Best Bluetooth speakers to buy in India [June 2022]: Bose Portable Smart Speaker, Sonos Roam and more

Bluetooth speakers are necessary gadgets, and are no longer surplus additions to our ever growing collection of electronics at home. However, while the functional end of the price spectrum has seen numerous budget Bluetooth speakers being available that serve basic wireless music streaming with no hassle, the feature set grows exponentially as one climbs up the price ladder.

As a result, the best Bluetooth speakers to buy in India today include options that serve excellent multi-room pairing, syncing with wi-fi networks, and better audio quality than ever before. This is being done through superior audio drivers and lower latencies of streaming thanks to the latest Bluetooth standards. The fact that the best Bluetooth speakers are being built keeping suave living room designs in mind do not hurt their cause, either.

On this note, here’s looking at the best Bluetooth speakers to buy in India today, and where to get them.

Things to consider when buying budget Bluetooth speaker

Design

This guide specifically focuses on Bluetooth speakers with a built-in battery rather than the ones that need a power source all the time. Hence when it comes to the design, you should probably look at how portable the speaker is and whether it is easy to carry around. Bluetooth speakers come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, and it is one of the most important things that you should consider when buying one. Do you want a speaker that is portable and can easily be thrown into a backpack, or do you want something big so it can accommodate large drivers for better sound quality?

Additionally, a majority of portable Bluetooth speakers come with a durability rating allowing them to withstand dust and water. For instance, an IPX5 rated speaker will be water-resistant, meaning it can take on a few splashes of water. A speaker with IP67 or IP68 rating means that it can take it all, even a dunk in the pool.

Connectivity

One should ensure that you purchase a speaker with the latest Bluetooth version. This is quite important as it impacts the quality and range of audio transmission between your device and the speaker. Our recommendation would be to go for at least Bluetooth 4.0 or better, as you get better battery management and a wider connectivity range of up to 60-meters. Certain speakers, like the ones from Sony, also feature NFC (Near Field Communication) that let you quickly pair devices with just a tap.

The whole point of a Bluetooth speaker is to go wireless, but that doesn’t mean having other options is a sin. Quite a few speakers on the market continue to offer an Aux-In allowing you to connect devices that don’t have Bluetooth capabilities.

Battery life

Battery life is another important factor to consider, especially if you’re planning to use your speaker in the outdoors. As it is with most electronic devices, the bigger the size, the larger the battery can be crammed in. Check the battery life as rated by the OEM which ranges between a couple of hours going up to 15-20 hours on a single charge depending on the size of the speaker.

Since most of these speakers come with a standard micro-USB or a USB Type-C port for charging, it shouldn’t be difficult to quickly juice them up using a wall charger, or even a power bank.

Other things to consider

Apart from streaming music, Bluetooth speakers today offer a bunch of additional features that can enhance the overall experience. A bunch of models feature a built-in microphone thus allowing you to make hands-free audio calls. Certain premium models also build up on the microphone tech to support voice assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

You should also check for a companion app that allows the user to tinker with the audio settings, keep a tab on the battery life, firmware updates, and so on. Lastly, an interesting feature to have on your Bluetooth speaker is multi-speaker pairing. Through this, you can connect multiple speakers together for a more wholesome experience with better sound and channel separation.

List of the best Bluetooth speakers in India

ModelPrice
Bose Portable Smart SpeakerRs 35,900
Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 Gen 2Rs
Sonos RoamRs 21,999
Bose SoundLink Revolve+ IIRs 26,990
Marshall EmbertonRs
Bose SoundLink FlexRs 15,900
Ultimate Ears Boom 3Rs 15,995
JBL Flip 6Rs 11,999
Sony XB23Rs 8,990
Boat Stone 1200

Bose Portable Smart Speaker

The Bose Portable Smart Speaker is one of the most advanced Bluetooth speakers available in the market right now. Through the Bose Music app, it can be configured to respond to voice instructions, and once connected to wi-fi, can stream music through YouTube Music, Spotify and others without being paired to a phone. You also get seamless Alexa and Google Assistant integration on wi-fi.

The sound, too, is superb, with three passive radiators to deliver deep bass. The 360-degree audio delivery also makes it an omnidirectional speaker, and the warm audio signature produces minimal distortion to make it sound rich and plush. The speaker is priced at Rs 35,900.

Buy: Amazon | Croma

Pros:

  • Excellent warm audio signature
  • Omnidirectional audio delivery
  • Lots of features

Cons:

  • Most features rely on wi-fi
  • Expensive

Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 Gen 2

Ever since it was first announced as the Beoplay A1 years ago, this compact Bang & Olufsen speaker has been an absolute gem, albeit an underrated one. The speaker offers one of the richest, most dynamically expressive sound signatures around, with rich expression of notes and a playback worthy of its premium positioning.

It is also amply loud and has water resistance, thereby being perfectly suited for outdoor usage. The Bluetooth speaker also offers omnidirectional audio delivery, and its finer settings can be adjusted through the accompanying app. Add to that is its minimal and high street design, which makes the Beosound A1 undoubtedly one of the very best speakers that you can buy today. The speaker costs Rs 22,500 in India.

Buy: Amazon | Flipkart

Pros:

  • Very rich and detailed sound
  • Excellent design
  • Superb battery life

Cons:

  • Pricey
  • No Google Assistant built-in

Sonos Roam

The Sonos Roam is one of the most advanced Bluetooth speakers if you want one that can work outdoors, and be set up indoors as part of a multi-room speaker setup. It is compatible with wi-fi connectivity and Apple AirPlay 2 to deliver wireless audio streaming. There is support for both Google Assistant and Alexa voice assistants as well.

The sound signature is warm and rich as well and offers great overall details. It is also sufficiently loud and produces a great omnidirectional sound that can be configured through the Sonos app’s equaliser. You also get dust and water resistance with the Sonos Roam, and the speaker also supports hands-free calling when paired with smartphones. Everything taken together, the Roam is right up there among the best Bluetooth speakers to buy in India today. The speaker is priced at Rs 19,999 in India.

Buy: Amazon | Headphone Zone

Pros:

  • Rich sound
  • Good for multi-room setups
  • Good battery life

Cons:

  • Wi-fi connectivity is not consistent
  • Looks staid

Bose SoundLink Revolve+ II

The SoundLink Revolve+ II from Bose is an excellent Bluetooth speaker with 360-degree sound output. Apart from having a premium design and look, the sound quality is impressive as it is with most Bose products. It includes dual passive bass radiators while an internal deflector is used to project the sound from every angle. The speaker comes with an IP55 weather-resistant rating, meaning it can withstand everyday dust and some splashes of water. Bose also offers a companion app, which is available for Android and iOS. There is an aux-in port for wired connections apart from Bluetooth v4.1. The speaker is rated to last up to 17 hours on a full charge, which sounds impressive, but it uses a micro-USB which is getting a bit outdated.

You can purchase the Bose SoundLink Revolve+ II for Rs 24,500. The speaker is currently selling online at Reliance Digital and TataCliq.

Buy: Reliance Digital | TataCliq

Pros:

  • Full 360-degree sound despite the small size
  • Premium-looking portable design
  • IP55 certification

Cons:

  • MicroUSB port
  • Technically not a stereo device

Marshall Emberton

Priced at Rs 14,999, Marshall Emberton is one of the more understated Bluetooth speakers that you can buy today. Straight off the bat, the Emberton offers the signature Marshall design, with the front grille and logo designed to replicate the classic Marshall tube amplifiers of the classic rock era. However, packaged for the mobile-first generation, the Emberton has the dimensions of a compact speaker.

The sound signature is warm and offers great details, alongside impressive channel separation to produce a good soundstage. The separation of frequencies ensures that the Emberton can also be paired with TV sets to produce excellent cinematic audio experiences, and its IPX7 durability rating means that you can take it with you for a hike as well.

Buy: Amazon | Croma

Pros:

  • Classic design
  • Good sound signature
  • Great battery life

Cons:

  • No wi-fi for home setup
  • Boxy and large in comparison to others

Bose SoundLink Flex

The Bose SoundLink Flex is a compact Bluetooth speaker that aims to offer everything that larger speakers do, and for the most part, it succeeds as well. The SoundLink Flex offers rich sound with deep bass and clear highs, which is suitable for most hearing palates of Indian consumers. Adding to that is Bose’s PositionIQ technology, which can automatically sense the orientation of the speaker and deliver the audio accordingly.

The SoundLink Flex is also a rugged speaker and offers decent battery life for outdoor usage as well. It can also be paired with a second Bose speaker to be set up as stereo speakers, and the SoundLink Flex lets you adjust its overall audio signature as well. You can also take hands-free calls, making the SoundLink Flex a speaker that offers plenty of features for its price. The Bose SoundLink Flex costs Rs 15,900 in India.

Buy: Croma | Vijay Sales

Pros:

  • Good sound signature
  • Intelligent audio adjustment
  • Good durability

Cons:

  • Battery life could be better
  • Focuses heavily on bass

Ultimate Ears Boom 3

Ultimate Ears, which is owned by Logitech, became quite popular with its fabric-laden speaker range. The Boom 3 is the company’s most expensive portable Bluetooth speaker offering, and it is just brilliant. Having the typical cylindrical design with a fabric and silicone finish, the Boom series itself has been a highly recommended and popular speaker in its category, thanks to its loud and clear sound quality. Apart from its IP67 rating, which make the speaker waterproof, the Ultimate Ears can float on the water making it the perfect companion for your next pool party. With the passive radiator and 360-degree for deep and punchy bass, one can expect an immersive audio experience. That said, a micro-USB charging port and the lack of a built-in microphone can be a deal-breaker for some consumers.

As for the price, the UE Boom 3 is available for as low as Rs 12,499 in India.

Buy: Amazon | TataCliq

Pros:

  • Fantastic, rugged design
  • Exceptionally loud
  • Party mode connects up to 150 speakers

Cons:

  • Beats lack depth
  • Slightly expensive
  • No microphone

JBL Flip 6

The Flip 6 comes from JBL’s famed line of portable outdoor speakers. The Flip family is particularly noted for its omnidirectional audio output. The same continues with the Flip 6, which has further improved its overall performance with a dedicated tweeter to produce the fine details of a track, and two passive radiators to handle bass performance.

The JBL Flip 6 is also dust and waterproof, which makes it suited for outdoor usage. The speaker also offers up to 12 hours of music playback and can be paired with a fellow JBL speaker that supports PartyBoost through the JBL app. Priced at Rs 11,999, the JBL Flip 6 is a good balance between the premium and the mainstream in the Bluetooth speaker space.

Buy: Amazon | JBL

Pros:

  • Good omnidirectional sound
  • Priced well
  • Loud

Cons:

  • Design looks a bit dated now
  • Mid frequencies sound compressed

Sony XB23

The Sony XB23 delivers well on its promise of being an ‘Extra Bass’ speaker, which would please those who prefer amplified bass in their music. The speaker comes with a new internal diaphragm design to reduce distortions and improve audio quality. There are also two passive radiators to enhance the bass delivery as well.

You also get a dust and water resistance rating, and the speaker can last for 12 hours of music playback in one charge cycle. It also has a speakerphone for hands-free calling, and through Sony’s Party Connect, can be linked with up to 100 Sony speakers for a multi-room or party speaker setup. The speaker costs Rs 8,990 in India.

Buy: Amazon | Reliance Digital

Pros:

  • Good feature set
  • Good battery life
  • Great bass

Cons:

  • Too bass biased
  • Large

Boat Stone 1200

The Boat Stone 1200 offers 14W audio playback power, paired with passive radiators for bass. However, this economical speaker is particularly notable for its RGB LED lighting, which many may enjoy along with their music. It also has a built-in FM radio receiver, making it a product that is specifically suited for the Indian market.

The device can offer up to nine hours of playback in one single charge, has an IPX7 dust and water resistance rating, and also comes with a microphone for hands-free calling. The Boat Stone 1200 covers all essentials of a good Bluetooth speaker and is currently available at Rs 3,999 in India.

Buy: Amazon | Flipkart

Pros:

  • Powerful bass
  • FM receiver is unique

Cons:

  • RGB LED is not subtle in terms of design
  • Puts too much emphasis on bass