Best home and portable WiFi/Bluetooth JBL wireless speaker
JBL Authentics 300
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JBL has long been a leader in the wireless speaker market, with a range of models, including its popular Flip and Charge Bluetooth speakers, as well as an increasing number of larger party speakers that not only play loud but have built-in light shows to add some club vibes to your festivities. JBL’s smallest Bluetooth speakers, especially its legacy models, can cost as little as $20-$30, while it’s jumbo speakers, some equipped with wheels and handles, cost well over $500. Most of the smaller JBL portable Bluetooth speakers are fully waterproof while the larger PartyBox models tend to be splash-proof.
We’ve included a variety of our favorite JBL wireless speakers at a various price points and will update this list as new JBL speakers hit the market. If you’re looking for a broader list of Bluetooth speakers from top brands, check out our Best Bluetooth speakers of 2024 list.
Best JBL Bluetooth speakers of 2024
JBL says has improved the sound of its smallest speaker, the Go 4, and after testing it, we agree that indeed it does have “more robust sound and punchier bass than its predecessor.” For such a tiny speaker that literally fits in your pocket, it sounds surprisingly good, though it has its limitations, of course (it can only produce so much bass and sound.
Available in 9 color options, the Go 4 has an “updated silhouette” and a wider and more durable carrying strap. The speaker is rated for 7 hours of playtime at moderate volume levels, is IP67 waterproof and dustproof and comes equipped with Bluetooth 5.3 with LE audio. It also has multi-speaker connectivity via the JBL Portable app and Auracast.
With each new version of the Flip, JBL makes small improvements, and while the latest model, the Flip 6, doesn’t look much different from the Flip 5 on the outside, it does feature improved sound. It has two-way drivers with a woofer and tweeter and dual passive radiators that help the Flip 6 deliver much deeper bass than you think it could.Â
It’s fully waterproof and dust-proof with an IPX67 rating. Like the Flip 5, it’s rated for up to 12 hours of audio playback at moderate volume levels and charges via USB-C. Available in multiple color options, it’s one of the best-sounding speakers for its compact size.
You can still buy JBL’s original Charge 5 Bluetooth speaker, which comes in multiple color options, but the portable speaker is now available in a new version that features both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity that links up with JBL’s other Wi-Fi speakers in your home and is both Chromecast- and Apple AirPlay-enabled. It currently only comes in black and is a little more expensive than the Bluetooth-only version. But the dual wireless connectivity options offers a little more versatility, and streaming music over Wi-Fi instead of Bluetooth can help get you slightly better sound quality.
The Charge 5 Wi-Fi is bigger than your average portable Bluetooth speaker, but it’s got some good kick to it. And like previous Charge speakers, it has a USB out port that allows you to charge a device like a smartphone. Battery life is rated at up to 20 hours at moderate volume levels. It’s fully waterproof and dust-proof.