5 of the best portable Bluetooth speakers

Bose Soundlink

£250 | bose.co.uk

Bose tends to have its eyes on the high-end pocket, and the SoundLink looks designed to appeal to the traveller who considers business class a god-given right. The 24cm-long slab’s (optional) smooth leather cover folds back to form the stand, and the chunky buttons up top are satisfyingly positive compared to namby-pamby touch-sensitive efforts. Inside is a weighty battery that’ll keep it juiced for eight hours. It sounds much bigger, heavier and more expansive than the others. It will fill a room – or a decent garden – and deliver meaty bass that underpins great detail and clarity. Not for the SoundLink the frivolity of taking hands-free calls: this one’s all about the music. So no feature frills, heavy and costly – but the sound is astonishing.