Bluetooth speakers are an excellent way to get your groove on, you pair your smartphone, and you have a room filled with your favorite tunes. However, many people wonder how Bluetooth speakers are powered. Do they take batteries? Do they need to be charged? What about solar power?
Bluetooth speakers need to be charged like most portable electronic devices. The majority of speakers operate on a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, and the battery life varies, usually from a week to two weeks of normal use. If you are looking for a long-lasting Bluetooth speaker, several options promise an incredible battery life.
In this article, we will be going over different speakers separated by how they are powered and determining what is best if you want to be away from a wall outlet for as long as possible. Read on if you would like to learn more.
Table of Contents
Why Most Bluetooth Speakers Are Rechargeable
More than ever, it is easier to charge our favorite devices. The universal standard plug for charging is USB Type C, and your phone likely charges using this standard unless you have an iPhone.
Instead of having to run to the store to buy AA batteries every time a device dies, you can recharge it and sometimes wirelessly. And you don’t have to drain your speaker’s battery either. You can leave it plugged into a wall.
However, just because a device has a rechargeable battery doesn’t mean it will die on you quickly. You can find speakers that will last up to 60 hours on a single charge giving you plenty of time to listen to your favorite tracks before you need to plug them in again.
Part of what allows some of these ultra long-lasting speakers to have the endurance they do is solar power, so in theory, there are speakers that can operate without ever being plugged into a wall. However, it is worth noting that the time it takes to charge will be significantly slower.
It is worth noting that battery life isn’t any indication of sound quality. Some of the best Bluetooth speakers out there may only last around 10 -15 hours because their focus isn’t on the longest battery life possible. This doesn’t mean speakers built for endurance sound terrible. Check out some of my picks for Bluetooth speakers that have the endurance to keep going for a long time below.
What Are the Best Bluetooth Speakers With Long Battery Life?
The Bluetooth speaker market is packed. You can go to the dollar store and find yourself one for $10 or get yourself a top of the line $1,000 Bluetooth speaker if you are a passionate audiophile. There isn’t any shortage of choices, which makes finding what you are looking for a bit challenging.
Luckily, consumers and reviewers decide what is worth buying to make choosing easier, no matter your budget or intended use case. If you are looking for a speaker that will offer you long battery life and decent sound, these are worth considering.
JBL Charge 4 – 20 Hours
The JBL Charge 4 is an excellent mid-range speaker and one that has earned its recommendation for anyone looking for a portable Bluetooth speaker in general. It offers excellent powerful sound, long battery life, and can even charge your phone. It’s also waterproof, making it a great device to have by the pool.
It’s not cheap, nor is it expensive. It sits right into a cozy middle that is great for many people looking for a quality speaker. The only qualm here is that it doesn’t offer 360-degree sound, so be sure to set it facing towards whoever is listening!
DOSS SoundBox Touch – 20 Hours
Perhaps you are looking for something more affordable. In that case, the Soundbox Touch offers everything you could want at a great price. The sound quality is good, battery life is exceptional, and it is quite compact. When it comes to a portable speaker for only $30, you can’t go wrong with this one.
JBL Boombox – 24 Hours
If you say “Give me sound, I am willing to pay for it!” then the JBL Boombox is made for you. If you want it loud, you got it, and if you want bass, you are in for a treat. This is the ultimate long-lasting party speaker, and you don’t have to worry about a little water ruining the fun because it is IPx7 water-resistant.
And if your friend’s phones are dying, don’t worry, the 20,000 mAh power bank will get them up and running. Overall, you get what you pay for here: monstrous sound coupled with very respectable battery life – this is the modern boombox indeed.
Anker SoundCore 2 – 24 Hours
Anker is a great brand for delivering excellent bang for your buck, and it is no different here. The SoundCore 2 can last for an entire day on a single charge and, as always, offers excellent sound. It’s also IPX7 waterproof making it another good choice for some poolside music – just don’t let it actually fall into the pool.
AOMIS GO – 40 Hours
Now we are getting into really big numbers in terms of battery longevity. If you want juice, this speaker provides it. Just because it packs a gigantic battery for only $70 doesn’t mean the sound is junk, however. You’ll get the loud, rich sound you expect from a decent speaker.
Another thing, it also includes a 10,000 mAh power bank that you can use to charge your other devices as well or share power with others. As a party speaker that doesn’t break the bank, this might be what you are looking for.
ABFOCE Solar Bluetooth Speaker – 60 Hours
If you don’t want to even think about battery life and charging nonsense, this is the portable speaker for you. Part of what allows this speaker to have such a monstrous battery life is that it is solar-powered, so it doesn’t even have to be plugged to work. You can leave it in the sun for See comment regarding Amazon links above.only 10 minutes, which provides 30 minutes of playtime.
Looking at the design itself, you can tell it was made with the great outdoors in mind. It backs it up with IPX6 water resistance and a built-in flashlight, and if you are looking for one of the longest-lasting Bluetooth speakers while enjoying the nice sound.
What If You Don’t Need a Portable Speaker?
If you are looking for a speaker for home use, I would recommend a smart speaker. If you’ve never tried one, you are in for a real treat. The Amazon Echo can play music from Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Music, Pandora, iHeartRadio, and SiriusXM, all just using your voice. You can also ask about the weather, traffic, turn on and off the lights, and even order things.
It’s a true home theater / home automation wonder. I’d be more in love if it wasn’t for those damn privacy concerns! More on that in a future post.
Here is a video review telling you everything you need to know about the latest Echo:
Conclusion
Bluetooth speakers need to be charged to use portably, but you can leave them plugged into a wall if you don’t want to drain their battery. If you are looking for a speaker that can last for many hours on end when you are away from a power outlet, there are plenty of options to choose from that offer great sound and convenient features such as a power bank.
If you need a speaker for your home, there is a reason why so many people have adopted smart speakers. They are incredibly convenient and do so much more than just playing music, and they are very affordable.
