If you’re going to trust a speaker with the responsibility of blasting your favorite tunes, you have to know it’s equipped for the job. That’s where we come in.
Not every audiophile cares about the same qualities in speakers, so we took multiple criteria into account in our reviews, including sound clarity, bass quality, ease of use, battery life and much more.
iHome designs speakers with a variety of iPhone, iPad and iPod users in mind. For example, if you’re a traveler looking for portable sound, the iHome iM60 is a small yet powerful option — and it tops our list of the best iHome speakers. But if you’re looking for a stationary speaker that can charge your device and wake you up in the morning, the iHome iDL45 might meet your needs.
Our analysis: Based on 12,844 analyzed reviews
NerdWallet’s scoring of the best iHome speakers is based on our analysis of the opinions of experts and shoppers like you.
We looked at opinions from industry-leading review sites such as CNET and Good Housekeeping to create a list of the most popular speakers on the market. Then, we analyzed actual user reviews to see what shoppers were saying about each speaker’s best — and worst — attributes.
Our scores range from a low of 1 to a high of 10. Here’s how we devised them:
Overall score: This score shows reviewers’ overall satisfaction level with the speaker across 16 criteria, including aspects such as sound quality, features, battery life and durability.
Sound: This score reflects reviewers’ satisfaction with the speaker’s sound output. In addition to sound clarity and volume, we accounted for factors such as bass and treble. Sound is a contributor to each speaker’s overall score, but we highlighted it separately because it’s a top priority for many consumers.
Ease of use: This score indicates reviewers’ satisfaction with their ability to operate the speaker. Since convenience is a major consideration for many speaker users, we factored in several criteria, including features, design, setup and charging. Ease of use is also a contributor to the overall score.
Here are our top iHome speakers, ranked in order of overall score.
The speakers
1. iHome iM60
With its collapsible, 0.2-pound body and rechargeable battery, the iHome iM60 is designed for convenient transport. It connects to any device, including phones and laptops, with a 3.5mm headphone jack. It can also be used alone or with a second iM60 speaker.
iHome IM60GT 3.5mm Aux Portable Speaker
- Overall score: 8.6
- Sound: 8.6
- Ease of use: 8.0
Buyers Like
- Easy to use.
- Compact.
- Charges quickly.
Buyers Dislike
- Not very durable.
- Lacks volume controls.
- Has a difficult-to-close latch.
2. iHome iDL45
The versatile iHome iDL45 functions as an alarm clock and radio. Users can wake up to the sound of a buzzer, FM radio or music from a connected iPhone, iPad or iPod. The speaker’s Lightning dock and USB port both play and charge devices.
iHome iDL45BC Lightning Dock Clock Radio/Alarm
- Overall score: 8.5
- Sound: 9.3
- Ease of use: 8.3
Buyers Like
- Can charge two devices at once.
- Provides loud, quality sound.
- Offers fast, automatic syncing.
Buyers Dislike
- Device-charging ability failed for some.
- Takes up a lot of space.
- Phones and other devices don’t fit in the dock when they’re in their cases.
3. iHome iDL46
The iHome iDL46 is the iDL45’s slightly smaller counterpart. It features immersive sound technology that lets listeners feel surrounded by their music. But some said the speaker’s charging ability dwindles over time.
iHome iDL46 Lightning Dock Clock Radio and USB Charge/Play
- Overall score: 8.1
- Sound: 7.6
- Ease of use: 8.1
Buyers Like
- Relatively small.
- Simple to set up.
- Produces crisp sound.
Buyers Dislike
- Some functions, like charging, suddenly stopped working.
- Has a bright display, even on the lowest setting.
- Phones and other devices don’t fit in the dock when they’re in their cases.
4. iHome iPL8
With its customizable snooze time, six programmable radio stations and ability to play music from a docked device, the iHome iPL8 lets users control when they wake up and what they’ll hear when they do. There’s also a “sleep” function for those who have trouble drifting off without background noise.
iHome iPL8BN Stereo FM Clock Radio
- Overall score: 7.5
- Sound: 7.8
- Ease of use: 7.7
Buyers Like
- Relatively small.
- Charges quickly.
- Provides loud, quality sound.
Buyers Dislike
- Certain functions stopped working soon after purchase.
- Has a bright display, even on the lowest setting.
- Phones and other devices don’t fit in the dock when they’re in their cases.
5. iHome iHM16
The iHM16 is a portable speaker powered by four AA batteries. Its built-in cable connects to the headphone jack on your phone, laptop or other device to play audio at home or on the go.
iHome iHM16U Portable Stereo Speaker System
- Overall score: 7.2
- Sound: 6.3
- Ease of use: 7.1
Buyers Like
- Compact.
- Decent sound clarity, quality.
- Easy to connect to device.
Buyers Dislike
- Produces static noise after repeated use.
- Can only be powered by batteries, which don’t last long.
- Quiet, and sound distorts when volume is high.
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Lauren Schwahn is a staff writer at NerdWallet, a personal finance website. Email: lschwahn@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @lauren_schwahn.
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