Best Bluetooth Speaker For Car Use: Buying Guide and Review
To stay safe while driving, you need to eliminate as many distractions as possible. In today’s world, the greatest distraction for drivers is mobile phones.
In fact, nearly 1.6 million accidents are caused by drivers distracted by their phones, resulting in 390,000 injuries. Of all car accidents that occur in the US, 25% are the result of texting and driving.
As a result of these statistics, most states have outlawed the use of mobile phones while driving. However, drivers still want to remain connected while on the road. So what do we do? The answer is voice-operated Bluetooth technology.
Most modern cars are equipped with Bluetooth connectivity so you can link your phone directly to the sound system for a hands-free calling and music experience. Older cars aren’t quite so high-tech, so if you want a similar experience, you’re going to need an intermediary Bluetooth device.
This guide will break down the best Bluetooth speaker for car options to help you find the device that’s best for you.
What is Bluetooth?
Bluetooth is a short-range communication technology that wirelessly links enabled devices. In other words, it’s a special system that allows your phone to talk to your computer, printer, or portable speakers without the need for a connecting cable.
What is a Bluetooth Speaker For Car Use?
These devices serve two main functions for a driver. First, they create a Bluetooth connection between your phone and the speaker so you can operate your phone using voice control and make hands-free calls. This means you can use voice commands to answer or dismiss calls without ever taking your eyes off the road.
Secondly, these speakers can play multimedia content from your phone or other mobile devices. So if you have a long road trip ahead, you’re not stuck with the radio stations. You can link your phone to the speaker and access your favorite music playlists, podcasts, or audiobooks.
As these devices are often quite small, the speakers are typically much less powerful than what is built into your car. Fortunately, most Bluetooth car speakers can broadcast the content from your phone directly to your car’s audio system by using an FM signal.
Bluetooth car speakers run on batteries, which can easily be recharged in your car with a USB cable and the appropriate charging device. And when they’re not in use, they go into standby mode, which saves battery for when you actually need it.
All the speakers on our best Bluetooth speaker for car list can be easily mounted on your sun visor so they stay out of the way.
Now, on with the list.
1. Jabra Freeway Bluetooth In-Car Speakerphone
Verdict: Best Overall
The Freeway by Jabra is the best overall pick on our list because it delivers a complete hands-free experience for calling and entertainment, and it sets the standard for all major performance points.
Dual microphones with noise cancellation guarantee clear calls even on the noisiest highways and in the densest traffic. Noise cancellation works by separating your voice signal from the surrounding road noise and from the echo within your own car. This way, the listener on the other end has no idea if you’re in your office or cruising down the highway.
This device includes 3x 7-watt speakers for a rich virtual surround sound experience. This is the only product on our list with speaker power as high as 7 watts and it has 3 of them! If audio quality is important to you, this is the speaker you want.
Of course, with all that power in a small device, the first concern would be battery life. However, this unit runs on a lithium polymer battery, which can power the device for up to 14 hours of talk time and 40 days of standby.
Plus, the package includes a car charger so you can top off the battery any time by just plugging it into your cigarette lighter.
The Freeway allows you to connect 2 different phones simultaneously, so if you have a work phone and a personal phone, both can connect to the device at once. This also works great if you have two people in the car and both want to link to the system.
Specifications:
- Manufacturer: Jabra
- Dimensions: 4.7 x 0.7 x 3.9 inches
- Weight: 5.1 ounces
- Color: Black
Pros:
- 3x 7-watt speakers for rich and crisp virtual surround sound
- Completely hands-free calling including voice caller ID
- Dual microphones with noise cancellation to block ambient noise
- FM transmitter can broadcast music and calls to car audio system
- Stream music, podcasts, and directions (with GPS device)
- Connect 2x Bluetooth devices at the same time
Cons:
- Complaints about microphone quality
- Difficulty connecting two devices
- Prone to spontaneous restarts and disconnections
2. VeoPulse B-PRO 2 Car Speakerphone
Verdict: Best Design
The B-PRO 2 by VeoPulse is a great choice if you’re looking for a stylish design but also need a device that functions great.
This device automatically powers up when you get in the car via a vibration sensor that detects the presence of a driver. It will also automatically link to your phone, so you don’t have to go through any complex pairing process every time you want to use it.
When you get a call through the system, it will announce the name or number of the caller, depending on whether the number is in your contacts list. You can just say “yes” or “no” to answer or deny the call. It’s that simple.
The VeoPulse features 2x 3-watt high-fidelity speakers for excellent audio quality for calls, music, or whatever content you’re listening to. Plus, the unit includes anti-echo technology so your listeners on the other end can hear you clearly.
And the device won’t be a nuisance. It easily clips to your sun visor, so it stays out of the way while you’re driving.
Specifications:
- Manufacturer: VeoPulse
- Dimensions: 6.8 x 5.9 x 1.4 inches
- Weight: 9.9 ounces
- Color: Black
Pros:
- High-quality speakerphone with built-in anti-echo feature
- Compatible with all cars and phones
- Auto-shutdown feature to conserve battery
- Safer driving with hands-free calling and voice commands
- Easily attaches to sun visor so it’s out of the way
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons:
- Difficulty connecting automatically
- Poor customer support
- Many reports of battery life problems
3. Besign BK06 Bluetooth 5.0 In-Car Speakerphone
Verdict: Best Runner-Up
The BK06 by Besign is our best runner-up because it’s packed with features but delivers a little less audio power than our top choice.
This device is a great companion for when you’re out on the road. As with the previous entry on this list, the BK06 automatically switches on when it senses your car door open, then auto-connects to your phone. You don’t have to do anything except get in and drive.
As well as giving you hands-free calling, this device also gives you access to Apple Siri or Google Assistant so you can take care of other tasks while you’re driving. This includes making appointments, sending texts, or even looking up things on the internet.
The 1000 mAh lithium polymer battery delivers 20 hours of talk time so you’ll never need to worry about running out of juice. And when it does run out, you can use a car charger to bring the device back to life.
The BK06 connects using Bluetooth 5.0, which is the most current version of the technology. It also features enhanced data rate (EDR) technology, which means this device can receive data faster than ever before.
You can also connect two separate phones to the device, which helps when you have to carry two separate mobile devices for work and personal use, or if you have a passenger that also wants to connect to the system.
Specifications:
- Manufacturer: Besign
- Dimensions: 5.7 x 3.1 x 2.1 inches
- Weight: 5.3 ounces
- Color: Black
Pros:
- Dual speakers (2 watts) for crisp sound and loud call volume
- Equipped with Bluetooth 5.0+EDR
- Built-in motion sensor automatically switches the device off and on
- 1000 mAh rechargeable battery provides 20 hours of talk time
- Connect 2 phones at the same time
- One-button activation for Siri or other voice commands
Cons:
- Difficulty connecting with some phones
- Some complaints about poor sound quality
- Poor battery life
4. SUNITEC BC980 Bluetooth Hands-Free Car Kit
Verdict: Best Value Buy
The BC980 by SUNITEC is our choice for best value buy. Compared to the other best Bluetooth speaker for car options on this list, the BC980 has a high consumer rating at an average price point. If you’re looking for the best bang for your buck, this is the speaker for you.
This system features noise-canceling technology so you get crystal-clear calling every time. No matter how bad the rush hour traffic is, you can be confident your colleagues on the other end will only hear your voice thanks to powerful background noise reduction.
As with others on this list, you get a complete hands-free experience with this device including voice commands, access to Siri and Google Assistant, voice guidance from the device, and GPS directions from your phone. You never have to take your eyes off the road.
And just in case you do need to touch the device while driving, oversized buttons make it easy to accomplish the task with minimal attention.
This system powers on automatically when it detects a driver, then connects automatically to your phone. It doesn’t get much simpler than that.
The battery can deliver up to 22 hours of talking and listening time and more than 100 hours of standby time.
As with the previous entry on the list, this unit is equipped with Bluetooth 5.0+HDR, which is the most advanced version of the technology.
Specifications:
- Manufacturer: FJS Inc.
- Dimensions: 4.5 x 2.6 x 0.8 inches
- Weight: 2.3 ounces
- Color: Black
Pros:
- Crystal-clear calling and music with noise-cancelling technology
- Equipped with Bluetooth 5.0+EDR
- Hands-free voice operation supports Apple Siri and Google Assistant
- Motion sensor auto-starts device when you’re in the car
- 22 hours of talk time and over 1000 hours of standby time
Cons:
- Several complaints about failed charging systems
- Volume may be too low, even on max
- Reports of intermittent connectivity
5. Aigital Bluetooth Speaker for Car 2021 Upgrade
Verdict: Best Budget Buy
The final best Bluetooth speaker for car on our list, we have the 2021 Bluetooth car speaker from Aigital. This speaker is the lowest cost unit on our list, which makes it a great choice for infrequent use or emergencies. It’s not the highest quality, but it’s cheap and easy to use.
As with all the devices on this list, this unit has a built-in mic for complete hands-free calling. Phone calls and music come through loud and clear on a single 3-watt speaker, which helps keep down the cost and limits battery usage.
You can also use the device to direct your digital assistants such as Siri and Google so you can keep your eyes where they belong, on the road.
This unit also features a motion sensor for auto-detecting a driver, so it knows when to turn on and when to connect to your phone.
Finally, this Aigital unit has a battery good for 18 hours of talk and/or music time as well as over 300 hours of standby time.
Specifications:
- Manufacturer: Aigital
- Dimensions: 3.9 x 2.1 x 1.3 inches
- Weight: 2.7 ounces
- Color: White
Pros:
- Loud and clear calls and music with single 3-watt speaker
- Allows voice commands for safe driving
- Automatically connects to your phone
- Motion sensor powers on device when your presence is detected
- 18 hours of talk time and 300 hours of standby time
Cons:
- Some users report that it doesn’t connect automatically
- Distorted sound during calls
- Users complain about poor battery quality
Best Bluetooth Speaker For Car Use: Buying Tips
Here we’ll cover some tips to help you make the right choice when it comes to finding the best Bluetooth speaker for car use.
Purpose
The first thing to figure out is why you need the device to begin with. The devices on this list are optimized for hands-free calling. They’re also small and designed to operate with minimal battery power. In other words, these products are best for people who need to make a lot of calls and send messages while on the road.
If you’re primarily interested in an enhanced music or listening experience, there are other systems better optimized for that purpose. These usually draw more power but have much larger and more sophisticated speaker systems so you can get the best audio experience.
Size
The size of the device might be important depending on what kind of car you drive and how much extra space you have inside. If you need louder audio, you’ll need a bigger device, which means it’s going to take up more space.
If you want it to be unnoticeable and out of the way, you should opt for a compact design. All the units on this list are compact and attach to the sun visor above the driver’s seat.
Price
As with most technology, you get what you pay for when it comes to Bluetooth car speakers. If you plan on using the device daily for important business calls, you want to be sure your speaker is high-quality. You don’t want vocal distortion or dropped calls when you’re chatting with important clients.
However, if you don’t plan to use it much, buying a cheaper version might be perfectly adequate. This way, you have it available if you really need it but without a big investment.
Users
Another factor to consider is how many people might be using the device. If you’re the only person that drives your car, then a speaker designed to connect with a single device will be adequate.
If your whole family uses the car, you might need a speaker that can remember and connect with multiple devices, even simultaneously if you’re all in the car at once.
Final Word
Now you should have a clear understanding of what a Bluetooth car speaker is, and what options are available on the market. You should be ready to figure out whether you really need a device like this and which one might be the best Bluetooth speaker for car use based on your situation and needs.
We hope you found this guide useful. If you’re interested in learning more about Bluetooth devices and other gadgets, please check out our articles and buying guides.