Amazon Prime Day is nearly an entire week long this year, and that means you’ll be tempted for even longer to buy something you might regret. If you’re looking for a new Bluetooth speaker to enjoy this summer, avoid all those cheap no-name speakers at deceptive prices that aren’t a “deal” at all.
Products go up in price before Prime Day kicks off, then drop back down to get that red “discount” or deal logo on Amazon. You know exactly what I’m talking about. A good example is this “fancy"speaker with RGB lightsand a splash of water in the background. They’re a dime a dozen online and promise booming audio for 40% off. Even if the sale isn’t that big, but the price is low, you’re probably better off skipping it
Cheap Doesn’t Mean Good
No-name brands continue to flood online retailers like Amazon, and the market is saturated with all sorts of tech and ridiculously low prices. That’s especially true with portable Bluetooth speakers. These products undercut reputable brands we know and trust, even more so during sales events like Prime Day, offering speakers at highly lucrative prices.
That $60 water-resistant speaker for $22 sounds like a deal, but remember that it’s likely never actually $60. You’re not getting a deal, and it’s probably not a very good speaker, either. They’re perpetually on sale. Sure, it’ll probably be somewhat loud, and it might not die the moment it gets splashed by the pool, but for your money, there are far better options.
Cheap items are priced that way for a reason. They’re built with lower-end materials, offer mediocre sound quality, likely not as water-resistant as anything from JBL, Sony, or Ultimate Ears, and certainly not built to last.
Avoid those wildly cheap Bluetooth speakers that all recycle the same splash of water image with a speaker covered in RGB lights. And avoid those brands with a random name of keyboard presses that sounds like gibberish. Even if Amazon says it has 25k reviews,they’re probably fakeor combined with previous listings to make it sound like thousands of people are buying that exact speaker.
There are several tools you can use tosee the price history of products on Amazon. I checked several speakers currently on sale for around $20, and many of them jumped to $50 before Prime Day, then dropped back down, or are always around $20 to begin with. Again, you’re not getting a deal—it just looks that way—and it’s not worth the $20 anyway.
You Can Save Money and Buy From a Reputable Brand
Obviously, buying decisions depend on your individual wants, needs, and budget, but if you may afford it, spend a few dollars more on something actually worth buying.
Don’t spend $20 or $30 on a terrible, no-name speaker when you can pay a little more for something like theUltimate Ears Wonderboom 4. Normally $100, it’s available for a little over $60 right now for Prime Day.
Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4
This Bluetooth speaker is powerful, with a 14-hour battery life and an IP67 water-resistant rating.
And while that’s double the cost, I can almost guarantee it’ll sound better, have a companion app worth using, and last longer. Or pay a little more and grab theUltimate Ears Boom 4, one of my all-time favorite Bluetooth speakers. It’s not a $20 impulse buy, but you won’t have buyer’s remorse.
Even the amazing-soundingBang & Olufsen Beosound A1 is 40% off for Prime Day. Now that’s a speaker you’ll truly enjoy.
Prime Day’s big lure is spending as little money as possible yet still getting something you’ll enjoy. I’m not saying a no-name speaker will be awful, and they’ll likely be “good enough” for some people, but don’t expect anything great. Do yourself a favor andbuy something betterthis time around from reputable brands like Ultimate Ears, Sony, JBL, or even Anker.
For those of you looking for a quality portable Bluetooth speaker on sale for Prime Day, a good deal, and from a solid brand, here are a few more worth considering.
Sony SRS-XB100
Experience powerful sound on the go with the Sony SRS-XB100 portable Bluetooth speaker. Compact, durable, and equipped with EXTRA BASS™ technology, it’s perfect for outdoor adventures and parties.
Soundcore Select 4 Go
The Soundcore Select 4 Go is an ultra-portable Bluetooth speaker that boasts big sound, IP67 protection, and a rugged design.
JBL Go 3
Don’t let its small size fool you. The JBL Go 3 packs a serious musical punch, delivering big JBL Pro Sound with punchy bass, decent battery life, and water resistance.
