The Best Portable Speakers with Hands-Free Calling

The Tronsmart brand portable speaker belongs to the budget segment and is a compact device weighing less than 500 g, which fits comfortably in the hand and easily fits into a backpack or small bag. The plastic case is complemented by rubberized pads for better stability, and there is a retractable metal loop for a strap on the side — however, the strap itself is not included. Nevertheless, the model was created as a universal device for home and outdoor use, trips, hikes, and gatherings with friends. This is evidenced not only by its small size and weight but also by its IPX5 water resistance. It is definitely not worth submerging the speaker in water, but rain and splashes from a river or pool are not a threat to it.

Despite its compactness, it has two speakers with a total power of 10 W and a passive radiator. Overall, the speaker is suitable for any music genre, and the volume reserve is enough for both indoor and outdoor use. Among the useful additional options is the ability to synchronize two audio systems into a single stereo pair and the presence of a microphone for hands-free calls.

The model is also versatile in terms of connectivity. Bluetooth version 5.3 is responsible for wireless connection to the audio source (smartphone, tablet, etc.). The USB port allows you to listen to music from flash drives. For wired connection, there is an Aux input (3.5 mm jack) — by the way, the corresponding cable is included in the package. In addition, there is a card reader for memory cards. So, despite the affordable price, the speaker can work with almost any media.

The Tronsmart T2 Mini also boasts long battery life — one battery charge is enough for up to 18 hours of music listening. However, keep in mind that this is at medium volume settings. In any case, if you turn the volume up to the maximum, the battery charge will last approximately 10 hours, which is also not bad for a compact device. The speaker charges via a USB C port, and it takes about 3 hours to fully restore energy.

At first glance at the Xiaomi wireless speaker, it is noticeable that the company paid special attention to the appearance of the device. There are several color options to choose from: classic black and brighter red and blue. The design can be called minimalist. And although there is nothing new in it, the model, in general, looks stylish and attractive. In size, it does not exceed a half-liter bottle, and it weighs approximately the same — about 600 g. The speaker easily fits into a backpack bottle compartment and a car or bicycle cup holder. The case has a small loop for a carabiner or finger — thanks to its small weight, the speaker can be carried simply in hand. The convenient shape allows you to place the device both vertically and horizontally.

The manufacturer claims water and dust protection IP67, meaning the gadget can be taken to workouts, walks, trips, or outdoor recreation. It is not afraid of rain, accidentally spilled drinks, or even short-term submersion in water — the ports are securely closed with rubber plugs.

However, the model is interesting not only for its design but also for its sound quality. The speaker has an output power of 30 W and is equipped with two large passive radiators, providing balanced sound with rich bass. The volume level is more than sufficient for use both indoors and outdoors. However, for demanding audiophiles, this option is unlikely to be suitable, as settings through a mobile app and equalizer are absent in this case.

Bluetooth 5.4 guarantees fast wireless connection and minimal delays. The microphone allows you to answer incoming calls without taking the smartphone out of your pocket — the audibility is good, voices are clear, and speech is understandable. TWS allows you to connect two speakers into a stereo pair. And for large parties, the Multi-speaker Pair function is available, allowing you to synchronize up to a hundred devices. However, in this case, a special party audio system would be more convenient.

Inside is a capacious 2600 mAh battery, providing up to 12 hours of battery life (at medium volume settings). So the speaker can be safely taken on long walks and hikes. Full charging takes about 2.5 hours.

At the time of release, the speaker became the smallest model in the range of the British company Marshall: its dimensions are 10x10x4 cm, and it weighs only 310 g. Simply put, such a tiny device can fit even in the pocket of pants or a jacket. A useful addition is a rubber mount, allowing the audio system to be fixed on almost anything: a bicycle, hand, tree branch, horizontal bar, backpack strap, etc. Therefore, it is immediately clear that the Marshall Willen is designed for active everyday use not only at home but also outdoors. This is also evidenced by the IP67 protection level: the device is not afraid of dust, rain, water splashes, and short-term submersion in water at a shallow depth.

At the same time, the compact model inherited the signature Marshall design with retro-style elements, a pleasant-to-touch leather-like coating, and a grille with a logo. In general, the speaker looks expensive and is not ashamed to show off to friends. An interesting solution is a joystick for control instead of the usual buttons: with it, you can adjust the volume, switch tracks, pause playback, etc.

The manufacturer is known not only for its design but also for its sound. The model is equipped with one 2-inch speaker and two passive radiators. The power is 10 W, and the frequency range is from 100 to 20000 Hz. With such compact dimensions, the sound is, of course, mono, but to create stereo, you can pair two devices. The sound of the speaker is good, rich, with pleasant bass, for those who like to savor and enjoy music. In general, Marshall has squeezed everything possible out of the compact audio system and even more. For control, there is a Marshall Bluetooth mobile app with three preset equalizer settings.

In addition, there is a microphone that allows you to answer calls in hands-free mode, i.e., without taking the phone in hand.

The speaker belongs to the wireless category, connects to the sound source via Bluetooth 5.1, and works autonomously thanks to the built-in battery. One charge provides more than 15 hours of playback, although it all depends on the volume. Fast charging is available: just 20 minutes at the outlet provides 3 hours of continuous operation. At the top of the case is an indicator showing the battery charge level.

The portable speaker is very popular among buyers, and for good reason, as it offers one of the best price-to-quality ratios on the market. The model belongs to the mid-price segment and is the "golden mean" between compact but low-power devices that are convenient to carry and serious large equipment for demanding users. The speaker has a wide frequency range from 50 to 40000 Hz and a total power of 30 W, making it suitable for listening to music of any genre, as well as for use both indoors and outdoors.

The equipment includes two tweeters, neodymium woofers, and passive radiators. In addition, there is support for Hi-Res Audio and the Qualcomm aptX codec. In total, this provides excellent sound with moderate bass and clear mid and high frequencies. Additionally, there is a bass boost mode for more pronounced low frequencies. And the equalizer in the proprietary mobile app allows you to customize the sound to your liking, taking into account personal preferences.

Wireless connection and sound transmission without loss and delay are ensured by Bluetooth 5.0. The speaker also offers wired connection, for which a 3.5 mm audio jack (mini-Jack) is intended. For louder and more voluminous sound, two audio systems can be combined into a single pair. Also, thanks to the presence of a microphone, the device helps to communicate on the phone in hands-free mode, without taking the smartphone out of the pocket.

The Soundcore Motion+ is positioned as an "all-terrain" speaker that can be connected to a computer at home or taken with you to nature. First of all, for this, a case with IPX7 protection is provided: the connectors are closed with special plugs, so the equipment is not afraid of water. In addition, during outdoor recreation, where there is no electricity, a capacious 6700 mAh battery will come in handy. One charge is enough for 12 hours of continuous music listening. But keep in mind that the speaker itself is not too compact and weighs 1 kg. And its case is quite smudge-prone, so to keep the device in proper condition, you will have to clean it often.

The portable speaker from the well-known audio brand Harman Kardon is positioned as a premium-class product with signature sound and elegant design, so its price tag is appropriate. The model indeed looks stylish and will proudly take its place anywhere: on a desk, in an office, in the kitchen, in a room, or on the grass during outings in nature. And all because it is not exclusively an indoor gadget: the volume is sufficient for small parties outdoors, and the IP67 dust and moisture protection allows you to listen to music by the pool, in the forest, and just outside, without fearing nature's surprises and accidental falls into the water.

The manufacturer places a special emphasis on eco-friendliness. The case is made of 85% recycled plastic and covered with soft, pleasant-to-touch fabric, while the top panel with control elements is 50% made of recycled aluminum. Overall, the speaker looks expensive, stylish, and high-quality.

As for sound quality, the two-way acoustic system has a total power of 40 W and, despite its fairly compact size, delivers clear, balanced, detailed sound with rich low frequencies. Thanks to this, the model is suitable for any content, whether it's different music genres, vocal compositions, or podcasts. You can get stereo sound by synchronizing several speakers using TWS technology. In addition, there is a microphone for hands-free calls and a convenient mobile app for control.

Bluetooth 5.3 ensures stable wireless connection to the source and fast signal transmission. And the Multipoint function allows you to connect the device to multiple gadgets to instantly switch between them.

Harman Kardon Luna is ready to play music from morning till evening even where there is no charging option. One battery charge with a capacity of 4800 mAh is enough for 12 hours, and it takes about 2.5 hours to fully restore energy.