Bought A Samsung Galaxy Watch 8? Change These 3 Settings Immediately
The Galaxy Watch 8 and Galaxy Watch 8 Classic are Samsung's latest wearables launched alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7. They run One UI 8 Watch and are claimed to deliver up to 40 hours of battery life. While the duo brings a slew of upgrades, there are a few settings you should change immediately after setting up your new Galaxy Watch to make the most of it.
The new Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 will last you a day easily, even with AOD on and sleep tracking enabled. But if you want to extend the battery life further, you should make use of Modes and Routines. I have set it up to enable Power Saving setting when I don't require the complete suite of features. For instance, if you're in the office for at least six hours a day, you can add a routine to enable Power Saving mode. Forbes Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 First Look: Breaking The Iterative Upgrade Cycle By Prakhar Khanna
I first read about it on Android Central and have enabled this setting on all my Samsung watches ever since. Follow these steps to enable Modes and Routines on your Galaxy Watch 8: On your Samsung phone, open Settings > Modes and Routines > + Add. Add a name for your mode and tap Done. Tap + When to start this mode > Time period to pick your parameters > Done. Tap + More actions for this mode > Add action. Toggle Power Saving on > Done.
Samusng Galaxy Watch 8 and Watch 8 Classic Prakhar Khanna
Once you set up your Galaxy Watch 8, it's not guaranteed that you'll start receiving all notifications from day one… unless you have this setting enabled. By default, Samsung enables notifications for only a few apps. To fix this, follow these steps: Open the Samsung Wearable app and go to Watch settings. Tap Notifications > App notifications. Scroll down to Phone apps. Tap the toggle button for the apps you want to receive notifications from, or simply tap Allow all.
One UI Watch 8 has a new Multi-Info Tiles feature that's customizable and lets you see more information per Tile, instead of just glanceable data from one app. By default, you get grouped Tile options sorted by Health, Fitness, and Basic, but you can customize them further. Go to Tiles by swiping left from the home screen on your Galaxy Watch 8. Long-press the Tile you want to customize and tap Edit. Or, scroll down to the bottom of any Tile and tap the + button. The Galaxy Watch 8 will show you Featured Tile suggestions, but you can also choose a new Tile widget for supported apps. Add the one(s) you like and you're all set. Forbes Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 First Look: Bigger, Slimmer And AI-Ready By Prakhar Khanna
Changing these three settings on your Galaxy Watch 8 will help you extend its battery life, manage notifications better, and customize it to your liking.
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Weight: 4.9 pounds | Size: 4.1 x 10.4 x 6.4 inches | Waterproof: IP67 (dust- and waterproof) | Charging port: USB-C | Battery life: 20 hours | Microphone: No Best for: Great balance across all audio frequencies A rugged design with built-in flotation Skip if: You want omnidirectional music You want a lighter, more portable Bluetooth speaker Of all of the Bluetooth speakers I've tested recently, the Bose SoundLink Max is my top pick. It has a rugged design that's not only waterproof and dustproof—it's also built to withstand accidental drops. Tack on the convenient swappable carry handle, and this speaker was designed to last in any kind of outdoor environment, whether you're taking it on your next picnic or to your next pool party. If you do accidentally drop it in water, it has flotation technology to help keep it afloat. You can't play music on it while it's in water, but the speaker bobs while you retrieve it. 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It features a fully waterproof design and, like the Bose SoundLink Max, floats in water when accidentally dropped. Keep in mind that like the Bose, it also doesn't play music while floating in water. Additionally, unlike the Bose, the sound reduces somewhat when it gets fully wet. Still, for its price, it's a darn good Bluetooth speaker. It has three buttons on the speaker's top: a Bluetooth connection, an On/Off and a Play/Pause button. The plus and minus signs on the front adjust volume. It's very simple, but it's a design that I like because of its simplicity. It's not easy to press the wrong button when using this speaker. While you don't get any sound profiles or EQs, the audio is good out of the box. Its 360-degree audio has a great quality that balances the basses, mids and trebles well. The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 is a compact speaker that delivers 360-degree audio. Rebecca Isaacs for Forbes That said, there are some caveats to this Bluetooth speaker. I tested the speaker with both my iPhone 16 Pro and my Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra when I read reports about faulty Android compatibility. Unfortunately, I experienced audio cutouts on my Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. If you're team iPhone, this is a great affordable outdoor speaker. However, if you're team Android, I recommend opting for the best mini outdoor Bluetooth speaker pick, the Bose SoundLink Flex. Weight: 3 pounds | Size: 3.9 x 9 x 3.7 inches | Waterproof: IP68 (dust- and waterproof) | Charging port: USB-C | Battery life: Up to 28 hours Best for: Its rugged build: Drop it, toss it, and it still works The intuitive, easy-to-digest app Skip if: You want a prettier design You want more robust EQ presets If you plan on frequently taking your outdoor Bluetooth speaker on the go, then you want a balance of good audio quality and a super rugged design. The JBL Charge 6 is the best at balancing these features: Its design feels nearly indestructible, and it's rated IP68, so it offers both waterproofing and dustproofing in addition to the sturdy build. The JBL Charge 6 has a rugged build capable of withstanding wear and tear. Rebecca Isaacs for Forbes The speaker also offers a convenient removable carry handle that's easy to use, and I found it easy to carry it both around my home and through my local park. It weighs just 3 pounds, which helped make it my pick as the best portable outdoor Bluetooth speaker. Diving into the software, I found the JBL app to be one of the easiest I tested, but there's a slight caveat: There are technically two apps: JBL Portable and JBL Headphones. You want the former to adjust the EQ on your speaker. The software offers five EQS: JBL Signature, Chill, Energetic, Vocal and Custom. After testing, I personally recommend Energetic because it gave my music extra vibrancy, but if you don't feel like deep diving into the software, that's fine—the audio quality sounds good right out of the box. I personally don't recommend using the app's AI Boost software, as it makes the music sound a little tinny, of which I wasn't a fan. Along with an easily removable carry handle, you'll find intuitive buttons on the top of the speaker, including the AI Boost feature. Rebecca Isaacs You can also connect another JBL Charge 6 speaker to enjoy a more robust audio. One of the reasons the JBL Charge 6 doesn't take the best overall pick spot is that while Bose speakers can connect to its siblings, the Charge 6 can't connect to, say, the JBL Flip 6. The battery life can last up to 28 hours on a charge, but JBL thoughtfully considered that you still may forget to plug in your device and added a Playtime Boost feature. This feature makes the audio sound a tad more tinny, but it allowed me to eke out a few extra hours in a pinch. Depending on how low the battery life is when you do plug in, you can expect it to take up to three hours to recharge. Still, for those who plan to take their speaker on the go frequently, the JBL Charge 6 can also charge your phone, which is a super useful feature. Note that the speaker doesn't ship with a charging cable to reduce e-waste, so plan to pack a USB-C charger. I've tested the Baseus Retractable USB-C Cable, and I recommend this for those short on space, but any cable will do. Weight: 23 pounds | Size: 22 x 12 x 11.1 inches | Waterproof: IPX4 | Charging port: USB-C | Battery life: Up to 12 hours Best for: Getting the most bass—and fun LED flair—at your next pool party Using AI to enhance your karaoke sessions Skip if: You need a smaller design Karaoke isn't your jam For those who want to keep the party going late into the night, the Soundcore Rave 3S is a great option, according to tester and Forbes Vetted executive editor Dave Johnson. It weighs 23 pounds, so don't expect to take this too far from your backyard or camper. It also only has, 'a single handle on the top—positioned in back so it tends to swing around when you walk with it,' according to Johnson. The speaker also comes with fun light show settings that can be controlled from the accompanying app. The sound quality is very good and has a, 'beefy bass thanks to a 6.5-inch woofer—something I appreciated when playing songs with a lot of bottom, like Jack White's new 'Archbishop Harold Holmes' or, in honor of Spinal Tap's 40th anniversary, 'Big Bottom.'' But it's not just the great audio quality that makes it our top boombox pick: It also doubles as a karaoke machine. The Soundcore Rave 3S comes with a pair of microphones. An AI-powered vocal eraser removes the vocals from any song you play. It goes further: There are, 'several levels of removal to choose from, which is great if you want a little bit of a guide track to help you work your way through the song,' says Johnson. You can also adjust how the microphones capture your voice to give your voice warm and right tones as well as adjust for the kind of room you're singing in. The only gripe Johnson had? The 12-hour battery life. For its size and weight, he expected more battery life than what the speaker allowed for. There's also the charge time of six hours from a fully depleted battery. If you plan to use it for your weeklong camping trip, make sure you plug it in overnight so you can use it the next day. Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen) Weight: 1.3 pounds | Size: 2 x 7.9 x 3.6 inches | Waterproof: IP67 (dust- and waterproof) | Charging port: USB-C | Battery life: 12 hours | Microphone: Yes Best for: Great balance across all audio frequencies, in a smaller package A rugged design that still offers built-in flotation Skip if: You want more powerful bass If the Bose SoundLink Max is too large for your taste, the Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen) delivers a similar soundscape in a much smaller package. It's built to take on the go, and comes with a small nylon strap to clip a carabiner, and it also floats if dropped in the water. Admittedly, it's a bit larger than my value pick, the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4, but it's still the best mini portable speaker on the market for a few reasons. The Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen) may be a little larger than my value pick, the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4, but its audio quality at this size is unparalleled. Rebecca Isaacs for Forbes Simply put, the audio quality on the 2nd Gen Bose SoundLink Flex is unparalleled at this size. Many speakers I tested that were this size produced a good audio quality, but the bass frequencies were too weak. The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 is technically smaller, and it balances the frequencies nicely. But the 2nd Gen SoundLink Flex takes it a step further, with customizable EQ settings to showcase those deep basses without overpowering the other frequencies. It doesn't quite hit the rumbling bass of the SoundLink Max, but it gets close enough that you don't notice. It also uses what Bose calls "PositionIQ technology" to sense where the speaker is placed and automatically adjust according to its location. That said, I did have to adjust the EQs in the app to +3 for both the bass and the trebles to get my preferred audio profile. I attribute that, again, to its size: It's harder for subwoofers to nail those deep basses on a smaller speaker. Still, this quick fix was easy and it made it more worthwhile. Bose is going all-in on these small, portable speakers, and has launched more colors recently, including the citrus yellow color I tested and loved. Buttons are intuitive on the Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen). Rebecca Isaacs for Forbes Like the Bose SoundLink Max, the 2nd Gen SoundLink Flex can connect to multiple Bose SoundLink speakers for Stereo Mode. But note that its battery life is lower, at up to 12 hours playback, and its charging time takes a little longer at four hours. Don't expect to charge your phone from this speaker, either. Weight: 2.9 pounds | Size: 12.5 x 5.6 x 5.4 inches | Waterproof: IP67 (dust- and waterproof) | Charging port: USB-C | Battery life: Up to 30 hours | Microphone: Yes Best for: A balance of price and performance that delivers crisp notes Nice extras like Bluetooth power-on and AI-powered LED lighting Skip if: Those AI-powered extras will only annoy you You want a longer battery life—testing didn't fully live up to claims on certain settings Earlier this year, LG launched its latest XBoom lineup. Partnering with artist the company completely redesigned not only the speakers but both the sound software and hardware—and it shows. The LG XBoom Bounce offers a great design with a built-in strap that tucks neatly behind the speaker. I wish it was retractable, but if you're slinging it over your shoulder or hanging it, it's suitable. Because it's a stretchy strap, I do question its longevity, but during testing I didn't experience any problems with it. On the front, there's an LED light strip that you can control in the LG ThinQ app. At the top, there's a special heart button you can program to listen to LG Radio+, playlists and more. The option to play radio is a great feature, and I wish more speakers offered it. The LG XBoom Bounce includes a fun LED light. Choose from a preset or let AI take over that fun flair. Rebecca Isaacs for Forbes Bass sounds good without overwhelming the rest of the frequencies, and nails the treble notes without giving them that tinny effect. It also keeps notes crisp, and this was most apparent on Carly Rae Jepsen's and Clairo's tracks. You can find a couple of different EQ presets, and I personally recommend the Bass Boost EQ or creating a 'dynamic' setting in the following order: 3, 2, 0, 0, 2, 3. You can also use an AI to optimize your music in real time, which reduces the crispness somewhat. I don't recommend using this feature. Like another speaker I tested, the Ultimate Ears Epicboom, the LG XBoom Bounce offers a remote Off switch via Bluetooth (not via the app). Or, if you're prone to forgetting to turn it off before leaving the house, you can control it with an automatic sleep timer. This does reduce the battery life, though, and it can't be used if its life is less than 20%. I also liked the AI-powered LED light feature, which 'danced' in real time to my music and offered a few different options including rotation, flickering and more. Supposedly, it also offers a Sound Boost feature, but I never did figure out where to find that despite spending a good 30 minutes digging into every single window in the app. Not that it really needs it, though, considering that even at half power, the audio carries well. You get the usual buttons, including play/pause, power and more, on the top of the speaker. Rebecca Isaacs for Forbes LG claims that the speaker can last up to 30 hours on a single charge, which feels boastful. I noted during testing that after about two hours of blasting music at half volume (13 on the app), with Bass Boost on and the LED light strip set to Wave, the speaker reduced by 7% battery life. Another test I ran showed that the speaker reduced by 1% every nine minutes with my dynamic setting and the AI-powered LED light patterns used. Obviously, it probably can't reach 30 hours using all the features, but if you turn off the LED light strip and reduce the bass, you can eke out a few more hours. Weight: 6.8 pounds | Size: 9.5 x 6.3 x 5 inches | Waterproof: IP56 (dust- and water-resistant) | Charging port: USB-C | Battery life: Up to 24 hours | Microphone: Yes Best for: Easy setup—use Trueplay and enjoy high-quality audio A rugged design that still offers built-in flotation Skip if: You're not already a Sonos fan The prospect of a wholly counterintuitive app annoys you The Sonos Move 2 has one of the sleekest profiles to date. The white finish looks good on a bookshelf or on a patio, but it also comes in black and olive to mask scrapes if you're accident-prone. Its IP56 waterproof and dustproof rating isn't as robust as other options I tested. In short, the '5' means that dust can still enter the speaker, but it shouldn't cause issues or muddle the performance, while the '6' means that it can handle water jets blasted at it. Short of a Midwestern derecho or another borderline cataclysmic event, this should be sufficient for most needs—just don't dunk it right in the water. I also appreciate the touch controls at the top, with the power button, Bluetooth button and microphone on/off switch located just under the handle. My second biggest beef (more on my first in a minute) with the Sonos Move 2 was that when I originally booted it up, I couldn't tell whether it was on or off—and that's still a big gripe. Other speakers dinged when they booted up, but this was one of the few that didn't notify me that it had turned on. On the back, there's the Bluetooth and power buttons as well as a physical microphone switch button. Rebecca Isaacs for Forbes Audio quality is impressive on this speaker, and it's this lovely sound that cements it as a premium pick. It sounds rich without muddling frequencies. And I loved how crisp the bass notes sounded in Panic! at the Disco's 'Hey Look Ma, I Made It,' and the Arcane soundtracks. There are two ways you can enhance your music. First, I opted to use Trueplay to 'register' where the speaker was in the room and adjust it to my space. Heads up: It sounds silly. It blasted loud laser noises throughout the room, as I paced the area and raised and lowered my phone to help create the space profile (you use your phone's microphone to help pinpoint locations). But if you're not keen on using Trueplay, you can also use the EQs to adjust your sound. In the EQ window, I also found a Loudness booster. I highly recommend turning this on, as it gives the music extra depth, and it makes the speaker sound all the more luxe. This also rates as a premium pick due to the options to connect to Apple AirPlay 2 and voice commands by saying, 'Hey Sonos.' But it also offers Amazon Alexa integrations, which I found useful in my home, which is decked out down to my light bulbs. For those who have embraced the hands-free experience, this is the speaker to get. Use the handy charging stand to recharge the speaker when you bring it indoors. Rebecca Isaacs for Forbes What's not so great about this speaker? The app. When I tested its sibling, the Roam 2, for the best Bluetooth speakers list, I griped about how unintuitive it feels, and that still holds up. Still, fans of the Sonos brand and those who are open to learning how to navigate the Sonos app may find that the perks of such great sound outweigh the cons of this app system. RECOMMENDED BY FORBES VETTED Other Outdoor Bluetooth Speakers Our Tech Team Tested To come up with our list of recommendations, our tech team tested over a dozen outdoor Bluetooth speakers. These outdoor Bluetooth speakers represent a good balance of audio quality, price and features, but didn't quite make the cut for one reason or another. Still, they're worthy of your consideration. Here are the other outdoor Bluetooth speakers we tested. Anker Soundcore Select 4 Go: (Forbes Vetted score: 8 out of 10): The Anker Soundcore Select 4 Go is a great speaker, and has consistently been one of my best value picks across many of my guides to Bluetooth speakers. It's a small speaker that manages to pack a large sound profile. That said, specifically for the great outdoors, the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 has a 360-degree sound and a better sound profile from a distance. It can also hit bass notes slightly better. Bang & Olufsen BeoSound A1 (3rd Gen): (Forbes Vetted score: 9 out of 10): The Beosound A1 (3rd Gen) is a puck-shaped Bluetooth speaker that can be set on a table or hung using the leather cable strap. The audio quality is lovely, and the app is easy to navigate and adjust your EQs. For an outdoor Bluetooth speaker, the audio quality carries well. My biggest beefs lie in the design: It doesn't float in water, and the leather strap doesn't feel particularly sturdy. Still, this was my runner-up pick for a premium speaker due to its impressive audio profile. Bose SoundLink Plus: (Forbes Vetted score: 9 out of 10): The Bose SoundLink Flex looks similar to its siblings in that it has the same silicone shell to protect against accidental drops. It also has the same waterproofing and dustproofing features, but I just couldn't get past the durable loop in lieu of the carry handle. It weighs slightly less than the Bose SoundLink Max, but the loop seems counterintuitive, and the Max's handle still feels like a smarter design choice. Still, its audio quality is on par with the Max and the Flex (2nd Gen), and it lands squarely between the two in terms of the price. It's a good blend for those who want more power without the higher price tag. Ultimate Ears Everboom: (Forbes Vetted score: 9 out of 10): Of the 25+ speakers currently in my home, the Ultimate Ears Everboom is the one I keep returning to as my main. It has a lovely audio profile, and its vertical design looks great on any bookshelf or stand. Its 360-degree audio manages to fill my 850-square foot apartment, which is impressive considering its size. It also has a remote on/off switch in the app which quickly became my favorite feature of all the outdoor Bluetooth speakers I tested. But I noted when testing it that I kept having to re-pair it with my Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and Google Pixel 9 Pro when I turned it on. Sonos Roam 2 : (Forbes Vetted Score: 7.5 out of 10): The Sonos Roam 2's compact build was a contender for the best mini speaker. I loved how the audio profile sounded; of all the small speakers I've tested over the past few months. Automatic Truplay is also helpful to maximize the audio quality in any space, and if you have two, you can carry your sound to another Roam 2 speaker or Move 2 speaker in your home, which the brand calls 'Sound Swap.' But comparatively, its battery life is lower at around 10 hours, and there's also the app—like the Move 2's, the app is very, very clunky. Anker Soundcore Boom 3i: (Forbes Vetted score: 7.5 out of 10): In a rare miss for the company, the Anker Soundcore Boom 3i has great sound … if you are directly in front of it. That unidirectional sound does punch above its weight, but it quickly falls apart when I moved around the speaker. The speaker features IP68 waterproofing, and it's built to be the most rugged option for the great outdoors. It also floats upward in water, so you can listen to your music while it stays in the pool, which is a unique feature. But still, I couldn't get past the unidirectional audio quality. LG Xboom Grab: (Forbes Vetted score: 8 out of 10): I love the design of the LG Xboom Grab: It has two convenient straps to hang the speaker, and the AI-powered LED lights add extra fun elements. The audio quality is good straight out of the box, too. That said, it only plays music in one direction, and so you shouldn't expect 360-degree audio. JBL Flip 7: (Forbes Vetted score: 8.5 out of 10): The JBL Flip 7 is pint-sized and offers a detachable clip. It also has a carry handle and the same software features as the Charge 6, including the AI Sound Boost setting and EQ presets. If you prefer to stay in the JBL family but want a small package, this is a great option. Just keep in mind that the Charge 6 has more powerful bass. How I Tested The Best Outdoor Bluetooth Speakers To find the best outdoor Bluetooth speakers, I put over a dozen speakers to the test, narrowing down the devices to top-rated brands like Bose, Anker Soundcore and more. From there, I put my shortlist to extensive testing. Durability I compared each speaker's IP rating, aiming for at least IP66 to handle beach days or unexpected rainstorms during your backyard barbecue. I hit them with my kitchen faucet's spray nozzle and dropped the float-claiming models into a sink, and noted any changes in audio performance. Design I reviewed weight and dimensions, then evaluated how easy each speaker was to grab and carry. I considered the location of straps and handles. I also looked into whether the Bluetooth speakers I tested offered any built-in flotation. Audio Quality This was where the bulk of my testing came into play. No matter what genre you're listening to, your audio quality should have a good balance of bass, mids and treble frequencies. None of these frequencies should sound muddled or distorted during listening sessions, and so I looked for crystal-clear clarity and smoothness among the frequencies. I cross-checked audio quality in each Bluetooth speaker across a variety of songs, and I considered differences across multiple EQs, speaker direction and more. I also checked how far the speaker reached, placing it on the opposite end of my large living room and seeing how each speaker sounded as the audio projected. Some of the genres that I listen to include alternative, rock, classical, audiobooks/podcasts and more. Specifically, some of the songs I tested each pair of Bluetooth speakers include: Florence + the Machine's 'King,' 'Cosmic Love' and 'Dog Days Are Over' Rimsky-Korsakov's 'Scheherazade' Ashnikkos' 'Worms' and 'Daisy' Chappell Roan's 'Good Luck, Babe' and 'Red Wine Supernova' Fleetwood Mac's 'Dreams' and 'The Chain' Fitz and the Tantrums' '123456,' 'Livin' For The Weekend' and 'I Just Wanna Shine' Grandson's 'Eulogy,' 'Dirty,' and 'Bury Me Face Down' Kendrick Lamar's 'DNA,' 'Not Like Us,' 'tv off (feat. lefty gunplay)' and 'luther (with sza)' The entire soundtracks to seasons one and two of the Netflix show Arcane Battery Life I played each speaker for 30-minute sessions at different volumes and frequencies, logging start and end battery percentages. I also tested any quick-charge or portable USB-C charging features to see which models truly live up to their claims. Why Trust Forbes Vetted The Forbes Vetted team has published hundreds of tech and electronic guides that leverage our hands-on testing and research, including audio stories for all of your listening needs like wireless headphones , wireless earbuds , outdoor speakers and more. Consumer tech and electronics editor Rebecca Isaacs has been involved in tech journalism for over six years. In her time testing the best outdoor Bluetooth speakers, she focused on aspects of interest to everyone, from casual, occasional listening to serious audiophiles who want to enjoy every single guitar strum across a truly balanced EQ. has been involved in tech journalism for over six years. In her time testing the best outdoor Bluetooth speakers, she focused on aspects of interest to everyone, from casual, occasional listening to serious audiophiles who want to enjoy every single guitar strum across a truly balanced EQ. We also tapped an expert to share his unbiased insights for this story: Nikolay Petrov, chief technology officer at Zontsound, an audio and sound repair guide. We regularly review our content to ensure our recommendations are still the best of the best. We first published this article in August 2025 to retest all contenders. How To Choose An Outdoor Bluetooth Speaker As you shop for the best outdoor Bluetooth speaker for your needs, there are five key aspects you should focus on before you decide: portability, durability, sound quality, battery life and price. Portability If you plan to take your Bluetooth speaker on the go, you should look for one 'that's easy to carry, with a strap or a hook,' Petrov says. Typically, the lighter a Bluetooth speaker is, the easier it is to pack in your bag. A heavier speaker, like my boombox pick, the Soundcore Rave 3S, is typically built for your backyard patio rather than taking to the beach. Durability Especially if you pack your Bluetooth speaker along, consider a rugged design that's protected against bumps and scrapes. For outdoor speakers in particular, also consider other factors like weatherproofing. The IP rating of a speaker is either followed by one letter and one number or two numbers. The first digit indicates how well it handles smaller particles like dust, and the higher that number, the more resistant it is. The second number refers to how well protected the speaker is against water. But, Petrov shares, 'Keep in mind that IPX ratings are usually only about water protection, and even those aren't constant. IPX7 means waterproof, but IPX4 probably only tolerates splashes.' He goes on to add that, 'With IP67, you get full dust protection and water immersion to one meter for up to 30 minutes.' If you're taking your outdoor speaker to the pool or beach, that's a must-have, in case you accidentally knock it into the water. Ideally, Petrov recommends 'IP67 for outdoor use (tough enough to withstand a hike in rain, sitting on sand or falling into water),' so you can enjoy your music without worry. That said, if you plan to contend with just an occasional splash or are mindful of potential rainstorms, you can get away with a Bluetooth speaker rated IPX4 and above. Audio Quality Audio quality is one of the most important aspects to an outdoor Bluetooth speaker. It's not just about achieving a rich audio quality across all frequencies, but you also have to consider your audio's dispersion, according to Petrov. He adds, '360-degree speakers are good for communal events like barbecues, whereas directional speakers are better for solo hikes or hanging out by the pool.' Ultimately, he recommends choose a form based on your specific lifestyle and needs. Additionally, make sure the sound carries well across an outdoor space and at higher volumes. Look for a Bluetooth speaker that can remain balanced or offers a balancing feature, like an AI-powered EQ or a 'scanning' feature, to make sure you have good audio quality at all volume levels and spaces. Petrov shares that another must-have is a 'custom EQ option. It's especially important for the outdoors, where the bass can be lost and the trebles can be harsh.' Battery Life A long battery life may be a feature to prioritize, especially if you plan to spend all day outdoors. 'I make sure I get at least 12 hours of playtime, with USB-C charging,' says Petrov. All of the speakers we tested offer at least 12 hours, but generally, the longer it can last, the better. There's also the question of charging: If you forget to charge, a speaker should offer a quick-time charging where five minutes gets you another hour, or something to that effect. Another plus that's started to be offered by some outdoor Bluetooth speakers is the ability to charge your phone. A couple of my top picks offer this so you can charge your phone in a pinch. If you're prone to regularly letting your phone get below 20%, you may also want to consider this feature. Price An outdoor Bluetooth speaker can cost anywhere from less than $50 to nearly $2,000, however, most options I tested and considered for this list land between $100 to $400. As with most speakers, you can expect more more premium features and higher-quality sound with a higher price tag, although you don't need to overspend to get a stellar Bluetooth speaker. I found in my testing that you can reliably get a good balance of audio quality and features for the price around the $200 to $400 mark. Which Is Best? JBL Or Bose? Whether JBL or Bose is best depends on your needs. In general, during testing, I found that the bass on the Bose SoundLink Max edged out the JBL Charge 6. That said, the JBL Charge 6 has a durable build that can withstand concrete drops. They're both good options, but if you want better audio quality, go Bose. If you want the best durability, opt for JBL. What Is The Best Outdoor Party Speaker? If you plan to keep it close to home, we found that the best outdoor party speaker is the Soundcore Rave 3S. It has fun LED elements, can play music at high volumes well across open spaces and includes AI-powered karaoke features. If you plan to take it on the go, the Bose SoundLink Max is your best bet: It blends powerful subwoofers with a rugged build so you can take your music anywhere. What Is The Best Home Bluetooth Speaker? If you plan on keeping it close to home, I found that the Sonos Move 2 and the Soundcore Rave 3S are excellent options. The Sonos can easily be moved from patio to your bookshelf thanks to the useful charging dock. The Soundcore Rave 3S was built more for parties, so just double-check your needs before you add one to your cart.
