78

out of

109

Speakers

True Score Methodology v1.0

JBL Clip 4 Review

Name: JBL Clip 4
Brand: JBL

By

Kenn Muguna

5/23/2023 5:27 PM

True Score

68

Meh

68

7

Experts

76

0

Consumers

Expert Rankings

(

7

)

Top-tier testers liked how lightweight and portable the JBL Clip 4 was. They were also happy with its build quality and appreciated its balanced sound profile. However, they agreed it struggled with bass depth and were disappointed with its missing WiFi connectivity.

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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

Announced in late 2020, the JBL Clip 4 is a basic Bluetooth speaker available in about six colors. Its design is reminiscent of a padlock, as it has a carabiner hook that allows owners to hang it onto a backpack or a belt loop. The speaker is more ideal for music than movies, and it has a battery life of up to 10 hours which is pretty standard even among the best speakers in the industry. Weighing only 0.4 pounds, it could be one of the best Bluetooth speakers to consider for portability, especially for people who want to enjoy their music on the go. Its Bluetooth connectivity has a range of 237.9ft, but it can only be paired to one device at a time. If you’d like an alternative that can handle two simultaneous connections, check out our Bose SoundLink Micro review.

Consensus

our Verdict

The JBL Clip 4 had experts delighted with its incredible portability and sturdy build. Product testers from Rtings liked that it was dust and water-resistant, making it well suited for the outdoors. During their tests, it lasted up to 5.5 hours and would only take a short 2.7 hours to get charged. Reviewers from PC Mag were also satisfied with its audio quality, as they noted that the speaker had a balanced sound profile. You won’t be able to adjust its sound quality, but if this sounds like something you’d want to do, then the JBL Charge 5 would be an alternative worth considering. Have a look at it in our JBL Charge 5 review.

Testers were not entirely sold on the JBL Clip 4 due to its lack of WiFI connectivity, missing speakerphone function, and lack of support for a voice assistant. The speaker also struggled with producing low bass and couldn’t play audio in stereo format.

Reason to Buy

Long battery life
Compact and lightweight
Sturdy build quality
Balanced sound profile
Long Bluetooth range

Reason to Avoid

No WiFi connectivity
No speakerphone function
No support for voice assistant

JBL Clip 4 Specs

	Battery Life	10 hrs
	Built In Microphone	No
	Charge Time	3 hrs
	Depth	1.8"
	Height	5.3"
	IPX Rating	IP67
	Smart App	n/a
	Speaker Pairing	n/a
	Water Resistant	Yes
	Wattage	5W
	Width	3.4"
	Wireless Range	10 m

All Specs

Test Results

Battery Life (Hours)	14.1667
Volume Output (dB)	81.3
Low End Roll Off (Hz)	119.865
High End Roll Off (Hz)	10,240

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Product Comparison

	JBL Clip 4 Review	JBL Flip 5 Review	JBL Go 3 Review	Sony SRS-XB13 Review
True Score	68	83	71	63
Ranking	# 78 / 109	# 30 / 109	# 70 / 109	# 93 / 109
Market Context	Announced in late 2020, the JBL Clip 4 is a basic Bluetooth speaker available in about six colors. Its design is reminiscent of a padlock,… Announced in late 2020, the JBL Clip 4 is a basic Bluetooth speaker available in about six colors. Its design is reminiscent of a padlock, as it has a carabiner hook that allows owners to hang it onto a backpack or a belt loop. The speaker is more ideal for music than movies, and it has a battery life of up to 10 hours which is pretty standard even among the best speakers in the industry. Weighing only 0.4 pounds, it could be one of the best Bluetooth speakers to consider for portability, especially for people who want to enjoy their music on the go. Its Bluetooth connectivity has a range of 237.9ft, but it can only be paired to one device at a time. If you’d like an alternative that can handle two simultaneous connections, check out our Bose SoundLink Micro review.	Buyers comparing the JBL Clip 4 to the JBL Flip 5 will want to consider that the Clip 4 is much smaller in size and… Buyers comparing the JBL Clip 4 to the JBL Flip 5 will want to consider that the Clip 4 is much smaller in size and therefore more portable, but the Flip 5 offers a longer 8.2-hour battery life compared to the Flip 4, which has a battery that can last up to 5.5 hours. The Flip 5 also has a companion app, while the Clip 4 does not. Learn more about the Flip 5 through our JBL Flip 5 review.	The JBL Clip 4 has a larger soundstage than the JBL GO 3, and its 5.5-hour batter lasts slightly longer than the 5-hour battery on… The JBL Clip 4 has a larger soundstage than the JBL GO 3, and its 5.5-hour batter lasts slightly longer than the 5-hour battery on the GO 3. However, the GO 3 charges faster, taking only 2 hours to charge, compared to the Clip 4, which takes up to 2.7 hours. We’ve looked more deeply into it in our JBL GO 3 review.	The JBL Clip 4 does not have a speakerphone functionality and support for a voice assistant, while the Sony SRS-XB13 does. The XB13 also has… The JBL Clip 4 does not have a speakerphone functionality and support for a voice assistant, while the Sony SRS-XB13 does. The XB13 also has a longer battery life, offering up to 11.5 hours compared to the Clip 4, which only lasts up to 5.5 hours.
Battery Life	10 hrs	12 hrs	5 hrs	16 hrs
Built In Microphone	No	No	Yes	Yes
Charge Time	3 hrs	2.5 hrs	2.5 hrs	4.5 hrs
Depth	1.8"	2.71"	1.6"	–
Height	5.3"	2.9"	2.7"	–
IPX Rating	IP67	IPX7	IP67	–
Smart App	n/a	JBL Portable	n/a	Yes
Speaker Pairing	n/a	Yes	n/a	Yes
Dig Deeper		JBL Flip 5 Review →	JBL Go 3 Review →	Sony SRS-XB13 Review →

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Score Card

E

Expert Score

68

*.75

We place a 75% weighted value on Expert Test Scores

C

Customer Score

76

*.25

We place a 25% weighted value on Customer Scores

True Score

68

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
57
Right out-of-the-box, the JBL Clip 4 reproduces voices and lead instruments with clarity and detail,… read more
By:
Tim Gideon
44.89
Category Trust Score
NR
The JBL Clip 4 is a rough and tumble go-anywhere option for folks who want… read more
By:
Lily Katz
54.9
Category Trust Score
70
The JBL Clip 4 delivers crisp, rich audio, but its best features are its waterproof… read more
By:
JBL
55.87
Category Trust Score
75
The JBL Clip 4 is a portable Bluetooth speaker for the masses, and it makes… read more
By:
John Panoryios
42.51
Category Trust Score
81
JBL Clip speakers have always been easy to recommend because they deliver decent sound for… read more
By:
David Carnoy
46.16
Category Trust Score
NR
The main purpose of small Bluetooth speakers is convenience. The rugged and waterproof Clip 4… read more
By:
Bill Henderson