Short answer: the Boombox 4 if you want the newer feature set, the Boombox 3 Wifi if you just want the better deal. The Boombox 4 ranks #20 of 113 boombox speakers against the Boombox 3 Wifi’s #26, a close gap that doesn’t fully justify the $160 price difference.
The Boombox 3 Wifi’s real selling point is raw volume. Our notes call it the loudest speaker in the category, with a bass boosted, slightly bright tuning and a dip around 160Hz. It also keeps an aux input and Wifi streaming, both of which the Boombox 4 drops entirely.
The Boombox 4’s own notes are candid about its shortcomings. They call it pretty overpriced for the category and note it sounds worse than the Boombox 3 out of the box, with its edge over the Boombox 3 coming mainly from a 7-band EQ, versus 3 bands on the older Wifi model, that lets you tune it better. Once tuned, it delivers what our notes call pretty insane output capability for the size, backed by a higher 115dB max volume and 210W of power against the Boombox 3 Wifi’s 200W.
What the Boombox 4 adds beyond raw output: an app with EQ control, a removable battery, IP68 versus IP67 water resistance, AAC and LC3 Bluetooth codec support where the Boombox 3 Wifi is SBC only, and USB-C digital audio input.
Buy the JBL Boombox 4 if you want the app-based EQ control, removable battery, and higher IP rating, and you’re willing to spend time tuning it with Oluv’s EQ preset to fix the default sound.
Buy the JBL Boombox 3 Wifi if you want the loudest option in the category for less money and don’t mind its stock bass-boosted tuning.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Prices on this page were last checked November 7, 2026 at 7:34 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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Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Boombox 3 Wifi | JBL Boombox 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $389.95 | $549.95 |
| Ranked | #26 of 113 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #20 of 113 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 43Hz | 41Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 28 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP68 |
| Maximum SPL | 111dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 115dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2A) | Yes (USB-C, up to 30W) |
| Power Input | AC Power cable | AC Power cord |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 14.6 lbs (6.6 kg) | 13.2 lbs (5.98 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | - |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, LC3, AAC |
| App | No | Yes |
| EQ | No | Yes (7 band) |
| USB Playback | No | No |
| Built-in Microphone | No | No |
| Amplifier Power | 200W AC / 140W battery | 210W AC / 200W battery |
| Dimensions | 19.1” x 10.1” x 7.9” (484 x 256 x 200 mm) | 20.1” x 10.2” x 8.3” (510 x 260 x 210 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 189mm subwoofer + 2x 81mm woofers + 2x 20mm tweeters | 2x 123mm woofers + 2x 20mm tweeters with passive radiators |
| Digital Aux Input | No | Yes (USB-C) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.4 |
| Strap | No | No |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | AAC 144ms, SBC 48ms |
| Removable Battery | - | Yes |
| FM Tuner | - | No |
| Microphone Input | - | No |
| MicroSD Playback | - | No |
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