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JBL is known for its colourful Bluetooth speakers and ultra-portable design. The brand’s distinct, bass-rich sound profile makes it a benchmark for both party speakers and personal speakers, delivering rich sound and amazing volume in even the most compact designs. Many of the best JBL speakers are rugged, nearly all are splashproof if not completely waterproof, and designed to be carried or clipped to backpacks and bicycles.
Whether you’re looking for something pocket-sized or something powerful enough to rock a room, JBL’s diverse lineup is sure to have something for your speed. We’ve done the research to pick the brand’s best devices for all kinds of uses, so you can get started by checking out our guide to setting up a Bluetooth speaker or dive straight into our list of picks below.
Here is the list of Best JBL Speakers
JBL Boombox 3
One of the best JBL Bluetooth speakers we tested is the JBL Boombox 3. A versatile choice, this portable Bluetooth speaker is loud enough to fill large, open spaces with your favorite tunes. With a built-in carrying handle and a long-life battery of almost 30 hours, it is really easy to take this speaker with you on the go. It is well made and its IP67 rating means that it is certified dustproof and submersible up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes.
So you can listen to music by the pool without worrying about long-term damage to the speaker. Whether it’s music or podcasts, the speaker’s balanced sound ensures detail and clarity of key voices and instruments. If you prefer a dissimilar sound, you can increase the output with the graphic equalizer available in the JBL Portable app.
JBL Xtreme 3
Easily one of the best JBL speakers, the JBL Xtreme 3 is IP67 rated and has up to 15 hours of battery life, so you can enjoy this durable speaker wherever you go. any Bluetooth-enabled device can connect to the speaker and play your favorite tunes at the beach, pool or garden! The J.C.S. is a very durable speaker that can be placed in a small bag. Easy to slip into a small bag, the JBL Extreme 3 has an attached shoulder strap and six easy-to-use buttons (power, play/pause, volume, Bluetooth, and PartyBoost).
A small light under the JBL logo indicates how much battery power is left, so you’ll know immediately if you need to recharge the batteries. 25W woofers and two 25W tweeters each deliver punchy, crisp sound. When turned all the way up, the sound is a bit distorted, but by combining two PartyBoost-compatible speakers, you can enjoy stereo sound.
JBL Flip 5
The JBL Flip 5 combines great sound with cool design: available in 12 different colors and prints, this speaker can be oriented vertically or horizontally for powerful bass and realistic sound. Take it anywhere: At 7.1 x 2.7 x 2.9 inches and only 1 pound, this speaker is travel-friendly and can play for 12 hours between charges. Plus, the IPX7 waterproof rating means you can take it to the pool, beach or outside to element for your next outdoor gathering.
Easily one of the best JBL speakers, the Flip 5 also features JBL’s PartyBoost feature, allowing you to pair it with other JBL Bluetooth speakers for even better sound. The only downside is the slightly outdated Bluetooth 4.2 technology, which makes the connection a bit weaker than the brand new Bluetooth 5. But this is still our favorite JBL speaker because of its sound, design, and versatility.
JBL Go 2
The first JBL Bluetooth speaker on our list is the JBL Go 2 Wireless Portable Bluetooth Speaker, which has a compact design and is IPX7 certified. The company promises up to five hours of battery life with this speaker. Thanks to the built-in noise cancellation feature, the GO 2 also provides a clear calling experience. The compactly designed GO 2 instantly elevates your sense of style to a whole new level.
You also get 12 different colour options with this audio device. In addition, the speaker is also AUX compatible and can be connected to any compatible device via any standard audio cable. The GO 2’s IPX7 waterproof enclosure makes it perfect for worry-free listening at the beach, poolside or even in the shower.
JBL PartyBox Encore Essential
The PartyBox Encore Essential is a portable party speaker capable of producing deeper and boomier bass than the JBL Boombox 3. The sound profile is generally neutral, making it ideal for listening to a wide range of genres. musically. It’s compatible with the JBL Partybox app, which has a graphical equalizer, meaning you can customize the sound profile to your liking, just like our top pick.
However, this speaker comes with a few extra tools to liven up your next party, including a microphone input for karaoke as well as light show effects, DJ effects and in-app karaoke effects. This speaker isn’t as good for outdoor use as the Boombox 3. The PartyBox’s battery doesn’t last as long, with only eight hours of battery life on a single charge. Overall, this is one of the best JBL speakers that you can buy right now.
JBL Charge 5
If you are looking for a smaller, more affordable option, the JBL Charge 5 is the best portable JBL speaker in this price range that we have tested. It is more portable than the JBL PartyBox Encore Essential so you can carry it with one hand. It also has an IP67 dust and waterproof rating, meaning it won’t get soaked in dust or 1 meter deep water for 30 minutes, so you can use it poolside without worry.
It also has a long battery life of over 14 hours, making it ideal for extended listening. It also features a PartyBoost button, so you can connect it to other PartyBoost-enabled JBL speakers, such as the JBL Xtreme 3 or JBL Pulse 4, when you want to amplify the sound in a larger room.
JBL Flip Essential IPX7 Waterproof 16W Bluetooth Speaker
The nest speaker on our list is the JBL Flip Essential IPX7 IPX7 waterproof 16W Bluetooth speaker, which has a robust fabric design and powerful bass. It has a long-life battery that provides up to 10 hours of playback time, so you can listen to your favourite tunes for many hours. Whether you’re hiking in the mountains or doing intense workout sessions, you can still take this portable speaker with you wherever you go, as it’s rugged and durable in its design. Thus, this product is one of the best JBL speakers available right now.
Moreover, we can easily connect any smart device to this speaker using Bluetooth 5.0 for a wireless listening experience. For any outdoor party or camping activity, we can use this speaker as a companion as the speaker’s waterproof design allows you to take it with you wherever you go.
JBL Flip 6
If you’re looking for a robust, user-friendly speaker with great sound, the JBL Flip 6 is more than suitable. It’s ideal for filling a room with your favourite tunes or adding sound to outdoor parties and experiences. Since it’s IP67 rated, it’s completely waterproof and dustproof, so you can enjoy some serious floor-pounding at the beach or pool. The dual passive radiators deliver plenty of bass where it’s needed, which is a slight improvement over the JBL Flip 6’s predecessor.
Using Bluetooth 5.1, it’s easy to connect Bluetooth-compatible devices to the speaker and use simple controls to turn up the volume or skip tracks. While there’s no built-in charging port for charging your phone, an AUX input for wired listening or voice assistant features, the JBL Flip 6 is still a great value portable speaker that’s worth investing in.
Final Words
If you are looking for the best JBL speakers, they offer many speakers for different purposes, from small, compact portable speakers to larger, more powerful party speakers. In general, JBL speakers have fairly neutral sound profiles, but many older models lack a graphic equalizer to customize the sound to your liking. Its well-made portable Bluetooth speakers are good to take on the go, but you probably won’t be able to use them with a voice assistant, even through a paired smartphone.