Whether you’re in the market for something pocket-sized or powerful enough to shake the room, JBL’s diverse lineup is sure to have something your speed. We’ve done the research to pick the best devices from the brand for all kinds of uses, so you can start by checking out our guide to setting up Bluetooth speakers, or dive right in with our list of picks below. The Flip 5 also features JBL’s PartyBoost feature, which allows you to pair it with other JBL Bluetooth speakers for even bigger sound. The one downside is the slightly dated Bluetooth 4.2 technology, which has a slightly weaker connection than the newest Bluetooth 5. But this is still our favorite JBL speaker based on sound, design, and pure versatility. This speaker is also pretty big—it weighs 13 pounds and measures almost 22 inches on its longest side. While it’s designed with a nostalgic boombox-style carrying handle, it’s portable but not exactly travel-friendly. That being said, the IPX7 waterproof rating makes it an excellent poolside or outdoor party speaker, and the battery lasts for a full 24 hours between chargers so you won’t need to bring along a charging cord. Bluetooth 5.0 technology supports a stable connection to your music streaming device and lets you pair the Boombox 2 with other PartyBoost-compatible JBL speakers (if you decide you need even more audio immersion). Even if you aren’t on the go, this speaker still looks great sitting out on a table. And despite its compact size, the audio performance is solid and surprisingly loud. Its main weakness is battery life. Five hours of playtime isn’t bad, but it doesn’t stack up particularly well against other Bluetooth speakers. If you don’t mind charging up every night, then the Go 3 is a durable and fun little speaker that won’t break the bank. It’s available in blue, teal, grey, red, and black. The Xtreme 3 weighs a little over four pounds and measures 11.75 x 5.35 x 5.28 inches. There are two metal rings built into the top of the speaker and a fabric strap in the box, allowing you to carry it over your shoulder or across your back like a bag. It’s also built to withstand a variety of conditions and is both waterproof and dustproof. The 15-hour battery life is good but not great for this price range. The Link Portable is made up of two parts: the cylindrical speaker and the charging cradle. The speaker can be removed from the cradle and carried around on its own. It’s waterproof and has an eight-hour battery life, so you can take it with you on the go and then drop it back in the cradle when you get home. Just note that the internet-enabled smart features will not work if it goes out of range of a Wi-Fi signal—at that point it would behave like a regular Bluetooth speaker. The PartyBox 310 is built a bit like a rolling suitcase, with a telescopic handle and built-in wheels. It’s transportable, but still weighs about 40 pounds and measures 12.8 x 27 x 14.5 inches, so it’s a serious piece of equipment. That being said, it’s also quite durable. The PartyBox has an IPX4 rating, which means it can withstand splashes and spills and won’t get ruined by an unexpected rain shower. Kids will love the eye-catching features that JBL has managed to fit on the Jr Pop. The color options are playful and bright, and the speaker has a ring of multicolored lights that put on a show whenever music plays. JBL even includes a pack of stickers in the box so kids can customize their new device. The only downside is the five-hour battery life. The JBL Jr Pop may need to be charged a bit more than your typical Bluetooth speaker, but its tough build and playful design still make it a clear winner for kids.
What to Look for
Sound Quality - There’s no single spec that can tell you how a speaker will sound, and that’s one of the trickiest things about buying this kind of device online. Many JBL speakers will mention the brand’s “signature sound profile” somewhere in the product description, which refers to the way they tune their speakers. For JBL, that sound profile tends to be punchy with a powerful low end. The brand is known for making speakers with a strong bass response, so they’re a great choice for people who listen to bass-driven music. Like several other audio brands, JBL has a companion app for its speakers that allows you to make adjustments to audio equalization. Design - Choosing the best wireless speaker design depends entirely on your needs. Several of the speakers on this list look very similar in terms of shape, but some are much larger than others and therefore a lot less portable. Think about where you’ll be using it: Are you planning to leave it in one place? Carry it in a bag? Use it outside or in the shower, where it could potentially get wet? JBL makes lots of interesting travel speakers that include clips, carrying handles, and straps for easy portability or actual on-the-go listening while hiking or cycling. If you want powerful sound and don’t need to transport your speaker very far, you may want to look into something bigger and heavier—JBL has a few models that trade portability for premium audio quality and extra features like Wi-Fi connectivity and charging ports. Make sure you get something waterproof (IPX7 rating) if you plan to use it near the pool! Battery Life - It may not be the most glamorous or interesting feature, but let’s be honest—needing to recharge all the time is annoying. Subpar battery life is frustratingly common with cheaper wireless devices, and it can really take the fun out of a new speaker. So what is considered “good battery life?” That largely depends on how often and for how long you typically use your speakers. If you work from home and have music playing all day, then you’re going to want something that can last for at least 10 or 12 hours between charges. It’s the same for people who host parties or events and don’t want their speaker dying in the middle. If you tend to use speakers in shorter bursts, then you may not need that kind of battery capacity. But as a general rule of thumb: longer battery life is better. Syncing Features - Some JBL speakers have syncing features like JBL Connect+ and PartyBoost that let you play your music out of multiple speakers at once. Connect+ has you link your speaker or speakers to an app on your phone, and you can control and synchronize the connected speakers from that app. PartyBoost, on the other hand, directly connects speakers together. You can use it to listen to your music in stereo or link several together for a big volume boost. Syncing features can be lots of fun because they allow you to quickly create a multi-speaker setup, but there are restrictions about which speaker models are compatible with each other. If you already have a JBL speaker and want to buy another in a different model, you’ll need to double-check to make sure they can be synced with one another. For example, an old JBL speaker that has JBL Connect cannot be synced with a newer speaker that has JBL Connect+. A speaker with PartyBoost can only be synced with other speakers that have PartyBoost. If the syncing feature is important to you, look into this before you buy so you don’t get stuck with incompatible speaker models.
