The JBL Go 4, which came out in May 2024, is the newest version of JBL’s popular line of ultra-portable Bluetooth speakers. This palm-sized powerhouse costs between $40 and $50 and promises strong sound, long-lasting durability, and modern features like Auracast connectivity. It also keeps the small size and low price that made its predecessors so popular. Here’s why the JBL Go 4 is one of the best cheap Bluetooth speakers on the market after looking at its design, features, and performance.
The design and construction are small and strong.
The JBL Go 4 Bluetooth Speaker is so cute! It only weighs 0.4 lbs (190g) and is 3.7 x 3.0 x 1.7 inches (94 x 78 x 42 mm) big, so you can easily fit it in your pocket or backpack. The boxy, soap-bar shape is covered in a high-quality recycled fabric with rubberized silicone edges, which makes it feel both high-end and tough. A fabric loop on the design lets you attach it to a carabiner or bag, making it easier to take with you on outdoor adventures.
The Go 4 comes in nine bright colors: Purple, Pink, Red, Black, White, Blue, Squad (Camo), Black & Orange, and Sand. It’s both stylish and useful. The speaker has an IP67 rating, which means it is dustproof and can be submerged in up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes. This makes it great for pool parties, beach trips, and hikes in the rain. The Go 4 has better silicone protection around the edges and redesigned feet that make it more stable than the JBL Go 3. This means it can handle rough handling without getting frayed or damaged.
The layout of the controls is easy to understand, but it has some strange features. The buttons for power, Bluetooth, and Auracast are on the side and are recessed. The buttons for play/pause and volume up/down are on top. Some people say that the buttons can feel stiff or only have a small area that you can click on, and that they are harder to find in the dark because they don’t have backlighting. There is a small LED that shows the battery’s status, but a more accurate indicator would be helpful.
Modern technology for a cheap speaker is one of its features.
The JBL Go 4 has a lot of features for its price that are surprising:
Bluetooth 5.3 and Auracast: The Go 4 connects reliably using Bluetooth 5.3, which has a range of up to 334.6 feet (102 meters) in the best conditions. It lets you pair multiple devices, so you can easily switch between two devices, like a phone and a laptop. Auracast is the best new feature. It’s a new Bluetooth technology that takes the place of JBL’s PartyBoost. You can connect multiple JBL speakers that work with Auracast, like the Clip 5 or Xtreme 4, to get a wider soundstage or stereo playback with a second Go 4. But when you use Auracast, stereo pairing can have some problems with sync, and EQ settings go back to their defaults.
The JBL Portable App is a big step up from the Go 3. The Go 4 works with the JBL Portable app and has a 5-band EQ that you can customize to get the sound you want. The app also handles pairing Auracast devices and keeping an eye on the battery, but it’s pretty basic.
Playtime Boost: This feature can add up to 2 hours to the battery life (from 7 to 9 hours), but it takes away the ability to customize the bass and EQ, making the sound more like a podcast mode. Most reviewers say to stay away from it unless battery life is very important.
Eco-Friendly Materials: The Go 4 is made of recycled fabric and plastic, which is great for people who care about the environment. You can choose the colors, patterns, text, or images for an extra $10 when you order directly from JBL. This makes it a one-of-a-kind gift idea.
Small Speaker, Big Sound Quality
The JBL Go 4 Bluetooth Speaker has surprisingly strong sound for a speaker of its size. The sound is clear and balanced, with sharp highs and decent mids. This is thanks to its 4.2W output and 45mm transducer (up from 43mm in the Go 3). The Go 4 doesn’t have a passive radiator, so it doesn’t have the deep bass of bigger speakers. However, it makes up for this with a thumping, engaging low-end that works well with EDM, hip-hop, and pop music. Songs like “Biggest Part of Me” by Ambrosia and “Times of Trouble” by Temple of the Dog show great clarity and detail, but complex instrumental tracks may lose some of their separation because they only play in mono.
The JBL Portable app lets users change the EQ settings to change the frequencies. For example, they can boost 64Hz and 250Hz for more bass or lower 1kHz for smoother mids. This makes the sound more unique. The speaker can only go up to about 83.3 dB, which is fine for small rooms or outdoor use up close, but not great for big groups. When the volume is high, bass compression can happen, which can change the dynamics a little. Putting the speaker with the JBL logo facing up makes the sound better.
The Go 4 is just as clear and supports apps as competitors like the Sony SRS-XB100 or Tribit Stormbox Micro 2. However, it doesn’t have as much bass or volume. You need two Go 4s to get stereo sound because it downmixes stereo to mono otherwise.
Battery Life: Good, but not great
The Go 4 can play for up to 7 hours (an improvement over the Go 3’s 5 hours) and charges in about 2.3 to 3 hours using USB-C. Tests in the real world show that it lasts about 6.9 to 7 hours, but this may be less if the bass EQ is set to high or the volume is high. The Playtime Boost feature can make the battery last longer, but it hurts sound quality a lot. The Go 4 doesn’t last as long as competitors like the Sony SRS-XB100 (up to 16 hours) or the Anker Soundcore Select 4 Go, which makes it less good for all-day use.
Verdict: A Good Upgrade for Music on the Go
If you want a Bluetooth speaker that is cheap, very portable, and sounds great, the JBL Go 4 is a great choice. The IP67 build is tough, the design is bright, and it has modern features like Auracast and app-based EQ customization that make it a good replacement for the Go 3. It can’t compete with bigger speakers in bass or volume, but it’s great for casual listening, outdoor activities, or small get-togethers because it’s clear, durable, and cheap. The JBL Clip 5 ($79.95) and the Sony SRS-XB100 are good options for people who need more power or battery life, but the Go 4 is hard to beat for less than $50.
The JBL Go 4 Bluetooth Speaker is a small, tough speaker that sounds great. It’s perfect for hiking, going to the beach, or just having a reliable speaker at your desk. For music lovers on a budget, it’s a good buy.
