78

out of

260

Speakers

True Score Methodology v1.0

JBL Go 3 Review

Name: JBL Go 3
Brand: JBL

By

Kenn Muguna

5/23/2023 5:38 PM

True Score

74

Mixed Reviews

73

7

Experts

82

3,837

Consumers

Product Awards

GR Certified

Customer Favorite

Expert Rankings

(

7

)

The JBL Go 3 had experts praise its robust build quality and compact design. They were pleased with its power-saving feature and satisfied with its audio quality. Still, they didn’t like that it couldn’t float on water and that it lacked a speakerphone and voice assistant functionality.

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Table of Contents

Product Snapshot
Overview
Consensus
- {post.0.post_title} Specs
- Test Results
Product Comparison
All Stores
Score Card
Expert Score Breakdown
Customer Score Breakdown
Learn More About Speakers

Product Snapshot

Overview

The JBL Go 3 is a compact, entry-level speaker that was first released in early 2021. The speaker is available in three different colors, and thanks to its IP67 waterproof and dustproof rating, it is an excellent pick for use outdoors. Weighing only 0.4 pounds, the Go 3 is one of the best speakers to consider in terms of portability, and its battery lasts up to five hours on a single charge. It also has a power-saving feature to conserve battery life when not in use, and with a Bluetooth latency of 109ms and 65ms on both Android and iOS devices, it works well for music and watching videos since there won’t be any lag. With a range of up to 226ft, its Bluetooth connectivity is also at par with some of the highest-rated Bluetooth speakers, and owners won’t need to keep it near the music source for music to continue playing.

Consensus

our Verdict

Product reviewers liked that the JBL Go 3 was water and dust-resistant and agreed that its compact design made it ideal for users who value portability. Testers from Rtings liked that it shipped with a built-in carrying strap, and during their tests, they noted that it would shut off after 20 minutes of inactivity to conserve battery life. They also found its five-hour battery life to be pretty okay. It lasts as long as the JBL JR POP, which we’ve also covered in our JBL JR POP review. The JBL Flip 6 lasts about an hour longer, and we’ve delved more into it in our JBL Flip 6 review. Product experts from Sound Guys were also satisfied with its sound quality, as vocals were clear and it got loud enough for its size.

However, testers didn’t like that it couldn’t float in water and that it was missing a speakerphone and voice assistant functionality. They also didn’t like its lack of WiFi connectivity.

Reason to Buy

Compact and lightweight
Dust and water resistant
Good sound quality
Power saving feature
Long range of connectivity

Reason to Avoid

No speakerphone or voice assistant functionality
Doesn’t float on water
No WiFI connectivity

JBL Go 3 Specs

	Battery Life	5 hrs
	Built In Microphone	Yes
	Charge Time	2.5 hrs
	Depth	1.6"
	Height	2.7"
	IPX Rating	IP67
	Smart App	n/a
	Speaker Pairing	n/a
	Water Resistant	Yes
	Wattage	4.2W
	Width	3.4"
	Wireless Range	10 m

All Specs

Test Results

Battery Life (Hours)	7.57
Volume Output (dB)	77.3
Low End Roll Off (Hz)	142.544
High End Roll Off (Hz)	9,255.497

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Product Comparison

	JBL Go 3 Review	JBL Clip 4 Review	JBL Flip 5 Review	Sony SRS-XB13 Review
True Score	74	70	83	76
Ranking	# 78 / 260	# 90 / 260	# 31 / 260	# 75 / 260
Market Context	The JBL Go 3 is a compact, entry-level speaker that was first released in early 2021. The speaker is available in three different colors, and… The JBL Go 3 is a compact, entry-level speaker that was first released in early 2021. The speaker is available in three different colors, and thanks to its IP67 waterproof and dustproof rating, it is an excellent pick for use outdoors. Weighing only 0.4 pounds, the Go 3 is one of the best speakers to consider in terms of portability, and its battery lasts up to five hours on a single charge. It also has a power-saving feature to conserve battery life when not in use, and with a Bluetooth latency of 109ms and 65ms on both Android and iOS devices, it works well for music and watching videos since there won’t be any lag. With a range of up to 226ft, its Bluetooth connectivity is also at par with some of the highest-rated Bluetooth speakers, and owners won’t need to keep it near the music source for music to continue playing.	The JBL GO 3 and the JBL Clip 4 are both aimed at customers who value portability because of their compact sizes. However, the GO… The JBL GO 3 and the JBL Clip 4 are both aimed at customers who value portability because of their compact sizes. However, the GO 3 sounds better than the Clip 4 at max volume, despite the Clip 4 having deeper bass levels. The Clip 4 also has a slightly longer battery life of 5.5 hours than the Go 3, which lasts 30 minutes less. Take a look at our JBL Clip 4 review to see what else it’s got in store.	The JBL Go 3 is more portable than the JBL Flip 5, but the Flip 5 has a longer-lasting 8.2-hour battery compared to the JBL… The JBL Go 3 is more portable than the JBL Flip 5, but the Flip 5 has a longer-lasting 8.2-hour battery compared to the JBL Go 3, which only lasts 5 hours. The Flip 5 also has a companion app, while the JBL Go 3 does not.	The JBL GO 3 is slightly smaller than the Sony SRS-XB13, making it more portable. However, the XB13 has a speakerphone and voice assistant functionality… The JBL GO 3 is slightly smaller than the Sony SRS-XB13, making it more portable. However, the XB13 has a speakerphone and voice assistant functionality that is missing on the JBL GO 3 and a much longer 11.5-hour battery life compared to the GO 3, which only lasts 5 hours.
Battery Life	5 hrs	10 hrs	12 hrs	16 hrs
Built In Microphone	Yes	No	No	Yes
Charge Time	2.5 hrs	3 hrs	2.5 hrs	4.5 hrs
Depth	1.6"	1.8"	2.71"	–
Height	2.7"	5.3"	2.9"	–
IPX Rating	IP67	IP67	IPX7	–
Smart App	n/a	n/a	JBL Portable	Yes
Speaker Pairing	n/a	n/a	Yes	Yes
Dig Deeper		JBL Clip 4 Review →	JBL Flip 5 Review →	Sony SRS-XB13 Review →

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Score Card

E

Expert Score

73

*.75

We place a 75% weighted value on Expert Test Scores

C

Customer Score

82

*.25

We place a 25% weighted value on Customer Scores

True Score

74

Any product with a True Score above 70 is a Mixed Reviews

Expert Score Breakdown

Publications with higher Trust Scores are given more weight.

102.6
Category Trust Score
54
The JBL GO 3 is middling for music. It’s designed to help you bring your… read more
By:
Yasmine Crossland
54.9
Category Trust Score
80
JBL’s Go 3 speaker delivers solid wireless audio performance in a waterproof, easily portable design… read more
By:
Tim Gideon
68.04
Category Trust Score
80
While it doesn’t entirely avoid the weaknesses of small, cheap Bluetooth speakers, the JBL Go… read more
By:
Sam Moore
55.87
Category Trust Score
75
The JBL GO 3 is a cheap and simple Bluetooth speaker built to handle whatever… read more
By:
James Archer
42.51
Category Trust Score
82
While the Go 3 has its sonic limitations, it plays bigger than you’d think for… read more
By:
David Carnoy
42.51
Category Trust Score
80
We like the updated JBL Go 3, but we say ‘like’ rather than ‘love’, because… read more
By:
John Panoryios