Choosing a Bluetooth speaker: waterproofing, battery life and stereo pairing

Waterproof: what the IP code says

The IP code has two digits. The first is about dust, the second about water, under IEC 60529:

• IPX4: resistant to splashing water from every direction. A rain shower is fine, a fall into the water is not. The X means dust was not tested.
• IP67: dust-tight (6) and able to survive temporary immersion (7). The standard tests that down to 1 metre for 30 minutes.
• IP68: beyond IP67, under conditions the maker sets itself. Check the manual for how deep and how long. JBL gives up to 1.5 metres of fresh water for up to 30 minutes for the Flip 7 and the Charge 6.

In our catalogue JBL gives IP67 for the Clip 5 and IP68 for the Flip 7 and the Charge 6. Sonos gives IP67 for the Roam 2. According to JBL the waterproof test uses tap water, not pool or sea water; JBL advises rinsing the speaker with fresh water after the pool or the sea, because chlorine and salt can wear the seals. Let it dry before you use the charging port.

Battery life

The hours are often in the name: JBL gives 12 hours for the Clip 5, and up to 16 hours for the Flip 7 and up to 28 hours for the Charge 6, those two with the Playtime Boost mode on. Sonos gives up to 10 hours for the Roam 2 and up to 24 hours for the Sonos Play. Xiaomi gives 8 hours for the Bluetooth Speaker Essential.

Those are the hours the maker gives. JBL and other makers add that playing time depends on volume and content: loud music with lots of bass uses more power. So for a long day, don't count on the full figure if you play it at full volume.

Some speakers also work as a power bank for your phone. JBL lists it for the Charge Essential 3, Philips for The Tube.

Size and sound

Roughly: the bigger the speaker, the more bass and volume, and the heavier it gets. A small speaker like the Clip 5 with its hook goes on a bag; a large one like the Bose SoundLink Max is one you put down. A single small speaker usually plays in mono, even with two drivers inside. Some speakers send sound all around; Xiaomi lists "360° Sound" for the Essential.

Power in watts says something, but it is hard to compare across brands because makers measure it differently. Compare within one brand instead, or look at the size.

Linking two speakers

If you want stereo, or several speakers for a party, the brand matters. Linking almost always works only between speakers of the same brand, and sometimes only within one generation.

• JBL: the new models, such as the Flip 7, Charge 6 and Clip 5, link through Auracast. Older models such as the Flip 6 use PartyBoost. JBL lists linking with other Auracast speakers from JBL for these models; reviews of the Flip 7 report that it does not link with PartyBoost models. There are also Duo Packs, such as the Flip 7 Duo Pack.
• Ultimate Ears: Boom, Megaboom and Everboom link through PartyUp in the Ultimate Ears app, such as the Megaboom 4. The Wonderboom does not use PartyUp but links to a second Wonderboom; according to Ultimate Ears the Wonderboom 4 does not link to the Wonderboom 1 or 2.
• Bose: the SoundLink Flex links to a second suitable Bose speaker through the Bose app, for stereo or the same sound on both.
• Philips lists Auracast for The Tube.

Bluetooth, or wifi as well

A Bluetooth speaker plays what your phone sends it, over a short distance. Sonos makes portable speakers with both wifi and Bluetooth, such as the Roam 2 and the Play. At home they use wifi and play together with other Sonos speakers; on the move you use Bluetooth. In the Sonos app you pair two identical Sonos speakers as a stereo pair over wifi.

Other portable speakers, such as the Marshall Emberton III and the Tribit StormBox Micro 3, are Bluetooth only. Every model is under speakers, with prices from several shops.