Short answer: the Anker Soundcore Mini. It ranks #13 of 47 small speakers by sound quality at $30; the JBL Clip 3 ranks #36 and costs $49.99, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
What the Anker Soundcore Mini offers: Has an FM tuner, aux input and MicroSD. Quite cheap Watch for: Not quite as deep of bass as higher ranked speakers. No waterproofing
What the JBL Clip 3 offers: Aux in. Very portable with a built-in carabiner; genuinely waterproof. Real-world battery often beats the 10-hour rating, sometimes lasting close to 18 hours. Watch for: Less bass than the Clip. Quite a lack of bass.
Buy the Anker Soundcore Mini. It ranks higher for sound quality than the JBL Clip 3 and costs less, which settles it without a real tradeoff to make.
Skip the JBL Clip 3 if sound quality matters to you. It ranks near the bottom of the 47 small speakers.
There is a real battery-life gap here: the Anker Soundcore Mini is rated for 15 hours, the JBL Clip 3 only 10 hours.
Specifications Side By Side
| Anker Soundcore Mini | JBL Clip 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $30 | $49.99 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #13 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #36 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | No | No |
| FM Tuner | Yes | - |
| IP Rating | None | None |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes | - |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB | Micro USB |
| Weight | 0.4 lbs / 200 g | 0.5 lbs / 227 g |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Party Mode | No | No |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | Pointing up |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.0 | 4.1 |
| Charging Time | 2.5 hours | 3 hours |
| Output Power | 5W | 3.3W |
| Dimensions | 3.7" x 3.6" x 3.6" (94 x 92 x 91 mm) | 3.8" x 5.4" x 1.8" (97 x 137 x 46 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 2" (50mm) full-range driver + 1x passive radiator | 1.57" (40mm) driver |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | ~100Hz |
| Frequency Response | - | 120Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
Other pairings from the same speaker class worth checking:
- Soundcore Mini 3 Pro vs Ultimate Ears Miniroll
- Soundcore Mini 3 Pro vs JBL Clip
- Tribit Stormbox Micro 3 vs Xiaomi Mi Portable Mini
- Ultimate Ears Miniroll vs Anker Soundcore Mini
- Soundcore Mini 3 Pro vs JBL Clip 3
Prices on this page were last checked August 27, 2026 at 10:09 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
Anker Soundcore Mini: $30 Amazon eBay
Pros: Has an FM tuner, aux input and MicroSD. Quite cheap
Cons: Not quite as deep of bass as higher ranked speakers. No waterproofing
Full Anker Soundcore Mini review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.0 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Charging Time | 2.5 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 3.7" x 3.6" x 3.6" (94 x 92 x 91 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 2" (50mm) full-range driver + 1x passive radiator |
| EQ | No |
| FM Tuner | Yes |
| IP Rating | None |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Output Power | 5W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.4 lbs / 200 g |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Anker Soundcore Mini vs Ultimate Ears Miniroll
- Anker Soundcore Mini vs Marshall Willen
- Anker Soundcore Mini vs Klipsch Austin
- Anker Soundcore Mini vs Marshall Willen II
- Anker Soundcore Mini vs B&O Beoplay P2
- Anker Soundcore Mini vs Soundcore Mini 3
- Anker Soundcore Mini vs Soundcore Mini 3 Pro
- Anker Soundcore Mini vs Bose Soundlink Micro 2
- See all 34 comparisons
JBL Clip 3: $49.99 Discontinued Amazon eBay
Pros: Aux in. Very portable with a built-in carabiner; genuinely waterproof. Real-world battery often beats the 10-hour rating, sometimes lasting close to 18 hours.
Cons: Less bass than the Clip. Quite a lack of bass. Discontinued.
Full JBL Clip 3 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~100Hz |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.1 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Charging Time | 3 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 3.8" x 5.4" x 1.8" (97 x 137 x 46 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 1.57" (40mm) driver |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 120Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | None |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Output Power | 3.3W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs / 227 g |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons