The 3 Best Waterproof Speakers for the Beach or Pool, According to a DJ Who Tested 15 Models
Wherever your summer takes you, take one of these top-tested waterproof Bluetooth speakers with you.
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As a DJ, all of my friends expect me to be the supplier of good music for beach outings and pool days. That also means I’m the one who has to bring the right speaker for the event. With other heavy must-bring items like beach tents and coolers, the last thing you want is to lug around a massive speaker.
Our top picks:
- Best Overall: JBL Grip
- Best Tiny: Bose SoundLink Micro Portable Speaker (2nd Gen)
- Best Premium: Bose SoundLink Plus Portable Speaker
Luckily, the Good Housekeeping Institute’s Tech & Engineering Lab has tested dozens of portable speakers to find the sweet spot of lightweight, waterproof speakers that stand up to sand, splashes, and rain. I recently tested 15 of the newest models on the market, measuring their loudness and sound quality in our in-office recording studio and taking them to beach trips and rooftop birthdays. In the end, these three are the ones I’ll continue to bring out all summer long.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Can-shaped design
- Amazing sound quality
Cons
- Mesh body can get dusty
The JBL Grip is my ideal beach speaker. The tall boy-sized speaker earned our “best overall” designation because no other speaker we tried combined this level of portability, loudness, and sound quality for the price. Being the shape and size of a canned beverage, it fits perfectly in the bottle pocket of a backpack, and at under a pound it’s so lightweight it feels like a no-brainer to pack it.
I’ve put the Grip’s IP68 rating (meaning it’s sealed to dust and can survive submersion in water) to the test in the real world, using it as a shower speaker in my tiny, humid bathroom, at sandy beach day outings, and rained-on rooftop parties where it’s never faltered. While it’s protected from dust, it’s worth noting that the mesh material that makes up the majority of its surface area tends to trap it, making it appear a little dirty after some outdoor use. Nevertheless, it produces fantastic, warm bass and a loud enough sound to compete with the chatter of 30+ Brooklyn partygoers. This is the speaker I reached for most often throughout testing.
| Battery Life | 12 hours |
| IP Rating | IP68 |
| Weight | 0.85 lbs |
Pros
- Ultra-compact
- Clear sound with well-defined treble and mids
Cons
- Lackluster bass
If portability is your top priority, Bose's SoundLink Micro (2nd Gen) is hard to beat. The sides each measure about 4 inches, and it’s about 1.5 inches deep, making it a very packable semi-flat rectangle. The strap on the back of the unit is also great for securing it to backpack straps or cooler handles so it won’t take up more space in your bag.
Smaller speakers naturally have limits. In my studio testing, the SoundLink Micro couldn't match larger competitors for volume or bass, but its mids and treble remained impressively clear. Many other speakers at this size sound like a phone speaker, so the clarity of this unit made it stand above the others in its class.
| Battery Life | 12 hours |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs |
Pros
- Fantastic bass
- Clear sound even at its highest volume
Cons
- Heavier than other units we tested
For an upgrade from our other two picks, Bose’s SoundLink Plus sports a stylish design coming in four chic colors alongside top-class sound. For its size it’s quite loud and the audio it produces is warm, rich, and clear, even when pushed to its highest volume.
This model is heavier than our other picks, weighing in at 3.29 pounds, but with that you get a bass sound that delivers in both force and clarity compared to other models we tested. If you’re a fan of its cute design or sound quality matters more to you than portability, this is the upgrade I’d recommend.
| Battery Life | 20 hours |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Weight | 3.29 lbs |
How we test waterproof speakers
The Good Housekeeping Institute’s Tech & Engineering Lab engineers regularly test Bluetooth speakers. In Lab evaluations, we use a studio-grade microphone and Room EQ Wizard software to measure the frequency response of each speaker in a noise-isolated studio, generating graphs that allow us to evaluate speakers side by side. We use a decibel meter to measure the loudness of white noise and sine waves on each speaker at their loudest setting to compare loudness. We also weigh the speakers, measure their dimensions, and assess their on-unit controls for ease of use. Most importantly, we listen to lots of music and podcasts, take speakers on day trips and beachside vacations, and collect feedback from Good Housekeeping consumer testers on their subjective listening experience.
What to look for in a waterproof speaker
Speakers for the beach and pool are lightweight, feature intuitive controls, and connect seamlessly via Bluetooth. Beyond the non-negotiable of good sound, here’s what to look out for:
✔️ IP Rating: IP (ingress protection) rating is a manufacturer-reported assessment of how well an electronic device is protected from dust (the first number in the rating) and water (the second number in the rating), with higher numbers meaning greater protection. When looking for a speaker to use at the pool or the beach, we recommend an IP rating of at least IPX7, meaning the speaker can survive being submerged in up to a meter of water for half an hour, though IPX8 is ideal. For the beach specifically, an IP5X or IP6X rating will also help ensure that any dust or sand doesn’t interfere with the speaker’s operation.
✔️ Size: Picking the right speaker is about finding the sweet spot for what you’re willing to carry versus how loud and bass-heavy you need your sound. Smaller speakers are generally quieter than their louder counterparts, but they’ll often be less of a hassle to bring on a summer excursion. If you’re looking at larger models, consider ones that feature carrying straps/loops or have handles for easier transport.
✔️ Battery Life: Nothing ruins a beach day faster than a dead speaker. The easiest way to avoid this is to find a speaker with a long battery life. Look for speakers that boast at least 12 hours of continuous playback so your music lasts all day. All of the speakers on this list charge using a USB-C cable, so I like to bring a portable power bank for convenient battery top-ups
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
GH Data & Product Operations Manager Nik Greenwald has spent more than four years testing audio products at Good Housekeeping. He works across Labs at the Good Housekeeping Institute to develop testing protocols, analyze lab and consumer data, and develop software tools that support product evaluation. When he’s not in the Lab, you can find him DJing some of NYC’s most beloved night clubs, including Gabriela, Bossa Nova Civic Club, Mood Ring, and The Roof at Public.
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