Water dominates our planet, and although many of us listen to music in various settings, at times have to avoid that precious H2O to keep our common electronics gear safe. Fortunately for us, a lot of the best wireless Bluetooth speakers come with various different protection mechanisms, and in our case today, free from the trouble water may give us at times. We found the 10 best models in the market today in case you wanted a few more options to decide for yourself.
A wireless Bluetooth speaker is becoming more and more of a necessity in today’s word — it enables you to enjoy listening to music regardless of the setting without the need for the speaker to be plugged into an electricity source, thanks to a wireless connection to internet and smart devices (and a rechargeable battery for an energy source). Better yet, a waterproof speaker is a perfect solution for those who want to play some music with their player being nearly indestructible, especially a commonality like water, which always comes in handy when you want to listen to music on the beach, by the pool, in the mountains, shower, camping sites, and more.
As seen in our best wireless speakers guide, there were quite a few solid models that provided not only Bluetooth connectivity but waterproof protection as well. Today however, we decided to really focus on our topic at hand to help your music and water needs. Let’s get into the important factors to keep in mind when surveying the 10 best we’ve found.
Selecting the Best Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker
- Budget – We’ve seen some popular waterproof Bluetooth speakers for under $100 and even under $50; however, the more you spend, the higher quality you’ll be getting. Our best wireless Bluetooth speaker under $50 guide highlighted some budget friendly picks as well (a few were waterproof, too). We added a few from each different price-points to help you out.
- Intended use – How and where you plan on using your waterproof speaker is relatively important to keep in mind. How about by the shower? You won’t need something too powerful and can probably get away with a cheaper model. Are you going on a weekend trip? Grab a speaker with a lot of play time, especially if you won’t be by an electricity source to recharge the speaker.
- Extra features\protection – A lot of these Bluetooth speakers are not only waterproof, but come with some other protection as well, such as dust, dirt, shock and more. Is this important to you? What about built-in microphones for hands-free calling, controls on the unit itself, LED light notifications, and more? We list the highlights of each speaker.
- Color choices? We know aesthetics are important. A lot of these (and kinda like headphones) are merely only available in black. However, there are quite a few out there available in different colors. We put this last just in case — we know a few who want a specific color and care about the look of their speaker.
The Best Waterproof Bluetooth Speakers
UE BOOM
As previously stated, and after much research, we have concluded this to be our #1 pick when it comes to the best waterproof wireless Bluetooth speaker in the market today. Along with our needed water protection, it is also shockproof and dirt-proof, which means you can take it to most environments with confidence. If you are looking for even more dramatic effect, it is possible to connect two (2) UE BOOM 2 Phantom speakers together and experience even more power and quality of stereo sound while on-the-go (if your friends agree with our pick as well, that is). The Bluetooth connectivity of this model will enable you to connect from up to 100 feet away, which means you can listen to your favorite music while on the beach, at a pool party, when hiking or camping, etc.
Additionally, the Bluetooth speaker is equipped with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that lasts for about 15 hours (longer than most in this best-of guide). The UE BOOM is one of the best waterproof Bluetooth speakers due to its technical capabilities and the quality of it’s overall stability and build. They do have a higher model available, which we outline later on in this guide as well. Here’s a useful video demo of the UE BOOM to see it in action.
Sharkk Mako
Equipped with their own phrase and unique ‘Advanced MaxxBass Technology’ and accompanying waterproof with dust and shockproof protection (rated IP67), this is another top pick to take into consideration, especially if you felt the previous speaker was a bit too expensive. Thanks to its rugged design and protection against weather and surrounding elements, you can enjoy the clear sound of your favorite tunes while out and about. The 4.0.Bluetooth connection, NFC function and AUX port (in case the connection was fuzzy) will enable you to easily connect to mobile devices with various options, while the built-in microphone gives you the capability for hands-free answering of calls as well.
The Sharkk Mako enables usage of both S-Voice and Siri apps and it is equipped with a charging status indicator, LED button back-light and LED power for convenient and easy usage in different situations and conditions. The 4400 mAh Battery will enable about 12 hours (at 50% power) of non-stop music listening no matter where you go. With all that being said, the Sharkk Mako is definitely one of the best Bluetooth speakers with waterproof protection in the market these days for an affordable price.
VicTsing VS1-PA57D
Packed in an attractive body with waterproof silicone and a cool interface design, the VS1-PA57D will function reliably in most given weather conditions and situations because it is also dust and shockproof. In terms of price, this is super budget-friendly, so not only will it be perfect for those in need of a smaller-sized waterproof speaker, but a cost-friendly model as well. Thanks to the Bluetooth connection, you can connect the speaker to different online sources and get incredible sound of stereo quality. Its built-in microphone allows you to conveniently answer phone calls with your voice, hands-free.
It is equipped with a lithium-ion rechargeable battery that lasts about 6 hours before it needs to be recharged again, so it isn’t necessarily the longest-lasting speaker out there but considering the size and price, is expected to be a bit less in this regard. If you are looking for the best waterproof Bluetooth speaker with a super compact size that will function reliably and provide decent sound quality considering the price, then the VicTsing VS1-PA57D is definitely a good choice.
Altec Lansing iMW577 Life Jacket 2
If you can afford it, you can probably get away with tossing this thing back and forth with a friend — it’s extremely rugged and recommended for those in either extreme environments or merely those who want a speaker that isn’t going to break on them any time soon. This is an excellent speaker choice if you want to experience some clear and powerful sound of your favorite music while feeling confident in the protection. The Life Jacket 2 is equipped with a lithium-ion rechargeable battery that will give you about 16 hours of listening before it needs to be charged again. Since the construction is an obvious standout, the combination of a relatively long-lasting battery also helps for day-long or weekend trips.
Additionally, this handy waterproof Bluetooth speaker comes with some other convenient features, such as voice confirmation and a microphone for hands-free answering of phone calls. There is also (which we absolutely love) a power bank ability for remote charging of your smartphone while out and about. The Altec Lansing iMW577 Life Jacket 2 is one of the best waterproof Bluetooth wireless speakers if you are looking for a solution that is super rugged, resistant to water, dust, shock (rated IP67) and any other challenge that a speaker can face outside. Not to mention the extra features you’ll be getting may make it the perfect solution for what you envision needing a waterproof speaker for.
URPOWER IPX7
The IPX7 is a water, shock and dust proof Bluetooth speaker that will enable you to listen to your favorite music while outside on the beach, by the pool, camping and more. The price-point is pretty affordable and rivals a lot of the lower tier we’ll see in this guide, and if you wanted a super rugged build that you don’t have to worry about dropping, this is a great pick. The sound quality is full and pretty defined, and along with the crisp quality also comes with some surprisingly powerful bass thanks to the built-in passive subwoofer. Equipped with 4.0 Bluetooth and NFC technology, it will allow you to connect the speaker to an online music source to get suitable sound quality from about a 33 feet distance.
Lastly, the URPOWER IPX7 also comes with a built-in microphone like many other of the best Bluetooth waterproof speakers for convenient hands-free answering of calls. It has 4 installed languages and it will rightfully serve you even when fully submerged in the water. Nothing to stand out with this model by much; however, we feel it’s great for those who wanted to save a few bucks yet grab a rugged waterproof Bluetooth speaker on top of it.
UE MEGABOOM
Here’s another popular UE model to rank as the best waterproof Bluetooth speaker, and this one is a step up in regards to our first pick if you wanted a recommendation for a budget a bit higher than most. The MEGABOOM (yes, all caps) is a waterproof, dustproof and shockproof speaker with Bluetooth and NFC connection, which puts it side by side when it comes to additional protection when compared with the other best Bluetooth speakers available in the market today. This is a lightweight but heavy-duty speaker that will deliver some very clear sound quality while you are outside listening to music from a variety of sources such as your smartphone, tablet or other smart device. Since it is also equipped with a passive subwoofer, the sound will have solid bass quality for an all-around music listening experience.
The MEGABOOM speaker is equipped with a Li-ion rechargeable battery that will enable up to 20 hours (the most in here) of non-stop music listening before the next use (charging takes about 2.5 hours). The UE MEGABOOM is also equipped with a built-in microphone, which will offer you hands-free call answering that will come in handy if that’s how you like to chat. This thing is awesome if you can afford it — you’re also getting quite a few color choices, too.
Photive HYDRA
This is another one of the best waterproof speakers out there right now, especially if you were in need of a budget-friendly model. With this Bluetooth speaker you are also getting dust and shockproof protection (rated IP 66), which guarantees all-encompassing security and functioning in most weather conditions you’ll come across. The HYDRA frame is safe-guarded with rubber and a sturdy aluminum grill for solid protection against the weather and equipped with Bluetooth 4.0 technology, this speaker will enable full functionality in basically every setting (on a picnic, on a beach, while hiking or camping, etc.) while at the same time delivering clear sound quality.
It is equipped with 2 drivers of 40 mm and a passive subwoofer, which means you get strong bass along with the crisp high-ends among the common frequencies of an audio player. It’s also got a Li-ion rechargeable battery that will enable as much as 8 hours of non-stop music listening before you need to charge it again. If you are looking for the best all-around and affordable waterproof Bluetooth speaker, then the Photive HYDRA should definitely be taken into consideration, especially since it’ll be easy on your wallet, too.
Zettaguard ZS100
Equipped with 4.0.Bluetooth technology, the ZS100 is a pretty cheap solution as the best waterproof Bluetooth speaker if you were need of an affordable, super compact speaker (hence the key chain link) for some added convenience. You also have the option for NFC connectivity to all of your smart devices and online sources from up to 33 feet distance. It has a small, built-in passive subwoofer to give you a little extra bass boost and with a waterproof quality that is graded as IP67 quality, the speaker will enable you to listen to your favorite music while experiencing a wide variety of outdoor activities.
We wouldn’t necessarily dump it completely under water or anything, but you’re covered for smaller applications near H2O. The Zettaguard ZS100 is lastly equipped with a long-lasting rechargeable battery that will enable up to 12 hours of music listening without the need for charging. Not too shabby for a speaker of this price and size.
Photive CYREN II
Nearing the end of our guide of the best waterproof Bluetooth speakers, here’s another Photive speaker solution that many have rated highly. We’d consider this another budget-friendly speaker since it’s within the lower price-point as compared to many others in its class. This one is great for a lot of outdoor situations when you can expect humidity, water, dust\dirt, etc. because the CYREN II provides grade IPX 66 protection against all the mentioned elements – which is a pretty high top-level of resistance.
It comes with a rechargeable Li-ion battery that will enable you to listen to music for up to 8 hours non-stop and it’s beloved Bluetooth (4.0) tech enables you to connect conveniently. It’s also stated to be super rugged since it can endure drops of up to 5 feet. The Photive CYREN II lastly comes with controls directly on-board, which makes for easier control and playing of music if you’re near it. Just another solid waterproof speaker here.
SoundBot SB517
Here’s one of the cheapest speaker solutions we’ve ever really seen before. If you wanted basically an add-on item to keep handy and use for smaller applications, here’s a “why not?” pick for the best waterproof Bluetooth speaker. It’s marketed as having military grade 7 level water protection (we wouldn’t fully submerge it), as well as shock and dust proof, which definitely qualifies it as at least a pick in this guide (albeit last). You can go with the SB517 anytime you are spending some time outdoors and need to call for a compact speaker.
It has a 3.0 Bluetooth connection and despite the size and price, can stream music for 6 hours without the need for recharging. Like most others, the speaker is equipped with a lithium-ion rechargeable battery and comes with a built-in microphone for hands-free calls answering – definitely a convenient feature when you are out and about. With the SB517 you are also getting a detachable suction cup that will enable you to easily post it wherever you want (we wouldn’t rely on it too much, however). The SoundBot SB517 is an extremely cheap yet one of the best wireless Bluetooth speaker that will provide minimal yet suitable quality for those who just wanted something simple. You also get a few color options while we’re at it.