Best Deals on Bluetooth and Smart Speakers
There are a few decent sales on speakers right now
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If you’ve been considering buying a smart speaker, or any wireless speaker, options are a bit limited right now when it comes to scoring a deal. Between major sales, there are fewer models being discounted, which gives you fewer choices if you’re trying to get a high-quality speaker without breaking the bank.
To get a deal you’ll be satisfied with for years to come, you can’t just look at the sale price—the quality of the model makes a huge difference because not all speakers have the same sound quality and other features. We’ve combed through all the sales, alongside Consumer Reports’ test results, to help you buy a speaker that will make you happy not just next week, but next month, next year, and beyond.
Consumer Reports is always watching all the major retailers to find the best discounts on everything we test, so head over to our Deals hub for the latest deals on everything from TVs and headphones to vacuums and kitchen appliances.
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The Show 8 offers a lot of device for the money. The voice-enabled touchscreen can be useful in a kitchen when you want to follow a recipe while your hands are messy. The sound quality does have flaws—our testers found the treble to be strident and heard echoes in the all-important midrange. The Show 8 also lacks the Zigbee smart home hub found on the latest-generation Echo.
Why it’s a good deal: This is an impressive discount on a model that hasn’t been on sale in months. It’s $15 more than the lowest price, but you’re still saving quite a bit.
The tiny SoundLink Micro is cute, is hyper-portable, and comes with a strap that allows you to lash it to a bicycle, backpack, or stroller. Bose claims that it’s IP67 water-resistant, too, so it’s a good choice for wet and wild action. But if the Micro’s small size isn’t super-important to you and you have a few extra dollars in your budget, you might consider the slightly larger and better-sounding SoundLink Color II instead.
Why it’s a good deal: This speaker is now $5 less than the previous best price.
The JBL Pulse 4 has a transparent dome that covers an array of LED lights, so you can watch it as well as listen. You can adjust the model’s colors or make the LEDs pulse to the music so you can pump up the light show on Saturday night or tone it down to accent lamp levels after the guests have gone home. The sound quality is more than adequate, with solid but slightly boomy bass, a clear midrange that doesn’t distort vocals, and enough volume to fill a midsized room. That said, you’re paying a lot for the Pulse 4’s visual effects, so you might consider buying the Flip 5 instead and having enough money left over for a nice lamp.
Why it’s a good deal: This was $50 less for Black Friday, but it rarely goes on sale otherwise—every other retailer is selling it for $250—so we don’t expect to see the price drop any further again until another big sale.
Think of the Charge 4 as the smaller sibling of JBL’s Xtreme 2. Its light weight and more modest dimensions make it a great choice for those who enjoy carrying a speaker with them. It’s easy to use and has admirable sound quality for a portable speaker. The Charge 4 also features an internal power bank that can charge other devices, and the manufacturer says the device is waterproof to 1 meter, a claim that CR didn’t test.
Why it’s a good deal: At this price, it’s a bargain for a good-sounding, water-resistant Bluetooth speaker.
Like the popular Charge 4, the Charge 5 delivers satisfying sound quality and enough volume to fill a midsized room. It’s easy to use, too. According to JBL, it’s also dust- and water-resistant (claims that CR doesn’t test). It’s less versatile than its predecessor, though, lacking an aux input for plugging in an external device and the microphone that allows the Charge 4 to function as a speakerphone.
Why it’s a good deal: It may have been $20 cheaper during the last major sale around the holidays, but this is a nearly 10 percent savings.
The Clip 4 is hardly the best-sounding speaker we’ve tested, but it does have two important things going for it—it’s inexpensive and it’s small. The tiny speaker fits easily into your palm and features a carabiner that can clip onto a backpack or a beach bag. JBL claims an IP67 rating, which means the speaker is both water-resistant and dustproof. Our testers find the Clip 4 to be easy to pair, and the prominent controls make it easy to turn up the volume.
Why it’s a good deal: This is just $10 more than the best price we’ve seen for this little speaker.
The JBL Xtreme 3 is one hefty hunk of speaker, a tiny bit bigger and a little lighter than its predecessor, the Xtreme 2. In any case, you might be surprised at how large it is when you see it in person. The Xtreme 3 sounds slightly better than its predecessor, too, although it’s very close in overall character. The model can play loud enough to fill a midsized to large room. The Xtreme 3 features an internal power bank that can charge other devices, and JBL says the speaker is both dustproof and water-resistant to 3 meters, but CR doesn’t test those claims.
Why it’s a good deal: This sale price beats the previous best deal by $30.
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