We’ve come a long way since the boombox. Now smartphones are how most people listen to music because you can easily stream audio from a variety of sources and wirelessly connect to Bluetooth speakers. And the reason I suggest pairing an Android phone with most Bluetooth speakers is because of the diversity of their audio ecosystem. These are the best speakers for Android phones that use high-end audio codecs like aptX.
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1. Bose SoundLink Flex
Pros:- Clear and bass-heavy signature sound
- High max volume
- IP67-rated and durable
Cons:- High price tag
- No aux input
- Distorts at max volume
Though Bose hardware is usually criticized for its excessive price, the Bose SoundLink Flex remains one of the top picks for Android audio enthusiasts.
It is not the most ergonomic Bluetooth speaker around, nor is it the most portable, but it is hands down one the best sounding. It almost sounds good enough that you’ll forget about its hefty price tag.
If you’ve used Bose audio products before, then you know their sound signature is far from flat. The SoundLink Flex is exemplary of this, with a neatly boosted low end that gives electronic and hip-hop tracks some added oompf without drowning out the mids.
The lows and mids blend together smoothly, giving the high-end sounds like cymbals and string instruments plenty of space in the mix.
This speaker packs plenty of volume too, without any signs of distortion even at 100%. Were it not for its rubber feet, this speaker could easily rattle off the countertop.
It has a built-in microphone to take phone calls, plus an auxiliary port to connect analog devices for playback.
Click here to watch a video review of this speaker.
In terms of build quality, the SoundLink Flex is not without its flaws, but it provides the necessities for day-to-day use. The speaker gets at most 12 hours of battery life, which could be better, but all the same, is far from a deal breaker.
The speaker is rather hefty at 1.3 pounds and sports an attractive aluminum enclosure with a micro-perforated steel grille. Its enclosure protects the speaker from serious impact, but dropping this beautiful device will leave it seriously scuffed up. This speaker is IP67-rated against intrusion by dust and liquid.
Its control scheme is very straightforward and easy to find at the top of the speaker. You have the regular suite of playback, volume, Bluetooth, and power controls. All in all, the SoundLink Flex offers a lot of great features, but its price tag remains a hurdle for casual music enthusiasts.
Whether or not it is worth the price depends on how much you value its powerful and bass-heavy sound.
Output Power: (Unlisted)
Inputs: Bluetooth
Battery Life: Up to 12 hours
Dimensions: 3.6 x 7.9 x 2.1 inches
Weight: 1.3 pounds
IP Rating: IP67 -
2. Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2
Pros:- Clear 360° sound
- IP67-rated and floats in water
- Compact and durable
Cons:- No aux port
- No built-in microphone
- Mushy volume buttons
The UE Wonderboom 2 is the most portable speaker in Ultimate Ears’ acclaimed line of Boom speakers. I have personally sung endless praise for the UE Boom 2, but the Wonderboom 2 recently won my affection for its nearly perfect form factor.
The Wonderboom 2 is a compact take on the cylindrical Boom design, measuring at 3.7 x 3.7 x 4 inches. It has simple volume controls and a UE logo button that works for play/pause/skip as well as forming Bluetooth connections.
It has a small hang loop to connect to a backpack, and most importantly, is IP67-rated for dust and water resistance. That means it can be submerged in a meter of water for up to 30 minutes, and the design naturally floats. It can also survive multiple drops of up to 5 feet without even a scratch to its silicone casing.
Click here to watch a video review of this speaker.
But this speaker isn’t all looks, as it also packs dual audio drivers positioned to deliver a clear and powerful 360° sound with its dual 40mm drivers. The speaker design incorporates two passive bass radiators to offer a neutral low end, with just a slight muddiness in the low-mids.
The high-mids are surprisingly present and drive songs of all genres without sounding awkward or imbalanced. Of course, you can always use the UE app to shape the EQ of the sound if you think it needs more balance. The Wonderboom 2 has a wide frequency range of 75Hz – 20KHz, so you won’t hear any
My favorite feature, which is an upgrade from the original Wonderboom speaker, is its Nature Mode, which modifies the sound signature to better carry audio through open outdoor spaces. I use this feature on my sample unit all the time, as its smaller form factor lends itself so well to use on the go.
Its battery life tops out at about 13 hours, which is pretty solid even if volume starts to suffer when you are running low. A surprising change to the UE formula is the Wonderboom’s lack of a built-in microphone.
After sizing it up against the competition, it’s safe to say the Wonderboom 2 does one of the best jobs of providing convenient portable audio without drastically compromising its sound.
Output Power: (Unlisted)
Inputs: Bluetooth
Battery Life: Up to 13 hours
Dimensions: 0.93 pounds
Weight: 3.7 x 3.7 x 4 inches
IP Rating: IP67Find more Ultimate Ears Wonderboom information and reviews here.
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3. JBL Flip 4
Pros:- IPX7-rated and durable
- Clear 360° sound
- High max volume
Cons:- Limited bass response
- Low quality microphone
- Can’t pair with older JBL speakers
The JBL Flip 4 is a durable waterproof speaker that stands up to rugged conditions without compromising its high-quality audio playback.
This mid-sized speaker won’t win any beauty contests, but its silicone case is durable enough to handle even the roughest use.
It is IPX7 rated and can be fully submerged in shallow water for up to 30 minutes. It reportedly survived a trip through one reviewer’s washing machine.
This speaker has simple controls and a lanyard to carry it on the go. It has semi-useful extra features like speakerphone calling and the ability to pair up with other JBL Connect-compatible speakers.
The built-in mic for taking calls is fairly low quality, but it works in a pinch. It has a max 12 hours battery life and recharges in around 3.5 hours.
Click here to watch a video review of this speaker.
On top of all this, the Flip 4 delivers fantastic audio playback. It reaches a high max volume without majorly distorting, and has a frequency range of 70Hz – 20KHz.
Its sound signature is balanced, offering strong low-mids and detailed highs. The bass feels present, but it rolls off just shy of that powerful thump bass heads crave.
It’s not the most detailed sound ever, but it outperforms most speakers in its price range.
Output Power: 16 Watts
Inputs: Bluetooth, Aux
Battery Life: Up to 12 hours
Dimensions: 6.9 x 2.8 x 2.7 inches
Weight: 1.1 pounds
IP Rating: IPX7 -
4. Fugoo Tough
Pros:- IP67-rated and ultra durable
- High quality aptX audio
- 40 hour battery life
- Fast-charging USB port
Cons:- Low max volume
- Weak low end
- No app support
Fugoo is a fairly new name to the portable audio market, but it has quickly established its place at the top of the pack with a hardcore outdoor speaker that practically cannot be broken.
The Fugoo Tough is basically the Fugoo Style in a rugged aluminum and resin enclosure. It is meant to go along with you anywhere and comes with a suite of accessories like a strap mount, a bike mount, and a remote control.
It can be driven over, dropped, dragged behind a car, you name it. There is no end to the abuse its shock-resistant frame will survive. It is also IP67 rated for protection from dust and submersion in shallow water for up to 30 minutes.
This is far from the Fugoo Tough’s only selling point, though. It also delivers a pretty phenomenal sound. Its drivers are arranged to deliver 360° sound and offer a nearly full frequency response of 60Hz – 20KHz.
The max volume is decent for indoor use, but if you actually take this outdoors or to a loud job site, the sound will disperse pretty fast.
The speaker is aptX compatible, which means that aptX-compatible audio sources will offer a higher playback quality than is capable through normal Bluetooth connections. And it really shows in the sound.
Click here to watch a video review of this speaker.
Its high-end is clear and spacious, giving the mids plenty of room to breathe. The bass rounds out the sound decently but doesn’t have much presence. This is a shame as a speaker with this battery capacity could certainly put a little more power behind its woofers. On that note, I should have mentioned up front that the Fugoo Tough has a 40-hour battery life because that’s one of the strongest features it has going for itself.
Underneath the case, you even have a fast-charging USB port to serve as a power bank in a pinch. There is also a built-in microphone for speaker calling and large and simple buttons across the case. The Fugoo Tough does it all and has officially raised the bar for the next generation of rugged outdoor speakers.
Output Power: 8 Watts
Inputs: Bluetooth, Aux
Battery Life: Up to 40 hours
Dimensions: 2.3 x 7.8 x 2.9 inches
Weight: 1.4 pounds
IP Rating: IP67 -
5. Bose SoundLink Revolve+ Series II
Pros:- Clear 360° sound
- Bass-heavy signature sound
- IP55 rated and durable
Cons:- High price tag
- No EQ settings
- Bulky form factor
The Bose SoundLink Revolve+ Series II is the cooler big brother of the SoundLink Mini II. It offers everything I like about the Mini II, plus some much-needed QOL upgrades to help it compete with newer speakers.
The downside is that the Revolve Series II is a comparatively bulky speaker that weighs about 2 pounds. To its credit, though, it is one of the smaller in its class at about 4.13 x 4.13 x 7.25 inches and has a lot of features to make it worth packing along. But Bose makes several smaller speakers.
The Revolve+ Series II has a durable aluminum body that can handle modest drops. The speaker is IPX4 rated, making it rain and splash-proof as well. The speaker also packs an above-average 17-hour battery life. It recharges via a Micro-B USB port in about 4 hours.
The Revolve+ brings beat-heavy sounds to life with Bose’s bass-boosted sound signature. The low end is full but sometimes boomy. This high end is bright and clear as well, allowing for intricate details to flourish on the other end of the spectrum. The mids are somewhat understated, but help blend the sound into a cohesive shape.
Another benefit of being a larger speaker is that the Revolve+ delivers some serious volume. There is no sign of distortion to be found even at 100% volume. It also delivers 360˚ audio, which is nice in group settings.
Atop the speaker, you have nice rubberized controls for power, Bluetooth, volume up and down, a multipurpose tracking button, and a source button.
This speaker can play from Bluetooth, NFC, Aux, or USB audio. Note that the aux playback is slightly delayed, which can be annoying if you ever use it to watch videos. Even with its carry handle and durable case, the Revolve+ is a little big to take with you everywhere. But no doubt some dedicated music listeners will do so anyway.
That’s because this speaker really does sound that good. If you can afford this premium speaker, it is a great pick.
Output Power: (Unlisted)
Inputs: Bluetooth, NFC, Aux, USB
Battery Life: Up to 17 hours
Dimensions: 4.13 x 4.13 x 7.25 inches
Weight: 2 pounds
IP Rating: IP55Find more Bose SoundLink Revolve+ information and reviews here.
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6. Bang & Olufsen Play P2
Pros:- Clear sound with rich bass
- Compact and durable
- aptX support
Cons:- No aux port
- 10 hour battery life could be better
- Clumsy touch controls
Danish audio company Bang & Olufsen may specialize in high-end home theater gear, but their signature sound carries over flawlessly to their smaller speakers as well.
The B&O Play 2 is a palm-sized personal speaker that delivers an unbelievably large sound. At only 3.1 x 1.1 x 5.5 inches and about a half pound, this speaker fits in a pocket no problem.
But only when you turn this speaker on does it reveal its true size. This speaker gets surprisingly loud and delivers a finely tuned sound that matches any sized room.
This speaker has aptX codec support, so aptX compatible devices deliver a higher quality sound than you would normally get from Bluetooth.
With an effective frequency range of 68Hz – 21KHz, the highest highs and the lowest lows come through accurately.
The low end is rich and spacious, and the high end is perfectly crisp. The only downside to the sound is how you control it.
Click here to watch a video review of this speaker.
The P2 goes for a minimalist approach with its controls, housing a lone power button on its anodized aluminum case.
The rest of the controls are handled by tap and shake interactions, which can be programmed with the free Beoplay App.
Unfortunately, this is a really clumsy way to handle things like track playback and volume. In the end, it leaves me wishing for some plain ‘ol buttons.
A lack of controls aside, the P2 is well put together. It has a beautiful pearl-blasted anodized aluminum grill, which is reinforced by a durable polymer.
B&O claims that the P2 is splash and dust resistant, but does not offer an IP rating to back this claim up. I couldn’t bring myself to test if it was true.
The speaker has a very average max battery life of 10 hours. It charges in about 2 hours via USB-C. It does not have an aux port, but it does have a built-in microphone for taking and receiving calls.
All things considered, the P2 is not without its flaws. But its high-quality sound and compact form factor more than makes up for these.
They also make this gorgeous little speaker well worth its hefty price tag.
Output Power: 2×50 Watts
Inputs: Bluetooth
Battery Life: Up to 10 hours
Dimensions: 3.1 x 1.1 x 5.5 inches
Weight: 0.6 pounds
IP Rating: (Unlisted)Find more Bang & Olufsen Play P2 information and reviews here.
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7. Marshall Stockwell II Bluetooth Speaker
Pros:- Clear and balanced audio
- IPX4-rated for water resistance
- 20 hour battery life
Cons:- Low max volume
- Metal grille dents easily
- No aux port
The Marshall Stockwell II is a premium Bluetooth speaker that delivers high-quality sound in a form factor that is reminiscent of a vintage amplifier.
The tall cabinet shape of the speaker is kind of odd for a portable Bluetooth speaker since it makes it harder to hold but the speaker has a nice leather strap and it means a more rich and detailed audio signal, so I won’t complain too much.
In fact, the audio of this speaker is a major high point, as it has one of the most rich and detailed sound signatures in its price range. Its two grilles allow it to deliver 360-degree sound. The speaker has a natural balance between the lows, mids, and highs, with a frequency range of 60-20,000 Hz.
The bass has a deep extension which provides lots of detail for hip hop and electronic beats. The mids are clear yet somewhat warm, while the highs have plenty of room to breathe and make the song feel organic.
The only downside to the audio is that the speaker doesn’t get very loud for its size. With a 10W amp and two 5W tweeters, one would certainly expect more oomph than it has. This speaker does have a volume control knob up top to quickly boost your signal when needed, but it experiences some noticeable distortion when you crank it past 8.
The Stockwell II also has knobs to control bass and treble if you like to make on the go equalization adjustments. For what it’s worth, I did most of my testing with these dials set to 5. This top panel also has a power/sync button and an LED display to show battery remaining. This speaker has a fantastic 20-hour battery life and recharges via USB-C.
Though the Stockwell II is overall very well-built, with the exception of one possible weak point. The plastic case feels durable and the speaker is IPX4 water-resistant. Mind you, this score means it is only safe from splashing, but still puts it above some of the competition. The steel grilles that cover the speakers, however, don’t feel as durable and may dent if you try to use them like you would a rugged outdoors speaker.
As long as you don’t need to take it camping or really crank the volume, the Stockwell II is an incredible-sounding speaker that will also captivate avid knob twiddlers.
Output Power: 20 Watts
Inputs: Bluetooth
Battery Life: Up to 20 hours
Dimensions: 7 x 6 x 2.75 inches
Weight: 3 pounds
IP Rating: IPX4Find more Marshall Stockwell II Bluetooth Speaker information and reviews here.
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8. Harman/Kardon Onyx Studio 4
Pros:- Clear and balanced audio
- High max volume
- Built-in microphone with noise cancelling
Cons:- No waterproofing
- Audio distorts at max volume
- 8 hour battery life could be better
High-end speaker manufacturer Harman/Kardon hasn’t been in the Bluetooth speaker game quite as long as some other audio brands, but their Onyx Studio 4 is a top contender for those looking to stream from their Android device.
Its clear and natural sound signature is its main selling point, though that quality does come at a cost. It does so by forgoing some more superfluous features you find on portable speakers. For instance, the speaker doesn’t lend itself to rugged use, nor does it offer a USB charge-out port. It does, however, have a decent built-in microphone for conference calls.
This means that this speaker is all about the sound, right down to its prominent circular shape. The sound is evenly balanced between high-end and low-end, making for crisp and accurate playback.
The passive bass port in the back gives the bass some nice extension without cramping the ever-important middle frequencies that carry the lead vocals and guitar riffs.
The high-end is spacious, but the sound does get a little crunchy as you approach its max volume. However, if you are using this speaker at max volume, a portable speaker may not be suited to your needs.
Most speakers will pair up with another model of the same kind to double up on audio performance, but the Onyx Studio 4 has a neat trick where three devices can be connected at once, allowing you to take turns playing music.
This speaker has a max 8-hour battery life, which is just about average for Bluetooth speakers. It has a handy array of five LEDs to keep track of its remaining charge. I much prefer this over the standard voice updates you find on most speakers.
A little better battery life would have made the Onyx Mini an overall top pick, but even without it, this speaker provides some solid sound at an awesome value.
Output Power: 30 Watts
Inputs: Bluetooth, Aux
Battery Life: Up to 8 hours
Dimensions: 12.5 x 8.2 x 12.2 inches
Weight: 4.5 pounds
IP Rating: N/AFind more Harman/Kardon Onyx Mini information and reviews here.
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9. OontZ Angle 3 Ultra
Pros:- Clear and loud sound
- 20 hour battery life
- IPX6 rated
Cons:- Muddy mid range
- Spotty Bluetooth connection
- No case
The Oontz line from Cambridge Soundworks is one of the most popular budget speakers around. Though the Oontz Angle 3 Ultra doesn’t bring much new to the table in terms of design, it now stands to take the crown for the best speaker on the everyman’s budget.
The secret to its success is its loud and clear sound, which is way better than it should be at this size and price point. The speaker gets quite loud, filling a room with ease despite being only 6.4 x 2.8 x 2.8 inches. The speaker doesn’t distort at high volumes, although certain frequencies towards to high end can get harsh.
You get a nice amount of bass from the Angle 3 Ultra, and its downward firing subwoofer ensures that placing this speaker on a table or a solid surface will extend the bass sound even further. The sound is overall quite balanced, even though the mids are confined a little by the high and low frequencies.
Click here to watch a video review of this speaker.
The Angle 3 Ultra doesn’t fall short on features either. It has an aux port and a built-in microphone for speakerphone. The controls are easy to access and make it easy to perform tasks like changing tracks, adjusting volume, and making Bluetooth connections.
The Bluetooth connection isn’t as consistent on this device as more expensive speakers, but that’s far from a deal breaker. The Angle 3 Ultra also has a standout 20-hour max battery life. Ultimately, if you have a limited budget for a portable Bluetooth speaker, the Oontz Angle 3 Ultra is the best bang for your buck.
Output Power: 14 Watts
Inputs: Bluetooth, Aux
Battery Life: Up to 20 hours
Dimensions: 6.4 x 2.8 x 2.8 inches
Weight: 0.93 pounds
IP Rating: IPX6 -
10. Doss Touch
Pros:- Clear and balanced sound
- 12 hour battery life
- Low price tag
Cons:- Not waterproof or durable
- No battery indicator
- Weak mid range
A new no-name budget Bluetooth speaker comes out every week. Most are lost to the static, but the truly worthwhile speakers always find a way to stand out.
The Doss Touch made it on my radar for being one of the highest-rated value speakers on the Internet. It has more five-star reviews on Amazon than almost every other speaker I reviewed put together. And why?
Because it offers high-quality sound at a competitive price. It is one of the best-sounding speakers in its price range, beating out the Oontz Angle 3 Ultra with its well-rounded sound. It has a nice, balanced sound with clear mids. The bass is present, and its tweeters capture the high-end details that really bring your favorite tracks to life.
Click here to watch a video review of this speaker.
The audio remains smooth at high volume and is overall way better than you would expect from a $30 speaker. Just keep in mind that you’ll get a much more rich and detailed sound at the higher price range, so all said, they still don’t quite compare to more expensive options.
The Doss Touch offers a solid max battery life of 12 hours and can recharge via Micro USB in about 4 hours. This is plenty acceptable but not as high as the 20 hours promised by the Oontz speaker. This speaker is also not durable or rated for water resistance, meaning this is not an all-weather option.
The speaker is compact though, at 2.9 x 6.6 x 2.7 inches. It supports Micro SD playback on top of the standard Bluetooth and Aux. It also has a built-in microphone to make and receive calls.
Apparently Doss has been making Bluetooth speakers almost as long as Bluetooth has been around, which might leave you wondering why you didn’t hear of them sooner. Well, their speaker is awesome, and if you don’t know, now you know.
Output Power: 12 Watts
Inputs: Bluetooth, Aux, Micro SD
Battery Life: Up to 12 hours
Dimensions: 2.9 x 6.6 x 2.7 inches
Weight: 1.23 pounds
IP Rating: N/A -
11. Sony SRS-XB41
Pros:- Bass boost and EQ features offer flexible sound
- USB charge-out port
- 24-hour battery life
- Durable and IP67-rated
Cons:- Uses a proprietary charger
- High price tag
- So-so app
Sony’s SRS-XB41 is a portable speaker that does it all, offering clear portable sound plus all the other bells and whistles you could possibly ask for. This speaker is a little on the heavy side but is more than worth carrying along for its convenient suite of features, starting with Bluetooth and NFC connectivity. It is easy to connect the speaker, with an easy pairing button sitting among a myriad of other controls.
This includes volume up, volume down, one for speakerphone, one for play/pause, one for power, and one to activate “extra bass” mode. The speaker itself isn’t particularly sleek looking. I could take or leave the built-in multicolor LEDs which flash along to the music. But the speaker itself is quite sturdy. It has an IP67 rating, rendering it safe from water and dust in all directions. The SRS-XB41 gets an impressive 24 hours battery life, assuming you don’t use the lights or play at max volume constantly. It charges via a proprietary DC power supply, but it makes up for this shortcoming by providing a USB charge-out port next to its hidden aux port.
All that said, how does the SRS-XB41 sound? Pretty darn good. The speaker is clear and balanced out of the box, providing accurate playback even as it approaches max volume. Its frequency range spans the average spectrum of human hearing at 20Hz – 20KHz. Those who like a punchy low-end can use the “extra bass” button to boost the bass frequencies, which sounds great on tracks that need that driving subwoofer sound. Sony’s free SongPal app further lets you tweak the experience with a three-band equalizer, plus program different LED light patterns.
Again, its sound out of the box works great for faithful reproduction of music, but the added freedom to tweak the EQ allows you to adapt the sound to your environment. The Sony SRS-XB41 is one of the pricier Android speakers available. But its huge selection of features makes it more than worth it for the music enthusiast who loves to tweak settings.
Output Power: (Unlisted)
Inputs: Bluetooth, Aux, NFC
Battery Life: Up to 24 hours
Dimensions: 12.7 x 5.3 x 7.4 inches
Weight: 3.3 pounds
IP Rating: IP67
Do Android Phones Have the Best Audio?
If you look at any roundup of the best phones for audio playback (such as this list from Sound Guys), typically the list will be dominated by Android phones. So is this just because of their market dominance or do Android phones really process audio better?
Generally yes, but the answer is highly dependent on which phone and which speaker you are talking about.
All smartphones regardless of OS will typically use Bluetooth audio to connect to a speaker. The only perceivable difference that can be tied to your source audio depends on what Bluetooth codec your phone can use.
If your phone supports aptX, LDAC, or LHDC and you have a Bluetooth speaker that supports the same codec, then you'll have a clear and more detailed sound than rival devices. Currently, though, aptX is the most common codec that you'll see in a Bluetooth speaker so I've focused mostly on that codec.
Just for the record, iOS devices have an exclusive codec of their own: AAC. AAC is generally considered to be slightly better even, but going this route is more computationally taxing on your device, and it also limits your speaker options.
How We Chose The Best Android Speakers
If you're looking for an affordable Bluetooth speaker that works best with Android devices, then there are plenty of options to choose from. Too many options, in fact. Hundreds of different brands compete to be your go-to option for portable listening.
That's why we put the highest-rated performers to the test to settle which options can actually be called the best speakers for Android phones.
What exactly makes one Bluetooth speaker better than the other?
The obvious answer is sound quality. The best-sounding Bluetooth speakers are characterized by clarity and balance. They should be able to reach a high volume without distortion.
Be sure to temper your expectations, though, as a speaker of limited size can only put out so much power. Furthermore, Bluetooth transmission compresses your audio data, somewhat muddying the signal. That said, most of the speakers we chose make use of high-end audio codecs as well as frequency tuning to produce the best sound in spite of these limitations.
The other important elements of a Bluetooth speaker are its form factor and utility. If you are planning to use this speaker on the go, it has to be both compact and durable. You'll also want the most battery life you can get.
Then there are a number of additional features which aren't always necessary but can be a must-have for some users. This includes a built-in microphone, USB charge-out ports, and an auxiliary audio port.
With all of these factors existing in a fine balance, the right Android-friendly speaker for you will entirely depend on your specific needs.