Entertainment
The best waterproof Bluetooth speakers in 2025
This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.
One of the great things about this Bluetooth-connected world is that you can take your tunes anywhere: the beach, the pool, the garden, the park. Hell, even the shower. Just connect your smart device to a portable Bluetooth speaker and start streaming. But taking a speaker anywhere means you need extra protection. You need something waterproof to withstand the weather and the perils of poolside partying.
Indeed, a waterproof Bluetooth speaker gives you the freedom to go wherever you like and not worry about it getting soaked. Some portable outdoor speakers even float in the water. But there are dozens of different Bluetooth speakers out there. It’s hard to pick one based on your budget and needs.
The good news is that we’ve done the work for you and researched the very best waterproof Bluetooth speakers. But here’s some useful information before you take the plunge.
How do Bluetooth speakers work?
When you want to take your tunes outside, you don’t want to worry about wires or an external power source. Fortunately, you don’t have to with Bluetooth. Just wirelessly pair your smartphone with a speaker, then pull up your music-streaming app and hit play. Depending on the battery life of your speaker, you’re set for easy, uninterrupted listening for hours and hours. Another advantage to Bluetooth speakers is that you can often hook up two or more together for a bigger stereo sound.
Is water-resistant and waterproof the same thing?
Not all waterproofing is created equal. Pay close attention to the device’s IP rating, which is the measurement of how waterproof — or merely water-resistant — it is. And if an IP rating isn’t clearly stated, move on to something more trustworthy. These ratings can be confusing, so we’ll explain everything below. The main thing to know is that water resistance is not the same as being waterproof — not even close.
What is a waterproof rating?
A water-resistant speaker will typically be rated IPX5 or lower, meaning it can certainly survive the odd splash or sprinkle. But if you’re looking for a speaker to stand up to the elements (and accidents), look for ratings of IPX6 or IPX7. This means a device will survive a good soaking or even complete submersion, respectively.
However, if you’re looking for a Bluetooth speaker that’s truly outdoorsy and weatherproof, opt for an IP67 rating. The device will be able to withstand being submerged in a metre of water for up to 30 minutes, as well as being dustproof, dirtproof, and sandproof. You can confidently take your IP67 speaker to sandy beaches or dusty campsites without worrying about wet or windy conditions.
What is a good battery life for a Bluetooth speaker?
If you’re just heading out for the day, six to 12 hours would probably be just fine. But if you’re going away for a weekend, or you don’t want to worry about charging often — even when you’re at home — opt for a speaker that offers up to 24 hours of uninterrupted audio bliss.
Do Bluetooth speakers sound good?
Obviously, you want your waterproof speakers to sound good — that’s literally why you’re spending your hard-earned cash on them. Typically, the higher the price of the device, the more crisp the audio and more thumping the bass. However, we do like a few budget options that offer surprisingly impressive sound quality, so don’t automatically think that you can’t get something great if money is tight.
What is the best waterproof Bluetooth speaker?
To help you make a decision, we’re sharing our top picks for the best waterproof Bluetooth speakers around. We’ve lined up something for every occasion — and every budget — including devices from top brands like Ultimate Ears, JBL, and Bose.
These are the best waterproof Bluetooth speakers in 2025.
Entertainment
NYT Strands hints, answers for April 29, 2026
Today’s NYT Strands hints are easy if you love a good catch.
Strands, the New York Times‘ elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There’s always a theme linking every solution, along with the “spangram,” a special, word or phrase that sums up that day’s theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.
By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.
If you’re feeling stuck or just don’t have 10 or more minutes to figure out today’s puzzle, we’ve got all the NYT Strands hints for today’s puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.
NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Fish or cut bait
The words are related to the outdoors.
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Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained
These words describe going fishing.
NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?
Today’s NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.
NYT Strands spangram answer today
Today’s spangram is Tackle.
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NYT Strands word list for April 29
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Reel
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Hook
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Bobber
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Weight
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Tackle
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Lure
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Swivel
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Cooler
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Pliers
Looking for other daily online games? Mashable’s Games page has more hints, and if you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now!
Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Strands.
Entertainment
Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 29, 2026
Today’s Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you’re not a fan of big cities.
If you just want to be told today’s word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today’s Wordle solution revealed. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
Where did Wordle come from?
Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What’s the best Wordle starting word?
The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?
The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?
It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn’t any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle‘s Hard Mode if you’re after more of a challenge, though.
Here’s a subtle hint for today’s Wordle answer:
Countryside.
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Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?
The letter R appears twice.
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Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…
Today’s Wordle starts with the letter R.
The Wordle answer today is…
Get your last guesses in now, because it’s your final chance to solve today’s Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today’s Wordle is…
RURAL
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints. Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Wordle.
Entertainment
Hurdle hints and answers for April 29, 2026
If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.
There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it’ll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.
An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.
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If you find yourself stuck at any step of today’s Hurdle, don’t worry! We have you covered.
Hurdle Word 1 hint
To admire.
Hurdle Word 1 answer
ADORE
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Hurdle Word 2 hint
Heavy.
Hurdle Word 2 Answer
HEFTY
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Hurdle Word 3 hint
Two-legged.
Hurdle Word 3 answer
BIPED
Hurdle Word 4 hint
Hefty.
Hurdle Word 4 answer
HEAVY
Final Hurdle hint
Pointy.
Hurdle Word 5 answer
SHARP
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
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