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Best Speakers & Audio 2026 — Smart Speakers, Soundbars & Bluetooth

Find the perfect speaker for your home, outdoor adventures, or home cinema. Compare smart speakers, soundbars, and portable Bluetooth speakers.

AI Top Pick

Our Recommendation: Sonos Era 300

Premium spatial audio smart speaker with Dolby Atmos, 6 drivers, and multi-room capability.

★★★★★4.5/5 (3,450 reviews)
  • Incredible spatial audio
  • Dolby Atmos support
  • Multi-room with Sonos ecosystem
from£449
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What are the best speakers to buy right now?

Our top-rated speakers right now are the Sonos Era 300 (£449). These are our editor's picks based on value, performance, and user reviews.

AI Pick
AI RecommendedTop Rated-11%Lightning Deal
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Sonos Era 300

★★★★½4.5(3,450 reviews)
from£399RRP £4493 retailers
typeSmart speaker
drivers6 (4 tweeters + 2 woofers)
audioDolby Atmos, Spatial Audio
Incredible spatial audioDolby Atmos support
Very expensive
Affiliate link

What is the best smart speaker for music?

The Sonos Era 300 is the best-sounding smart speaker with Dolby Atmos spatial audio. The Apple HomePod 2 is the best for Apple users. For budget: the Amazon Echo Dot 5 at £49 is remarkable for its size.

AI Pick
AI RecommendedTop Rated-11%Lightning Deal
SonosAI VerifiedAI Verified

Sonos Era 300

★★★★½4.5(3,450 reviews)
from£399RRP £4493 retailers
typeSmart speaker
drivers6 (4 tweeters + 2 woofers)
audioDolby Atmos, Spatial Audio
Incredible spatial audioDolby Atmos support
Very expensive
Affiliate link
AppleAI VerifiedAI Verified

Apple HomePod 2

★★★★4.3(5,670 reviews)
from£299$299
typeSmart speaker
drivers5 tweeters + 1 woofer
audioSpatial Audio, Dolby Atmos
Excellent sound for its sizeDeep HomeKit integration
Siri is less capable than Alexa
Affiliate link
AmazonAI VerifiedAI Verified

Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen

★★★★4.4(98,760 reviews)
from£49$49
typeCompact smart speaker
drivers1.73" front-firing
audioMono
Incredibly affordableAlexa is feature-rich
Small speaker = limited audio
Affiliate link

What is the best portable Bluetooth speaker?

The JBL Charge 5 is the best all-rounder — 20-hour battery, IP67 waterproof, and it charges your phone. The Bose SoundLink Max delivers audiophile-quality bass for those who want premium sound outdoors.

Top Rated-25%25% Off
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JBL Charge 5

★★★★½4.6(34,560 reviews)
from£119RRP £1594 retailers
typePortable Bluetooth speaker
driversRacetrack woofer + tweeter
battery20 hours
20-hour batteryIP67 waterproof
Heavy at 960g
Affiliate link
Top Rated
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Bose SoundLink Max

★★★★½4.5(2,340 reviews)
from£349$399
typePortable Bluetooth speaker
drivers2 custom transducers + 2 passive radiators
battery20 hours
Incredible bass for a portableBose sound quality
Expensive
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What is the best soundbar for a living room?

The Samsung HW-Q990D is the ultimate home cinema setup with 11.1.4 channels, wireless sub and rear speakers. For smaller rooms, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 offers Dolby Atmos in a compact package.

Top Rated
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Samsung HW-Q990D

★★★★½4.6(4,560 reviews)
from£999$1,099
typeSoundbar system
channels11.1.4
audioDolby Atmos, DTS:X
True cinema surround sound11.1.4 channels
Very expensive
Affiliate link
Top Rated
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Sonos Beam Gen 2

★★★★½4.5(8,760 reviews)
from£449$449
typeSoundbar
drivers5 (4 tweeters + 1 woofer)
audioDolby Atmos, Dolby Digital 5.1
Dolby Atmos in compact sizeGreat for small rooms
No HDMI passthrough
Affiliate link

Alexa, Google, or Siri — which smart assistant is best?

Alexa (Amazon Echo) has the most skills and smart home compatibility. Google Assistant is the smartest for answering questions. Siri (HomePod) is the most private and best for Apple HomeKit users. For most people: Alexa.

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Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen

★★★★4.4(98,760 reviews)
from£49$49
typeCompact smart speaker
drivers1.73" front-firing
audioMono
Incredibly affordableAlexa is feature-rich
Small speaker = limited audio
Affiliate link
AppleAI VerifiedAI Verified

Apple HomePod 2

★★★★4.3(5,670 reviews)
from£299$299
typeSmart speaker
drivers5 tweeters + 1 woofer
audioSpatial Audio, Dolby Atmos
Excellent sound for its sizeDeep HomeKit integration
Siri is less capable than Alexa
Affiliate link

Do I need a soundbar if I have a smart speaker?

Yes — smart speakers are designed for music, not movies. Soundbars add dialogue clarity, surround sound, and bass that TV speakers and smart speakers simply cannot match. Even a budget soundbar is a massive upgrade over built-in TV audio.

Top Rated
SonosAI VerifiedAI Verified

Sonos Beam Gen 2

★★★★½4.5(8,760 reviews)
from£449$449
typeSoundbar
drivers5 (4 tweeters + 1 woofer)
audioDolby Atmos, Dolby Digital 5.1
Dolby Atmos in compact sizeGreat for small rooms
No HDMI passthrough
Affiliate link
Top Rated
SamsungAI VerifiedAI Verified

Samsung HW-Q990D

★★★★½4.6(4,560 reviews)
from£999$1,099
typeSoundbar system
channels11.1.4
audioDolby Atmos, DTS:X
True cinema surround sound11.1.4 channels
Very expensive
Affiliate link

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