We know these product listings are full of specs and details. It can be difficult to decipher what really matters. After our hands-on time with a ton of different speakers, these criteria ended up being the ones that were most important to us.
Sound Quality: Number one with a bullet is how the damn thing sounds. Is it loud enough to cut through party chatter or a high-pressure shower? Can you actually feel the beat a little or is it just a suggestion of bass? These are just some of the important questions to ask. Another distinguishing factor with small speakers is drop off, and how far away the sound starts to fade or get muffled.
Bluetooth Connection: You don’t want a speaker that you have to reconnect a dozen times a session. Holding a stable Bluetooth connection and pairing to new phones easily is a crucial part of reliability. You need a speaker that won’t crap out on you when you don’t have the hands to fix it right away.
Water Resistance: We know that the beach and swimming pools are extremely popular places for portable speakers to end up. You need something that can get a little wet. All of the picks were rated IP67 for dust and water resistance. For more on what that means, read on in the FAQ.
Extra Features: The JBL Clip dominates Esquire because it has that little extra design quirk that puts it above the rest. This kind of thing goes a long way when comparing a bunch of products. In the case of mini Bluetooth speakers, any extras that lend to portability are a major plus.
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