From ‘nice to have’ to bare essential, Bluetooth speakers have quickly filled our homes, offices and spaces. Don't be fooled by their diminutive form factor, many of these speakers pack a punch. Battery life has improved and so has sound quality, some of them are ready to be dunked into the pool while most of them look funky. We round up the best Bluetooth speakers with a four-figure price tag that could give your playlist a serious leg-up:
Bose SoundLink Micro
The SoundLink series has been Bose’s most affordable range of speakers bringing some of the brand’s pedigree and technology to a wider audience. The Micro takes it one step further, it is the first under the Rs 10,000 mark and is also remarkably portable. Bose combines a customer transducer, miniature dual-passive radiators and a rechargeable lithium-ion battery as a single micro-system; the result is a speaker that punches way above its size. It weighs under 300 grams, 9cm wide and 3.8cm high. We like the strap that allows you to hook it on to your backpack, but it is more likely to find its way into a travel bag for a short holiday. We managed about 6-hours of battery life during our tests. Aside from its sound quality, we dig this speaker for its ease in set up – it pairs with your smartphone effortlessly.
Price: Rs 8,990/-
Samsung Wireless Bottle Speaker
It is not just smartphones, Samsung upped its design game with a range of quirky speakers in 2017. The Bottle doesn't just ride on its aural credentials, it can put on quite a show with its 16M colour LED lighting unit. This unit adjusts colour with a distinctive ‘water-pouring’ motion. It looks good in your drawing room or your den with its standout design. A companion app allows you to play around with the colours depending on the music or the time of day. You could also invest in an optional accessory that enables wireless charging.
Price: Rs 4,999/-
Logitech UE Wonderboom
Logitech’s Ultimate Ears (UE) series has been setting design benchmarks for the Bluetooth speaker category. The UE line hasn't been shy to experiment with shapes and colours – the flying saucer form factor of the UE Roll is a case in point. The Wonderboom rides on the same design credentials and comes in bold colours. True to its name it also adds some serious bass. And yes, it is IPX7 certified, so you can toss into the pool or take it for a shower.
Price: Rs 7,995/-
Boomslang Canvas
Two 8W drivers combine to deliver rich, clear sound. The speaker benefits from the company’s Deep Bass technology that brings your playlist to life. The Canvas’ hands-free function offers a 2-foot range while the dust-proof form factor makes it an ideal outdoor music accessory. Aside from all these features and a convenient portable strap, the device’s killer feature is it’s in-built 4000 mAh powerbank that allows you to charge your smartphone or tab when you’re on the road.
Price: Rs 5,499/-
Sony SRS XB-10
Size does not matter and sometimes price doesn't too. One of Sony’s most affordable Bluetooth speakers gets a boost from the company’s home-grown Extra Bass technology. At the heart of it is a passive radiator that gives low-end tones from the monaural speaker, a serious shot in the arm. Like many other speakers in this category, you can get pair up two speakers and double the output. Battery life is one of the XB-10’s biggest selling points – with 16 hours of playtime for each charge, you’re more than covered. There’s also a clever one-touch NFC feature that makes this device easy to pair.
Price: Rs 4,990/-
JBL Flip 4
One of the most versatile Bluetooth speakers in the sub Rs 10,000 price band. An in-built noise and echo cancelling mic makes it a perfect accessory to take calls in the middle of an intense music session. A built-in 3000 mAh battery guarantees an impressive 12 hours of playtime. It is also geared to support digital assistants like Siri or Google Assistant while its rugged form factor and IPX7 certification means it’s more than ready for the rough and tumble.
Price: Rs 7,385/-