Your AirPods and Bluetooth speaker compete for audio coming from your iPhone. You can settle the fight. Graphic: ChatGPT
You’re happily listening to music on your AirPods when the audio suddenly gets yanked away by a Bluetooth speaker. Don’t get frustrated. Make a quick tweak to the settings on your iPhone running iOS 26.1, and it’ll never happen again.
★★★★☆
With 360-degree surround sound, Treblab's HD-360 Pro wireless speaker sounds great indoors or out. Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac
After spending quality time with the Treblab HD-360 Pro, I’ve come to appreciate what this Bluetooth speaker represents: excellent audio that’s good enough for home use but just happens to be wireless for portability — unlike Apple’s excellent-but-limited HomePod 2.
In a market saturated with speakers that promise much but deliver mediocrity, HD-360 Pro stands out by focusing on what matters most — genuine audio quality backed by serious hardware. And at roughly half the price of great home speakers like HomePod 2 but with the option of portability, it’s worth considering, depending on what you want in a speaker.
You can nab the lightweight-yet-powerful Beats Pro on sale. Photo: Apple
This hot Beats Pill deal lands you one of Apple’s great-sounding portable Bluetooth speakers for just $49.99. That’s a whopping 67% discount off the $149.95 list price — just be aware that not all colors are available at that astonishingly low price.
It’s part of Amazon’s Big Deal Days, and it might not last long. And don’t worry if those big product showcase boxes on our page don’t show the sub-$50 price — things are changing so fast that sometimes tech can’t keep up!
The JBL Charge 6 is now on sale for 29% off, and it ships for free! Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
The JBL Charge 6 portable speaker gives you quality sound, long battery life and fun extra features. It’s an easy way to take music, podcasts and calls anywhere you go.
Beats Pill portable speaker, recently updated, is one of several on sale for Amazon Prime Day. Photo: Apple
Portable wireless speakers these days give home audio a run for its money — but you can take them anywhere (or enjoy them on the kitchen counter or in the shower). The likes of Beats Pill and Bluetooth boxes from companies like Bose, JBL and Soundcore keep getting smaller, more waterproof and better sounding. So gear up for summer barbecues and fall hayrides — or just having better audio in the kitchen, for that matter. Check out Prime Day speaker deals on wireless units below.
Don't worry about dropping it in the water. In fact, you might want to. Photo: Soundcore
Soundcore’s latest outdoor-focused Bluetooth speaker, the Boom 3i, is ideal for users who want reliable audio during outdoor adventures — especially on the water — the Anker subsidiary said Wednesday. The company emphasized the little wireless speaker’s toughness and floatable design.
So don’t worry about dropping it in the pool, lake, river or ocean — in fact, you might want to.
Get this refurb Sony speaker at a 46% discount with free shipping. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
If you’re still blasting playlists from your iPhone speaker, it’s time for an upgrade to a Bluetooth speaker like the Sony SRS-XB33. While most budget options promise “big sound” without actually delivering, this surprisingly affordable Sony speaker packs enough power, clarity and stamina to run the party.
Thanks to this speaker’s refurbished status, the price tag may actually be the most shocking part. If you don’t mind the fact that it had a previous owner, you can save 46% — dropping the price to just $79.99 with free shipping until they’re sold out.
The new lineup includes three Bluetooth speakers and a set of wireless earbuds. Photo: LG
In a move that could interest Apple users looking to expand their audio options, LG Electronics unveiled its new “xboom by will.i.am” lineup of Bluetooth speakers and earbuds recently. When a big electronics maker puts out four new products at once — complete with celebrity sound engineer in the mix — it tends to grab out attention.
The 200-watt powerhouse Rave 3S can strip vocals from any track and comes with microphones for karaoke. Photo: Soundcore
Soundcore brought the party to CES 2025 this year with two powerful new Bluetooth speakers planned for spring release — and now you can buy one of them. The Rave 3S Karaoke Speaker is a big, powerful party speaker that brings AI-powered karaoke capabilities to any music source. The Boom 2 Pro is a rugged boombox designed for outdoor use.
Both new Soundcore speakers put on light shows, among other things HomePods can’t do.
Update: The new Soundcore Rave 3S Karaoke Speaker went on sale Wednesday.
“It’s a pretty cool Bluetooth speaker and comes with two microphones with a pretty slick Vocal Removal tool that can be controlled on either microphone or from the control panel on the top,” Anker told Cult of Mac. “There are different levels of vocal reduction, so for example if you are a good singer and know the lyrics, you can reduce the vocals off. However, if you need a little help with the vocals, you can make the singer’s vocals come through a little stronger so you can hear it better.”
JBL Charge 6 and Flip 7 both get JBL Pro Sound AI Sound Boost and other upgrades. Photo: JBL
New JBL Bluetooth audio options — updates on the popular JBL Flip 7 and Charge 6 portable speakers — bring artificial intelligence-enhanced sound quality and battery life for on-the-go users, the audio giant said last week.
“We’re immersing ourselves in the heart of cultural moments,” said Carsten Olesen, president of Consumer Audio at Harman, which owns JBL. “The introduction of AI Sound Boost highlights our dedication to delivering dynamic solutions that shape the soundtrack of consumers’ lives.”
With a JBL Clip 5 speaker, you can take your audio anywhere. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
What’s the plan for the weekend? If you want to bring music practically anywhere, stick a JBL Clip 5 portable Bluetooth speaker to your bag. These rugged Bluetooth speakers, which feature a cool carabiner clip that lets you attach them to almost anything, are on sale now for just $59.99 (regularly $79).
These speakers should pack punchy clarity for Apple Music Lossless audio. Photo: Edifier
A new pair of bookshelf speakers from Edifier should catch the attention of Apple users who love clear sound from a compact package — the Edifier MR3 2.0 Monitor Speaker System. And the near-field monitor system brings studio-quality audio to your desktop at a surprisingly accessible price point of $120.
The wired or wireless MR3 speakers earned the coveted Hi-Res Audio certification, making them an ideal companion for Apple Music’s lossless audio streaming. With a flat frequency response in a wide range, from 52Hz to 40kHz, these speakers deliver the kind of neutral, transparent sound reproduction that audio professionals and discerning listeners demand.
The new Ultimate Ears Miniroll Bluetooth speaker is tiny, but carries more strength in numbers. Photo: Ultimate Ears
Ultimate Ears’ new Miniroll is the smallest and most affordable entry in the company’s Bluetooth speaker lineup. The tiny new speaker with a “river rock-inspired design” isn’t quiet for its size, the Logitech-owned company said. But for more sound over a larger area, it easily connects to others. And it features a hook-able silicone strap to easily connect to almost anything and go where you go.
“Miniroll started with a consumer ask,” said Jonah Staw, general manager of Ultimate Ears. “We heard our fans loud and clear. They wanted a speaker that could strap in and go anywhere to keep up with their active lifestyles. This led our design and engineering teams to build our most portable speaker, showing how passionate consumers can drive innovation.”
Get a JBL PartyBox Club 120 wireless speaker for just $299.99.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
The JBL PartyBox Club 120 takes entertainment to the next level with powerful sound and dynamic light shows that can transform any setting into a lively dance floor. Whether indoors or outdoors, this JBL party speaker’s robust audio and vibrant visual effects create an immersive atmosphere that keeps the energy high.
The Pulse 5 comes with its own automatic light show. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Whether it’s a table-flipping game night or a chill get-together, the host’s job is to make sure the vibes are right. That means good music and lighting to fit the mood, and you can get both with the Pulse 5, an LED Bluetooth speaker from Waloo.
This bass-pumping portable speaker brings a light show, with vibrant LEDs that pulse in time with your music. And you can get one on sale for $39.99.
Bring music almost anywhere with this waterproof, shockproof speaker. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
When you’re heading outdoors, you don’t need to leave all the comforts of home behind. Whether you want an intense movie night while camping or pulse-pounding music by the beach, you can make it happen when you pack a Treblab HD77 Bluetooth speaker built for the outdoors.
This rugged wireless speaker is IPX6 waterproof, shock-resistant and boasts a super-long battery life. Get one while they’re on sale for $51.99 (regularly $99.97).
This pint-size Bluetooth speaker packs a wallop (and brings an LED light show to the party). Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
With a built-in LED light, the Waloo Mini LED Base Bluetooth Speaker is perfect for kids. It’s compact, sturdy and extremely affordable. And its soft LEDs sync to the rhythm of the music being played music.
That makes it perfect for pumping up playtime. But it’s also great for bedtime: Soothing lullabies can be accompanied by gentle lights to help a little one drift off to sleep. As mentioned, the price on this speaker won’t keep anyone up, either. Regularly $34, you can get the Waloo Mini LED Base Bluetooth Speaker for just $19.99.
The completely revamped Beats Pill speaker catches the eye in black, red and gold color options. Photo: Apple
The recent return of the iconic Beats Pill portable Bluetooth speaker wasn’t just a typical product update, but a complete overhaul to help cement Beats’ identity as a premium-products subsidiary of the iPhone giant, according to a new interview with Apple executives.
“We wanted to do something special with the Pill and completely re-architect and reimagine it,” said Oliver Schusser, Apple VP of Apple Music, Apple TV+, Sports and Beats. “It wasn’t a case [of] let’s swap out one or two things. We really wanted a complete refresh. This is a completely new product inside, and outside as well.”
Save 45% on a wireless Samsung soundbar and subwoofer
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
If you want to turn your living room into a home movie theater, just grab some popcorn, a soda and this wireless Samsung soundbar and subwoofer. There’s nothing like surround sound to make you fall in love during a rom-com or jump in surprise during a horror film.
Save 45% with this open-box deal on a Samsung soundbar. It’s new, with imperfect packaging, and you can get it for just $109.99 (regularly $199.99).
This portable Bluetooth speaker from Sony pumps out amazing audio. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Prepare to experience excellent audio with the Sony XE300 portable Bluetooth speaker. It features Sony’s unique Line-Shape Diffuser technology, which spreads sound evenly across a wide area. The innovative tech lets the speaker produce room-filling audio without sacrificing clarity.
It’s a high-end speaker that’s about the size of a tallboy, and it’s on sale now for just $79.99 (regularly $199.99). If you want to cruise through the summer with your favorite tunes blasting, you don’t want to miss this new, open-box deal.
Jam by the pool or in the rain with this waterproof wireless speaker. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
The Treblab HD-360 portable speaker measures just 6.5 inches long, but that doesn’t mean it’s quiet. This waterproof Bluetooth speaker puts 90W into delivering some real volume. And its stylish design will definitely turn heads.
Instead of paying $159, you can get one of these Treblab HD-360 for just $99.99, a price point that even Amazon can’t beat.
Bose says its new SoundLink Max delivers "big sound to start the party no matter where you go." Photo: Bose
The new SoundLink Max Portable Speaker adds a bit of heft and a bunch of powerful sound to the Bose line of SoundLink Bluetooth speakers, the company said Thursday.
“This all-new portable speaker has lasting power, rugged durability, and delivers incredible sound for its size,” Bose noted. “Now you can set the vibe with your favorite playlist no matter where you go.”
A little bigger than Bose SoundLink Flex, the new speaker may have a handle on top. Photo: Tanguay/Bose
Bose could be about to launch SoundLink Max, a bigger and brawnier version of the popular and portable SoundLink Flex Bluetooth speaker, according to a leak and an FCC filing.
That will put another HomePod competitor on the market, and it may be a worthy one with quality sound plus portability.
The colorful names -- Sunset, Lagoon and Night -- could be more straightforward but whatever. Photo: Ultimate Ears
Here’s a genuine killer deal on some killer products. Save up to 40% on Ultimate Ears portable speakers, many offered at $50 off the regular prices. The company said these are the best prices of the year. We’ve reviewed a lot of these speakers and rank them among the best you can get.
★★★★☆
If space is at a premium, bring this little guy for big sound. Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac
Summer outdoor activities are no more, but if you’ve got a fall hike or hay ride coming up, bring Soundcore’s compact new Motion 300 portable speaker. It’s one of the best of its kind.
It’s small, it’s tough, it looks good, it sounds great and it goes on sale today for $80. Soundcore got it right with the Motion 300, a 30-watt speaker with Wireless Hi-Res Certification and 13 hours of playtime.