India, March 6 -- Portable speakers have come a long way from the tinny travel gadgets they once were. Today, a good one can easily replace a small home speaker while still being light enough to carry around. That's why models like the JBL Flip 6 and Sony ULT Field 1 remain popular. They are compact, tough enough for outdoor use, and deliver sound that feels far bigger than their size.

Move a step up and the character of the speaker starts to matter. The Marshall Emberton II, for instance, leans into its signature sound and remarkable battery life, making it ideal for long listening sessions. The JBL Charge 6 takes a more practical route, pairing powerful output with a built-in power bank that keeps your phone alive during long outings....