Mini Bluetooth speakers are designed so that you can take them with you, including to places where they might get dirty or be otherwise exposed to the elements. So focus on their ability to withstand intrusion by solids and liquids, denoted by an IP (ingress protection) rating. The first digit signifies how well the speaker can resist solids getting in, while the second signifies liquids. The higher the number, the better the device keeps things like dust and rain out, respectively. The scale for solids ranges from 0 to 6, and for liquids, 0 to 9.

If waterproofing is a priority then look out for models from Ultimate Ears, which combine fun, colorful designs with rugged builds – many of which can withstand a dip in the pool. Mini hi-fis that are capable of accessing your home wi-fi network can stream music, radio and podcasts from online sources, including streaming services such as Spotify, BBC iPlayer radio, TuneIn radio and Google Play Music. It can mean a bit of fiddly setting up to get your mini hi-fi connected to the internet, but you'll only need to do it once. Radio You want sound-per-pound value: If you don't need the portability, you can buy plugged-in speakers that sound the same for around half the price.I've tested hundreds of mini Bluetooth speakers over the last 15 years, and because there are so many good ones, it's hard to declare one model as the best overall. That said, a couple of models do stand out, including the Bose SoundLink Flexand two speakers it inspired: the Anker Soundcore Motion 300 and Tribit StormBox Flow. Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri can control pretty much any smart home device nowadays. In the Alexa and Google apps, and with the Siri Shortcuts feature, you can set up rooms of multiple devices to control, plus configure multi-step routines, like "I'm leaving the house." All three smart assistants support most major smart home device brands, with few holes between them. If you intend to use Siri to control your smart home, make sure the smart home devices you buy are HomeKit-compatible, and you have a HomePod, iPad, or Apple TV to use as a hub. These devices enable you to create rooms, groups, and multistep routines, as well as control your devices remotely—but only from iOS. Apple's Home app is gorgeous, but you have to be all-in with Apple for it to work well. On the whole that's subjective. Some people have always liked Apple products the best and stay loyal to Siri. Others really like Alexa after snapping up an Echo as soon as the smart speaker was first launched. We've tested and thoroughly reviewed all of the Bluetooth speakers in this guide ourselves by listening to them on their own and by comparing them to the current class-leaders. Basically, if it's listed here, you know we think it's worth it over the myriad rival models we've reviewed (because plenty do not make it here, believe us).

Overall, the JBL Charge 5 sounds like a bigger portable speaker than it is. It dishes out an impressive amount of bass for its size without sacrificing on the mids or highs. Next, consider where you intend to locate the smart speaker; smaller, more compact smart speakers are best suited to bedrooms and kitchens, for setting timers when cooking, while larger smart speakers work in rooms with bigger footprints such as a lounge or dinning room. Smart Speakers can even be used for light entertainment in the form of jokes and games and also allow you to stay in touch with friends and family by making audio calls through the device. Presets are also a must if you are looking for time-saving convenience. Presets will allow you to store your favourite stations, allowing you to skip automatically between your preferred ones at the touch of a button. Most radios will provide you with a minimum of five presets for each waveband, although most radios will provide you with more.If you're looking for a smart speaker with Google Assistant built-in, the Google Nest Audio is currently the best Google-manufactured smart speaker you can buy; we liked the Google Home Max speaker, but Google has stopped making it. If you're looking for a speaker to toss in a bag or clip to a bike, you'll find it hard to get a better speaker for such a low price. It's superb, and its flaws are very minor – only that there's no wired connection, really. Start by working out which voice assistant you want your smart speaker to offer access to. If you already use a voice assistant on your smartphone or tablet, or have existing smart speakers or smart displays in your home, it makes sense to plump for a smart speaker that has the same assistant baked in. However, if you’ve yet to settle on the voice assistant for you, Alexa vs Google Assistant can help you decide. You want an aux-in for wired listening: The only port you'll get here is a USB-C two-way charger –although it does charge your phone.The Cleer Audio Scene has this, though. Every smart speaker responds to a wake word, such as "Alexa" for Alexa, "Hey, Google" for Google, and "Siri" for Siri. Once the speaker indicates it is listening, you can ask whatever you want. The question then is how to ask.

Mini hi-fi systems are traditionally associated with playing music, but our tests have revealed they can be a worthy alternative to a TV sound bar. Like other options from the Majority range, the Eversden is ‘Future Ready’ and ensures you will be able to listen to your favourite DAB/DAB+ and FM broadcasts for years to come. The Tribit Stormbox Blast is an unusual speaker and there are a few things you need to know before you consider it: it's quite heavy and you can't turn those lights off completely –although you can make it so they only pop up when you're switching the volume levels. Honestly, it's not the subtlest looking device we've tested. But that's where the criticism ends. The Stormbox Blast is the biggest and most powerful Bluetooth speaker in Tribit's ever-growing arsenal of portable speakers and it sounds every inch as detailed – even at higher volumes – as models from better-known audio specialists at three times the price.Consider high-end audio brands such as Bose and Bang & Olufsen if you want a combination of stylish design and great sound – but be prepared for relatively high prices. If you want to save money then Tribit and Anker offer strong speakers that won’t break the bank. Is JBL or Bose better? In terms of features the JBL Charge 5 is relatively basic compared to something like theJBL Pulse 4– which provides a customizable lightshow for users – but for this fifth generation JBL has incrementally improved sound quality and volume while still offering all-day battery life.

But Tribit has made no secret of wanting to bring the party to both your ears and your body, and it has emphatically delivered. This thing can go loud and still sound good when it does. If you're worried whether one speaker will be enough for the garden party, it will here – and for this money, it represents unbeatable sound-per-pound value. You want something easily portable: This is a chunky speaker for big sound. The handle makes it easy to carry, the weight does not – it's not for hiking. Prices valid in stores (all including VAT) until close of business on 28th November 2023. (Some of these web prices are cheaper than in-store, so please mention that you've seen these offers online.) You can wake up to a buzzer, DAB or FM radio broadcasts with the RD70. A sleep timer also comes as standard. As with a USB input, a 3.5mm auxiliary (aux) input means you can physically connect your mini hi-fi to another device, so you can stream music out of your mini hi-fi speakers. Bluetooth / NFC (near-field communication)

How to Talk to Your Smart Speaker

If that wasn’t enough, a smart speaker can also control compatible smart home devices; for example it can dim or brighten any smart lights you have in your home, turn the temperature up or down if you have a smart thermostat and let you converse with anyone at your doorstep by connecting to your video doorbell. Which voice assistant is best?