Flip 5 is pleasantly light.

Sound (3/5)

The JBL Flip 5 is particularly good with bass and brings pressure. Unfortunately, the Flip 5 sometimes overdoes it, and the bass noticeably distorts. Otherwise, the sound quality is okay for the size of the speaker and comparable to the Boom 3.

Battery Life (4.5/5)

With 20 hours of playtime, the JBL Flip 5 ranks high. Only the Boom 3 lasts longer.

Extras (3/5)

Like some other portable Bluetooth speakers, the Flip 5 can be chained with other Flip 5 speakers. Additionally, the device is waterproof up to two meters deep.

Conclusion / Overall Rating (3.5/5)

The JBL Flip 5 is a good compromise between portability and sound. It’s clearly designed for on-the-go use, whether outdoors or, for example, in a hotel room. The bass comes with a lot of pressure thanks to the side membranes.