In the past year, there have been a lot of outdoor smart speakers that let you use Google Assistant at your next barbecue. You can use them to relax in your yard, have fun at a picnic in the park, or keep the kids busy on a camping trip.
No matter which voice assistant you choose, you can find the best portable speaker for use outside among the ones We’ve tested here. Like the best outdoor speakers, you can use your voice to play music from services like Spotify and Pandora, play music, get the weather forecast, order food, and much more.
Are you looking for a speaker that you can use outdoor and that allows hands-free control? This article lists a few of the best outdoor speakers with google assistant, along with the pros and cons.
JBL Link Portable
Specification
- Dimensions 6.7 x 3.5 inches
- Weight 1.63 lbs
- Frequency 65 Hz – 20k Hz
- Output power 20 Watt
- Bluetooth version 4.2
- Charging Time 3.5 hours
- Maximum Playing Time 8 hours
Reasons to buy
- Fully waterproof
- Rechargeable battery
- JBL 360-Degree Pro Sound
- Managed and controlled through Google Home App
- Chromecast built-in
- Apple Airplay 2 compatible
- Bluetooth 4.2
- Google Assistant
Reasons to avoid
- JBL Connect Support is unavailable
- Does not include aux input
Design and Controls
Although the JBL Link Portable seems to have a cylindrical shape, it has flat panels because of its four broadly rounded corners. The Bluetooth speaker is available in three different color variations- black, blue and grey. Link Portable has a rubber base which is non-slip so as to protect it from sliding off the surface. It is covered with a closely woven fabric jacket and cloth grille that keeps the speaker’s drivers protected. One of the notable features of this JBL portable speaker is that it has an IPX7 rating, meaning that it can be submerged in water for thirty minutes without fear of damage. The top of the speaker features the control panel, which has buttons for playback, alarm controls and volume adjustments. There is also a button for Google Assistant at the center of the panel. At the back of the speaker are buttons for power, Bluetooth, mic, and a USB C port. There is also an LED strip which indicates the charge of the speaker.
Audio Performance
JBL Link Portable is capable of delivering a frequency of 65 hertz to 20000 hertz with an output power of 20 watts thanks to the 49 mm internal driver it houses. The speaker is capable of delivering bass that has enough depth even without a subwoofer. Increasing the volume of the Link Portable does not distort the audio quality, rather the digital signal processing prevents distortion. Throughout the frequency range, you will observe clarity and balance in sound. At higher frequencies, the vocals sound clear and concise. The speaker uses a feature known as JBL 360-Degree Pro Sound which offers room filling sound with deep bass, sharp mids and clear highs.
Connectivity and Assistant
The speaker allows seamless wireless streaming through Bluetooth 4.2. By just pushing the Bluetooth button on the top of the Link Portable, you can listen to music that has been stored or stream it from any music apps wirelessly at a range of 33’. The speaker can be paired with multiple device but only one device can be used to stream music at a time. Apart from built-in Bluetooth, the speaker also features chromecast built-in which offers a plethora of advantages such as music, radio, news, sports, weather forecast and podcast streaming as well as multiroom audio capability. The speaker is powered by Google Assistant and has two 8built-in far-field microphones for voice commands. All the user has to do is to say “Hey, Google” or “Ok Google” followed by the command for the speaker to function. The Google Assistant is able to recognize six different users and can distinguish the voices accordingly. You can command Google Assistant to carry out tasks such as:
- Select, play, and control music from compatible Chromecast Built-In music services
- Control smart devices around your home from Google Home compatible smart home automation partners
- Ask about news, weather and sports
- Get information about an event or get your schedule for the day from Google Calendar
- Get information about your commute, traffic conditions, and your estimated time of arrival
- Set, check, cancel, stop, and snooze multiple recurring alarms
Sonos Move
- Dimensions 9.44 x 6.29 x 4.96 inches
- Weight 6.61 lbs
- Frequency 40 Hz-
- Output power 45 Watt- 18 kHertz
- Bluetooth version 5.0
- Charging Time 2 hours
- Maximum Playing Time 11 hours
Reason to buy
- Portable and weather resistant
- Auto TruePlay adjusts EQ for balanced sound
- Allows stereo playing
- Rechargeable battery and charging base
- Wireless Multiroom Audio Eco-System
- Built-in Bluetooth and voice control
- Sonos S1 or S2 Controller App for Apple and Android
Reason to Avoid
- Does not include aptX
- Speaker is a bit heavy
- Bass gets compressed at higher volumes
- Does not support Dolby Atmos
Design and Controls
The Sonos Move are portable but a bit heavy speakers, weighing at around 6.61 lbs. The speaker comes in the standard black and white color, with a metallic grille covered at the front of its build so that it easily blends in with any interior without much hassle. The speaker rests on a small plastic base which can be used for charging. At the back of the speaker is a hollow part which can be used as a handle for carrying it around. When it comes to durability, the Bluetooth speaker has a IPx6 waterproof rating and IP5x dustproof rating. The touch sensitive controls are very straightforward and can be found at top of the design. The four-dotted buttons can be used for playback and volume adjustments. There is a dedicated play/ pause button as well as a control for muting the microphone. Physical buttons for power, Bluetooth/Wi-Fi, and Joining existing Sonos network are located at the back along with a USB C port for charging.
Audio Performance
Sonos Move has an audio performance that is strong enough to change your perspective on mono speakers. Underneath the metallic grille, there are two built-in amplifiers and two built-in speakers. The speakers include one midrange driver and one down-firing tweeter. It has a balanced sound profile. The lower end of the frequency response, although not as extended, does offer an extra push, providing that thumping bass when you are enjoying music outdoors. However, one drawback is the compression of the bass at higher volumes. The balanced midrange results in clarity in instruments and vocals. The speaker’s highs were equally de-emphasized, thus there weren’t many instances where the speaker turned harsh. One of the highlight of this speaker is the Auto TruePlay feature which allows for self-calibration and EQ adjustments. The soundstage is average since it is a mono speaker.
Connectivity and Assistant
The speaker is WiFi compatible and offers built-in Bluetooth. It also offers Airplay 2 which is a multiroom audio platform for iTunes, Apple Music, and other compatible Apple iOS apps. The voice assistant capabilities of the Sonos Move are incredible. It has both Alexa and Google Assistant built in, and it understands you even when you’re far away. Because the voice assistants don’t work over Bluetooth, you’ll need to be connected to the internet. On the plus side, you can quickly switch off the microphone with a single button if you don’t enjoy knowing that the speaker is always listening. Some of the voice commands that you can use will help to make volume, play, pause, skip and repeat functions; get weather reports, news updates, time, sports and stock reports; select streaming music services such as Spotify, Pandora, and Deezer (subscriptions required for some services) select radio stations through iHeartRadio or TuneIn Radio and control compatible smart home products. The Google home app control is also useful if you want to make adjustments to the speaker. Nevertheless, the ambient noise performance can be improved as the speaker cannot function as smoothly in noisy environment.
JBL Link 20
- Dimensions 3.66 x 3.66 x 8.26 inches
- Weight 2.09 lbs
- Frequency 65-20,000 Hz
- Output power 20 watts
- Bluetooth version 4.2
- Charging Time 4.5 hours
- Maximum Playing Time 10 hours
Reason to Buy
- IPX7 Waterproof Design
- Rechargeable battery
- Chromecast Built-In
- Bluetooth 4.2 version built-in
- Built-In Google Digital Assistant
- Easy Setup with the Google Home App
- Wireless network connection
- built-in dual-band Wi-Fi
Reason to Avoid
- No Google assistant without WiFi
- No 3.5mm input
- Sound quality can be improved, especially the bass response
- Charging is done via micro-USB only
- Battery life is short
Design and Controls
The JBL Link 20 is a cylindrical speaker available in the color black, which follows a minimal and standard design like most Bluetooth speakers have. The speaker’s two 50mm drivers are protected by a 360-degree mesh covering. This contributes to the speaker’s IPX7 waterproofing, which means it can withstand splashes and can even be immersed for 30 minutes. The speaker has a smooth plastic surface on both ends, while the bottom has some extra rough rubber to aid with grip. The top of the speakers include all the control required for adjustments: one button to control playback, two buttons for volume and one for Bluetooth pairing. These are not the only controls on the JBL Link 20 though. There are more buttons for power and mic adjustments located at the back. The power button has fives small LEDs accompanying it to notify the user how much battery life is left. The bottom includes a round rubber flap for the micro USB charging port. The speaker does not include a 3.5 mm port unlike most of the JBL speakers.
Audio Performance
JBL Link 20 has a satisfying sound quality. It is able to deliver a frequency range of 65 hertz to 20000 hertz at a maximum power output of 20 watts. Moreover, underneath the build of the speaker are two 1-15/16″ full-range speakers for stereo sound. The bass response exhibited by the JBL Google Assistant speaker is defined and has adequate punchiness to it. The bass can be quite boomy and it goes fairly loud before it sounds distorted at higher volumes, which can be improved. The midrange was, on the other hand, much better in terms of tonal clarity. The speaker is capable of producing enough volume to fill most spaces, attaining a maximum loudness of 90 decibels quite effortlessly.
Connectivity and Assistant
The speaker is compatible with Bluetooth 4.2 version and has dual-band (2.4GHz/5GHz) WiFi (802.11b/g/n/ac) for a high-performance wireless network connection. The Link 20 also includes Chromecast Built-In, which allows you to stream high-definition audio from the most popular music and entertainment applications using easy voice commands. Along with SBC Bluetooth audio codec, the JBL Link 20 offers support of AAC for better audio performance of the music streamed from your Apple iPod, iPhone, or iPad. One of the most notable feature is the Google Assistant, which allows hands free control of the JBL Bluetooth speaker. Google assistant is as responsive as Google Home with the JBL Link 20 speaker. The speaker has far field voice recognition, meaning that the user can command google from far across the room and JBL Link 20 will respond quickly. On understanding the voice command, the four LED lights will blink. There is also the flexibility of muting the microphone for privacy and using six different voice for commands. However, combining AI smarts with porability has its own drawback: without a wi-fi connection, the user won’t be able to use Google Assistant.
Harman Kardon Citation 100
- Dimensions 27.5 x 17.2 x 16.3 cm
- Weight 6 lbs
- Frequency 20 Hertz- 20 kHertz
- Output power 50 Watt
- Bluetooth version 4.2
- Charging Time 5.5 hours
- Maximum Playing Time N/A
Reason to Buy
- Compact speaker with unique and sophisticated design
- Supports WiFi connection
- Chromecast built-in
- Dual Microphone Array with Google Assistant
- Bluetooth audio streaming
- Offers automatic firmware updates
- Standby mode is available
- Impressive scale
- Powerful bass response
Reason to Avoid
- No aux or USB port
Design and Controls
The Harman Kardon Citation 100 is unique looking cylindrical speaker that stands out with its elegant design. The speaker has a beautiful woolen finishing and it comes in two different colors black and white. With its sophisticated design, the Harman Kardon Citation 100 is definitely build for a minimalist. The wool blend fabric grille is refreshing take on design compared to the standard metallic grilles found on most other speakers. This premium blended wool fabric made by Kvadrat has dirt repellent and flame retardant properties. Although a little heavy, the speaker allows portability for outdoor listening. At the top of the speaker is a large anodized aluminum plate consisting of all the controls. The plate consists of touch sensitive controls which can be enabled or disabled with just one tap. There are controls for volume adjustment and payback, Bluetooth and mic controls are also available. Multi-color LEDs indicated whether the mic has been switched on or off. The Google Assistant speaker, however, does not include a 3.5 mm jack and no USB port for charging.
Audio Performance
The Google Assistant speaker combines it’s sophisticated design with luxurious audio performance. The Harman Kardon Citation 100 is equipped with a 20mm tweeter and a 10cm woofer. The main driver of the speaker is incorporated with passive radiator which is located on the hind side of the speaker. The highlight of the Citation 100 is the bass response. For the compactness of the Bluetooth speaker, the low end is extremely powerful and has a lot of depth. Nevertheless, the Harman speaker is not only well suited for playing bass heavy music but it also plays other genres with meticulous performance. The tonality of the audio sounds neutral and well balanced. The midrange is rich and fairly well structured whereas the treble has both clarity and sharpness to it. Moreover, the scale of the sound is quite impressive given that Citation 100 includes only two drivers.
Connectivity and Assistant
Along support for Chromecast built-in the Citation 100 offers built-in Bluetooth 4.2 with support for wireless audio streaming (A2DP) and control (AVRCP). The built-in Chromecast streams audio directly from the cloud, giving you 24-bit/96kHz sound quality and the chance to listen to crystal clear sound. This feature allows user to experience multiroom audio and stream music, radio and podcasts from FLAC, WAV, AAC, and MP3 music files. The Google Assistant can be used to initiate voice commands to access Chromecast built-in music apps and then select a specific station or song to wirelessly stream to the Citation 100 speaker. In addition to voice control over Play, Pause, Skip, & Volume adjustments, the speaker also be used to control compatible smart home products like lights, cameras, thermostats, locks etc. Harman Kardon Citation 100 can pick up the user’s voice at regular volume, and the microphones are sensitive enough to allow the user to speak distant from the device. It does, however, appear to be more prone to dropping out with lower Wi-Fi signals than other Alexa smart speakers.
Sony SRS-XB23
- Dimensions 3.0 x 8.6 inches
- Weight 1.3 lbs
- Frequency 20Hz to 20kHz
- Output power
- Bluetooth version 5.0
- Charging Time 2.5 hours
- Maximum Playing Time 12 hours
Reason to Buy
- X-Balanced Speaker Unit delivers premium sound quality
- Portable design with detachable strap
- Dustproof and waterproof properties
- Hands free control with Google Assistant
- Bluetooth 5.0 version compatibility
- Additional modes to customize audio experience, i.e. mono to stereo playback
- Allows both horizontal and vertical placement
Reason to Avoid
- Bass can get weaker at higher volumes
- No support for Apple AirPlay, Chromecast, or Wi-Fi
- Does not get very loud
Design and Controls
The Sony SRS-XB23 has a cylindrical design and are available in many different color options including black, blue, green, red and white. The Bluetooth speaker is built to last, with strong and durable structure, majority of it is encased with a thick netting. It is also extremely portable and can be carried around without much hassle thanks to the speaker being fairly lightweight and including a detachable strap with its design. The detachable strap is extremely robust and durable, and it can be adjusted to fit your needs. The Sony speaker even has an IP67 dust and water resistance property which means that it’s completely dust-proof and can be submerged in up to a meter of water for 30 minutes. Sony SRS-XB23 includes physical controls that are located at the side of the speaker. These buttons allow user to play and pause music as well as manage calls. They’re simple to operate, and some of the controls include little display lights that indicate the state of the speaker. The battery button can be pressed for three seconds to activate ‘Stamina Mode,’ which disables the Extra Bass function and allows power saving. Party mode and stereo coupling are likewise controlled by separate buttons.
Audio Performance
Sony SRS-XB23 has been designed to offer a great audio response. Dual full-range speakers give a frequency response of 20Hz to 20kHz under the wraparound fabric grille. Passive radiators are located on both ends of the speaker to assist pump out additional bass response. Bass heavy music sounds deep and impactful and there is no sign of much distortion because of the DSP, digital signal processing feature that the outdoor speaker uses. Nevertheless, at higher volumes, the bass does sound a little thinned out. To avoid the bass response from waning, the Extra bass feature can be enabled. However, the well balanced midrange section shows promising results as vocals and lead instruments are delivered with clarity. The 360-degree design that the SRS-XB23 has allows it to offer an omnidirectional soundstage which sounds wide and large. The treble is delivered with crisp and clarity.
Connectivity and Assistant
The Sony speaker is compatible with bluetooth 5.0 version. The Bluetooth performance of the speaker is outstanding. It has a great range and can connect to up to two devices at the same time. On iOS and Android, it also boasts minimal latency, which is ideal for watching videos. Some programs and devices, however, compensate for latency in various ways, so the experience can be different for different users. The speaker however lacks WiFi connectivity which can be seen as a disadvantage for users. The Sony Music Center app can be used to pair two speakers together to create a stereo pair. It can also be used to link two speakers together and play the same audio for the music to be louder. The speaker allows Google Assistant to make calls and the mic offers decent intelligibility.
Sonos Roam
- Dimensions 6.61 x 2.44 x 2.36 inches
- Weight 0.95 lb
- Frequency 60 hertz -18khertz
- Output power 18 Watt
- Bluetooth version 5.0
- Charging Time 1 hour
- Maximum Playing Time 10 hours
Reasons to buy
- Beautiful design
- Drop Resistant & Waterproof (IP67 rating)
- Auto Trueplay for perfectly balanced sound
- Stereo pairing feature
- Rechargeable Battery with Wireless Charging
- Multiroom Audio Ecosystem
- WiFi Wireless network
- Built-in Bluetooth 5.0
- Built-in voice control for Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant
Reasons to avoid
- The speaker does not get very loud
- The bass response is a little weak
- Speaker is expensive
Design and Controls
The compact portable Sonos Roam speaker has a simple yet an effective design. It is small and lightweight, weiging at about 0.95 lbs only which makes it extremely easy to be carried around when outdoors. The Sonos Roam is composed of mostly plastic and the grille attached to the sides of the speaker is also made of plastic. The caps at the end of the Bluetooth speaker is made up of silicone for durability and support. The Sonos speaker is rated IP67 for dust and water resistance and is able to remain solid in water for up to 30 minutes without any damage.
The speaker is also termed to be drop resistant, making its rigid structure resistant to bumps and falls. The speaker consists of integrated push button control which can be pressed to play, pause, adjust the volume, skip, replay, turn off the microphones, and manually pair a Bluetooth device. There is also a microphone button which can be muted and unmuted for the Google voice assistant. Apart from this the Trueplay tuning button is also available.
Audio Performance
Sonos Roam incorporates precise audio engineering resulting in clarity, depth, and fullness in audio response. It has a two-way speaker setup, with one dome tweeter for precise high-frequency reproduction and one cone woofer for accurate midrange or midbass reproduction. Both drivers are powered by Class-H digital amplifiers that have been fine-tuned to the speaker’s specific acoustic design. The Google Assistant portable speaker also includes Auto Trueplay technology to optimize the speaker’s sound according to the unique acoustics of its environment and Stereo pairing feature which can be used to connect two devices to play music at once. The trueplay feature ensures a tonal neutral audio response but like most compact speakers, the Sonos Roam lacks the thump and energy in the lower end, especially in bass heavy music. With a natural-sounding and open soundstage, the Sonos portable speaker provides great audio directivity. However, the speaker does fall behind when it comes to delivering loud sound since it is too compact to successfully do so.
Connectivity and Assistant
Sonos has its own SonosNet proprietary wireless mesh network technology which allows the user to enjoy wireless connectivity with full coverage within a range of 100’. Ofcourse, the portable speaker also allows music to be streamed through the connection of home Wi-Fi. The user can wirelessly stream stored music, audio content and music apps on the Bluetooth enabled source device to the Sonos Roam speaker since the speaker features built-in Bluetooth 5.0.
Sonos Roam is compatible with both Alexa and Google Assistant, and it can comprehend orders even if from a long distance or in a noisy environment. The far field microphone array includes advanced beamforming and echo-cancellation in order to make the speech easily intelligible. Alexa or Google Assistant is ready to receive voice commands when the microphone LED light is on. Once the voice assistant understands and receives the command, a responsive audio chimes to notify the user. Commands such as playback, volume adjustments, broadcasting messages can be done using Google Assistant.
Conclusion
Getting a portable speaker that can be used outdoor and that also supports Google Assistant is difficult. Nevertheless, we have picked out some of the best speakers in this article. In order to choose the right outdoor speaker, you need to look at factors such as durability and portability. One important metric is looking at the waterproof and dustproof ratings.
Other than that, the most important factor of a speaker that supports Google Assistant is whether it has a good mic. Almost all of the speakers listed in the article has offers both excellent portability and smooth hands-free control via voice commands.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can Google Assistant Speaker do?
Google Assistant speaker can do variety of things with voice command such as playing music, broadcasting radio, weather forecasts, news, setting alarms and reminders as well as making calls and telling jokes.
Can Google Assistant have more than one voice?
Yes, Google Assistant can recognize more than one voice. Infact, you can link up to 6 people’s voices with Voice Match to a single speaker.
Can Google Home be used as a Bluetooth speaker?
Yes, Google Home can be used as an external Bluetooth speaker.
What should I look for when buying a Bluetooth speaker?
You should look out for factors such as portability, durability, sound quality, battery life, and price when buying a Bluetooth speaker.
What is the difference between wireless and Bluetooth speakers?
Wireless speakers can play music via the internet or WiFi. Bluetooth speakers pair directly with a device such as a phone, tablet or laptop. Bluetooth speakers are wireless and are not limited to a particular spot but WiFi speakers require WiFi network connectivity to connect the audio source to the device.
Is Battery Size Important in a Bluetooth Speaker?
Bluetooth speakers, like other portable electrical gadgets, require electricity to operate. However, the battery’s overall mAh capacity is insufficient to influence your selection. The battery size is proportional to the speaker’s power consumption. When buying a portable Bluetooth wireless speaker, it is necessary to consider the playing time rather than the battery size.
Freelance tech journalist & author soundboxlab.com Read More