Short answer: the Dayton Audio Boost Mini. It ranks #30 of 47 small speakers by sound quality at $19.98; the JBL Clip 3 ranks #36 and costs $49.99, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Dayton Audio Boost Mini offers: Quite light for the performance Watch for: Not much bass, mids slightly boosted, highs a little rolled off.
What the JBL Clip 3 offers: Aux in. Watch for: Less bass than the Clip.
Buy the Dayton Audio Boost Mini. It ranks higher for sound quality than the JBL Clip 3 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the JBL Clip 3. It ranks near the bottom of the 47 small speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
If water resistance matters to you, the Dayton Audio Boost Mini at IPX7 (brief submersion) holds up far better than the JBL Clip 3 at no water resistance.
Specifications Side By Side
| Dayton Audio Boost Mini | JBL Clip 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $19.98 | $49.99 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #30 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #36 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 95Hz | ~100Hz |
| Battery Life | 6.5 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | No | No |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | None |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes | - |
| Party Mode | No | No |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Weight | 0.4 lbs / 185 g | 0.5 lbs / 227 g |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 4.1 |
| Drivers | 1.75" (44mm) | 1.57" (40mm) driver |
| Output Power | Specs not clearly published | 3.3W |
| Dimensions | 3.9" x 3.9" x 1.8" (99.8 x 99.8 x 45 mm) | 3.8" x 5.4" x 1.8" (97 x 137 x 46 mm) |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Frequency Response | - | 120Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Charging Time | - | 3 hours |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Tribit Stormbox Micro 3 vs Xiaomi Mi Portable Mini
- JBL Go 5 vs Xiaomi Mi Portable Mini
- JBL Go 5 vs Monster Bluetooth Speaker
- JBL Clip vs JBL Clip 3
- Dayton Audio Boost Mini vs Xiaomi Sound Pocket
The Two Speakers In Full
Dayton Audio Boost Mini: $19.98 Amazon
Pros: Quite light for the performance
Cons: Not much bass, mids slightly boosted, highs a little rolled off. Same hardware as the Boat Stone 190/193 and Monster Bluetooth Speaker
Full Dayton Audio Boost Mini review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 95Hz |
| Battery Life | 6.5 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 3.9" x 3.9" x 1.8" (99.8 x 99.8 x 45 mm) |
| Drivers | 1.75" (44mm) |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes |
| Output Power | Specs not clearly published |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.4 lbs / 185 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
JBL Clip 3: $49.99 Discontinued Amazon
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 |
| Output Power | 3.3W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs / 227 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons