For the last few years, the JBL Clip series has been one of the top options if you’re looking for a tough little speaker that won’t break the bank. The Clip 3 is definitely lacking in the low end due to its small size, but the emphasis on vocals makes it a solid choice for anyone that just wants to listen to a podcast while going about their business. Sure, it still has a carabiner, but unlike the Clip 2—this one is built into the frame of the speaker instead of being a small metal triangle hooked onto some hard plastic.
The JBL Clip 3 also still has the same three playback buttons as the previous model, but now you’ll find them embedded in the front fabric of the speaker as opposed to the small indents around the edge.
You’re probably not getting a JBL Clip 3 based on whether or not it has an audio cable attached, so you’ll be happy to know that this speaker is just as tough as its predecessors. You can completely submerge it in up to 1 meter of water if need be thanks to the IPX7 build, and the carabiner being built into the frame just gives it a more rugged feel overall.
Not that I was worried about the hard plastic being ripped off of the older model, but the new design introduces fewer moving parts which is always good for devices meant to take a beating. You should have completed a factory reset by doing this and then you can just power on the speaker and pair to it by pressing the Bluetooth button as if it were a brand new device.
You won’t find any high-quality streaming codecs or anything like that, but if we’re being honest that shouldn’t be a surprise considering the price point and target use case of the speaker. You can also answer or end phone calls thanks to the built-in microphone which I can personally attest to its usefulness in the shower. It’s worth mentioning, however, that if you’re outdoors you’ll likely be playing music at a higher output to make it easier to hear—so you should expect battery life to suffer accordingly. The sound quality of the JBL Clip doesn’t seem to be much different from the past versions, so if you’ve had or listened to one of those before then you know what to expect.
The speaker does a pretty decent job with mids and listening to songs like Swans and the Swimming by Iron & Wine, I didn’t feel like I was missing too much. If you like the idea of portable Bluetooth speakers that are tough, waterproof, and still sounds good, then luckily you have plenty of options. While the sound quality isn’t going to reach backyard barbecue levels of loudness, it’s perfect for small gatherings, hikes, or just listening to podcasts in the shower. The Clip series has always been a no-brainer at around $50, but this new and updated version is the first time I’ve thought of it as an absolute steal. If you feel like shelling out the extra money for JBL’s newest toy you’ll get these added perks, but otherwise, it’s very similar to the Clip 3.
JBL Clip 3 review: A top-notch waterproof travel speaker
The JBL Clip 3 also comes in a nice array of colors: black, blue, green, gray, pink, white and “sand.” That said, the Clip 3 has a 3.5mm input next to the charging port, so it will work with wired audio sources — you just need to supply the cable.
The JBL Clip 3 doesn’t have quite as much bass as the Bose SoundLink Micro, which plays louder and sounds a little fuller. As for the Clip 3’s extra features, it has a built-in echo- and noise-canceling speakerphone along with playback and volume control buttons on top of the speaker. Battery life for this speaker is rated at 10 hours at moderate volume levels.
JBL Clip 3
The Clip 3 is IPX7 waterproof and offers up to 10 hours of playtime, powered by a 1000mAh rechargeable Li-ion battery, allowing you to bring your music with you.
Customer Reviews: JBL Clip 3 Portable Bluetooth Speaker Black JBLCLIP3BLK
I can’t tell you how much I love this speaker, I originally had the jbl clip 2, until it gave up on me. They thought I spend so much when I got them on sale lol It was an amazing feeling when they realize they all got one. Also has some safety covers on the side where you charge it so it doesn’t get damage from dust, water, or sand if you take it to the beach as I always do!
JBL Clip 3 Review
Measuring 5.4 by 3.8 by 1.8 inches (HWD), the 7.4-ounce Clip 3 is available in a wide range of colors—eleven hues, including standard black or white, along with flashier options like camo, teal, or mustard yellow. The built-in carabiner on the top panel will clip on to a wide variety of objects, or the speaker can lie flat on its back and project audio upward. The Clip 3’s IPX7 rating means it can be immersed up to one meter of water without issue, making it ideal for poolside lounging or rainy day excursions. On tracks with intense sub-bass content, like The Knife’s “Silent Shout,” the Clip 3 has a little trouble with the opening bass rumble, teetering on the edge of distortion.
The drums sound a tad thin, as we might expect, but Callahan’s baritone vocals are delivered with a solid richness, and the acoustic guitar strums have an excellent, crisp presence to their attack. The Clip 3 can get quite loud for its size, and on a track without lots of deep bass, the speaker isn’t bogged down by its DSP and sounds fuller and brighter. On Jay-Z and Kanye West’s “No Church in the Wild,” the kick drum loop receives the ideal amount of high-mid presence to accentuate its punchy attack, and the vinyl crackle that’s typically relegated to the background is pushed forward somewhat. It’s a bright sound, and the drum loop lacks much in the way of bass presence, while the sub-bass synth hits that punctuate the beat are more implied than fully delivered. Orchestral tracks, like the opening scene from John Adams’ The Gospel According to the Other Mary, sound clear and bright, but lack the forward push of lower register instrumentation we often hear on even smaller speakers.
JBL Clip 3 Review
The super compact JBL Clip 3 is perfect for those that like to always keep a speaker in their bag, just in case, or those that like to add a proper soundtrack to their shower singing. Overall the JBL Clip 3 certainly isn’t going to impress audiophiles, but can generally do enough justice to your favorite tune to get you singing along.
It manages to sound fuller than most of the other super-compact models on the market, and avoids the shrill hiss accompanying high notes that many of those speakers are plagued with. Tipping the scales at just 7.5 ounces, it weighs barely more than most smart phones, so you probably won’t even notice it in your bag or backpack. If you lower the volume to where it maintains its sound quality, it is plenty loud enough to entertain a group of friends hanging out on the beach or lounging on a dock. In our tests the Clip 3 well outdid its claim of a 10-hour battery life, lasting a whopping 18 hours before finally succumbing to exhaustion.
For those that value portability over all else, and don’t mind spending slightly extra to add in some decent sound quality, this is a perfect choice.
JBL Clip 3 review: Not as good as the Clip 2
For all intents and purposes, it is still a small, waterproof Bluetooth speaker that you can clip to a backpack or belt loop to accompany you on your travels. As you can see from our photographs, this looks great, not least because the colours of all the speaker’s different elements – the casing, grille and carabiner – are all carefully coordinated. While it’s disappointing to see this feature dropped, few people purchase a wireless speaker to play music via a cable, and its absence does at least gives the Clip 3 a cleaner, more pared down appearance. Should you need to play music from a device that doesn’t support Bluetooth, the Clip 3 does still have a 3.5mm port, which you can reveal by pulling back the speaker’s water-sealed rubber flap. If you want to enjoy boosted sound by pairing a second speaker, you’ll need the older model. However, the older Clip 2 can now be picked up for closer to £30, which represents much better value if you’re looking for a great-sounding small Bluetooth speaker to take on holiday with you.
It lacks the Clip 3’s handy carabiner, but the Creative Muvo 2c remains our favourite Bluetooth speaker under £30. As well as producing a sound that defies its stature and price, it offers plenty of connections including a 3.5mm port and microSD slot as well as Bluetooth.
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