Short answer: a tie on sound quality, though neither ranks well in its class. Both are rated 2.0/5 (#174 and #173 of 175 medium speakers) at nearly the same price ($69.99 vs $71.66), so choose on features and fit. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 175 medium speakers, so if sound quality matters, consider the EarFun Uboom L instead, ranked #2 at $49.79.
What the Altec Lansing Lifejacket 2 does well: Tank-like build quality: reviewers have frozen it, dropped it, and buried it in sand with no issues. Watch for: Barely any bass, “pathetic sounding” said Jay’s Reviews of the line generally.
What the Altec Lansing Lifejacket 3 does well: Tank-like build quality: reviewers have frozen it, dropped it, and buried it in sand with no issues. The catch: Barely any bass, “pathetic sounding” said Jay’s Reviews.
Buy the Altec Lansing Lifejacket 2 or the Altec Lansing Lifejacket 3 on features: they are rated the same for sound quality at close to the same price.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Altec Lansing Lifejacket 2 | Altec Lansing Lifejacket 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $69.99 | $71.66 |
| Ranked | #174 of 175 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #173 of 175 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 2.7 lbs (1.22 kg) | 2.7 lbs (1.22 kg) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Dimensions | 8.6” x 4.2” x 4.6” (218 x 107 x 117 mm) | 8” x 3.8” x 4.2” (203.2 x 96.5 x 106.7 mm) |
| Drivers | 4.5” (114mm) woofer | 4.5” (114mm) woofer |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Power Input | Micro USB | Micro USB |
| Power Bank | Yes | Yes |
| Amplifier Power | 10W | 80W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (mounting clip) | Yes (mounting clip) |
| App | - | No |
| EQ | - | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
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- JBL Charge 4 vs Altec Lansing Lifejacket 3
- Beats Pill 2024 vs Altec Lansing Lifejacket 3
- JBL Flip 5 vs Altec Lansing Lifejacket 3
Prices on this page were last checked October 14, 2026 at 2:38 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Altec Lansing Lifejacket 2: $69.99 Amazon $69.99 eBay
Newer model: the Altec Lansing Lifejacket 3, ranked higher, rated 2/5, released May 2017. It adds stereo pairing. See every Altec Lansing LifeJacket generation.
Pros: Tank-like build quality: reviewers have frozen it, dropped it, and buried it in sand with no issues. IP67 rated; doubles as a power bank. Universal mounting clip for a bike, kayak, or backpack. Built-in speakerphone with voice-confirmed caller ID.
Cons: Barely any bass, “pathetic sounding” said Jay’s Reviews of the line generally. Gets distorted with a lot of bass. No true wireless stereo pairing between two units, unlike the Altec Lansing Lifejacket 3. Only available used now.
Full Altec Lansing Lifejacket 2 review and specifications →
| Released | Aug 2015 (11 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 10W |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8.6” x 4.2” x 4.6” (218 x 107 x 117 mm) |
| Drivers | 4.5” (114mm) woofer |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Bank | Yes |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | Yes (mounting clip) |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 2.7 lbs (1.22 kg) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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Altec Lansing Lifejacket 3: $71.66 Amazon $71.66 eBay
Older model: the Altec Lansing Lifejacket 2 (ranked lower, rated 2/5). See every Altec Lansing LifeJacket generation.
Pros: Tank-like build quality: reviewers have frozen it, dropped it, and buried it in sand with no issues. IP67 rated; doubles as a power bank. Universal mounting clip for a bike, kayak, or backpack. True wireless pairing lets you link two units.
Cons: Barely any bass, “pathetic sounding” said Jay’s Reviews. Gets distorted with a lot of bass. The entire Altec Lansing Bluetooth speaker line likely also sounds similarly bad.
Full Altec Lansing Lifejacket 3 review and specifications →
| Released | May 2017 (9 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 80W |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8” x 3.8” x 4.2” (203.2 x 96.5 x 106.7 mm) |
| Drivers | 4.5” (114mm) woofer |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Bank | Yes |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | Yes (mounting clip) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 2.7 lbs (1.22 kg) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: Altec Lansing Lifejacket 3 🦨 (2022 Version) How Many Versions Have They Made❓ How Bad Is It❓ More from JaysStraightUpReviews →
- Ivan T: Altec lancing lifejacket 3
- Altec lansing bass test: bass test altec lansing lifejacket 3 (mambo lambo crazy bass)
- Fewishaツ: Altec Lansing Life Jacket 3 Bass Test
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