Bluetooth speakers have come of age but don’t take our word for it. The age of technology has given us some pretty nifty ways and means to see, hear and do things, and if Technavio’s research is right, then Bluetooth speakers are the new must-have gadgets in a smart home. With the ability to sync with numerous gadgets, portable speakers are pretty high up on the wish list for many homeowners and it is no surprise (because no one loves wires).

“Bluetooth speakers offer a multitude of benefits making them popular among consumers. These devices need no wiring, consume less space when compared to home theaters, and run on batteries, thus making them suitable for outdoor purposes. They promise durability, hassle-free maintenance, and faster functionalities. All these factors are propelling the demand for Bluetooth speakers, which in turn, is likely to contribute towards market growth,” says Ujjwal Doshi, a lead analyst at Technavio for consumer electronics research.

These standalone wireless speakers are set to become a mainstay and Technavio anticipates an increase of 33% in sales over the next four years. With this in mind, we take a look at some of the best Bluetooth speakers to own.

Bose

Having perfected the noise cancelling headphones that we have come to appreciate over the last few years; the audio marque offers consumers the Bose SoundLink Bluetooth speaker III. With a 14-hour battery life and a clean design, the speaker is one that is reminiscent of traditional speakers with a few updates.

Harmon

With several audio companies under its umbrella, Harmon launched the truly portable device called the JBL Go. Produced by JBL, the wireless speaker is compact enough to fit in your pocket. The device also comes with a speakerphone and a 5-hour battery life between charges.

Beats

You would have seen these in numerous music videos in the last few months and we cannot deny that these speakers are a pint sized wonder. Compact and sleek, the Bluetooth Beats speakers promise to provide stereo sound (woofers and all) along with an integrated speakerphone and a 12-hour battery life.

Sony

The true definition of double duty is the wireless Bluetooth speaker from Sony that is also a smart lightbulb. Easy to use, the speaker is one that is certainly fit for a smarthome. Simply screw the lightbuld in an existing screw-fit light fitting and control the brightness of the light and volume of music remotely.

Samsung

Simple is the way to go and Samsung knows that. With the Level Box mini, the Koran brand offers an affordable speaker that come sin four colors and can last for up to 25 hours on a single charge. Compatible with the S-Voice function on Samsung smartphone handsets, it is hard to resist.