Short answer: the Dayton Audio Boost Mini. It ranks #32 of 49 small speakers by sound quality, rated 3.0/5, at $19.98; the JBL Clip 3 ranks #38, rated 2.7/5, and costs $39.95, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
The case for the Dayton Audio Boost Mini: Quite light for the performance. The tradeoff: Not much bass, mids slightly boosted, highs a little rolled off.
Why pick the JBL Clip 3: Aux in. The catch: Less bass than the Clip.
Worth knowing: the JBL Clip 3 has been discontinued and is hard to find new at this point.
Buy the Dayton Audio Boost Mini. It is rated higher for sound quality than the JBL Clip 3 and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
There is a real gap in water resistance: the Dayton Audio Boost Mini at IPX7 (brief submersion) against the JBL Clip 3, which has no water resistance.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Dayton Audio Boost Mini | JBL Clip 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $19.98 | $39.95 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #32 of 49 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #38 of 49 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 |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | Pointing up |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Weight | 0.4 lbs (185 g) | 0.5 lbs (227 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 4.1 |
| Drivers | 1.75” (44mm) | 1.57” (40mm) driver |
| Amplifier 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 |
| Strap | - | Yes (built-in carabiner) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to Dayton Audio Boost Mini:
- Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 vs Dayton Audio Boost Mini
- Soundcore Boom Go 3i vs Dayton Audio Boost Mini
- Tribit Stormbox Micro 3 vs Dayton Audio Boost Mini
- Anker Soundcore Mini vs Dayton Audio Boost Mini
- Klipsch Austin vs Dayton Audio Boost Mini
Prices on this page were last checked September 29, 2026 at 3:43 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
Dayton Audio Boost Mini: $19.98 Amazon eBay
Pros: Quite light for the performance. Measured bass extension of 95Hz (-10dB).
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 →
| Amplifier Power | Specs not clearly published |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 95Hz |
| Battery Life | 6.5 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| 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 |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.4 lbs (185 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Dayton Audio Boost Mini vs Monster Bluetooth Speaker
- Dayton Audio Boost Mini vs Onn Small Rugged Speaker
- Dayton Audio Boost Mini vs Tribit PocketGo
- Dayton Audio Boost Mini vs JBL Go 3
- Dayton Audio Boost Mini vs JBL Go 4
- Dayton Audio Boost Mini vs JBL Go 5
- Dayton Audio Boost Mini vs Xiaomi Mi Portable Mini
- Dayton Audio Boost Mini vs Soundcore Select 4 Go
- See all 17 comparisons
JBL Clip 3: $39.95 Discontinued Amazon eBay
Newer model: the JBL Clip 5, ranked higher, rated 3.4/5.
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. Measured bass extension of ~100Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Less bass than the Clip. Quite a lack of bass. Discontinued.
Full JBL Clip 3 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 3.3W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~100Hz |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| 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) |
| Drivers | 1.57” (40mm) driver |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 120Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | None |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in carabiner) |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (227 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons