Best Bluetooth speakers to buy in India [February 2022]: JBL Charge 5, Sony SRS-XB23, and more | 91mobiles.com

Whether you are out on a vacation or having a party at the comfort of your home, a portable Bluetooth speaker has become a necessity and a common household device. Apart from listening to music, Bluetooth speakers are quite useful for making voice calls or watching movies and shows on your PC or television. With a variety of options to choose from, Bluetooth speaker are available at all sorts of price points and we’ve already covered some of the best ones that are available under Rs 5,000, Rs 3,000 and even Rs 1,000.

But if you are looking for the best Bluetooth speakers without any budget constraints, then read on for our recommendations.

Things to consider when buying budget Bluetooth speaker

Design

This guide specifically focuses on Bluetooth speakers with a built-in battery rather than the ones that need a power source all the time. Hence when it comes to the design, you should probably look at how portable the speaker is and whether it is easy to carry around. Bluetooth speakers come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, and it is one of the most important things that you should consider when buying one. Do you want a speaker that is portable and can easily be thrown into a backpack, or do you want something big so it can accommodate large drivers for better sound quality?

Additionally, a majority of portable Bluetooth speakers come with a durability rating allowing them to withstand dust and water.  For instance, an IPX5 rated speaker will be water-resistant, meaning it can take on a few splashes of water. A speaker with IP67 or IP68 rating means that it can take it all, even a dunk in the pool.

Connectivity

One should ensure that you purchase a speaker with the latest Bluetooth version. This is quite important as it impacts the quality and range of audio transmission between your device and the speaker. Our recommendation would be to go for at least  Bluetooth 4.0 or better, as you get better battery management and a wider connectivity range of up to 60-meters. Certain speakers, like the ones from Sony, also feature NFC (Near Field Communication) that let you quickly pair devices with just a tap. 

The whole point of a Bluetooth speaker is to go wireless, but that doesn’t mean having other options is a sin. Quite a few speakers on the market continue to offer an Aux-In allowing you to connect devices that don’t have Bluetooth capabilities.

Battery life

Battery life is another important factor to consider, especially if you’re planning to use your speaker in the outdoors. As it is with most electronic devices, the bigger the size, the larger the battery can be crammed in. Check the battery life as rated by the OEM which ranges between a couple of hours going up to 15-20 hours on a single charge depending on the size of the speaker.

Since most of these speakers come with a standard micro-USB or a USB Type-C port for charging, it shouldn’t be difficult to quickly juice them up using a wall charger, or even a power bank.

Other things to consider

Apart from streaming music, Bluetooth speakers today offer a bunch of additional features that can enhance the overall experience. A bunch of models feature a built-in microphone thus allowing you to make hands-free audio calls. Certain premium models also build up on the microphone tech to support voice assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

You should also check for a companion app that allows the user to tinker with the audio settings, keep a tab on the battery life, firmware updates, and so on. Lastly, an interesting feature to have on your Bluetooth speaker is multi-speaker pairing. Through this, you can connect multiple speakers together for a more wholesome experience with better sound and channel separation.

List of the best Bluetooth speakers in India

Bose SoundLink Revolve+ II

Starting with the premium ones first, the SoundLink Revolve+ II from Bose is an excellent Bluetooth speaker with 360-degree sound output. Apart from having a premium design and look, the sound quality is impressive as it is with most Bose products. It includes dual passive bass radiators while an internal deflector is used to project the sound from every angle. The speaker comes with an IP55 weather-resistant rating meaning it can withstand everyday dust and some splashes of water. Bose also offers a companion app that is available for Android and iOS, and you get an aux-in port for wired connections apart from Bluetooth 4.1. It is rated to last up to 17-hours on a full charge, which sounds impressive, but it uses a micro-USB which is getting a bit outdated.

You can purchase the Bose SoundLink Revolve+ II for Rs 24,500. The speaker is currently selling online at Reliance Digital and TataCliq.

Buy: Reliance Digital | TataCliq

Pros:
-Full 360-degree sound despite the small size
-Premium looking portable design
-IP55 certification

Cons:
-MicroUSB port
-Technically not a stereo device

Sony SRS-XB43

Sony has a wide range of Bluetooth speakers on the market with the SRS-XB43 being one of the more chunky ones. It comes with built-in ‘disco lights’ and since it comes with ‘Extra Bass’ tag, it delivers a big and bold sound with its dual passive radiators. Sony has gone the extra mile to provide extremely low frequencies going down as much at 20Hz, which theoretically is so low that one might not be able to hear it. In short, these speakers definitely live up to the Extra Bass marketing and should work great for your next house party. Other notable features include IP67 rating making it dust and waterproof, USB Type-C charging, an additional USB Type-A port for power delivery,  and a 24-hour battery life with the LEDs turned off.

The SRS-XB43 is originally priced at Rs 21,990 but is currently on sale via Sony’s official online store as well as Reliance Digital where you can purchase the speaker for Rs 16,990.

Buy: Sony | Reliance Digital

Pros:
-IP67 rating
-Built-in LED lighting
-Companion app with EQ support
-Loud performance with heavy bass

Cons:
-Bulky design
-Not meant for professional audio lovers

Ultimate Ears Boom 3

Ultimate Ears, which is owned by Logitech, became quite popular with its fabric-laden speaker range. The Boom 3 is the company’s most expensive portable Bluetooth speaker offering, and it is just brilliant. Having the typical cylindrical design with a fabric and silicone finish, the Boom series itself has been a highly recommended and popular speaker in its category thanks to its loud and clear sound quality. Apart from its IP67 rating making it completely waterproof, this speaker can float on the water making it the perfect companion for your next pool party. The passive radiator and 360-degree help in delivering deep and punchy bass one can expect an immersive audio experience. Although, having a micro-USB charging port and the lack of a built-in microphone can be a deal-breaker for some consumers.

The UE Boom 3 is originally priced at Rs 15,995 on the company’s official website and while it was available for as low as Rs 12,499, the pricing is quite erratic especially on Amazon.

Buy: Amazon | TataCliq

Pros:
-Fantastic, rugged design
-Exceptionally loud
-Party mode connects up to 150 speakers

Cons:
-Beats lack depth
-Slightly expensive
-No microphone

JBL Charge 5

JBL is another popular brand in the Bluetooth speaker space. It has some solid offering of products most of which are quite reliable. The Charge 5 is one such speaker that punches way above its weight. It is capable of delivering powerful bass-forward and a bright sound signature and is definitely loud for its size. Like the UE Boom 3, this one also comes with a woven-fabric finish and also gets IP67 certification making it weatherproof. It is rated to last for about 20-hours on a full charge at medium volume while charging is done through the USB Type-C port. Sadly, there is no microphone or an auxiliary input, but overall you are not going to be disappointed with the Charge 5.

The JBL Charge 5 retails for Rs 15,999 and sells on Amazon for Rs Rs 15,099.

Buy: Amazon

Pros:
-Loud and powerful performance
-IP67 rating
-USB-A port to charge other devices

Cons:
-Lacks built-in microphone
-Companion app doesn’t offer EQ settings

Bose SoundLink Color II

A slightly affordable option from Bose, the Soundlink Color II is a playful Bluetooth speaker that should appeal to most users. It is a relatively compact speaker but manages to sound quite good for its size. It isn’t as loud or offer deep bass like the ones mentioned above, but for its price, the sound quality with its dual drivers and a bass radiator is respectable. As for battery life, the company claims it can last for 8-hours which can vary depending on the volume you listen to. There is a micro-USB port for charging, and also an auxiliary port for wired connectivity. Lastly, the speaker is rated to take on a few water splashes thanks to the IPX4 certification and it comes with a built-in microphone to make voice calls.

The Bose SoundLink Color II is available for Rs 11,353 on Amazon and goes down to Rs 8,625 on Flipkart.

Buy: Amazon | Flipkart

Pros:
-Portable design
-IPX4 rating
-Built-in microphone

Cons:
-Average battery
-No EQ settings

Sony SRS-XB23

A fierce competitor for the Ultimate Ears Boom 3, Sony’s SRS-XB23 wireless speaker is one of the best speakers you can get for under Rs 10,000. It is fairly portable with a sleek cylindrical design that should easily fit in most backpacks. Like the Boom 3, it has a woven-fabric finish with an IP67 rating making it dustproof and waterproof, but Sony has also done some extensive shock testing to make sure it can withstand knocks, bumps, and scrapes. Despite its shape, it doesn’t have a 360-degree sound output instead relies on two drivers placed in the center with two passive radiators on each side. It also comes with a built-in microphone for quick voice calls, up to 12-hours of rated battery life, and a USB Type-C port for charging.

The Sony SRS-XB23 wireless speaker retails at Rs 10,990 but is currently available for Rs 8,739 on Amazon.

Buy: Amazon

Pros:
-IP67 rugged build
-Portable and sleek looking design
-Good sound quality with bass

Cons:
-Bass can have more depth
-No aux-in
-Lower peak volume

Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2

One of the most unique-looking speakers on the list, the Wonderboom 2 by Ultimate Ears looks as big as an apple but is capable of delivering great sound for its size. It takes the same approach as its larger Boom series with 360-degree sound, but in a smaller package. Available in a variety of colour combinations, the speaker comes with a similar woven fabric finish with silicone on the top and bottom with the large volume buttons on the side. It is also rated for IPX67 which means it can be submerged in 3-feet of water for up to 30-minutes. In terms of sound quality it plays music much louder than you would expect. It also features an Outdoor Boost mode that takes it to the next level, but only if you keep it to about 80-percent volume. The speaker lacks an aux-in, microphone and support for a companion app, but it does offer a solid battery life of up to 13-hours.

Ultimate Ears launched the Wonderboom 2 in India at Rs 7,995. It is currently selling at a much lower price of Rs 4,495 on Amazon.

Buy: Amazon

Pros:
-Exceptional sound for its size
-IP67 rating
-Respectable battery life
-Good pricing

Cons:
-No microphone
-No aux-in

Mi Portable Bluetooth Speaker

One of the better sounding options that you can purchase on a budget, the Mi Portable Bluetooth speaker from Xiaomi is packed with features and great audio performance. It takes design inspiration from the Boom series of speakers by Ultimate Ears, having a woven mesh-like fabric finish, and honestly, it is one of the better-looking speakers on the market at its price. It has an IPX7 rating which makes it waterproof, includes stereo and mono sound options, a USB Type-C port, Bluetooth 5.0, and even an aux-in port. Additionally, the speaker comes with a built-in microphone with support for voice assistants. Lastly, it comes with up to 13-hours of battery life. Considering the whole bunch of features this speaker has to offer, it is hard not to recommend this budget option.

The Mi Portable Bluetooth Speaker is priced at just Rs 2,499 and is available for purchase on Xiaomi India’s official website as well as Amazon.

Buy: Amazon | Xiaomi

Pros:
-Robust build quality
-Loud audio output
-Long-lasting battery backup

Cons:
-Uninspiring design