11 Portable Speakers That Are Safe to Use in the Shower
Your daily rinse doesn't have to feel like a chore. With a few small touches, like hanging a bunch of eucalyptus from the shower head and turning on some tunes, this part of your self-care routine can actually be quite therapeutic and relaxing. But are shower speakers safe? Essentially, yes — as long as you use the right devices and follow a few important safety protocols.
At the Good Housekeeping Institute, our engineers in the Media and Tech Lab evaluate wireless portable speakers based on ease of use, durability, and performance. We consider how easy each speaker is to set up, connect to a smartphone, and control music playback. We also measure the physical footprint and weight of each speaker to factor in its portability, and to evaluate performance, we assess sound level, sound quality, and battery life. Speakers that claim to be waterproof or weatherproof are tested for these claims, and outdoor speakers are dropped multiple times to make sure they still function.
How to find the best shower speaker for you
When shopping, the experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute recommend you look for a strong Ingress Protection (IP) rating. This is a standard that indicates ruggedness and weather-resistance. IP ratings have two numbers — the first for solids (i.e. dust); the second for liquids (i.e. water). For an indoor shower speaker, the first rating isn't as important, but you should only consider devices with a water number that exceeds seven (nine is the best).
In general, for shower speakers, ruggedness and sound quality has gotten much better over the last few years. But other fun features you may want to consider include extras like Alexa or Google Assistant compatibility for voice control functionality. And, if you plan to use the speaker in other scenarios — like poolside or at the beach — you might want to opt for a more portable unit that's easy to stash in your bag.
Below are our top picks for the best shower speakers in 2020, based on our expertise in this category, reviewing new and innovative products, and looking at the most popular models. Just don't forget: Once you're ready to hop in the shower, ensure your device is unplugged and all ports are covered with included caps to protect internal parts from damage.
Shop the best bluetooth and waterproof speakers for your shower.