Smart speakers have become a staple of home automation, providing an on-demand voice assistant, the ability to control smart devices throughout your home, a hands-free calling option, a music device, and much more. But they do have their limitations -- most of them need a nearby outlet and aren’t easy to move.
We’ve got a solution for that: A select group of highly capable smart speakers that are also designed to be portable, with rechargeable batteries and other features. They are easy to move them around, while still getting the smart features you really want. Let’s check them out.
Best for 360-degree sound
Bose Portable Smart Speaker
- Great 360-degree sound
- Water resistant
- Carrying handle
- Bulkier than traditional Bluetooth speakers
Bose’s portable speaker is a true hybrid, a fully functional smart speaker that allows you to talk to Alexa or Google Assistant with ease, while still being entirely portable, all the way to its handle for easy carrying. The speaker supports both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections, as well as Apple AirPlay (through which you can also use Siri). At only four pounds, it’s no trouble to take it with you to the home, office, or wherever you want it.
The Bose portable speaker uses an included USB-C cable for speedy charge times, and a full battery charge can last up to 12 hours. It’s also IPX4 water-resistant, so you don’t have to worry about taking it outside on an adventure. And, of course, the Bose sound design doesn’t disappoint here with good use of an acoustic deflector to spread audio out in 360 degrees without compromising on sound.
Best for the outdoors
Sonos Move
- Superb build quality
- Integration with Sonos systems
- Sounds especially good outdoors
- User-replaceable battery
- Sonos app doesn’t work over Bluetooth
- Big size, big price
If price is no barrier and you want an excellent smart speaker that can follow you anywhere, the Sonos Move is one of the most impressive smart speakers on the market. It supports the Sonos app, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi connectivity for controlling your smart home, and Alexa voice assistant commands. The speaker has excellent audio for its size and uses Trueplay tech to adjust the sound based on what it senses about its location.
Speaking of space, you don’t need to worry about taking this speaker anywhere you want to go. Its IP56 resistance can deal with humidity, rain, snow, dust, salty ocean spray, UV rays, and extreme temperatures. If you’re going somewhere, you can take the Move along. All this, and the battery can support up to 11 hours of play time. Just keep an eye on the price and make sure you’re comfortable spending that much to get a portable speaker that can do everything.
Best for AirPlay 2 support
Sonos Roam
- Excellent design
- Lightweight and portable
- Totally water and dustproof
- Very good sound for its size
- Choice of smart speaker assistants
- Wireless charging
- No Bluetooth stereo pairing
- Doesn’t work as a speakerphone
- Less battery life than some other speakers
For those who prefer to spend much, much less on a portable smart speaker, Sonos also offers the Roam. It’s more the size of a traditional Bluetooth speaker, and easier to casually carry around as a result. But don’t worry — you still get access to Alexa and Google Assistant, along with AirPlay 2 support.
The speaker isn’t quite as rugged as the Move, but it does have enough water resistance so that you can take it outdoors without worrying about moisture or rain damage. It also includes Trueplay tuning to adjust audio levels for best results. One battery charge can last for up to 10 hours, and it’s small enough that you can use it on wireless chargers, too.
Best for easy access to voice assistants
Bose SoundLink Flex
- Compact, portable design
- Excellent IP67 resistance for all outdoor uses
- Optimization technology based on surround spaces
- Audio is a bit more limited compared to larger versions
This Bose speaker hews closer to a Bluetooth speaker with its compact design, outdoor-oriented features, and handy loop for hooking it onto a backpack or bike. The IP67 resistance is there to protect against any water, sun, or dust-related issues, and Bose’s own room-sensing technology can, like Sonos, optimize audio depending on where you put it.
Fortunately, there are still valuable smart features here, including Bluetooth connectivity, settings management through the Bose Connect app, and a voice assistant button that lets you immediately access Siri or Google Assistant housed in a nearby mobile device. The battery is also impressive, lasting up to 12 hours on a single charge. If you’re most interested in a relatively affordable speaker for the outdoors, this is a great option.
Best budget smart speaker/base combo
Echo Dot 4th-Gen with Battery Base
- Charming new design
- Great audio quality for its size
- Alexa Guard protection
- Affordable cost
- LED clock should be default
At first glance, the 4th-gen Echo Dot may be an excellent little smart speaker but doesn’t seem portable at all. The secret is pairing it with a battery base -- there are many options, but this version from Mission Cables is one of the best. With a battery base (our example lasts up to five hours on a charge), you can take the orb-like Dot anywhere you want…as long as you keep it inside.
This may be an especially good option for the Kids version of the Echo Dot, which can now keep up with their activities around the house. Of course, adults can also appreciate the ability to have a voice assistant speaker ready to answer questions, play music, add events, and always be ready to listen.
Best overall design
Cavalier Maverick Wireless Smart Speaker
- Beautiful metal and leather design
- Powerful 20W dual-driver speakers
- Comes with charging base
- Fairly expensive
- Better indoors than outdoors
Cavalier’s Maverick speaker is a bold addition to the smart speaker family with one of the most stylish designs, featuring machined-edged metal, real leather, and acoustic fabric. Inside the 20W speaker are two drivers and dual passive radiators that help produce rich sound around the home. Alexa is built right into the service as your voice assistant and general smart home control. Plus, the speaker supports both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections.
But there’s one more feature we really like here — the speaker comes with a matching base that you can plug into a central outlet. While resting in the base, the Maverick charges its 10-hour battery, but you can pick it up and take it with you at any time when you’re ready to move. Switching between a central hub and an on-the-go speaker sounds like the best of both worlds to us!
