Getting the best Bluetooth speakers under 200 dollars may not necessarily be as hard as pushing a mountain. Before we get down, it is important to point out that Bluetooth speakers have become very popular of late most especially because of their convenience, ease of use, and the fact that they are versatile.
There are the more sophisticated speakers which are more expensive, larger, and of course, wired. In the same way, as these are expensive, they tend to deliver much better sound fidelity than their Bluetooth counterparts because of the fact that they have wired connectivity.
That said, we have collected speakers that would definitely meet your specific and general needs. What is more is that there are some on the list that can compete with some wired speakers.
Best Bluetooth speakers under 200 Dollars
Table of Contents
1. Bose SoundLink Revolve
At this price range, you will come to see that Bose seems to be the king when the crown is a great performance. With the Bose SoundLink Revolve, what you get is a great design and amazing audio reproduction.
The speaker has a very good and satisfying design with silver and black design. The controls of the cylindrical speaker are easy to use and convenient. Just as it is a waterproofed speaker, it also comes very durable.
Looking at the features, this has a battery that can survive up to 12 hours of play and it has voice prompts. It also has a cradle which although you get to purchase differently, helps when it comes charging.
With the audio reproduction, it is important to point out that this is a 360-degree sound speaker. The Bose SoundLink Revolve scores very high when it comes to detailed audio reproduction, but the bass again is not very strong. While it can get very loud, you will find it distorted when you push it to the limits.
Pros
- Has good features that allow you achieve a lot.
- Strong battery performance.
- Water resistant.
- 360-degree sound
Cons
- Distorted audio reproduction when pushed to the limit.
Verdict
With 360-degree sonics, this is a great speaker that delivers more than what you will call decent. The audio is good just as the features and design.
2. JBL Flip 4
The JBL Flip 4 definitely stands atop as far as the best Bluetooth speakers under 200 bucks are concerned. It is a speaker that is very easy to appreciate if you are looking for something that has looks that don’t disappoint and performance that satisfy.
Better than the design, however, is the functionality and convenience of the piece in comparison to the Flip 3 which it has come to replace. What beats the previous version is the fact that this comes as a waterproof speaker.
Among its features are the Bluetooth 4.2 connectivity it comes with, a 3.5mm input, as well as a micro-USB charging port. As regards the battery life, it has a capacity of 3000mAh which means based on your volume, you can keep hitting it for up to 12 hours. Another thing you will find useful is the ability to join more than just one of these speakers in case you want to have a heavy sound for your party.
With the audio reproduction, you will not find this better than the flip 3 in any significant way. This means that while it is complete at both ends, it still manages to miss the marks if you are looking for very strong bass. This doesn’t mean that it will not serve you if you are looking for decent bass, nut anything more is out for this.
Pros
- It is durable and waterproof.
- Rich audio reproduction
- It has great design and it comes in many colors.
- Very valuable.
Cons
- Not the best for someone looking for something with very loud sound.
- The bass may be lazy if you love it really hard.
Verdict
This is what I will easily recommend for someone who is looking for a piece that is inexpensive, good looking, durable, and with good sound.
3. Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM
The Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM is the one that you will call beauty and brains among the best Bluetooth speakers under 200 dollars. It has a design that can tempt anyone and an audio performance that is seductive in many ways.
This speaker will definitely give all others including Bose speakers and JBL the run for their sound, design, and money. The design is very solid and it has a good waterproof system. Also, the Megaboom comes in different colors.
It has a collection of great features that include a battery life that can last up to 20 hours, a Bluetooth range that can cover 100 feet, and an app that makes it easy for you to customize and control your speaker. More so, you can connect different speakers to get a better reproduction.
To the audio reproduction, this is a 360-degree sound speaker that has very strong and heavy bass. The volume is also strong, but the treble doesn’t answer all the questions you may have about it.
Pros
- The looks!
- 100ft connectivity range.
- Up to 20 hours of battery life.
- Can work on both android and apple devices.
- The audio reproduction is above decent.
Cons
- Not the best treble.
Verdict
The Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM is a strong performing speaker that has good design and strong audio performance. At less than $200, I think this is a good steal.
4. Ultimate Ears ROLL 2 Volcano
The Ultimate Ears ROLL 2 is the kind of speaker that you buy because of the looks and hope that it doesn’t fail when it comes to the performance. Luckily for those that find themselves in such a situation, the speaker doesn’t fail in sound.
With the features of the speaker, it can stay in the water for up to 30 minutes before it can take in thanks to the waterproof design. More so, it comes with a strap that makes it easy for you to hang it. It has a connectivity that covers up to 100 feet, but the battery life you get is only 9 hours which I find not the friendliest.
The audio reproduction is where it scores good points because just as it is beautiful, so also it is strong in performance. The volume is loud and the mids and trebles score the highest points you will have to offer. What is more is that you do not easily get distortion with this even as it is loud.
Pros
- Pleasing to the eye and with different color variants.
- Good range and audio performance.
- For both indoors and outdoor use.
- Generous and important features.
Cons
- Not the best battery life on the list.
- Weak bass.
- No speakerphone.
Verdict
If you are looking for something that is loud and still with pleasant sound and design, the Ultimate Ears ROLL 2 may be the ultimate choice for you.
5. Sony XB40 Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker
The Sony XB40 Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker may not be the most popular one out there, but it still holds its grounds in the very busy market of Bluetooth speakers. The truth is that it may not compete with many others, but for someone looking for loud sound, this may just be it.
Feature-wise, the speaker is a good one with a battery that lasts 24 hours and it is splash proof. The design is not necessarily beautiful, but it is still pleasing. Another thing is that it allows you to connect up to 10 wireless speakers all at once and have them synchronized to the same song. You get notified on somethings such as battery life with the voice feedback function.
With the audio reproduction of this speaker which is on the larger side of Bluetooth speakers gives loud volume and strong bass above everything else. If you want the bass to be out, you can simply turn it off because you will find it mostly dominating the mids and highs.
Pros
- A battery that lasts 24 hours.
- It is very loud.
- Heavy bass that is easily adjustable for someone who considers it too strong.
- There is voice feedback.
Cons
- Not the most accurate audio reproduction.
- Not waterproof.
Verdict
This is not necessarily for someone who is looking for the best when it comes to audio output. However, if you are looking for the loud one that will sustain your bass, this is the pick for you.
6. JBL Charge 3
If you are looking for a speaker that is better than the Flip 4 even though it may cost a little more, the genie in the bottle says the JBL Charge 3 may serve. Although more expensive, it is also better performing.
I am yet to see anyone that has any complaints as regards the design of JBL speakers, although most of them hold faithfully to the cylinder shape. This also maintains the looks making it very beautiful and durable. What is more is that it is waterproof.
With the features, that is where you get the real deal. You will be able to connect to three smartphones with the speaker and the battery is strong enough to keep you covered for as much as 20 hours. It also has noise canceling technology which means that you can pick your calls with the speaker.
The audio performance may not meet what audiophiles are looking for, but it is still very good. The bass is strong and powerful, and the mids is also strong. Where there is a little question is with the highs.
Pros
- Very generous battery life.
- The features are good.
- Noise canceling technology.
- Strong audio performance.
Cons
- It is not the most portable.
Verdict
For someone looking for something that is convenient, there are only a few that can beat this most especially when what you are looking for falls under the $200 mark.
7. Bose SoundTouch 10 wireless speaker
The Bose SoundTouch 10 falls among the best Bluetooth speakers under 200 bucks for someone looking for versatility. This is very true because the speaker comes with various options most especially as regards connectivity.
It may not be the most portable out there, neither is it the best in terms of looks, but it has easy and convenient controls and also a remote control. Among its features, the speaker connects through both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. This means that you can stream music from platforms like Spotify. More so, it works well for multi-room task.
Looking at the audio performance, the speaker has its strength on the midrange. The bass is also good, but don’t expect it to hold on until the volume is fullest because you will get some distortion when it goes high.
Pros
- It has a bold and strong sound.
- The speaker easily streams via both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
Cons
- There is distortion when the volume gets too loud.
- Not the best app.
Verdict
With this speaker, what you get is something that you may want to take for granted and yet will turn around to surprise you. While it is not heaven and earth, it still delivers well.
How to pick the best Bluetooth speakers
Not only the best Bluetooth speakers under 200 dollars, it is important that you understand the most important things you will want to consider when picking speakers that would serve. While very easy to get a great speaker, so also it is very easy to waste your money. Here are some important things you need to look out for when selecting a Bluetooth speaker:
Design and durability
It is very important that you consider this because with Bluetooth speakers, you are definitely going to put them to good use, as such you will need something strong enough to last. The design is all about convenience.
Audio performance
It is absolutely pointless that you should select a Bluetooth speaker that has poor audio performance. This is because as obvious as it can get, the main function of a speaker, Bluetooth or otherwise is to play music and sound, hence the audio has to always be good for both indoor and outdoor use.
Connectivity and Bluetooth
If a Bluetooth speaker has poor connectivity, it is no more a Bluetooth speaker. As such for you to get the best Bluetooth speaker, you need to make sure that it has good connectivity and strong Bluetooth.
Battery life
As far as Bluetooth speakers are concerned, the battery life is one of the most important things because these speakers may be used when traveling or outdoors, as such poor battery performance is not one of the things you should be bothered about.
Features
Trust me, having extra features such as being waterproof, with nice controls, and any other thing extra on a Bluetooth at this price range may come very important.
Your needs
At the end of the day, one of the most important things you must consider before settling for a Bluetooth speaker is your needs. This is because different speakers offer different things in audio reproduction, features, and more.