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Speakers are foundational to the way we enjoy music from Spotify, Apple Music, and other services — and our own music collections. And increasingly, they’re also a convenient way of controlling smart home devices compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, or Siri. Companies like Sonos offer multiroom audio platforms capable of synchronizing music across speakers of all different sizes. Whether you’re looking for a smart speaker or a simple Bluetooth speaker to take everywhere, The Verge covers the best of what’s out there in 2025.
After bringing back its Pill portable Bluetooth speaker last year, Beats is today adding two new colors to the existing red, black, and gold selection. Navy blue will be exclusively sold by Walmart, while blush pink (pictured) is coming to Target. Both sell for the same $149.99 as before and are available starting today.
The smart speaker was already available with an optional marble base that boosted its price tag from $3,300 (for a solid oak base) to $3,900, but Bang & Olufsen has now partnered with Italian marble company Antolini for an even fancier version, as spotted by Engadget.
The Beosound Balance Natura speaker sits atop a tall pedestal made of materials like marble, quartz, or petrified wood. There’s no pricing details, which probably means it’s jaw-dropping expensive.
If you’re on the hunt for a Bluetooth speaker not made of bright plastic or filled with flashing lights, JVC Kenwood’s WDS-01 is made of oak, cedar, pine, spruce, or walnut wood — including its 60-millimeter driver cone.
Battery life is claimed to be up to eight hours, but availability is going to be a challenge. Only 100 custom-made units were released in Japan today, ranging in price from around $257 to $550.
Look, not every company has the budget to hire a marketing team to help name their product, particularly companies relying on crowdfunding. As much as we like the idea behind this Bluetooth speaker that’s just 11 millimeters thick so you can stick it under a pillow without feeling it, we’re not entirely comfortable referring to the SluTune Q1 by name.
You can back it on Kickstarter for $32, with delivery expected as early as May 2025.
Through an upcoming automatic software update, Victrola is expanding the wireless compatibility of its Works With Sonos turntables to include Bluetooth, Roon, and UPnP, allowing them to connect to other speakers and audio gear.
This functionality was already introduced in 2024 with the premium Victrola Stream Sapphire, but is now being added to its Stream Carbon, Stream Pearl, and Stream Onyx turntables, as spotted by Engadget.
Codenamed Pinewood, the black box will open up new possibilities for Sonos surround sound. It doubles as an HDMI switch and will offer a unified streaming experience. But it could end up being surprisingly expensive.
It’s a fun exercise to think about how much would be different today if Fadell had successfully convinced Steve Jobs to acquire Sonos back when the audio company was in its earliest days. But Jobs took an adversarial view towards Sonos.
Credit to John Gruber for nailing down the “former senior Apple executive” mentioned in this piece by The Information.
As chief executive, Spence oversaw many successful products. But there was no coming back from last year’s app debacle: it has finally led to his ouster.
The company is expanding its Music City Bluetooth speaker lineup with three new party models that introduce RGB lighting that syncs to the music playing.
The Vegas, Miami, and New York speakers also feature a mic for karaoke and three dedicated buttons that play airhorn, record scratch, and applause sound effects in case the lights aren’t getting the party started fast enough.
The 200W wireless speaker also puts on a beat-synced light show and includes two wireless mics with vocal enhancement and reverb effects to improve your next karaoke performance.
The Anker brand also announced a smaller 140W Soundcore Boom 2 Pro speaker at CES that’s dustproof, waterproof, and floats, so it can join you in the pool, not just beside it.
The next version of JBL’s Bluetooth alarm clock features a larger design with two 1.5-inch speakers paired with dual passive radiators for improved sound. If you’re looking for a more gentle way to drift off or wake up, it can play relaxing nature sounds like ocean waves, or slowly illuminate a room with a built-in light to “help regulate circadian rhythms.”
A former Sonos executive is looking to disrupt the smart speaker market with a new standard for Wi-Fi speakers.
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Verge Score
The company closes out a difficult year with this terrific soundbar that proves Sonos still knows how to do hardware. Software, though...
