If you’re in the market for a portable speaker to take your music to the pool, you’ve come to the right place. We have compiled a list of the best waterproof speakers under $100. These speakers offer rugged exteriors and powerful sound to help you enjoy your favorite tracks worry-free.
Sony SRS-XB100 – Best Overall Speaker
- Water resistance: IP67
- Weight: 0.6 lbs
- Battery life: Up to 16 hours
The Sony SRS-XB100 Bluetooth speaker is one of the most affordable options on our list. However, that doesn’t mean it’s not powerful. It offers good low-end performance and its bass output is impressive for its compact size.
The mids are also clean. However, voice clarity may not be the speaker’s strong point, like channel separation, which is average at best. However, this can be improved by linking two separate SRS-XB100 speakers together in a stereo pair.
The SRS-XB100 also offers rugged exteriors and an IP67 rating, which ensures it can withstand rain, splashes of water, and even full submersion. And yes, the rating also promises dust resistance. Another thing to note is that this waterproof speaker from Sony offers a long battery life of 16 hours on a single charge.
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JBL Clip 4 – Best Ultra-Compact Speaker
- Water resistance: IP67
- Weight: 0.52 lbs
- Battery life: Up to 10 hours
If you’re looking for something more compact than the Sony SRS-XB100, the JBL Clip 4 is what you’re looking for. It is arguably the best ultra-compact waterproof speaker that money can buy.
Besides being ultra-compact, the JBL Clip 4’s design is also quite interesting, as it can be directly attached to bags and backpacks. The speaker isn’t as rugged as the Sony option above, but it still promises an IP67 rating.
In terms of the build, the Clip 4 flaunts a premium fabric finish and buttons that offer a good response. Interestingly, it also manages to pack a decent-sized battery inside the shell, which ensures the speaker can continue offering powerful sound for about 10 hours on a single charge.
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Bose SoundLink Micro – Best for Audio Quality
- Water resistance: IP67
- Weight: 0.68 lbs
- Battery life: Up to 6 hours
The Bose Sound Link Micro delivers decent sound for the price. While it’s good for music as it handles mids well and produces loud and clear audio, the bass response of these speakers isn’t great, thanks to its form factor and tuning. So, if you’re planning to listen to many bass-heavy tracks right next to the pool, you may want to give this one a miss.
The Bose SoundLink Micro also offers support for the Bose Connect app, which allows it to pair with more than one compatible Bose Bluetooth speaker to set up the speakers in what the company calls Party Mode.
Like the other speakers in this list, it also has an IP67 rating, making it waterproof, dustproof, and protected from extreme temperatures, liquids, and other substances. However, its battery life isn’t much to speak about, as it only offers 6 hours of runtime on a single charge.
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Marshall Willen Portable – Best Looking
- Water resistance: IP67
- Weight: 0.68 lbs
- Battery life: Up to 15 hours
Arguably the most stylish $100 waterproof Bluetooth speaker on the list, the Marshall Willen Portable is available in multiple colors, and each one of them is equally striking. It’s compact and, as such, is easy to carry around.
Despite its size, the Marshall Willen Portable is capable of producing powerful sound. It’s good for music and handles not only mids but also low-end frequencies well. However, this, too, doesn’t offer very good channel separation, which impacts the overall experience of listening to music on this one.
Although it’s a stylish speaker, the Marshall Willen Portable offers a good level of robustness and durability. It is IP67-rated, waterproof, and has a rubber strap on its back that can be used to attach it to a backpack, belt loop, or even camping equipment.
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Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 – Best for Bass-Heavy Music
- Water resistance: IP67
- Weight: 0.9 lbs
- Battery life: Up to 14 hours
The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 is one of the best portable Bluetooth speakers in the segment. Thanks to its waterproof design, it also makes an excellent option for pool parties. It’s compact and sturdy and features a ball-like design that makes it easy to carry around.
However, it has one major flaw—no USB-C charging port. Instead, it relies on a micro-USB port for charging. Besides this, there’s very little to dislike about the Wonderboom 3. At its price, it offers powerful and dynamic audio. It’s tuned for bass-heavy music and, as such, is capable of offering loud and thumpy sound for its size.
Again, this is an IP67-rated speaker that is not only dust-resistant but can handle rain, splashes, and even submersion up to a meter of water. So, if the lack of USB-C charging is not an issue, the Wonderboom 3 is a product you should consider.
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Last updated on 07 May, 2024
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