Bluetooth Vs. Wifi Speakers | Which One Is Right For You?

Our posts contain affiliate links. Sometimes, not always, we may make $$ when you make a purchase through these links. No Ads. Ever. Learn More

If you are new to the world of high-fidelity audio, you may look to compare Bluetooth Vs WiFi speakers. The best speakers, after all, tend to include a wireless option of some kind, with Bluetooth and standard WiFi being two of the most popular configurations. So what are the differences between these two designs, and which is right for you? Keep reading to find out about the leading wireless speaker solutions.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Bluetooth and WiFi wireless speakers are two ways to achieve wireless audio from smartphones, computers, and other streaming devices.
• WiFi wireless speakers have a longer range, at around 100 feet, but Bluetooth speakers are portable speakers, thanks to integrated batteries.
• Wi-Fi speakers tend to boast a better audio quality, thanks to the stable connection offered by wireless routers.

Bluetooth Versus WiFi Speakers

The primary difference is how the speakers connect wirelessly to an audio source or related component, which is useful when shopping for high-end smart speakers. A Bluetooth speaker connects via a Bluetooth receiver and transmitter, and WiFi speakers connect to a traditional wireless network, even if you compare a Sonos One generation 1 vs generation 2.

Moreover, if you buy the best wireless surround sound for your home theater setup, these will connect via WiFi, too. Just like the UE Roll speaker review.

Insider Tip

Make sure to download and update your audio drivers as indicated by the instructions that came with your speakers.

This initial difference balloons into more contrasts between the two popular speaker types. Although, if you’re more interested in learning about Bluetooth speaker operation, we have a guide that can help you.

Portability

Bluetooth speakers typically receive power from an integrated and rechargeable battery, making them ideal for portable ventures like listening to music while outside or during a road trip. After all, Bluetooth speakers are made to connect a wide variety of source devices, like phones, watches, tablets, and other gadgets you take with you on your travels. Check out our guide on how to connect to a Bluetooth speaker on a Mac for help with connecting to one such device. On the other hand, WiFi speakers are intended primarily for home use, as they require a wireless connection to stream music from an app, streaming service, or another compatible device. You also may want to check out how to lock a Bluetooth speaker while you’re out and about so someone else can’t access it.

Range

WiFi speakers have the edge here by a fairly large margin, though this depends on your router and the speaker itself. Generally speaking, Bluetooth speakers max out at a close range of around 30 feet, making them great for playing music from a phone but not so great at playing music from a computer on the other side of the house. On the other hand, WiFi-enabled speakers can reach a maximum range of 100 feet or so. Again, this goes back to the notion of portability. WiFi speakers are a better bet for the home, and Bluetooth speakers are better for leaving the house thanks to a built-in rechargeable battery. However, using Bluetooth speakers at home is perfectly OK, and many people do it. If you need help connecting your speakers to a computer, follow our guide on how to make Bluetooth speakers & computer speakers play simultaneously.

Sound Quality

This largely depends on the make and model of your speakers, but WiFi speakers do have a slight edge here as the wireless signals created by a router are more stable than those created by a Bluetooth transmitter. The best-sounding speakers between Bluetooth and Wi-Fi speakers will generally be the Wi-Fi speakers, as they can stream lossless music without audio compression if the speakers support it. Additionally, the sound quality of Bluetooth models will suffer as you get further away from this transmitter. Both of these options can produce powerful sound and great audio quality from music streaming services, but wired speakers will offer higher-fidelity audio.

STAT: Both Bluetooth speakers and wi-fi speakers compress the data files differently to play music on the speaker. (source)