From your living room to the beach, WiFi or Bluetooth speakers are a simple way to enjoy music anywhere. There are a wide range of options from ultra-portable speakers to powerful party systems. Choosing the right model comes down to your listening habits, budget and preferred features.
Buy the best speakers for your lifestyle
We’ve tested different types of speakers to find which perform best and which are easiest to use.
Our assessment covers:
Sound quality
Ease of setup, connection and operation
Battery life
and other features.
What you need to know when buying speakers
Wireless speakers are available in a wide range of sizes and styles.
Our buying guide covers:
Portable vs home speakers
Bluetooth vs WiFi connectivity
Key features and performance factors
Battery life and durability
People's Choice
Our People's Choice awards are granted to brands that consistently rate above average for customer satisfaction and meet out other performance criteria. Become a member and see which brands have earned a People’s Choice award.
Which speaker brands are most reliable?
We ask thousands of Consumer members about their products to find out which brands are most reliable and satisfying to own. The results are available to members and Digital Pass holders.
Other tech gadgets
If you're looking for other tech gadgets to keep you entertained and connected, we've also tested headphones, smartwatches & fitness trackers and mobile phones.
Best retailers to buy tech gadgets from
Many things can ruin a shopping experience – a pushy salesperson, the product you wanted not being in stock or having to pay more than you intended. We asked consumers to tell us who they think are the best and worst retailers.
Find out which are the best and worst shops in New Zealand for buying tech gadgets, appliances, tools and more.
How we test WiFi and Bluetooth speakers
We get five expert testers varying in age and musical taste to listen to a range of music genres and a podcast. They assess:
Sound quality
Ease of use
Battery
Features
