Various implementations include portable speakers with dynamic display characteristics. In some particular aspects, a portable speaker includes an enclosure housing: at least one electro-acoustic transducer for providing an audio output; a processor coupled with the at least one transducer; an audio input module coupled with the processor for receiving audio input signals; and a battery configured to power the at least one transducer, the processor, and the audio input module; an input channel for receiving a hard-wired audio input connection; at least one wireless input channel for receiving an audio input from a source device via a wireless connection; and a display on the enclosure coupled with the processor, wherein the processor adjusts an orientation of the display between a first orientation and a second orientation in response to detecting a change in orientation of the portable speaker.