Portable Bluetooth speakers have become an easy default for listening away from your desk or living room. They’re the kind of tech you grab without thinking, whether you’re heading outside, cleaning the house or packing for a weekend away. The best portable options manage to sound bigger than they look, delivering clear audio without weighing down your bag.
Battery life and durability matter just as much as sound quality now. Many modern speakers are built to survive splashes, dust and the occasional drop, while still offering quick pairing and stable connections. Some are designed for solo listening, others are meant to fill a space with music and keep going for hours.
We’ve tested a wide mix of portable Bluetooth speakers to see which ones are actually worth carrying around. Whether you want something small and simple or a speaker that can anchor a get-together, these are the models that stood out.
Quick Overview
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Best portable Bluetooth speakers: $50 to $200
Soundcore
Features: Built-in carrying loop | Battery life: Up to 20 hours | Assistant support: None | Weight: 9.3 ounces | USB charging: Yes | Waterproof: Water‑resistant (IP67)
If you’re looking to spend as little as possible and get a speaker that will free you from using your smartphone to blast out tunes, the Soundcore Select 4 Go is a good option. It has decent sound quality for a speaker its size, and it’s loud enough to fill a standard-sized living room, bedroom or desk area outside. You can even pair two of them together to get bigger sound, too. It’s IP67 water- and dustproof, and it’s designed to float so it can handle an accidental dunk in the pool without any issue. And with a battery life of 20 hours, it’ll provide music for the entirety of your next party without breaking a sweat. — Valentina Palladino, Deputy Editor
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JBL
Features: Built-in carrying loop | Battery life: Up to 7 hours | Assistant support: None | Weight: 0.4 pound | USB charging: Yes | Waterproof: Water‑resistant (IP67)
JBL made a handy, convenient little speaker in the Go 4. It gets decently loud and doesn’t sound too distorted at those higher volumes. Will it stand up to more expensive speakers on this list in terms of sound quality? No, but it sound good for its size, which is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. Made in part with recycled materials, the Go 4 is IP67 water- and dustproof, and you can pair two of these speakers together to get an even wider sounstage. — V.P.
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Photo by Jon Turi / Engadget
Features: Built-in power bank to charge other devices | Battery life: Up to 12 hours | Assistant support: None | Weight: 1 pound | USB charging: Yes | Waterproof: Water‑resistant (IP67)
If you’re just looking for a small Bluetooth speaker that can kick out some decent volume, the Tribit StormBox Micro 2 fits the bill. The audio quality here is fine; it doesn’t stand out in terms of fidelity, but the volume you get from this affordable little speaker is what makes it a good choice. If you’re bopping about outdoors on your bike or chilling in the park, it’s usually more about portability and volume anyway. The rubbery rear strap works well on relatively thin things like belts, backpacks and bike handlebars.
While it’s small and affordable, this mini speaker features a USB-C charging port for your devices in a pinch and you can wirelessly connect two of them for party mode or stereo sound. It also supports voice assistants for both iOS and Android users, and if you want to take calls on your phone via speakerphone, that’s easy to do as well.
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Soundcore
Features: IPX7 waterproof, custom EQ settings using companion app | Battery life: Up to 13 hours | Assistant support: None | Weight: 1.9 pounds | USB charging: Yes | Waterproof: Water‑resistant (IPX7)
Soundcore has been releasing some very able speakers lately and one of its newest is a quality personal portable. The Motion 300 is of the pint-sized variety, but offers 30-watts of punchy and bright output. It’s IPX7 rated so it can handle a bit of water, and it works with the Anker Soundcore app that allows a fair amount of customization from EQ settings to button brightness. It also supports hi-res audio using the LDAC codec for Android users with a compatible device.
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The Motion 300’s size and frequency range don’t quite allow for a ton of bass, but it’s relatively loud and thumpy, especially when it has surfaces to reflect off of. Soundcore has even extended its high-frequency range to 40kHz, and while its utility is debatable, the Motion 300 does sound crisp in the high-end spectrum. You can also enable adaptive audio, which helps optimize its sound delivery depending on the speaker orientation (on its back, standing up or hanging from its removable button-fastened strap).
The speaker’s design merges a funky style with office-machine chic, from the playfully speckled soft touch exterior to the metallic, logo-emblazoned grille. Its 1.7-pound weight and clutch-purse size makes it better as a handheld or stowed in your bag rather than hanging from a backpack or bike handlebars. Ultimately, you get great sound in a small package with features you can tweak to your liking, all at an approachable $80 price tag.
Ultimate Ears
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Features: IP67-rated design, support for stereo pairing | Battery life: Up to 14 hours | Assistant support: None | Weight: 1.2 pounds | USB charging: Yes | Waterproof: Water‑resistant (IP67)
The latest version of a previous pick (the Wonderboom 3), the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 is a tiny yet powerful portable that can deliver big sound. It’s still a cute, barrel-shaped small speaker with a nubby little strap that probably needs a carabiner to help attach it to most things. It offers up to 14 hours on a single change, and underneath, you can easily access the protected USB-C port whenever you need to refill. With an IP67 rating on top of the company’s five-foot drop test durability, it can go with you almost anywhere and survive to tell the tale.
Although there’s no app support or connectivity with the rest of the Ultimate Ears speaker lineup, you can easily pair it with other UE speakers for stereo sound. There’s also an outdoor mode button on the bottom that boosts the mid and high range to help the audio carry over a greater distance — perfect for when you need a compact party speaker that still delivers the best sound possible in its class.
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Photo by Jon Turi / Engadget
Features: IPX7 waterproof, custom EQ settings using companion app | Battery life: Up to 12 hours | Assistant support: None | Weight: 2.3 pounds | USB charging: Yes | Waterproof: Water‑resistant (IPX7)
This nondescript wedge of a wireless speaker could easily slip under your radar, but it’s worth a listen. It has a bright and bassy output, which is helped along by Qualcomm aptX support for hi-res audio. This Anker Soundcore device has a solid, slightly heavy build with a metal front speaker grille, a soft-touch rubberized exterior (that loves your greasy fingerprints) and IPX7 water resistance. While it’s not the lightest or most portable, it has good sound, especially for the price. Plus the app offers EQ customization, so you can fine tune to your liking.
There’s also a 3.5mm aux input for wired connections. You can use it as a speakerphone when taking calls as well, or easily play music from your devices. That’s fortuitous, as we found that this small speaker works well as a mini soundbar alternative and the wired input offers a foolproof connection. Aside from that, you can easily charge the Motion+ thanks to its standard USB-C charging port and it should last up to 12 hours on a single charge.
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JBL
Features: IP68-rated design, support for stereo pairing | Battery life: Up to 16 hours | Assistant support: None | Weight: 1.2 pounds | USB charging: Yes | Waterproof: Water‑resistant (IP68)
We considered the JBL Flip 6 the best JBL speaker for most people (you can still find it available online), and the JBL Flip 7 only improves upon the previous model. Sound quality is solid from lows to highs, even with the volume up at high registers. The cylindrical shape works well on its side or even standing on its end to save desk space. It has a capable carrying (or hanging) strap and raised buttons you can discern in the dark.
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The JBL Portable app gives you a 3-band EQ to customize the sound profile if desired and if you have two Flip 7 speakers, you can run them as a stereo pair. If you happen to have a mix-and-match assortment of different PartyBoost-enabled JBL devices, you can connect multiple speakers for a bigger sound. And with a USB-C charging port, it’s a versatile device that’s easy to take with you on the move.
Bose
Features: Built-in mic for assistant support and phone calls, IP67-rated design | Battery life: Up to 12 hours | Assistant support: Google Assistant, Siri | Weight: 1.3 pounds | Wireless range: 30 feet | USB charging: Yes | Waterproof: Water‑resistant (IP67)
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While the $119 Bose SoundLink Micro is half the size, we found that it’s definitely worth the extra $30 if you trade up to the SoundLink Flex. While it’s still not a room filler, the speaker offers some bright, dynamic finesse to your tunes, along with a significant amount of bass for its size. It’s similar to the scale of a small clutch bag, with a very small strap for carabiner-type hanging. Much of the exterior is sheathed in soft-touch silicone, except for the powder-coated steel speaker grilles. Like others in this range, the speaker is IP67 rated so it can handle the elements and sound good doing it.
Setup and connecting to the speaker should be done from within the aptly named Bose Connect app. You can also turn off voice prompts (which can become annoying) and pair with similar speakers for either party mode or stereo.
Features: IP67 waterproof, lossless audio over USB-C | Battery life: Up to 24 hours | Assistant support: Yes | Weight: 1.5 pounds | USB charging: Yes | Waterproof: Water‑resistant (IP67)
The new Pill has impressive bass performance due to the company’s decision to increase the size of the woofer rather than keep its previous arrangement that included two smaller ones. The speaker struggles at its loudest volumes, but it’s plenty loud enough well below that. The IP67 rating is more rugged than the Pill+ and over 24 hours of battery life will keep the tunes going for a long time. Plus, there’s lossless audio over USB-C and the ability to top off your phone or earbuds with the speaker’s battery.
This is a solid choice for anyone seeking crisp clarity with true low-end thump if a track demands it. The addition of lossless is also nice for times you’d like a little more quality in your tunes. And you can also put two Pills together for bigger sound or use them as a stereo pair. — Billy Steele, Senior Reporter
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Marshall
Features: IP67-rated design, support for stereo pairing | Battery life: Up to 30 hours | Assistant support: None | Weight: 0.26 pounds | USB charging: Yes | Waterproof: No
The Emberton III Bluetooth portable from Marshall continues to iterate on a design we’ve loved for a while. This clutchable rectangular slab has a max output of 20 watts to deliver the brand’s signature sound. It may not be the loudest in its size range, but it focuses more on balanced output than raw power. There’s still 360 sound as well, making it a good companion for small get togethers.
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The latest model has more than 32 hours of battery life and a rugged IP67 rating. There’s also a built-in microphone, so you can use it to take calls while you’re getting ready for the day or chilling out in the backyard.
JBL
Features: Built-in power bank to charge other devices, IP68-rated design, support for stereo pairing | Battery life: Up to 28 hours | Assistant support: None | Weight: 2.2 pounds | USB charging: Yes | Waterproof: Water‑resistant (IP68)
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If you’re willing to spend a little more for bigger sound and more hours of battery life, the midrange JBL Charge 6 is a great upgrade over the Flip 6 or Flip 7. It has the same bright output and capable low end, but in a slightly larger package. If you’re looking for a smallish portable speaker, but something capable enough to entertain a few guests, this works.
The Everboom is a decent mid-range option in the Ultimate Ears lineup. The best features are its high durability and Outdoor Boost for better sound outside. You’ll get loud, 360-degree audio, but like a lot of UE speakers, there’s a lack of overall fidelity due to subdued mid-range tone. There’s plenty to like here, especially if you’re looking for something to take on an adventure that won’t weigh you down too much. The price is, however, a bit on the high side with the limited suite of features. But, all of the basics, and slightly more, are covered. Plus, it floats! — B.S.
Photo by Jon Turi / Engadget
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Features: IP67-rated design, support for stereo pairing | Battery life: Up to 20 hours | Assistant support: None | Weight: 3.9 pounds | USB charging: Yes | Waterproof: No
Marshall launched the Middleton in January 2023 and positioned it as the new flagship for its portable Bluetooth speaker line. It’s the largest of the company’s IP67 rugged portables (measuring 4.3 x 9 x 3.75 inches) and offers a significantly louder output, with 50-watts of 360-degree sound. There are dual woofers and tweeters for the front and back, with passive radiators along each side. It also offers Stack Mode, which lets you pair with any other Middleton, Emberton II or Willen speakers nearby to expand your listening experience.
The Middleton can be managed through the Marshall Bluetooth app, but it also includes most of those same controls on the top. There’s a Bluetooth button (which doubles as the Stack Mode control) and a multi-use joystick for power on/off, volume control and track selection (forward or back). You also get bass and treble controls, which are a welcome addition and a first for one of Marshall’s speakers without physical knobs.
It has that traditional Marshall look, made with a soft-touch exterior composed of 55-percent post-consumer recycled plastic and is 100-percent PVC free. It also has a carry strap you can easily fit your hand through. Any dust, dirt or prints on the outside can be scrubbed off with a damp cloth, and even the exposed USB-C and 3.5mm input port components are waterproofed. That USB-C port can be used to recharge the speaker, or power up your other devices with its 9,600mAh battery.
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Of course audio purists should know that it only supports SBC, but the sound quality is still top notch for most people. And while Marshall devices are usually priced at a slight premium, the good sound quality and decent low-end capability definitely makes this model worth checking out.
JBL
Features: IP67-rated design| Battery life: Up to 24 hours | Assistant support: None | Weight: 4.6 pounds | USB charging: Yes | Waterproof: Water‑resistant (IP67)
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If you’ve enjoyed any of the smaller JBL speakers out there and are willing to spend a bit more, the Xtreme 4 is a good all-around choice. It’s big enough to warrant a shoulder strap, but still only about the size of a football. When we tested the previous version, the Xtreme 3, we found it to have pleasant dynamic sound, with hefty lows and a lively high end that seems slightly better balanced at this size than the smaller options from JBL in this range.
This is easily a favorite if you want something under $400 with a little more gusto than your average portable, but still being IP67 weatherproof. It has enough output to breathe life into a small soiree or backyard hang, although while it’s quite loud, it’s best when it’s close by or indoors where the bass can resonate to its fullest.
Best portable Bluetooth speakers: $450 and higher
Photo by Jon Turi / Engadget
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Features: IPX2-rated design, support for multi-host functionality | Battery life: Up to 20 hours | Assistant support: None | Weight: 10.8 pounds | USB charging: No | Waterproof: Water‑resistant (IPX2)
If you didn’t know about Marshall’s history in amplifiers and rock music, the design should clue you in. The Tufton is the largest portable Bluetooth speaker from the company, looking much like an amp itself (as do most of them). It has physical knobs at the top and a carry strap to help move it about. While it may appear as rugged as concert gear, it’s less impervious to the elements as some with just an IPX2 rating, so it’s protected from light splashes from above.
Whether or not you’re a fan of the brand, the rich and distinctly thumping output may make you one. We felt pulled into the sound while listening to the Tufton, a bit more than most other speakers we tested at this scale. It’s dynamic, warm and, dare we say, analog in its audio presence. It’s also multi-directional with a supplemental driver on the back along with a bass port.
There’s no app to adjust the EQ, just the physical controls including a Bluetooth connect button, a power/volume knob and two for bass and treble. Once powered on, you can use the volume knob to set a max headroom and adjust volume on the fly from your source. The bass and treble knobs help you choose the tone of your adventure, from a purely flat soundscape to an enhanced one. We just wish you could see the dial indicators in the dark. Other features include aptX support and quick-charge capabilities that provide four hours of listening time in just 20 minutes, plus great standby battery life.
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Photo by Jon Turi / Engadget
Features: IPX4-rated design, support for multi-host functionality | Battery life: Up to 24 hours | Assistant support: None | Weight: 13 pounds | USB charging: No | Waterproof: Water‑resistant (IPX2)
The UE Hyperboom is an all-arounder with good looks, portability, plenty of connectivity options and a loud and punchy (albeit compressed) output. The technical fabric exterior (which now includes a white option) lets it live among your furniture without screaming “party box,” while the optical input offers a possible TV speaker alternative. The large capacitive buttons on top let anyone adjust the volume, pause or play the music and select from two concurrent Bluetooth connections or a hardwired input (3.5mm or optical). On the edge with the silicone carrying handle there are the wired ports, plus one for charging USB devices and another for power. You can expect to get up to 24 hours of battery life, and the Hyperboom is good at holding a charge on standby.
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This capable and loud (roughly 100dB) speaker will please most people as long as the party is of primary concern over fidelity. The ability to remotely power your device on or off using the UE app is also a welcome feature. Plus you can easily expand the sound to other Ultimate Ears Boom speakers (except Wonderboom) using the PartyUp feature. The IPX4 rating means a few spilled drinks won’t hassle it, but it’s not the best Bluetooth speaker choice for all-weather adventures.
Factors to consider in a portable Bluetooth speaker
Weather-proofing
IP ratings (Ingress Protection) are the alphanumeric indicators you often see in a product’s spec sheet that define water and dust resistance. It’s usually a combo of two numbers with the first indicating solid object ingress and the second being water. The former goes from 0 (no protection) to 6 (dustproof). The water-resistance rating goes from 0 (no protection) to 9 (protected against immersion and high pressure jets). When an X is used instead of a number, that means the product wasn’t tested for resistance. If it’s a waterproof speaker, it may have some innate resistance to solids, but there’s no guarantee.
IP67 is a common rating these days indicating highly resistant and potentially rugged speakers often featured in audio products like outdoor speakers. These are safe for quick dunks in the pool or tub and should be more than OK in the rain or in the shower. They’re also good options for the beach, playground and other rough environs.
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Additionally, speakers with ports and a high rating will often include a tight-fitting cover over the charging or auxiliary ports. If you plan on using the ports, that may limit the product’s rated ability to fend off the elements.
When looking for the best portable Bluetooth speaker, consider the IP rating and also how you plan to use your Bluetooth speaker when making your decision. It may be worth splurging on a better sounding model with a lower IP rating if you’ll mostly be using it indoors, for instance.
Battery life
The focus of this guide is on the best portable speakers, and while “portable” can be a relative term, these devices are generally for people who are likely to find themselves far from a power outlet. These days, around 12 hours of playtime seems to be the baseline but obviously, the more battery life you can get out of a speaker, the better, especially if you plan to listen to podcasts or music on the go.
That said, be careful when looking at battery specs, as they frequently list a maximum runtime (“up to” x amount of hours). This usually means they tested at a low to mid volume. If you like your tunes loud with punchy bass, it can often end up cutting the expected usage time in half or more. Luckily, some manufacturers also list the expected hours of battery life when used at full volume and that transparency is appreciated. Bear in mind, however, that not all of the best Bluetooth speakers use the same charging port. Some support USB-C charging, while others use micro-USB, and some may even come with an adapter for added convenience.
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Additionally, if your audio system or mini Bluetooth speaker also happens to have Wi-Fi connectivity, they’re usually designed for always-on functionality. Unlike normal Bluetooth speakers that go to sleep after a short period without use, these will usually stay awake (to listen for your commands) and slowly run down the battery. If you’re out and about, you’ll want to remember to turn these speakers off manually when not in use to maximize battery life.
Range
Bluetooth 5 offers better range and more reliable connectivity than its predecessors, making it a great feature to look for in the best Bluetooth speaker. That said, Bluetooth range can still be tricky. Some companies list their product’s longest possible range, usually outdoors and in an unobstructed line-of-sight test environment. Other companies stick with a 30-foot range on the spec sheet and leave it at that, even though they may be running Bluetooth 4.x or 5.x. That’s likely underselling the speaker’s potential, but unpredictable environments can affect range and there’s little point in promising the moon only to get complaints.
I’ve seen signal drop issues when crouching down, with my phone in the front pocket of my jeans, and barely 30 feet away from a speaker inside my apartment. I ran into this issue across several devices regardless of their listed Bluetooth connectivity range.
If you’re hosting a patio party and duck inside, it’s wise to keep any wireless Bluetooth speakers relatively close by just in case. It’s hard to gauge what aspects of any environment may interfere with a Bluetooth signal. In general, take range specs around 100 feet or more as a perfect-world scenario.
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Latency
This is a minor mention for those out there who use a speaker for their computer output, or as a mini Bluetooth soundbar solution for setups like a monitor and streaming box. It’s annoying to find that your speaker’s latency isn’t low enough to avoid lip sync issues. Luckily, it seems that most speakers these days don’t often have these problems. Only a handful of the few dozen speakers I tried had persistent, noticeable lip-sync issues. Aside from occasional blips, all of our picks worked well in this regard.
If you plan to frequently use a speaker for video playback, look for devices with the most recent Bluetooth 5 technology and lower latency codecs like aptX. Also make sure the speaker is close to the source device as distance can be a factor. To avoid the issue altogether, though, consider getting one with a wired auxiliary input.
Extra features
Some speakers don’t just play music — they bring the party to life with built-in LED light effects and a full-on light show that syncs to your music. If you love a bit of visual flair with your tunes, it’s worth checking out models that offer LED light customization options.
Sound quality also plays a huge role in picking the right speaker. The best Bluetooth speaker should deliver a balanced mix of punchy bass, clear highs and strong vocals. Many models also include customizable sound modes that let you tweak the EQ to better suit different genres — whether you’re blasting EDM, listening to a podcast, or just want a more immersive experience that would impress even an audiophile.
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If aesthetics matter, many models come in a tiny size that makes them extra portable, with plenty of color options to match your personal style. Whether you want a sleek black speaker or a vibrant eye-catching design, there are plenty of choices to fit your vibe.
Other portable Bluetooth speakers we tested
Sonos Roam
While there’s a lot to like about the Sonos Roam, there are plenty of other Bluetooth speakers with more features and better battery life. In our review, we gave the Roam a score of 87, praising it for its good sound quality, durable waterproof design and ability to work well within an existing Sonos speaker ecosystem. But the price is just fine at $180, and we found Bluetooth speakers that offer more at lower price points. Plus, the Roam taps out at 10 hours of battery life, and all of our top picks can run for longer than that on a single charge.
Monoprice Soundstage3
The Monoprice Soundstage3 offers relatively big sound at a midrange $250 price, with a variety of inputs rarely found on a portable Bluetooth speaker. The boxy, minimalist design is no nonsense, even if it’s more of a less-rugged, bookshelf-styled homebody. While the speaker puts out crisp highs alongside booming lows, we found the bass can overpower the rest of the output, so it’s not for everyone. And after using the speaker for many months, we also found the low-slung, poorly labeled button panel along the top can be a bit annoying to use. If you want a speaker for road trips, favor mids and highs, and plan on using physical buttons for volume control and input selections, there are better options out there.
JBL Boombox 3
Fans of JBL’s bluetooth speaker sound profile who want to crank up the volume, but also want a rugged and portable option, may enjoy the JBL Boombox 3. It’s a decent grab-and-go speaker with a very loud output, although it’s not as good as some of the loud-speaker styled options for long-throw sound and big outdoor areas. However, the price for this speaker line remains prohibitively expensive compared to other options with big sound that cover a bit more ground. If the JBL brand is your thing and you like the rugged, portable form factor, we recommend looking for discounts, or shopping around and exploring the available options including the (less portable) JBL PartyBox series.
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Soundcore Motion X500
Soundcore speakers have generally been good and often reasonably priced. The Motion X500 loosely falls into that category. It has a tall, metallic lunchbox vibe with a fixed handle and pumps out a respectable 40 watts of crisp, clear sound for its size. It can get pretty loud and serves up a good dose of bass, although its primarily a front-facing speaker.
There’s LDAC hi-res audio support for Android users, but the main selling point on this is spatial audio. This is done through an EQ change and the activation of a small, up-firing driver. There’s a slight benefit from this if you’re up close and directly in front of it, but it’s not a total game changer for your listening experience. The original pre-order price of $130 made it a decent option in terms of bang for your buck. But it went up to $170 at launch, making it less appealing even if it’s still a good middle-of-the-road option if you want small-ish, clear and loud. If you can find one on sale for the lower price, it’s definitely worth considering. There’s also the larger and louder X600 ($200) if the overall concept is working for you.
Portable Bluetooth speaker FAQs
How does a Bluetooth speaker work?
Bluetooth technology lets devices connect and exchange data over short distances using ultra high frequency (UHF) radio waves. It’s the frequency range that’s carved out for industrial, scientific and medical purposes, called the 2.4GHz ISM spectrum band. This range is available worldwide, making it easy for companies to use with devices for global markets.
Bluetooth speakers include this tech, which lets them communicate with source devices like smartphones, tablets or computers in order to exchange data. The two devices pair by sharing a unique code and will work within the proscribed range for the device and Bluetooth version.
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Ever since Bluetooth 4.0 was released over a decade ago, new iterations usually improve on range, use less power and offer expanded connectivity with features like multipoint (allowing more than one device to be connected at the same time, for instance).
Who should buy a Portable Bluetooth speaker?
If you want to play music while you’re out-and-about on something other than headphones, a portable Bluetooth speaker is probably what you want. There’s a broad range of devices for all types of circumstances. Many adventurous people will want a relatively lightweight portable that’s rugged enough to handle the elements while also packing enough charge to play for hours on end. Others may simply need a speaker they can move around the house or use in the backyard. In this case, you can choose larger less rugged models that may offer better sound.
Sony has replaced one of the very best pound-for-pound wireless turntables you could buy with one of the very best pound-for-pound wireless turntables you can buy. It’s not without its foibles, but the PS-LX5BT has an awful lot to recommend it
Sonic drive and detail in more-or-less equal measure
Time catches us with us all, though – and Sony has decided to replace the 310 with not one but two new models. This PS-LX5BT is the more expensive of the two new faces – does it have what it takes to follow a classic?
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Design
Diecast aluminium platter
Weighs 3.6kg
Even with its diecast aluminium platter and its clear Perspex dust cover fitted, the PS-LX5BT tips the scales at a flyweight 3.6kg. A heavier turntable doesn’t automatically mean a better turntable, of course – but the weight of this Sony doesn’t inspire a whole lot of confidence.
Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)
That’s not to suggest the standard of construction or finish is in any way sub-par, though. The 117 x 430 x 366mm (HWD) deck is properly made, and all the physical controls operate with nice positivity. Sony has long been a master of giving an impression of quality no matter how much (or how little) it’s charging for a product, and the 5BT is no exception.
Features
aptX Adaptive Bluetooth connectivity
Switchable phono stage
Pre-fitted, pre-adjusted moving magnet cartridge
Fundamentally, the PS-LX5BT is ‘just’ a record player. It’s a belt-drive design, and can operate at 33.3 or 45rpm. It has an aluminium pipe tonearm, with a pre-fitted and pre-adjusted moving magnet cartridge attached to the business end. It has a rubber slip-mat.
But beyond this, Sony has piled on the features. Most significantly, the PS-LX5BT is a Bluetooth transmitter – it has the analogue-to-digital conversion circuitry required, and its compatibility with the aptX Adaptive codec means any similarly specified Bluetooth receiver (headphones, powered speakers, whatever) can receive a lossy 48kHz stream from the Sony.
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The PS-LX5BT is also fitted with a phono stage, which is defeatable – so the output from the stereo RCA connections on the rear of the plinth can be at phono- or line-level. If you’re using the integrated phono stage, you can switch between three gain levels to ensure you’re getting an appropriate level of volume.
And it’s fully automatic in operation, too. There are controls to let the turntable know the size of the record on its platter (12-inch or 7-inch) and to let it know if it should turn the platter at 33.3 or 45rpm. There are three buttons (start, stop and up/down) to get things started or bring them to an end, and there is a button to initiate Bluetooth pairing.
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In practice, it all works very well and very reliably. Bluetooth pairing is swift, and once a connection is made it proves stable and robust. The automatic stop/start is equally dependable – and it’s to Sony’s credit that the PS-LX5BT will automatically play 45rpm 12-inch discs. Many automatic turntables can only equate 45rpm with 7-inch disc, but this one is a bit more adaptable.
About the only gripe I have where features are concerned centres around the tracking weight of the unbranded moving magnet cartridge. Sony suggests it’s been factory-set to 2.0g (+/- 0.5g), but my review sample has a weight of a little over 3.1g – which is on the hefty side but not fatally so. The inability to adjust the counterweight does mean you get what you’re given in this respect, though.
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Performance
Energetic, direct and confident sound
Plenty of detail to go along with the drive
Not the most even or balanced presentation
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There are differences, of course, between the way the PS-LX5BT sounds when wirelessly connected to a system and its sound when it’s hard-wired into the same system. What’s quite impressive, though, is how minor these differences are and how consistent the Sony sounds no matter the method of connection.
Wirelessly connected and playing a heavyweight reissue of Elaenia by Floating Points, the Sony’s fundamental character – energetic, forward and rhythmically sure-footed – is made immediately obvious.
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In ultimate terms the PS-LX5BT overstates the lowest frequencies in a recording, but it’s never bloated of draggy at the bottom of the frequency range – there’s plenty of variation to go along with the substance, and the control of attack and decay means tempos are handled confidently and rhythmic expression is naturalistic too.
Further up the frequency range there’s a similar amount of detail, both broad and fine, made available – and the tonal balance is, as with the lower frequencies, quite carefully neutral. The midrange is also very revealing of the PS-LX5BT’s ability to create an open and spacious soundstage, even though it’s probably nudged forward just a little when compared to what’s occurring around it.
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There’s plenty of dynamic headroom available too, so when the recording really ramps up the intensity the Sony is able to track those fluctuations and express them coherently. It’s pretty adept where the dynamics of harmonic variation are concerned, too – its ability to paint what sounds very much like a complete picture in dynamic terms is never less than impressive.
Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)
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At the top of the frequency range, though, the PS-LX5BT changes its tune just a little. There’s still detail revealed and a definite sense of energy at the top end, but treble sounds are a little insubstantial in comparison with the rest of the frequency range and can, in extremis, sound a touch splashy.
Switch to a wired connection, engage the integrated phono stage and set gain to ‘mid’, and the Sony seems to double down on its sonic characteristics, for both good and bad. It remains a quite forceful and upfront listen, but its low-frequency preoccupation becomes a little more pronounced and its relative lack of high-frequency substance becomes a little more apparent.
In the broadest terms, though, the Sony sounds identifiably like its wireless self – which can only be good news.
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Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)
Should you buy it?
You enjoy fuss-free vinyl parties
You’re after as painless and convenient a vinyl experience as this sort of money can buy
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The performance to match its wired counterparts
You’re expecting sound quality comparable to that of a ‘dumb’ £400 turntable
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Final Thoughts
I am familiar enough with the outgoing PS-LX310BT to anticipate good things from the PS-LX5BT – but despite its little inconsistencies where outright sound quality is concerned, I’m nevertheless startled at just how accomplished and easy to live with this turntable is.
Which I suppose means the lesson is: never doubt Sony’s ability to get where it intends to go.
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How We Test
I connected the PS-LX5BT to an Eversolo DAC-Z10 pre-amplifier via aptX Adaptive Bluetooth, and also to its analogue input using both the deck’s integrated phono amplification and via a Leema Elements phono stage.
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The Eversolo is connected via XLR to a Cambridge Edge W stereo power amplifier, which is in turn connected to a pair of Bowers & Wilkins 705 S3 Signature loudspeakers.
I also connected the Sony to a pair of the company’s WF-1000XM6 true wireless in-ear headphones.
Tested for several days
Tested with real world use
FAQs
Can I connect directly to my headphones?
As long as they’re wireless headphones, then Bluetooth connectivity is available. There’s no headphone socket here, though.
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What should I do if the tracking weight is too much or too little?
I’m afraid you’re stuck with it – there’s no ability to adjust the counterweight here.
Toshiba’s M12 Series of 3.5-inch drives uses Shingled Magnetic Recording to achieve storage capacities ranging from 30 to 34TB. The Japanese corporation – one of the world’s largest HDD manufacturers alongside Seagate and Western Digital – said the new line of drives is specifically designed for hyperscale customers, cloud service… Read Entire Article Source link
For more than a month, security practitioners have been warning about the perils of using OpenClaw, the viral AI agentic tool that has taken the development community by storm. A recently fixed vulnerability provides an object lesson for why.
OpenClaw, which was introduced in November and now boasts 347,000 stars on Github, by design takes control of a user’s computer and interacts with other apps and platforms to assist with a host of tasks, including organizing files, doing research, and shopping online. To be useful, it needs access—and lots of it—to as many resources as possible. Telegram, Discord, Slack, local and shared network files, accounts, and logged in sessions are only some of the intended resources. Once the access is given, OpenClaw is designed to act precisely as the user would, with the same broad permissions and capabilities.
Severe impact
Earlier this week, OpenClaw developers released security patches for three high-severity vulnerabilities. The severity rating of one in particular, CVE-2026-33579, is rated from 8.1 to 9.8 out of a possible 10 depending on the metric used—and for good reason. It allows anyone with pairing privileges (the lowest-level permission) to gain administrative status. With that, the attacker has control of whatever resources the OpenClaw instance does.
“The practical impact is severe,” researchers from AI app-builder Blink wrote. “An attacker who already holds operator.pairing scope—the lowest meaningful permission in an OpenClaw deployment—can silently approve device pairing requests that ask for operator.admin scope. Once that approval goes through, the attacking device holds full administrative access to the OpenClaw instance. No secondary exploit is needed. No user interaction is required beyond the initial pairing step.”
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The post continued: “For organizations running OpenClaw as a company-wide AI agent platform, a compromised operator.admin device can read all connected data sources, exfiltrate credentials stored in the agent’s skill environment, execute arbitrary tool calls, and pivot to other connected services. The word ‘privilege escalation’ undersells this: the outcome is full instance takeover.”
Tesla delivered 358,023 battery electric vehicles in the first quarter of 2026, edging past BYD’s 310,389 pure electric sales to reclaim the global quarterly BEV lead it surrendered across all of 2025. The margin, roughly 48,000 units, was enough for the headline. What it was not enough to do was silence the questions multiplying around Elon Musk’s car company.
The 358,023 figure, reported on Thursday, missed the Wall Street consensus of 365,645 by about 7,600 vehicles, and Tesla’s stock promptly fell more than 5 per cent in its steepest single-day drop of the year. The company has now lost roughly 20 per cent of its market value since January. More troubling than the miss itself was the gap between production and deliveries: Tesla built 408,386 vehicles during the quarter but shipped only 358,023, adding more than 50,000 units to inventory in a single period. That is a demand signal, not a logistics hiccup.
Year on year, deliveries rose 6.3 per cent from Q1 2025’s 336,681 units. But Q1 2025 was Tesla’s weakest quarter in years, depressed by production shutdowns across all four factories for the transition to the refreshed “Juniper” Model Y. Beating a trough is not the same as demonstrating recovery. The Model 3 and Model Y accounted for 341,893 of the quarter’s deliveries, with production of those two models reaching 394,611, meaning the inventory build was concentrated in Tesla’s bread-and-butter vehicles. The Cybertruck offered the one unambiguous bright spot, surging 111 per cent year on year to 38,500 deliveries.
BYD’s quarterly dip, meanwhile, requires its own set of caveats. The Chinese New Year holidays fall in Q1 and consistently depress domestic purchase volumes, making the period BYD’s weakest for pure electric sales every year. BYD sold 700,463 new energy vehicles in total during the quarter, nearly double Tesla’s output, though that figure was down roughly 30 per cent from Q1 2025 and reflects a deliberate strategic pivot: consumers and BYD itself are shifting toward the company’s DM-i and DM-p plug-in hybrid platforms, which offer extended-range flexibility that pure electric models cannot yet match in China’s vast interior markets.
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The 💜 of EU tech
The latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol’ founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It’s free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!
The full-year context makes the quarterly headline even less convincing as a trend reversal. In 2025, BYD delivered 2,254,714 BEVs to Tesla’s 1,636,129, a gap of more than 600,000 units that no amount of seasonal fluctuation will close. BYD’s domestic market share did contract from 27 per cent to 17 per cent in the first two months of 2026, squeezed by a ferocious price war and the expiration of government purchase subsidies at the end of 2025. But the company is compensating with an aggressive international push: overseas shipments hit 120,083 vehicles in March alone, a 65 per cent year-on-year increase that means roughly 40 per cent of BYD’s monthly sales now come from export markets for the first time. It is precisely the kind of rapid geographic diversification thatEurope’s own technology and industrial champions have struggled to executeat comparable speed.
Tesla’s European position has deteriorated more sharply than any other major market. Registrations across the EU, EFTA, and UK fell 17 per cent in January from an already weak prior-year base, with Norway down 88 per cent after the country terminated long-standing EV tax exemptions on 1 January, the Netherlands cratering 67 per cent, and France declining 42 per cent. The causes are structural, not cyclical. Musk’s role in the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency triggered a global boycott movement that saw protests at Tesla showrooms in more than 250 cities. Dan Ives, the Wedbush Securities analyst long regarded as one of Tesla’s most prominent advocates on Wall Street, warned that demand would be permanently reduced by roughly 10 per cent, arguing that the brand damage from Musk’s political activities would be stained forever in Europe and the US.
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March brought partial relief. Tesla’s European registrations tripled in France and more than doubled in the Nordic countries, though from the catastrophically low bases that January and February had established. Whether that trajectory holds depends in large part on whether European consumers are willing to separate the product from its chief executive, a question thatChinese competitors repositioning their manufacturing inside European bordersare not giving them much time to deliberate.
The tariff environment is compounding the competitive pressure. EU levies on Chinese-made electric vehicles now reach as high as 28.8 per cent for some manufacturers, and the United States has layered its own duties on top. That has pushed Chinese automakers including Geely and BYD to localise production in Europe and South-East Asia, a strategy that, once operational, will eliminate the tariff disadvantage while preserving the cost advantages of avertically integrated Chinese battery supply chainthat European manufacturers have been unable to replicate. BYD is already building factories in Hungary, Turkey, and Thailand, and its 2026 overseas sales target has reportedly been raised to 1.5 million units.
For Tesla, the strategic challenge extends beyond any single quarter’s delivery figures. The company produced 50,000 more vehicles than it could sell in Q1, its energy storage deployments fell 38 per cent from the prior quarter, and its stock has entered 2026 in a sustained decline. Musk has signalled a pivot toward autonomous vehicles and robotaxis as the next growth engine, but the core car business, the one that generates the revenue to fund everything else, is showing signs of a demand ceiling in its most important markets.
BYD, by contrast, is managing a controlled transition from pure electric dominance toward a hybrid-plus-export model that diversifies its revenue geography and product mix simultaneously. Its BEV numbers dipped this quarter for reasons that repeat every year. Tesla’s numbers disappointed for reasons that might not.
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The quarterly BEV crown is a useful metric, but it measures one dimension of a contest that has becomefar more complex than a simple unit count. The question is no longer which company sells more pure electric cars in a given three-month window. It is which company’s business model, manufacturing footprint, and brand resilience are best positioned for aglobal automotive market in the middle of its most disruptive transitionsince the internal combustion engine replaced the horse. On that broader scorecard, a 48,000-unit quarterly lead is not the answer Tesla needs it to be.
The General Services Administration (GSA), an agency that oversees the government’s IT department and real estate holdings, is hiring “approximately 400 positions” across its Public Building Service (PBS) division, according to an email obtained by WIRED.
“We’re thrilled to announce that the GSA Strategic Hiring Committee has approved the PBS staffing plan designed to address our workforce needs and strengthen our teams,” states an email sent by PBS chief of staff Donna Dix to employees on Monday.
The email goes on to say that the hiring effort will focus on “the most significant areas of need: facilities management, acquisition, and project management.”
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GSA did not respond to a request for comment.
PBS, which manages the federal buildings under GSA’s banner, lost hundreds of employees in March 2025 following DOGE cuts. The agency, WIRED reported at the time, was also instructed to sell off more than 500 government buildings, some of which housed government agencies and the offices of US senators. One of the properties on the list was a sensitive complex housing a CIA facility in Northern Virginia. Since then, the agency has walked back the extent of these plans, and instead doubled down on assisting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) expand across the US. WIRED reported in February that GSA and PBS were assisting ICE’s plans to lease offices throughout the US as part of a massive expansion campaign.
This isn’t the first time that PBS has announced plans to rehire or replace federal employees cut by DOGE. In September, hundreds of PBS employees were given the opportunity to return to work months after they accepted a deferred resignation offer, effectively making their half-year separation an extended vacation.
Stephen Ehikian, the former acting head of the GSA, left the agency in September 2025 after conducting extensive layoffs. As of last May, 2,100 workers took deferred resignation and 1,000 more were laid off. “The opportunity we had was to restructure [GSA], slim it down, and now the team’s in a phenomenal position to build it back the way they want,” he told Nextgov at the time. Ehikian’s wife previously worked for Elon Musk’s social media firm X.
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Since leaving the government, Ehikian has moved into the private sector, running the enterprise AI firm C3 AI. Earlier this year, the company announced significant cuts to its workforce. Its stock plunged 17 percent following the announcement.
Dell Pro 5 Micro delivers desktop-class computing in an ultra-compact form
Single USB-C input allows powering directly from compatible Dell Pro monitors
Integrated NPU provides 50 TOPS performance for on-device AI acceleration
Dell is shrinking the office desktop computer down to a block which can sit entirely behind a monitor while still doing the work of a full-sized business PC.
The new Dell Pro 5 Micro Desktop ditches the traditional tower for an ultra-compact form, which suits offices where desk space is limited and cable clutter is a visible problem.
This device draws up to 100W of power through a single USB-C input and can therefore run directly off a compatible USB-C hub monitor, such as a Dell Pro P screen.
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USB-C powered design
The Dell Pro 5 Micro runs on Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors with an integrated NPU rated at up to 50 TOPS.
This is the maximum capacity Dell cites for its Copilot+ PC experience in the mainstream desktop line.
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That level of AI throughput supports on-device acceleration for Copilot-driven workflows, background optimization, and low-power inferencing tasks.
The system supports up to 64GB DDR5 memory at speeds up to 7200MT/s, which should help keep multitasking and database-style workloads responsive – but the downside is that the thermal envelope of such a small chassis will likely cap how long it can sustain peak loads.
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This device does not support Windows Studio Effects within Microsoft’s AI-oriented stack, which is notable given its Copilot+ classification – as a result, access to advanced camera and background processing features found on higher-end Copilot+ systems is limited.
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The Pro 5 Micro is compatible with the Dell Pro 5 Wired Fingerprint FSS Mouse (model MS526C), which supports Windows Hello Enhanced Security Sign-in.
That pairing positions the desktop as a low-form-factor endpoint for organizations that want to roll out Recall-compatible PCs without committing to larger desktops or notebooks.
Despite its small form, the Pro 5 is a Copilot+-capable desktop with Intel vPro-style manageability, so organizations can treat it like other Dell Pro endpoints for imaging, patching, and remote provisioning.
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Its standardized BIOS and cloud-based Intel vPro tools allow configurations to remain consistent across different CPU options without requiring separate system images.
This means IT teams can deploy and manage different hardware configurations without changing their workflow.
A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing ‘today’s game’ while others are playing ‘yesterday’s’. If you’re looking for Friday’s puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Friday, April 3 (game #1530).
Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,400 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.
Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc’s Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.
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SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers.
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Quordle today (game #1531) – hint #1 – Vowels
How many different vowels are in Quordle today?
• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 3*.
* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).
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Quordle today (game #1531) – hint #2 – repeated letters
Do any of today’s Quordle answers contain repeated letters?
• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 1.
Quordle today (game #1531) – hint #3 – uncommon letters
Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?
• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today’s Quordle answers.
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Every time you head to the hardware store, it seems like there’s a new cordless version of a tool you already own or a big company launching a tool to solve a problem you didn’t even know you had. It can be tough to navigate the constantly rotating inventory of hardware stores, whether you’re shopping in stores or online. Deciding what’s actually worth your hard-earned money is a hassle for both new homeowners building a tool collection from scratch and seasoned veterans simply looking to spend some extra cash on a new useful tool.
Of course, different renovation projects require different tools. Giving your bathroom a modern makeover is a much more involved project than organizing and hanging a photo wall. While each project might require a few specialized tools, there’s still a wealth of tools most homeowners would consider essential to have on deck at all times. We’ve rounded up 12 of these go-to tools, all of which are affordably priced under $75, well-reviewed, and can easily prove their worth after just a few uses.
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Vonforn Paint Sprayer
If you have a ton of painting planned for future renovations, a paint sprayer will make the process much faster and easier. The Vonforn Paint Sprayer is equipped with a 700-watt motor, an attached container that can hold up to 1200 milliliters of paint, and adjustable flow control with four different nozzle sizes, including 1mm, 1.5mm, 2mm, and 3mm.
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There are also three spraying patterns you can swap between — horizontal, vertical, and circular — to suit the needs of different projects. You can use this sprayer to put a fresh color on iron patio furniture or your kitchen chairs, to liven up an entire room in your home, or to paint pretty much anything else you can think of, including fences, doors, and cabinets.
Vonforn’s sprayer tool comes with a dust blowing joint that makes it easy to clear away dust and debris from the surface you’re about to paint. Then, cleaning up after you’re done painting is just as simple. The sprayer comes with a nozzle cleaning needle and a cleaning brush for the parts you’ll need to manually clean, and you can hook up the cleaning connector to your faucet to wash out any paint coating the pipe inside.
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Ryobi One+ 18V Cordless Drill/Driver Kit with Battery, Charger, and Bits
One of the best home improvement tools you can invest your money in is a good drill. The Ryobi One+ 18V Cordless Drill/Driver slides in at just under $75 and comes with a battery, a charger, and a 40-Piece Impact Drive Kit. Among the kit’s 40 total pieces, there are 14 one-inch impact drive bits, 12 black oxide drill bits, four bradpoint drill bits, four two-inch impact drive bits, three impact nut drivers, two woodboring spade bits, one impact magnetic bit holder, and a clear case to neatly hold everything.
As for the drill itself, it features a 3/8-inch keyless chuck, a variable speed trigger with possible speeds up to 600 RPM, and a built-in LED light to help you work in dark spots. Thanks to its lightweight of 2.8 pounds (without the battery), it’s comfortable to hold for long projects, and there’s an easy button to switch it between forward and reverse modes. And like many of Ryobi’s power tools, this 18V Cordless Drill is backed by a 3-year manufacturer’s warranty.
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Motovera Self-Leveling Laser Level with Tripod
The laser level is easily one of the most underrated home improvement tools. You might not need it often, but when you need to hang some pictures, curtains, or any other decor piece in your home, you’ll be grateful for your laser level. The Motovera Self-Leveling Laser Level is quite an affordable option, and it comes with an aluminum tripod to make the process of hanging anything even easier. The tripod can extend from 15 to 46 inches in height, swivel a complete 360 degrees, and tilt 90 degrees.
The level is equipped with a green light that Motovera says is about four times the brightness of standard red lasers and stays visible on walls up to 100 feet away from the level. If you don’t need 100% brightness, you can adjust it down in 25% increments. You can manually set the laser’s trajectory or use the built-in self-leveling mode, which can level within about four degrees of accuracy. If you need to hang something outside in drizzly or dusty conditions, no worries. The level has IP54 dust and water resistance, and it’s able to survive accidental drops from up to 30 inches.
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Skil 15-Amp Circular Saw
If you take on lofty home improvement projects, you might benefit from adding a circular saw to your collection. For quickly making precise, straight cuts in wood, metal, plastic, and other materials, there’s no better tool than a circular saw. The Skil 15-Amp, 7.25-Inch Circular Saw, in particular, is one home improvement tool designed to last a long time and carry you through hundreds of renovation projects.
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This circular saw by Skil features a 24-tooth, 7.25-inch carbide blade, a 15-amp motor capable of working up to 5,300 RPM, a 51-degree bevel capacity with a positive stop at 45 degrees, and a durable bag to neatly pack it away when you’re not using it. There are also quite a few built-in safety features, like a laser to guide you while making cuts, a spindle lock to make it easier to swap out the blade, and a guarded trigger paired with a power-on indicator to prevent accidental starts. Then, a built-in dust blower helps keep the area and your line of sight free of sawdust while working.
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Kobalt 158-Piece Household Tool Set with Folding Case
A must-have home improvement tool for renters and homeowners is a solid set of basic tools. It doesn’t necessarily need to be super fancy or high-quality, but it should ideally have a good mix of screwdrivers and other tools needed to hang pictures, put furniture together, and carry out simple repairs around your home. For a budget of $75 or less, we’re fans of the Kobalt 158-Piece Household Tool Set from Lowe’s.
Inside, there’s a 12-foot tape measure, a fiberglass hammer, some scissors, a nine-inch liquid level, a set of eight Metric and eight SAE hex keys, some pliers, an adjustable wrench, multiple precision screwdrivers, and a screwdriver handle with 20 essential bits — and that’s not even naming everything included among this kit’s 158 pieces, many of which are made with Chrome Vanadium steel. To keep everything organized well, this Kobalt kit comes with a hard storage case and molded spots for each included tool.
If this $60 household tool set is out of your price range, no problem. Instead, take a look at the best home improvement tools under $10 we rounded up to start your collection.
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Dremel 3100 Rotary Tool Kit
If you love putting finishing touches on each renovation project, a rotary tool kit is a must. You can use a good rotary tool to make small, precise cuts, sand surfaces, drill, engrave, carve, sharpen, grind, clean, and polish all kinds of materials, including wood, brass, metal, seashells, terracotta, and more. For less than $75, this Dremel 3100 Rotary Tool Kit comes with the rotary tool itself, an extra attachment, and 15 accessories. If you opt for only the rotary tool and a few accessories, you can often find this home improvement tool for under $50.
Dremel’s 3100 Rotary Tool features a 1.2-amp, variable speed motor with five total speeds between 5,000 and 35,000 RPM to experiment with. It has an EZ twist nose cap that makes swapping out accessories a breeze, a lightweight main body that’s easy to grip and made with 65% recycled plastic, and a 6-foot power cord that allows you plenty of room to work without needing to worry about the battery dying mid-project.
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Workpro 8-Piece Flex-Head Ratcheting Wrench Set
This Workpro 8-Piece Ratcheting Wrench Set may be more expensive than a basic wrench set, but if you’ve ever worked on a project that involves using wrenches a lot, you know how invaluable the ‘ratcheting’ feature can be in a tool set. Here are all the sizes included in this particular set: 5/16, 3/8, 7/16, 1/2, 9/16, 5/8, 11/16, and 3/4 inches. It’s easy to use any of these wrenches in tight spaces, thanks to each wrench being equipped with a 180-degree pivoting head and a 72-tooth ratchet gear that needs only a five-degree swing arc.
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Plus, the quality you get from Workpro’s wrenches is pretty great. Each of the wrenches in this set is constructed with heat-treated Chrome Vanadium steel and nickel-plated to prevent rust and corrosion. To further protect the tools, the set comes with a rolling pouch that’s made with durable, tear-resistant 1680D polyester material, has pockets with size markings for each wrench, and has four total fasteners to ensure the wrenches stay put while traveling.
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Stanley 6-Gallon Wet/Dry Shop Vacuum
If the only byproduct your renovation project has stirred up is a little dust and other small debris, you can probably use your home vacuum to clean up. But for many home improvement projects, there are nails, staples, big chunks of wood or sheetrock, other large materials, and occasionally liquids — all of which shouldn’t be sucked up by your everyday vacuum. Instead, you need a shop vac.
A good choice under $75 is Stanley’s 6-Gallon Shop Vacuum, equipped with a four peak-horsepower motor that promises powerful suction for dry debris and wet spills. In addition to seamlessly cleaning up these messes, it’s also capable of blowing air, great for clearing away leaves in your yard, quickly drying swimsuits, or airing up some inflatables.
With its 10-foot power cord, 6-foot hose, and two extension wands, you can clean over 16 feet away from an outlet. It also comes with a ton of accessories, including a crevice nozzle that’s great for cleaning vehicle seats, a floor nozzle, a gulper nozzle, a foam filter for wet debris, a reusable filter for dry debris, and a disposable filter bag. There are four spots above each wheel where you can store up to four nozzles or wand accessories.
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Wetols 27-in-1 Multi-Tool
Sometimes, multi-tools can be seen as a tool that’s only useful for outdoor enthusiasts or trades professionals, but they’re also insanely practical for DIYers taking on multiple home improvement tasks. By definition, they’re packed with multiple tools in a compact, pocket-sized footprint, and many of the tools they include are ones used frequently in renovation projects. For its value, we love the Wetols 27-in-1 Multi-Tool. It’s well under $75 (and often goes on sale for much less), made with hardened stainless steel that’s resistant to rust and corrosion, and comes with so many tiny yet quality tools.
Just to name a few of its most helpful tools for tackling home projects, it’s equipped with a small hammer, needle nose pliers, soft and hard wire cutters, a double tooth saw, a serrated blade, a knife, and multiple different screwdriver bits. Less practical tools that are still neat include a fire starter, a window breaker, a whistle, a wood and metal file, and an opener for bottles and cans. If you wanted a cheaper multi-tool with less tools, check out Wetols’ 21-in-1 Multi-Tool, a stellar option that’s surprised many Amazon users with impressive quality for its price.
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Kobalt 15-Inch Carbon Steel Pry Bar
Sometimes, the best tool for the job isn’t the smartest or the most powerful; it’s the simplest. This 15-Inch Carbon Steel Pry Bar by Kobalt isn’t much to look at, but it’s capable of quite a lot. It’s essentially a long, thin bar of forged and heat-treated carbon steel with a matte finish, all coming together to increase its strength, durability, and wear resistance.
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This unassuming pry bar will keep your home repairs simple, especially when it comes to the demolition portion of a project. On one end of the bar, there are two different slots to help you safely pull nails out of wood, metal, flooring, and other materials. Then, if you need to lift or separate wooden boards, baseboard trim, clapboard siding, or pretty much any other material, you can use the pry bar’s other end to get great leverage. Plus, if you need to remove a small amount of drywall, you can simply use the pry bar instead of opting for a dedicated mallet or hammer.
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Bauer 5-Inch Random Orbit Palm Sander
Countless home improvement projects involve sanding. While you can certainly take on the process manually with individual sandpaper sheets or tackle small areas with a rotary tool, nothing can really compare with a power random orbit palm sander for big projects. A simple power sander is one home improvement tool some people don’t realize exists, but once you use one, you’ll wonder why you didn’t grab one sooner.
To save quite a bit of money on this helpful power tool, we’d recommend looking for the Bauer 5-Inch Random Orbit Palm Sander at affordable retailer Harbor Freight. This sander features a grippy rubber handle, variable six-speed control, a dust collection chamber, and a 2.8-amp, fan-cooled motor with sealed bearings that’s capable of producing up to 13,000 OPM (orbits per minute). Its random orbital action moves only 3/32 of an inch to give your surface a swirl-free finish, and the six-foot power cord gives you adequate leeway to move around.
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Quinn 66-Piece SAE and Metric Socket Set
Owning a socket set allows you to work on your vehicles as well as bicycles, some furniture, and various home improvement tasks. That said, for most homeowners or renters who rely on a mechanic for vehicle-related work, there’s no need to spend an arm and a leg on a super high-quality socket set. Instead, opt for an affordable yet reliable option through Harbor Freight, like this Quinn 66-Piece SAE and Metric Socket Set.
Quinn’s Socket Set comes with three 72-tooth, quick-release ratchets, three extension bars of various sizes, 26 1/4-inch sockets, 28 3/8-inch sockets, and six 1/2-inch sockets. All the sockets and ratchets are crafted with Chrome Vanadium steel to boost durability and resistance to rust, scratches, and corrosion. Then, every socket features a high-visibility marking and the SAE and Metric sockets are color-coded to make it easier to grab exactly what you’re looking for. To keep the whole set organized, each piece has its own dedicated spot in the included blow-molded storage case.
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Methodology
Schlol/Getty Images
To create this list of home improvement tools that are actually worth your money, we used specific criteria to guide us while searching online stores. Each tool we selected needed to have at least 100 reviews, an average rating of at least 4 stars, and a price below $75. That said, except for a few items on this list, most items have well over 1,000 reviews and an average rating of at least 4.6 stars.
We scoured hundreds of possible tools online at these popular hardware retailers: Amazon, Lowe’s, Home Depot, and Harbor Freight. We tried to choose a good mix of tools that are essential for new homeowners to start their collection with, as well as tools that established homeowners might not have yet, but are incredibly useful.
iPad accessories are endless. Below, we’ve highlighted some of our favorites to round out your tablet experience, and you can find more in our Best iPad Accessories guide.
Zugu Case for $50+: This is our favorite folio case for the iPad for multiple reasons. It’s not only durable (complete with a rigid bumper), but it also has a magnetized cover that stays shut and a flap that allows you to position the screen at eight different angles. The case is magnetic, allowing you to stick it on the fridge securely. It’s also reasonably priced, comes in an array of colors, and has a spot for your Apple Pencil.
Satechi M1 Wireless Mouse for $25: We’re already big fans of Satechi’s accessories at WIRED, and this mouse didn’t disappoint. It has a comfortable ergonomic design, a sleek aluminum finish, and smooth scrolling. It has great battery life too—with a built-in lithium-ion battery, I’ve been using it for the past four months and have yet to charge it.
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Mageasy CoverBuddy Case (iPad Pro) for $70: This case allows you to magnetically connect it to Apple’s Magic Keyboard case without having to take off the case each time. It feels durable and doesn’t add too much bulk to the iPad. There’s also a slot for the Apple Pencil Pro or the USB-C version. The company also offers the CoverBuddy Lite for the iPad Air (M2).
Photograph: Brenda Stolyar
Logitech Combo Touch (10th-Gen) for $260: The Combo Touch (8/10, WIRED Recommends) comes with a built-in keyboard, trackpad, and kickstand, making it ideal for getting work done on your iPad. It’s also detachable, so you can easily remove the keyboard when you don’t need it. It connects via Apple’s Smart Connector, meaning you never need to tinker with Bluetooth or bother charging it. It’s also available for the iPad Pro (M4) and M5 (although it does add a bit of weight to such a thin tablet) and the iPad Air (M2).
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Casetify Impact Screen Protector for $56: If you’re worried about damaging your iPad screen, I recommend this protector from Casetify. It’s super thin, has excellent touch sensitivity, and is mostly fingerprint-resistant (I’ve wiped some smudges here and there). It’s painless to apply—the company supplies a microfiber cloth, a de-dusting sticker, and wet and dry wipes.
Paperlike Charcoal Folio Case for $70: Paperlike is known for its screen protector, but the company also offers a great case. It’s designed to feel like a sketchbook, complete with a polyester fabric cover that feels lightweight and high-quality. You can also prop your iPad up at two different levels. It doesn’t come with an Apple Pencil slot, but there is a large flap closure that keeps it from falling out. I tested it with the iPad Air, but it’s also available for the iPad Pro (both sizes).
StayGo Mini
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Courtesy of Twelve South
Twelve South StayGo Mini USB-C Hub for $60: Ports are limited regardless of the iPad model. This hub from Twelve South has an 85-watt USB-C port with passthrough charging, a USB-A port, an HDMI port, and a headphone jack. If you have trouble fitting it on an iPad with a case, the included socket-USB-C-to-plug-USB-C cable will fix this.
Apple Magic Trackpad (USB-C) for $140: For a spacious trackpad, the Magic Trackpad 2 is a great choice. Instead of physical buttons, it has Force Touch sensors where you can feel different levels of pressure on the pad. With support for various iPadOS gestures, you won’t have to touch the screen as much. It automatically pairs with your iPad via Bluetooth and recharges with the Lightning port.
Twelve South HoverBar Duo 2.0 for $80: The HoverBar serves two purposes. You can mount it to the side of your bed, kitchen counter, or shelf (to view content comfortably and hands-free), or you can use the included stand at your desk. With the 2nd-gen version, you can now remove the arm from the clamp and attach it directly to the stand, making it easier to swap between both modes.
A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing ‘today’s game’ while others are playing ‘yesterday’s’. If you’re looking for Friday’s puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Friday, April 3 (game #1027).
Good morning! Let’s play Connections, the NYT’s clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.
What should you do once you’ve finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I’ve also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc’s Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.
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SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers.
Article continues below
NYT Connections today (game #1028) – today’s words
(Image credit: New York Times)
Today’s NYT Connections words are…
BAND
MASK
САРЕ
LIE
BLUFF
BOOT
SPIT
SHIELD
LET
POINT
BASE
COVER
SLEEPING
SCREEN
SUMMER
DOGS
NYT Connections today (game #1028) – hint #1 – group hints
What are some clues for today’s NYT Connections groups?
YELLOW: Say what you see
GREEN: Slightly hidden
BLUE: Seaside geography
PURPLE: Add a word that rhymes with “lamp”
Need more clues?
We’re firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today’s NYT Connections puzzles…
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NYT Connections today (game #1028) – hint #2 – group answers
What are the answers for today’s NYT Connections groups?
YELLOW: “LET SLEEPING DOGS LIE”
GREEN: OBSCURE
BLUE: COASTAL LANDFORMS
PURPLE: ____ CAMP
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM.
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NYT Connections today (game #1028) – the answers
(Image credit: New York Times)
The answers to today’s Connections, game #1028, are…
YELLOW: “LET SLEEPING DOGS LIE” DOGS, LET, LIE, SLEEPING
GREEN: OBSCURE COVER, MASK, SCREEN, SHIELD
BLUE: COASTAL LANDFORMS BLUFF, CAPE, POINT, SPIT
PURPLE: ____ CAMP BAND, BASE, BOOT, SUMMER
My rating: Easy
My score: Perfect
Am I the only person who really dislikes it when the four tiles form the name of the category like today’s yellow group “LET SLEEPING DOGS LIE” with its tiles LET, SLEEPING, DOGS, and LIE? My reason is that often Connections will tease us with groups just like this, that seem obvious, but when you submit them they are just a trick to fool us into a mistake.
Apologies, I shall wind my neck in now.
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Irritations aside this was a relatively straightforward game — probably down to that one big red herring that wasn’t actually a red herring, making the deployment of all other red herrings moot.
Yesterday’s NYT Connections answers (Friday, April 3, game #1027)
PURPLE: ____ CONTROL CRUISE, DAMAGE, GROUND, MISSION
What is NYT Connections?
NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.
On the plus side, you don’t technically need to solve the final one, as you’ll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What’s more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.
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It’s a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.
It’s playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.
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