The Best Outdoor Speakers to Buy in 2024


Summer’s almost here, which means many of us will be spending much of the next few months outdoors. Going to the beach, spending the weekend by the pool, or off on a getaway somewhere with plenty of shade and probably a hammock or two—that is, with occasional air conditioning breaks. But being outdoors doesn’t mean you have to leave the playlist indoors. In fact, there’s never been a better time to be in the market for some outdoor speakers. The technology and sound in wireless speaker is improving all the time, and frequently available at a price that’s friendly to consumers. So with several months of vacationing, barbecuing, pool parties or simply just enjoying a lemonade outside with a good soundtrack to go with it, it’s an optimal time to look into the best outdoor speakers for listening in the sun (or after sundown, if like most of us here at Treble, you’re more of a night owl).
We’ve previously compiled our picks for the best speakers to buy, including wireless Bluetooth speakers, but in this guide we’re specifically focused on speakers that don’t just connect wirelessly to your phone or other media, but are designed to be used outdoors. Sometimes that means they’re the most durable, including waterproof or protection from dust (like, for instance, beach sand), and sometimes it means they’re the ones that blend in best with your backyard’s features. Ever had a speaker that looked like a rock before? Because after reading this, you might be tempted.
In evaluating the best outdoor speakers, we took into account many factors, which include but are not limited to price, sound quality, durability including waterproof and dustproof features, portability, battery life, ease of use and convenience. We also took a look at overall customer satisfaction and expert reviews as factors in our analysis.
For more audio guides, check out our lists of the Best Record Players, the Best CD Players, the Best Headphones, and the Best Vinyl Accessories.
This article was updated in July 2024.
Note: When you buy something through our affiliate links, Treble receives a commission. All items included are independently chosen and evaluated by our editors.

Audioengine B2
Audioengine’s B2 isn’t specifically built for outdoor listening over indoor use, but the beauty of its portability and versatility is that you can listen to it pretty much anywhere. Featuring high-quality, high-fidelity sound in a compact package, it offers Bluetooth or wired connectivity to your phone or other audio input for casual weekend listening or having company over to fire up the grill. It’s also convenient and compact enough for use while traveling—bring it to that Airbnb in the desert or by the beach, for instance, and put on your summer playlist while the sun’s out. It connects easy, goes anywhere and feature a power-saving function in case you forget to power off.

Bose Soundlink Max
Bose is known for high-quality audio above all, including its noise-canceling headphones, and its Soundlink Max wireless speaker is no different. Its price tag runs a little higher than some of the other speakers on this list, but it builds on its Soundlink Flex with some features that make it worth the upgrade. For one, it’s sturdier, at more than double the weight (around five pounds), and it’s built to withstand a little roughness. It’s also resistant to corrosion and UV light, but let’s talk about the most important thing: Sound. At its size, it delivers an impressive stereo sound with a wide soundstage and depth of bass, easily improving upon the performance of the Flex. It’s fully waterproof and its battery holds a charge for up to 20 hours, so don’t hesitate to queue up an epic playlist at the pool party.

JBL Flip 6
JBL’s Flip series continues to bring new features and improvements with each generation, and with the Flip 7 likely to surface sometime in the not-too-distant future, there’s bound to be even more upgrades on the way. In the meantime, the Flip 6 offers the strongest incarnation of the companies signature portable speaker, with an upgrade to Bluetooth 5.1. Plus with a separate tweeter and dual passive radiators, it offers more depth in sound than its predecessor as well. Likewise, there are some additional color options, including Dusty Pink, River Teal and Fiesta Red. It features up to 12 hours playback time on a charge, and is both water and dustproof, making it both durable and convenient.

Polk Atrium 5
The fifth generation of Polk’s Atrium series speakers keeps intact one of its most attractive qualities: Durability. The Atrium series is built to weather all storms, so to speak—they’re All-Weather Certified and feature weatherproof black and white paintable finishes, making them resistant to rust and easy to integrate into your overall design aesthetic. All of which is in addition to their sound, which provides vocal clarity sans distortion, as well as the company’s Patented Dynamic Balance®, which offers more depth of sound in an outdoor environment.

Sonos Move 2
A speaker designed to be played wherever you want to go, Sonos’ Move can be placed indoors or outdoors, for picnics, barbecues, parties or wherever you want your music to go. An upgrade from its first-generation model, the Move 2 features two tweeters for stereo sound, as well as Trueplay™ tuning to optimize the sound for its surroundings. It’s weather resistant and Bluetooth enabled, making it a versatile option for music-on-the-go—it’s also compatible with most streaming platforms. It features higher sound quality than most travel speakers, and of course it works seamlessly with the Sonos system. While there are lower priced travel speakers on the market, few provide as big a sonic experience as this.

Soundcore Motion Boom Plus
Soundcore’s Motion Boom Plus advertises its two most attractive features right there in its name: Portability and sound. At the size of a small boombox, it’s a little bigger than some of the smaller speakers that can fit snugly into your carry-on, but its lightweight design and shoulder strap make it easy to carry with you anywhere you go. But performance-wise, its 80-watt sound is definitely impressive, featuring heavy bass and sonic clarity, providing a strong listening experience overall. It’s both waterproof and dustproof (IP67), carries a battery life of 20 hours, and also connects to other Soundcore speakers if you want to add some extra dimension to your outdoor sonic experience. It’s also highly affordable, which makes it an even more attractive option.

Soundcore Motion X500
More compact than its Motion Boom Plus counterpart, Soundcore’s Motion X500 is a comparably impressive speaker for its size, with immersive spatial audio from three drivers to offer a wide soundstage. At 40 watts, it’s not quite as powerful as the beefier Boom Plus, but make no mistake—its clarity and depth of sound, particularly given its smaller stature, won’t disappoint. It’s fully waterproof and features up to 12 hours of playtime on a full charge, and can be paired with another X500 speaker to enhance your sound. Plus its size makes it even easier to carry with you wherever you go.

Victrola Rock Speaker Connect
If you’re looking for a speaker that blends in with the landscape, in addition to providing a great listening experience, Victrola’s Rock Speaker is exactly the backyard feature you’re looking for. Encased in a rock-shaped housing with a realistic texture, it fits in nicely in your garden or patio, and they’re capable of being used in connection with each other, and you can connect as many as 20 of them if you’re going for a proper surround sound experience. That said, the bass isn’t quite as full as some of the other speakers on this list, but the sound quality is solid. Plus they’re waterproof and feature up to 22 hours of battery life on a single charge.
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Jeff Terich is the founder and editor of Treble. He's been writing about music for 20 years and has been published at American Songwriter, Bandcamp Daily, Reverb, Spin, Stereogum, uDiscoverMusic, VinylMePlease and some others that he's forgetting right now. He's still not tired of it.