I've tested 10 Bluetooth speakers in 2025, here are the 3 I'd buy
Perhaps you're looking something that'll shake the room with it's room filling bass and innovative built-in subwoofer, or maybe you want a retro throwback that's anything but a pastiche.
From a low-end hero to a design project from a Scandinavian powerhouse, these three Bluetooth speakers are my favorite portable noise makers of 2025 — and I'm going to tell you why you should add them to your backpack.
Bang & Olufsen makes premium devices — although one of it's cheapest pieces of equipment the brand produces is also one of its best. The brand new A1 3rd gen is still expensive, but at $399 it's more affordable than anything else you'll find in the B&O range. It's also really, really good.
From its aluminum shell that comes in some wicked colors and lends an extra element of luxury to the fun carrying and hanging strap that make it easy to use anywhere and everywhere, the A1 3rd gen has been extremely well considered.
The sound is detailed and expressive, and it makes the speaker sound much larger than it actually is. Battery life is good at 24 hours, and the IP67 ruggedization means you can take your luxury speaker anywhere.
My favorite bit are the replaceable parts. Should anything in the speaker break, be that a battery that runs out too fast or a driver that doesn't drive anymore, you can send the speaker to a B&O repair center, where your speaker will be brought back to life.
Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.
Considering loads of Bluetooth speakers end up as e-waste when something goes wrong, this is a big plus for the A1 3rd gen.
The palm-sized aluminum wonder from B&O takes a classic Bluetooth speaker design and reinvents the insides for 2025. It's fully renewable, sounds amazing, and feels wonderful in the hand thanks to its wonderful metal construction. It's not cheap, but it's a stunning piece of premium Bluetooth speaker design.
If you like bass, the bass, and nothing but the bass, then the Brane X is the Bluetooth speaker for you. Thanks to some impressive audio engineering, which apparently (and I'm using air quotes here) 'breaks the laws of physics,' there's an entire subwoofer inside the speaker that can pump out seriously impressive low end.
Place the speaker on a table and get some dance music playing and you'll not only have the room up and throwing shapes, but also everything that isn't nailed down. Your TV will wobble, your coffee table will shake, and your sofa will get groovy. Considering how big the speaker is, it's pretty incredible to feel the amount of bass that the speaker can pump out.
The Wi-Fi connection seals the deal on top of the already pretty stellar sound quality, and the Brane X becomes one of my favorite speakers of the last few years, let alone 2025.
It's not cheap, but it'll fill a much larger room than you expect — and do it with the jaw-breaking force of a bass-focussed subwoofer. Get two for even more sonic fun, if you can stomach the price..
The bassiest thing that ever did bass, the Brane X is the Bluetooth speaker for those that want all of the low-end. It sounds great beyond its subwoofer, of course, and the extra Wi-Fi connection makes it more flexible than other options out there. You can even connect loads together — if you're a millionaire. This speaker isn't exactly cheap.
Marshall constructs some of my favorite-looking devices in the audio world. I love the way that the speakers and headphones that brand makes look, thanks to their brass accents and retro amplifier-like designs. The Kilburn III is the latest in a long list of perfectly styled Bluetooth speakers, but it ups the ante with some extra features and a very solid sound profile indeed.
50 hours of battery life to supercede just about everything out there? Check. Useful physical controls to change the sound without pulling your phone from your pocket? Also check. Big, bassy sound with plenty of detail and presence? Check again for the full Bluetooth hero trifecta.
I love the Kilburn III, so much so that it became my favorite Bluetooth speaker of the year. It's going to top our list of the best Bluetooth speakers, and it won the category in the Tom's Guide audio awards. If there's any more evidence you need that the Kilburn III is epic, just give one a go for yourself. You'll likely fall in love just as quickly as I did.
The epic-looking Kilburn III is more than just a pretty face — it also sounds amazing too. The battery life is extremely impressive, and the on-device tone controls make keeping the music going easier than anything else. It also, you know, looks really cool.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Tom's Guide
an hour ago
- Tom's Guide
FBI issues warning to all smartphone users — a dangerous new scam could be at your door
If you have a smartphone, you're a target. That's the thinking behind the latest scam going viral, where hackers use malicious text messages and packages you didn't order in a bid to steal your personal information and wipe out your financial accounts. The Federal Bureau of Investigation issued a warning this week about a new type of "brushing" scam. "In a traditional brushing scam, online vendors send merchandise to an unsolicited recipient and then use the recipient's information to post a positive review of the product," reads a statement the FBI's Pittsburgh field office posted on X. As annoying as fake reviews can be, now bad actors are taking things one step further, using this setup to siphon data from unsuspecting victims in a particularly insidious way. The difference boils down to the QR code in these packages, and it's a fresh reminder for why we could all stand to be more careful about how we use our phones to interact with the world around us. "In this variation, criminals send unsolicited packages containing a QR code that prompts the recipient to provide personal and financial information or unwittingly download malicious software that steals data from their phone," the FBI said. Ever heard of a "brushing scam?" There's a new version of it happening, and the FBI is warning the public. Criminals are sending unsolicited packages containing a QR code, and once scanned, victims provide personal and financial information while unknowingly downloading malicious… 11, 2025 The scammers often don't include a return address or any information about the name of the sender, which entices people to scan the QR code. They're betting on people being curious to learn more when a random package arrives at their doorstep. Once scanned, the QR code collects personal and financial information about the victim while also downloading malicious software onto their phone. Attackers have used this method to quietly siphon credit card numbers as well as credentials for bank accounts, securities trading accounts, and crypto accounts. In its warning to smartphone users, the FBI offered several ways to avoid falling for this new type of brushing scam: Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. If you believe you've been the target of this kind of scam, you're urged to change your account profiles and request a credit report from a national credit reporting agency to identify possible fraudulent activity. You can report fraudulent or suspicious activities to the FBI via its IC3 portal, just be sure to include as much information as possible, including: the name of the person or company that contacted you; methods of communication used, including websites, emails, and telephone numbers; and any applications you may have downloaded or provided permissions to on your device. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
Tom's Guide
7 hours ago
- Tom's Guide
I tested Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones for a month — here's the winner
Sony's latest ANC headphones are a good pair of headphones, with some key improvements over the previous model under the hood. But how do they square up against their noise-canceling nemesis? The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are the best way to block out noise, period. But how do they fare when you stack them up against Sony's newest set of cans? Let's find out. The Sony WH-1000XM6 launched with a bang in 2025 and we reviewed them favorably, highlighting their new sound signature and improved noise canceling. They have a new, if un-innovative, look, and a brand-new hard case to protect them in your bag. Yet, they still have to fend off their long-standing Bose rivals: The QuietComfort Ultra Headphones come with a super comfortable fit and better noise canceling, and are ready for the fight. But is that enough to sink Sony's flagship? To find out, I've organized a sunset duel. I've been using both headphones for the last month to work out which ones you should spend your hard-earned dollars on. The fight this time around is tricky for both of our entrants, so let's put them out of their misery. Sony WH-1000XM6 Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Price $449 / £399 / AU$699 $429 / £449 / AU$645 Colors Black; Silver; Midnight Blue Lunar Blue; Deep Plum; White Smoke; Black Size Not specified Not specified Weight 8.9 ounces 8.8 ounces Battery life (rated) Up to 40 hours Up to 24 hours Connectivity Bluetooth 5.3 with SBC, AAC and LDAC support Bluetooth 5.3 with SBC, AAC and LDAC, aptX HD support support Special features Adaptive ANC, Ambient Sound Mode, DSEE Extreme Audio, Bluetooth multipoint, customizable sound, quick charge, passive mode, 360 Reality Audio ANC, Immersive Audio, Bluetooth multipoint, customizable EQ, quick charge We don't need to spend much time on this point. Both headphones will set you back between $428 and $449, depending on which sales you're looking at. That's not a small price for a pair of headphones, and marks what looks to be the new launch price point of flagship headphones from now. At $449, both models $150 cheaper than the Apple AirPods Max, and the same price as our pick for the best wireless headphones, the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3. Although the 1000XM6 are currently cheaper, the Bose headphones have a lower price floor. They've been on the market for a longer time, and we've seen their price drop significantly during deal events. You can save $20 on the Sony by buying them today, or you can wait for Black Friday or Prime Day and pick up the Bose headphones at two-thirds the price. The XM6 are a well-built pair of headphones, with compact earcups and a folding hinge so that they can fold up and fit into a case. The headband has also been widened for comfort reasons (we'll get to that), rounding out the key physical differences between the old and new models. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. The case is vastly improved, however. I really like the magnetic clasp, and I've only come to like it more during my comparison period. I'm not sure about the longevity of the mechanism as of yet, but for now it's a winner. Comfort is also better, but still not perfect. I've found that the headband, while wider, still presses on pressure points across the top of my head. There are also bits inside the earcups that interfere with my piercings. The Sony WH-1000XM6 are not wholly uncomfortable — far from it — but they're less comfortable than their Bose rivals. Bose's headphones are not only more padded in all the right places, but also uses better foam inside to make sure that they remain comfortable for long periods of time. They're light, which can make them feel slightly cheap, but that does add to their overall comfort in the end. The Sony WH-1000XM6 are not wholly uncomfortable — far from it — but they're less comfortable than their Bose rivals. The case is much the same as the XM6 in terms of sturdiness, but it's slightly more compact. That makes it easier to pack into a bag when you're going on a trip or getting ready to go to work. The QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are a more handsome pair of headphones as well. There's more variety to the kinds of materials used here, with metal in the folding armatures making them feel better built than the flimsy feeling XM6. Overall, thanks to a more comfortable fit, better case and more interesting style, the QuietComfort Ultra take home the points for design. After a strong start for Bose in the design and price sections, the controls section is the place where Sony is going to start clawing back some crucial points. The controls you'll find in the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones aren't really all that good. I don't like the inaccurate touch volume slider, and the multifunction button that does almost everything else is a pain to use. The two buttons on headphones are the same shape, only differentiated with a little bump on the Bluetooth pairing button. I've found skipping accidentally and initiating pairing mode unintentionally is far too easy. I don't like touch controls, but the gesture based controls on the XM6 are better than those found on the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. The touch pads on either earcup can be swiped for volume and skip, and then tapped for play/pause. I still don't like how moving my hair can be mistaken for a command, or how I can accidentally pause when I want to turn the volume up, but there are some redeeming factors. For example, the power button and ANC button are very easy to tell apart — the power button is round, and the ANC button is long. Simple and easy to use. The Sony WH-1000XM6 take the round when it comes to controls. The Sony WH-1000XM6 have an updated sound profile, and while it's not my favorite, I do prefer to the way that to the Bose sound. Sony has focused more on the vocals of your music this time around, and we've ended up with a pair of headphones with some top-notch vocal clarity. Unfortunately, I've found that means that soundstage has taken a hit. The XM5 had a very wide soundstage, and that's taken a back seat with the XM6. The new model is slightly more restricted, and spatial imaging (where everything is on the soundstage) isn't as well defined. Sony's bass-heavy sound isn't horrible, but I wish it were a little bit less in-your-face. I've found dialing it back in Sony's very solid EQ helps a bunch, but it's a shame that I have to. To be clear: The Sony WH-1000XM6 sound very good, but the likes of the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3 have shown what wireless over-ears are really capable of. The Bose straight-up sound worse than the Sony WH-1000XM6. They're bassier and warmer, and you lose some top-end detail and presence. There are going to be some people who are fans of their looser attention to detail and sloppier low-end, but the Sony sound noticeably better. You can EQ the Bose slightly with a three-band adjuster, but they never quite manage to sound as good as Sony's headphones — let alone other headphones you can pick up for the price. Both sets of headphones have good apps and well-rounded feature sets that have their fans and detractors. Both sets of headphones have good apps and well-rounded feature sets that have their fans and detractors. We'll start with the XM6. The Sony Sound app has been recently re-done, and it works very well. It can be slightly confusing for first-time users with some of the features hidden away in separate sub-menus, but once you know where everything is you'll be navigating the headphones' multiple features with aplomb. It's in the app that you'll find the noise-canceling modes. I don't really get these — I just leave my ANC on max level when I want it. Transparency is the one mode I do use frequently, however, as well as the 'off' setting, so that I can save a little battery. Inside the app there's also the EQ, and it's very good. Plenty of bands for adjustment make it very easy to dial the sound in exactly as you want it. Spatial audio is here as well, and it's much better than Bose's option. It's similar to Apple's headtracked Dolby Atmos, only it's built for Amazon Music Unlimited as opposed to Apple Music. Bose's app is also very easy to use, I find. Everything is better laid out than Sony's app, but there are fewer options for customizing your headphones. I don't miss the multi-step ANC adjustment, and I like how you can turn the ANC to transparency and back. Not off, however, for Bose does not believe in turning ANC off. To each their own, but it would be nice to have the option to save some battery life. EQ is good, although not as in-depth as Sony. It gives you ample opportunity to change the sound of your headphones in the long run, however. Giving you ample opportunity to make use of the 'off' slider is Bose's version of spatial audio. It's an in-house 'enhancement' of whatever music the headphones are playing, but I find it just makes music sound anemic. It's the best of these in-house systems, also found in the likes of the Marshall Monitor III and the Nothing Headphone (1), but it's still better left in the 'off' position. Perhaps the most important part of the whole competition here — has Sony finally caught up to the might of the Bose noise-canceling machine? Short answer: No. The longer answer is that Sony's noise canceling is better than that found on the older XM5. Thanks to a new chip and some more clever algorithm changes, the ANC handles some annoying noises better than before. But Sony where promising the best ANC, and the best ANC we have not received. They still struggle slightly with really loud noises that the Bose manage to block out, and they're less of a step up over their predecessor than I was hoping for. Perhaps that's unfair, but the Bose headphones prove that better noise canceling is possible. The Bose headphones prove that better noise canceling is possible. The QuietComfort Ultra Headphones have sat at the top of the list of the best noise-canceling headphones for a long time for a reason. They're really, really good at it. They block out more noise than just about anything else, making your commute and office time more comfortable. Transparency modes across both are good and sound natural. However, the Bose win thanks to superior ANC overall. If only it could be turned off for some extra battery life. Another quick and easy one to decide here: The Bose lose out on battery life thanks to their limited 24 hours of staying power. That's not great, and the Sony handily beat them out with 35 hours of battery. During my testing, I found that the battery life claims of both pretty much matched the expected life on the specs sheet. Remember that you can extend the XM6 to 40 hours when you turn off the ANC as well, something you can't do with the Bose headphones. Fast charging is a helpful bonus for both headphones: 3 minutes of charging the XM6 gets you 3 hours, while the Bose get 2.5 hours after a 15-minute charge. Both aren't the best around, but there is a clear winner overall. I put these two headphones head-to-head when the XM6 launched, but I didn't have both in hand at that point. Now that I've had ample testing time with both sets of headphones, I can find a clear winner — and it's Sony with the XM6. They might not look quite as pretty as the Bose or have better ANC performance, but their sound, features, and battery life ultimately win them the competition. If you're looking for the best ANC you can buy, I've found you're still better off with the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. For just about everything else, the Sony are the headphones of choice. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button. Sony WH-1000XM6 Bose QuietComfort Ultra Price and value (5) 3 3 Design (15) 13 14 Controls (10) 7 5 Sound quality (25) 22 20 Active noise cancelation (20) 15 20 Call quality (10) 9 9 Connectivity (5) 5 5 Battery life (10) 8 5 Total Score (100) 84 80
Tom's Guide
11 hours ago
- Tom's Guide
Grab a budget keyboard for even less for back to school at Amazon right now - these are my top 3 picks under $50
After getting two degrees, I know how important it is to be comfortable while you are working. All that typing and note taking takes a toll on you pretty quickly, but with one of the best keyboards, you can type all day with ease. Choosing the right keyboard to go with your PC or laptop is going to take the strain off your hands and wrist when you are working long hours, meaning you can work harder for longer (sorry). With back to school just around the corner, there's no better time to pick one up, as many of our favorite models are on sale. To make sure you know what you are looking for, I put together a list of three deals on Amazon right now for keyboards that we love here at Tom's Guide. Keychron is known for its affordable keyboards and the Keychron B6 Pro is no exception. This budget board is a productivity dream, with bouncy scissor switch keys, like you'll find on your laptop, that are perfect for speedy typing and note taking. This board can be connect via Bluetooth, 2.4GHz dongle, or used wired, so you can work however you want to. It looks pretty basic, but I think this makes it looks leek and understated when placed in a study setup. It is hard to find anything wrong with the Keychron B6 Pro. This full-sized wireless keyboard is extremely light, making it perfect for moving around on your desk or taking with you to study. The bouncy scissor switch keys make it a dream to type on, too. The Logitech Signature K650 is a lightweight wireless keyboard that's perfect for students who study from their room. It's not one that can be moved around easily but its bouncy keys do make tying pretty fun. It can only be connected via Bluetooth or USB. It is also spill resistant, making it perfect for those late night study sessions when you need coffee right next to your keyboard. This is an easygoing wireless keyboard that will perfectly complement your study set up. This is a keyboard best kept fixed in place, but when you're in your room studying you'll be grateful for the low-profile keys and the wrist rest supporting your arms. The Logitech Pebble Keys 2 K380s is the perfect board for anyone looking for something a little bit different. It is highly portable since it has a 75% layout and is lightweight. The real selling point of this board is its incredibly long battery life. It could quite literally last you the whole way through college on a single charge. That's because it has a rated battery life of three years, but this is dependent on how much you use the board. The Logitech Pebble Keys 2 K380s has an impressive three-year battery life and is fantastically easy to use. If you are already a lover of the pebble key style this is a must, and it is small enough to throw in your school bag with easy. It is also a great one to use with your iPad as well as your computer. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
