Home speakers need to be plugged into an outlet and aren't usually designed with portability in mind. Portable speakers are battery powered and are much easier to move around or take outside the house. They also often include a dust and water protection rating.

Recommended speakers have earned a CHOICE Expert rating of 75% or more.

The CHOICE Expert Rating is made up of sound quality (75%), ease of use (10%) and power consumption (15%).

Our testers assess sound quality using four types of audio: classical, jazz, pop and speech (i.e. podcasts). Technical measurements of frequency response and harmonic distortion are also taken.

Ease of use is assessed by performing common tasks with the speaker. This includes the initial setup, Bluetooth pairing and Wi-Fi connectivity (where applicable) and operation using onboard controls, associated apps and remote controls if available. We also assess the quality and usefulness of models with onboard displays and the user manual. Virtual assistants such as Alexa or the Google Assistant also undergo an ease of use assessment when present.

The power score includes measurements of each speaker's power consumption when in use, in standby and turned off. Our testers also measure consumption with eco mode active (if available) and the impact of settings that may temporarily increase power consumption, such as quick start mode. Battery powered speakers are assessed for their total play time and the duration required to fully recharge the battery from an empty state. Our testers also note whether the speaker can report the remaining charge - e.g. on a display or as vocal prompt.

Total play time of the battery after a full charge, with music playing at 80 decibels. 

Annual energy consumption for home speakers that require mains power. Measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh).

Recommended retail price at the time of testing.

Whether the speakers come with a travel case.

Standard Wi-Fi connectivity. The big advantage with Wi-Fi over Bluetooth is the range, with Wi-Fi networks often able to project well over 30 metres.

Is a digital assistant included with the smart speaker?

The assistant that the speaker supports. Some models support multiple digital assistants, but you can only use one at a time. You can select your preferred assistant during setup and switch to a different one in the speaker's official app.

Grouping two or more speakers from the same manufacturer, together over a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connection in order to play the same audio through multiple speakers at the same time.

If the speaker can pair with than one device, such as a smartphone, at the same time. This gives you the option to quickly switch between streaming devices.

Can the speaker charge other devices via USB, such as a smartphone. Note, some speakers support wireless charging but these are not noted here.

As claimed by the manufacturer, the ingress protection (IP) rating determines the degree of dust (first number) and water (second number) protection. For example, IP67 provides full protection from dust and submersion in water for up to 30 minutes, at a depth of up to one metre.