A good wireless speaker fills a room with music you control from your phone or by voice, and grows into a whole-home system. These four Wi-Fi speakers are the best for most homes in RTINGS' lab tests, whether you use Spotify or Apple Music.
The best wireless speaker for most people is the Sonos Era 100 (~$189): great sound for its size, AirPlay 2 and Bluetooth, and the best multi-room system there is.
For bigger rooms and Dolby Atmos Music, get the Sonos Era 300 (~$499). The Sonos Move 2 (~$499) goes outside on battery, and the Apple HomePod (~$349) suits iPhone homes.
"Wireless speaker" covers two different things. Bluetooth speakers pair directly with your phone: simple, but the sound is compressed, the music stops if you walk away or take a call, and you can't easily group them around the house. Wi-Fi speakers join your home network: they stream at higher quality, keep playing when your phone leaves the room, and link together into a multi-room system you control from an app or by voice.
For a speaker that lives in your home, Wi-Fi is the better choice, and every pick here has it. Most also have Bluetooth for guests. The other big decision is which ecosystem you live in: Sonos works with almost everything, while Apple's HomePod is made for iPhones. Our picks follow RTINGS' lab measurements, which test every speaker the same way.
| Speaker | Voice assistant | AirPlay 2 | Battery | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sonos Era 100 | Alexa, Sonos Voice | Yes | No | Most people | ~$189 |
| Sonos Era 300 | Alexa, Sonos Voice | Yes | No | Best sound, Dolby Atmos Music | ~$499 |
| Sonos Move 2 | Alexa, Sonos Voice | Yes | Yes | Indoors and outdoors | ~$499 |
| Apple HomePod (2nd gen) | Siri | Yes | No | iPhone households | ~$349 |
RTINGS' best mid-range home speaker, and the one we'd buy for most rooms. It sounds great for its size, works with almost every music service through the Sonos app, and takes AirPlay 2 from iPhones. Add more Sonos speakers later and they play in sync around the house; pair two Era 100s for stereo, or use them as rear speakers with a Sonos soundbar such as the Sonos Beam.
Worth knowing: it doesn't support Dolby Atmos Music and doesn't get as loud as the Era 300. Trueplay's automatic room tuning works fully only with an iPhone; Android users get a more limited version.
Check price on Amazon Prices change often — verify current pricing on Amazon.The bigger Sonos fills a large room and spreads sound in every direction, so it sounds good wherever you sit. RTINGS found its sound decently well-balanced for all kinds of music and podcasts, and it plays Dolby Atmos Music from services like Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Tidal. A pair makes excellent rear speakers for a Sonos soundbar.
Worth knowing: the Sonos app has few sound adjustments beyond bass and treble. It costs roughly twice as much as the Era 100, so it's worth it mainly for big rooms or Atmos music.
Check price on Amazon Prices change often — verify current pricing on Amazon.A home speaker you can carry to the backyard. On its charging base it works like any other Sonos speaker, joining your multi-room system over Wi-Fi; lift it off and it runs on battery, and you can switch it to Bluetooth when you're out of Wi-Fi range. Unlike the original Move, it plays true stereo, and its strong dust and water resistance means a bit of rain or a splash by the grill isn't a problem.
Worth knowing: it's big and heavy for a portable speaker, and it doesn't produce as much bass as the Era 300 or play Dolby Atmos Music. For the beach or a pool, a smaller, fully waterproof speaker is a better fit. For permanent outdoor sound, see our outdoor speakers.
Check price on Amazon Prices change often — verify current pricing on Amazon.If your household runs on iPhones, the HomePod is the simplest choice. It sets up in seconds by holding an iPhone next to it, plays Apple Music hands-free with Siri, and hands calls and music off from your phone. RTINGS found it produces a bit more deep bass than the Sonos Era 100. Two HomePods pair as stereo speakers, and they can act as the sound system for an Apple TV 4K.
Worth knowing: it only connects over Wi-Fi, with no Bluetooth, and it offers few sound adjustments. It's a poor fit for Android phones; get the Sonos Era 100 instead.
Check price at Apple Apple sells the HomePod directly, so we link to its store.