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Sep 09, 2023

Best Small Bluetooth and Smart Speakers of 2023

These models from Amazon, Apple, Bose, Google, JBL, and Sony may be petite, but

These models from Amazon, Apple, Bose, Google, JBL, and Sony may be petite, but they perform in a big way in our labs

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Size does matter, at least in the world of speakers. For reasons that have a lot to do with physics—we’re basically talking about machines that create vibrations by moving air—bigger models tend to sound better than smaller ones.

But there are plenty of good reasons for wanting a more petite speaker. Maybe you’re tight on space. Maybe you want to carry your music with you. Or maybe you just like little things. With that in mind, here's a selection of small wireless and smart speakers that have performed well in our testing.

The wireless models have rechargeable batteries, which means they can be tucked into a backpack or even attached to a bike and used on the go. The smart speakers need to be plugged into an electrical outlet in a space with WiFi access.

All the models below—listed from most to least expensive—endured our rigorous testing program. Each was purchased through normal retail channels and evaluated in our labs by trained technicians for sound quality, ease of use, and versatility. Please note that the testing protocols for wireless speakers and smart speakers are slightly different, so you shouldn't compare scores across the two categories.

Who should buy it: A podcast-loving fan of itsy-bitsy speakers.

What's to like: The tiny SoundLink Micro is cute and hyper-portable, and comes with a strap that allows you to latch it to a bicycle, backpack, or stroller. Bose claims that it's water-resistant, too, with a IP67 rating, so it's a good choice for wet-and-wild action.

What's not to like: If the Micro's palm-sized profile isn't super-important to you, check out the Bose SoundLink Color II; it offers much better sound quality for not much more money, albeit in a package that's less water-resistant. The Micro works best if you’re close to the speaker and listening to spoken word content or background music.

Who should buy it? Someone looking for a small, cheap speaker to give as a gift or to just toss in a bag and bring to the park.

What's to like: The Sony SRS-XB13 is a great value, offering solid performance for about $50. The model comes in six fun colors, ranging from basic black to coral pink, and the lanyard-style strap makes it easy to carry around. The speaker features IXP67 water resistance, which means it can survive a modest dunking and should repel dust. The SRS-XB13 also delivers enough volume to fill a small room.

What's not to like: Given the price tag, it's not surprising that the Sony has a few sonic limitations. The bass, as you might expect from a speaker so minuscule, isn't very strong, and the midrange and the trebles lack the smoothness and detail you get from more expensive models. That said, the SRS-XB13 sounds significantly better than its predecessor, the SRS-X12, which has a constricted, nasal quality that knocks it down a notch in our sound-quality ratings.

Who it's for: A listener looking for music by the handful.

What's to like: The Wonderboom 2 is short and squat, and fits nicely in your hand. The sound quality is on a par with most portable models. The bass could be stronger, and the midrange, which isn't particularly rich, has a trace of an echo. Our testers find the model to be easy to use, with large buttons and a user-friendly Bluetooth pairing mode. It also has an IPX67 rating, which means it's water- and dust-resistant, according to Ultimate Ears.

What's not to like: The Wonderboom 2 is a solid performer, but consider how you’re going to use it before you buy it. Among the truly portable models that you’d listen to on the go, it's relatively large and has a small mesh loop at the top in lieu of a strap or handle. And if you’re going to mostly place the Wonderboom 2 on a picnic table or a beach blanket, there are slightly larger models, like the Sony SRS XB-23 or the JBL Flip 5, that offer better performance for nearly the same price.

Who it's for: Anyone looking for a cheap, cheerful companion for a hike or a bike ride.

What's to like: This tiny speaker fits easily into your palm and features a carabiner that can clip onto a backpack or beach bag. JBL claims an IP67 rating, which means the speaker is both water-resistant and dustproof. Our testers find the Clip 4 to be easy to pair, and the prominent controls make it easy to adjust the volume.

What's not to like: Sonically, our testers report the Clip 4 to be somewhat challenged. The highs are a little sizzly, the midrange is a bit nasal, and there's not much bass to speak of. The performance falls well short of the similarly sized but significantly more expensive Bose SoundLink Micro.

Amazon Echo Dot (5th Generation) Who it's for: A smart speaker newbie looking for an inexpensive way to see whether it really makes sense to add a digital assistant to their home.

What's to like: Despite the small size and low price, the Dot offers the same smart speaker functionality as its far more expensive brethren. The Dot can also serve as an inexpensive way to introduce smart speaker functionality throughout your home in an Alexa-based multiroom system. You can even pair an Echo to a Bluetooth speaker you already own to give it smart speaker functionality.

What's not to like: Amazon says that the drivers and electronics of the fifth-gen Dot were revamped with the aim of improving sound quality. But CR's testers report that the improvement is minor. There's a little more bass and treble and the midrange is a bit clearer, with less volume, but overall the sound quality of the latest Dot still remains near the bottom of our rankings. It's fine for listening to podcasts. But if you’re going to play music (and you’re not too tight on space), you might consider the somewhat more expensive but much better-sounding full-sized Echo.

Who it's for: Someone who's deeply immersed in the Apple world and doesn't mind paying a bit of an Apple tax for a $100 speaker that sounds more like a $50 option.

What's to like: The Mini is a solid choice for controlling Apple HomeKit smart home products and services such as Apple Music. The Mini now allows voice control of other music services, including Pandora and iHeart Radio, and can even integrate with Apple CarPlay in your vehicle, permitting you to ask for driving directions while making coffee in the morning, then send the chosen route to your car before leaving.

What's not to like: In terms of sound quality, our testers find that the Apple HomePod Mini rates significantly lower than the similarly priced Echo or Google Nest Audio. In fact, the somewhat congested sound rates closer to that of the much cheaper Echo Dot, albeit with a fuller bass. Like the Dot, the HomePod Mini is okay for podcasts or background music in a small room but not great for playing your favorite tunes. And unlike those Echo and Nest devices, the HomePod Mini can't be paired via Bluetooth with a better-sounding wireless speaker. So if you have some room in your budget, you might consider the latest second-generation version of the full-sized HomePod. It has all the functionality of the Mini (including the ability to work as part of a multiroom system) but with warm, clear sound quality that's in an entirely different league—as it should be for three times the price.

Who it's for: A smart speaker newbie on a budget, looking for Google search capabilities. What's to like: If you’re looking for a cheap way into the smart speaker world—or an inexpensive gift—the Google Home Mini is a strong option. For $50 (maybe even half that price when it's on sale), the Nest Mini gives you access to Google Assistant, which features strong search capabilities. Compared with Alexa, however, Google Assistant supports fewer third-party skills and its shopping functions are less robust.

What's not to like: The Nest Mini's sound quality leaves a lot to be desired. Though the tiny speaker is fine for spoken-word content such as podcasts, our testers find it's not really good enough for enjoyable music listening.

Allen St. John

Allen St. John is a senior tech editor at Consumer Reports. He has been with CR since 2016, focusing on digital privacy and covering smartwatches, wireless speakers, and headphones. Previously, Allen was a senior editor at Condé Nast and a contributing editor at publications ranging from Road & Track to the Village Voice, and his work has appeared in the New York Times Magazine, the Wall Street Journal, Rolling Stone, and other national outlets. He is a New York Times bestselling author, and lives in Montclair, N.J., with his wife and his dog, Rugby.