'Great bang for the buck': This waterproof speaker is down to $20, but not for long

Pool days might feel like a far-off dream, but now's the perfect time to snag summer gear on the cheap. At the top of the list? A water-resistant speaker that won't flinch at a little splash. Enter the BolaButty Bluetooth Speaker, currently just $20 at Amazon thanks to a limited-time Lightning deal. Compact, portable and packing long battery life and built-in light effects, it's a steal. Bonus: It makes a great shower sidekick for your morning karaoke sessions.

Why is this a good deal? 💰

With the Lightning Deal, this speaker drops to just $20, on par with the lowest price we've ever seen. Compared with similar models from brands including Anker or JBL, this is a steal. Demand for Bluetooth speakers goes up the closer we get to beach and pool season, which means now's the time to buy. Plus, you've only got a little time to pounce on this sale price before it gets jacked up again.

Why do I need this? 🤔

The BolaButty is a great pick for multiple reasons, starting with sound quality. Two drivers produce sound with next to no distortion, even at higher volumes, and you can connect two of these speakers for a stereo effect. It's also weather-resistant, which means you don't have to worry about taking it out and about. If someone splashes it with pool water or it's rained on because you left it out in a sudden downpour, no worries.

It delivers around 24 hours of playback per charge, plus it can connect up to 100 feet away from your device. There's also a fun bonus: lighting effects. You can't see them as well during the daytime, but at night, you can make your own light show by pressing a button on the speaker. There's also a built-in microphone for hands-free calling.

What reviewers say 💬

This little speaker has nearly 17,000 five-star reviews. That's a lot of people singing its praises, including folks who rave about the value for the money.

Pros 👍

"Great bang for the buck!" wrote a fan. "I was looking for a smallish Bluetooth speaker with satisfying bass. ... I researched and bought five different brands and types of speakers to audition, with the intent of returning the four that weren't up to snuff. Bottom line, coming from someone who has a discerning ear for overall sound quality, this speaker is great!"

"It's compact but puts out some power. I love to listen to music on my phone when I shower, but the water pretty much drowns out the sound. This speaker amplifies it loud and clear. The best part is how long it holds a charge," said one shower singer.

One user traded bad TV speakers for this. "My TV has awful built-in speakers, and my previous Bluetooth soundbar stopped playing the sound on Hulu for some reason. This speaker is much smaller and cheaper, but it sounds just as good!"

"I bought this last May and took it to the pool every day until the end of September," shared another fan. "I live in Texas and this little speaker was unfazed in 110°F temps and definitely got wet many times! Since summer ended, I have adopted it as my bathroom speaker and use it every single day. No issues at all."

Cons 👎

"It's a great little speaker for a small(ish) area. I brought it to the beach and had a group of 12 people all able to hear it well. Easy to connect to your phone as well. [The] only downside is that you can't really see the power light when you're in the sun," wrote one beachgoer.

This reviewer had another light-related gripe: "Extremely long battery life. That being said, I deducted one star because it doesn't have a battery condition indicator. You know when to charge it when it quits working. It does have a red LED that goes out when recharge is complete."

The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.

If you have Amazon Prime, you'll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $35 or more.)

Looking for more great Amazon tech deals? Check these out: