Black Friday has turned into Black November, yet it’s getting more difficult each year to find a quality deal worth buying. If you’re looking for a new Bluetooth speaker or shopping for a gift, don’t buy those cheap no-name speakers at deceptively low prices from Amazon and Walmart.
You know exactly what I’m talking about—all these “fancy"speakers with RGB lightsand a splash of water in the background. They’re a dime a dozen online and promise booming audio at a 70% discount. Don’t fall for those misleading prices and buy something from a name you know, like JBL, Bose, or even Anker. You can thank me later.
Those $60 speakers with a big “Black Friday Deal” banner lowered to $20 aren’t actually a good deal. They’re perpetually on sale, and the seller just jacked up the price ahead of Black Friday. It’s an all-too-common tactic these days. The same goes forthis $38 speaker, which claims to retail for $199, yet you can get it for only $38 during Black Friday. Lies.
There are several tools you can use tosee the price history of products on Amazon, which, as you can see above, suggests you’re not actually getting a deal at all. The speaker I checked in the image above is constantly between $18 and $26, but it jumped to $60 before going on sale this week. It’s almost always that price and has been for the last 18+ months. It’s not a deal, and it’s probably not a very good speaker, either. Buy this one instead.
JBL Clip 5
The JBL Clip 5 packs a serious musical punch, delivering big JBL Pro Sound with punchy bass. Your friends won’t believe how much great JBL Pro Sound comes out of such a small speaker.
Furthermore, it’s always a good idea totake Amazon reviews with a grain of salt. Combine that logic with a price tracker, and you’ll quickly learn how to weed out the bad deals and save yourself a little buyer’s remorse.
If you’re looking to snag a decent little portable Bluetooth water-resistant speaker during Black Friday, what should you buy? Spend a little bit more and get something like the excellentJBL Flip 6, theAnker Soundcore 2, or one of our favorites, theJBL Clip 5 we just reviewed. you may even find decent options under $30, like theTribit XSound.
I’m not saying a no-name speaker will be awful—for some, it’ll likely suffice—but it won’t be that great either. So, do yourself a favor andbuy something betterthis time around.
Ultimate Ears Miniroll
The UE Miniroll is a durable, compact speaker with a crisp sound. A strap lets you take your music along for the ride.
Anker Soundcore 2 Portable Bluetooth Speaker
The Anker Soundcore 2 is a portable Bluetooth speaker with stereo sound, an IPX7 waterproof rating and up to 24 hours of battery life on a single charge.
