To keep things simple, the wattage can give an indication of the maximum volume.
Which JBL speaker should you buy? Flip 6, Charge 5, Xtreme 3, Link Portable
Bluetooth speakers and tunes are like fish and chips, Netflix and chilling, ballroom dancing and sequins: they just go together. These often inexpensive sonic boxes turn everyone’s phone into a sound system small enough to whisk away on your next adventure.
Add to this the fact that many models are waterproof, (making them ideal for the beach or pool) and, all things considered, you really have to take one of these little Bobby Dazzlers along for the ride. Generally speaking, the more you pay, the bigger the battery, giving you not only more time between recharges, but also the potential to juice up your phone or tablet directly from the speaker itself.
But considering its predecessor scored five stars in our JBL Flip 5 review, we’re expecting great things.) That means it has the same waterproof rating as the Flip 5 (surviving full submersion in up to a metre of water for 30 minutes), while also being completely dust-tight.
And it has the same PartyBoost feature (which lets you wirelessly pair it with other JBL speakers – including the Flip 5 – for a louder sound) and same 12-hour battery life. The Flip 6 comes in Dusty Pink, Grey Stone, River Teal, Fiesta Red, Ocean Blue, Midnight Black, Steel White, Forest Green and Squad. Like its predecessor, it doubles as a portable battery pack, charging up your smartphone or tablet – the clue’s in the name. The exterior has also been overhauled: the ends of its barrel-like bodywork boast a slightly more robust rubberised reinforcement, while the speaker itself is a whole 1mm taller, 2mm deeper, 3mm wider and 5g heavier than its older brother.
You can either sync them to all play the same song, or split it so one speaker handles the left channel and one the right, for a greater sense of scale. Two smartphones or tablets can connect wirelessly to the Charge 5 at once, so you can share it with a friend (as long as they have a good music taste) and it comes in plenty of colours.
Behind the grille are two 7cm woofers for low frequencies and two 20mm tweeters for the highs, while at either end of the speaker you’ll find a chunky passive bass radiator that pulses enthusiastically along with every bassline. The fact they’re completely sealed around the edges, combined with the resilient exterior material means that, should the Xtreme 3 somehow find itself in the middle of a swimming pool or sandstorm, it should emerge unscathed.
Just press the button, and you can summon either Amazon’s Alexa or Google Assistant, much like you can with your headphones’ in-line remote.
There’s Bluetooth 5.1 (compared to 4.2 on the Xtreme 2) but no wi-fi, so you can’t stream Spotify or Tidal without going through your phone.
JBL PartyBoost comes as standard (the Xtreme 2 has Connect+, so can’t pair with its successor), as does a 10,000mAh battery that’s good for 15 hours before needing a charge. The Xtreme 3 has more features than the Charge 5, and that carry handle is a great addition to music lovers on the move. These are smart speakers with access to Google Assistant, but like JBL’s other devices they are waterproof and have a rechargeable battery – the Link Portable even boasts a charging cradle in the box. It will survive being submerged in water for up to 30 minutes, so it’s more than qualified to accompany you to the beach or pool (or, more likely, a downpour in the middle of a barbecue).
In the bass department, there’s plenty of low-end rumble to trouble the neighbours, coupled with a healthy dose of warmth and stability. There are new reinforced rubber panels to protect the device, and the Go 2’s 3.5mm port for wired listening and the mic for speakerphone duties have both been nixed.
JBL speaker comparison: Which model is right for you?
Our point is this: JBL had over half-a-century experience pleasing crowds when the company started producing portable Bluetooth speakers, and that tradition continued from the introduction of the first Flip in 2012 until today, over 26 models and 100 million units later. At just over a pound and, thanks to its size and shape, no harder to hold than your canned drink of choice, the JBL Flip 5 is a throw-anywhere go-anywhere speaker with a grippy texture and equally catchy sound. The battery life of 12 hours means you’ll need to leave the pool party before the Flip 5, and it can last on a long bike trip (plus it may fit in your bottle cage).
What you’re taking with you, however, is up to 15 hours of hammering peak-hour Bluetooth 5.1 audio, assuming you don’t drain the Powerbank (there’s also 3.5mm aux input, just in case you’ve got a device that doesn’t play nice with wireless). The speaker reproduces thick, rumbling, authoritative basslines, and the IP67 waterproofing means the beats can continue to rain (reign?) The 13-pound JBL Boombox 2 isn’t the biggest speaker in the company’s line, but it is the largest we can reasonably call “portable” for the average partygoer.
With a molded handle built in, IPX7, and 24 hours of battery life, the Boombox 2 can occupy any space in which you want to rattle some tectonic (or dinner) plates. Thunderous lows come in seismic waves, but with plenty of presence in the mids and highs to maintain its sonic composure. Good for DJs, karaoke, or a small musical performance, these speakers feature Bluetooth 5.1, the ability to play digital files off of USB drives, as well as 3.5mm aux and ¼-inch mic/instrument jacks. If you want to increase the volume but don’t want to replace the speakers you already have, you can connect any of the current models—Flip 5, Charge 5, Xtreme 3, and/or Boombox 2—interchangeably. The silhouette of the Flip 5, Charge 5, and Xtreme 3 can be simply described as “log.” This isn’t industrial design; it’s functional but flashy. For just $119, the Flip 5 is budget-friendly and small enough to fit any bag (while sounding good enough to match any mood), but it’s best for an intimate gathering—a few people poolside, fireside, etc.
The Charge 5 costs a little more and is a little less compact, but packs a lot more sound and battery life, making it a great investment and possibly the best Bluetooth speaker for the beach or casual backyard BBQs.
The Best JBL Portable Bluetooth Speakers: A Side-by-Side Comparison, Mini-Reviews, and FAQ
We’ve done in-depth reviews of all JBL Bluetooth speakers, understandably you folks don’t want to read all that. So here’s a quick side-by-side table with mini-reviews and an FAQ to help you choose the right JBL sonic portable buddy for you. JBL makes great-sounding, well-regarded portable Bluetooth speakers that are durable and road-worthy. Any of them could be smart picks; which you get depends largely on the size you’re willing to carry, the price, and a few other feature factors. Our take in a nutshell Interface Notes Connectivity Frequency range Output power Battery life (advertised) Speakerphone Voice assistant Pair multiple units Waterproof? • Goes surprisingly loud for its size but to some ears sounds harsh at top volumes • Bluetooth pairing
[Click the + for more…] JBL Clip 3 • Offers more clarity, volume, and bass than the Go 2, but is slightly larger • Depending on volume, battery life can significantly outlast the advertised 10 hours • Bluetooth pairing • A mini 3.5mm (typical headphone) stereo input for playing music from older devices 2.40 Hz – 2.48 Hz 3.3 W 10 hours / takes 3 hours to fully charge up Yes No No Completely waterproof; can be submerged (IPX7) 5.4 3.8 1.8 13.7 9.7 4.6 0.22 0.49 • Amazon [Click the + for more…] JBL Flip 4 • One of the best-sounding cheap, waterproof, cylindrical portable speakers • Micro-USB charging 70Hz – 20kHz 2 x 8 W Up to 12 hours; 3.5 hours to fully charge Yes Yes; access your phone’s Google Assistant or Siri Now through the speaker Connect multiple units for bigger sound (any JBL Connect+ speakers work) Completely waterproof; can be submerged for up to 30 minutes (IPX7) 6.9 2.7 2.8 17.5 6.8 7 0.515 1.125 Amazon • Improvement in bass and treble from JBL’s “racetrack-shaped” driver • Bluetooth pairing
• USB-C charging 65Hz–20kHz 20 W RMS Up to 12 hours; the capacity is larger but so is the driver, thus the same overall battery life. • A mini 3.5mm (typical headphone) stereo input for playing music from older devices • A mini 3.5mm (typical headphone) stereo input for playing music from older devices [Click the + for more…] JBL Pulse 3 • Flashy, customizable, lava-lamp-like light show that responds to the music in various ways and designs can be customized via the app; one can even take photos and have those colors load into the light show • Sounds smooth and slightly bass forward in small and medium sized rooms, energetic vocals • A mini 3.5mm (typical headphone) stereo input for playing music from older devices
• Available in a range of solid colors • Bluetooth 4.2 70Hz – 20kHz 20 W 12 hours / takes 3.5 hours to fully charge up No No Yes, Connect multiple units for bigger sound (any JBL Connect+ speakers work) Completely waterproof; can be submerged (IPX7) 8.15 3.78 3.78 20.7 9.6 9.6 1.26 2.78 • Amazon [Click the + for more…] JBL Xtreme • An excellent outdoor party speaker, strong volume and thumping bass
• One of the loudest portable speakers that you can buy at this price and size that still sounds good at top volumes
• Thoughtful features for outdoor use, especially the ability to charge your phone off of the speaker’s battery • Bluetooth pairing
• 1 mini stereo input for playing music from older devices 70Hz – 20kHz 2 x 20 W 15 hours / takes 3.5 hours to fully charge up Yes Yes; access your phone’s Google Assistant or Siri Now through the speaker Connect feature: Wirelessly connect multiple JBL Connect speakers (i.e., only older speaker models) Splashproof (IPX4) 11.2 5 4.8 28.3 12.6 12.2 2.122 4.687 Amazon • Outdoor party features including waterproofing, carry strap, and integrated beer bottle opener • Bluetooth pairing
• A mini 3.5mm (typical headphone) stereo input for playing music from older devices [Click the + for more…] JBL Boombox • Twice as big as the Xtreme 2, twice as heavy, but still certainly within the realm of “portable” • 1 mini stereo input for playing music from older devices 50Hz – 20kHz 2 x 30 W 24 hours / takes 6.5 hours to fully charge up Yes Yes; access your phone’s Google Assistant or Siri Now through the speaker Connect+: Wirelessly connect more than 100 JBL Connect+ enabled speakers (i.e., pair with more recent JBL speakers) Completely waterproof; can be submerged for up to 30 minutes (IPX7) 19.5 10 7.7 49.5 25.5 19.6 5.25 11.562 Amazon
• Sounds slightly better at top volumes, though this is only noticeable in careful side-by-side listening tests, not in the real world • JBL PartyBoost button (for pairing multiple speakers) • Two 101.6 mm woofers • 1 mini stereo input for playing music from older devices 50 Hz – 20 kHz 2 x 40W 24 hours / takes 6.5 hours to fully charge up No No Connect other JBL PartyBoost-compatible speakers Completely waterproof; can be submerged for up to 30 minutes (IPX7) 19.1 10.1 7.9 48.5 25.7 20.1 5.9 13.03 Amazon (in your country) JBL speakers particularly excel, however, if you want full waterproofing and strong, even sound in a portable, durable package. If this mega-JBL-coverage somehow doesn’t do the trick, feel free to drop your own questions in the comments and we’ll do our best to answer (and improve this article) if needed.
As with the previous answer, the JBL PartyBox 300 can deliver the deepest bass, but is quite a lot to carry around.
The JBL Boombox 2 (also just above) is the closest you can get to a true, quality subwoofer-style bass experience in a speaker on the go. It’s about the size of a bar of soap, and if your phone, tablet, or laptop isn’t producing enough sound, this is an excellent option to boost things a bit on the go. Add to this the fact that the Go 2 syncs well over Bluetooth and generally causes no problems for matching dialogue with whatever device you’re watching videos on.
It’s certainly not going to sound as good as a home theatre system, but if you’re watching Netflix on a laptop, this little speaker will certainly improve the audio experience. The Clip 3’s advantage is its small size, solid construction, and built-in carabiner that allows you to easily hang it from a toiletry shelf or towel hook. The Clip 3 doesn’t have a lot of bass (to be expected for a speaker of its size) — if you need some thump with your shower experience, check out (from smallest to largest) the JBL Charge 4, Xtreme 2, or Boombox 2 in the table above.
Could any speaker seem more expressly designed for passing a joint or tripping balls than the JBL Pulse 4?
This modern take on the lava lamp pumps out detailed 360-degree sound while offering a fully customizable light show. It offers a full-length modern lightshow along its body that can be customized to go with the music, as well as smooth 360-degree delivery that can fill a large room. In the past, JBL has sometimes previewed its new speakers for journalists at electronics shows, and we’ll be all over that too if it happens. The last several models of various lines of JBL speakers have been consistently good, so we wouldn’t bother waiting for the latest version in general. More volume would be at the top of our list, if this can be done without sacrificing sound quality or increasing the size or weight. But since each successive model has gotten snazzier, both in terms of the light show and how it sounds, we’d expect that JBL engineers are going to try to come up with even greater refinements. In particular, speakerphone features have been on their way out with current JBL Bluetooth speaker models. All of JBL’s powered speakers have a one-year warranty, so you’re at the very least guaranteed that they’ll last at least that long.
Amazon reviews of the durability of the JBL Flip 4 show that people can be total jack-donkeys with their speakers: dropping them, throwing them down stairs, leaving them in the pool, etc. Individual results will vary widely based on your usage and the temperatures that the speaker is operating at. Note that if you’re interested in durability we also strongly recommend speakers from JBL’s competitor Ultimate Ears.
If you’ve had your speaker for less than a year, you can expect the battery to be replaced by them under the warranty policy. By the time your speaker’s battery does give out, there will also likely be newer, better models to consider and tempt you to simple replacement.
JBL Speaker Comparison: Which model is right for you?
JBL has been pleasing the crowd for over half a century when it began manufacturing portable Bluetooth speakers. With so many models to choose from, JBL’s speaker lineup has the option to accompany you, regardless of space or budget constraints. JBL flip 5 It is a speaker that can be carried anywhere, with a catchy sound as well as a grippy texture. And if you want to enjoy more sound without increasing size or price, you can use PartyBoost to pair your Flip 5 speakers.
Deliver a lot of ruggedness while eliminating the risk of rolling in the sand or falling into the water and ruining it. It weighs just over four pounds and comes with a sturdy nylon strap (with a built-in bottle opener) so you can hang it on your shoulder.
However, assuming it doesn’t drain your Powerbank, you can hammer your peak Bluetooth 5.1 audio for up to 15 hours (there’s also a 3.5mm aux input, just in case you have a device). The speakers are thick, recreating a rugged and reliable baseline, and IP67 waterproofing means that the beat keeps raining (dominates?)
13 pounds JBL boom box 2 Is not the largest speaker on the company’s line, but it is the largest speaker that the average party attendee can reasonably call “portable.” With a built-in molded handle, IPX7 compliant and a 24-hour battery life, the Boombox 2 can occupy the space you want the structural (or dinner) plate to rattle. Thunder-like bass is generated by seismic waves, but there is enough presence in the mid-high range to keep the sound calm.
It has Bluetooth 5.1, 3.5mm aux input, and the same Powerbank and PartyBoost features as other models (although linking these two can be too strong for the most non-hardcore people). You can daisy-chain the speakers with a cable or pair the two wirelessly for a stereo presentation.While JBL PartyBox 1000 Add more inputs, built-in effects, and even bass boosts in case too much isn’t enough.
The company’s speakers are becoming more and more durable, the Bluetooth signal is stronger, and the sound is louder without being unbalanced. All models share a set of rubber buttons for power, pairing, play / pause / skip, volume, and Party Boost. The PartyBox series is a colorful column that highlights your height and shade by matching the lights to the beat. The· Charge 5 It’s a bit more costly and a bit less compact, but with much longer sound and battery life, it’s a big investment and could be the perfect Bluetooth speaker for a casual barbecue on the beach or backyard.The· Xtreme 3 It occupies more space during transportation, but its sound is even more transportable, so it is certainly included in the equation even if there are neighbors.And that Boombox 2Well, it adds a lot of bulk, but it is.
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