Short answer: the JBL Charge 4 for better sound quality, the Altec Lansing Lifejacket 2/ Lifejacket 3 for the lower price. The JBL Charge 4 ranks #50 of 135 medium speakers at $119.95. The Altec Lansing Lifejacket 2/ Lifejacket 3 ranks #134 at $60, $59.95 cheaper.
What the JBL Charge 4 offers: Doubles as a power bank for charging phones/tablets. Watch for: Not stereo. 1 Oval driver.
What the Altec Lansing Lifejacket 2/ Lifejacket 3 offers: 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.
Buy the JBL Charge 4 if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Altec Lansing Lifejacket 2/ Lifejacket 3 if the price matters more than sound quality.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Altec Lansing Lifejacket 2/ Lifejacket 3. It ranks near the bottom of the 135 medium speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
If battery life is a priority, the Altec Lansing Lifejacket 2/ Lifejacket 3 is rated for 30 hours versus 20 hours for the JBL Charge 4.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Charge 4 | Altec Lansing Lifejacket 2/ Lifejacket 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $119.95 Discontinued | $60 |
| Ranked | #50 of 135 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #134 of 135 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 54Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Latency | 330ms | - |
| Max Volume | 99dB | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) | - |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2A) | Yes |
| Stereo | No | - |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs / 960 g | 2.7 lbs / 1.22 kg |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | - |
| Drivers | 1x 51x89mm fullrange | 4.5" (114mm) woofer |
| Dimensions | 8.7" x 3.7" x 3.7" (220 x 95 x 93 mm) | 8" x 3.8" x 4.2" (203.2 x 96.5 x 106.7 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Output Power | 30W RMS | 80W |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IP67 |
| Discontinued | Yes | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Built in Microphone | - | Yes |
| Power Input | - | Micro USB |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- JBL Charge 5 vs Tozo PA1
- Tribit Stormbox Flow vs Sony XB33
- Xiaomi Sound Party vs Tribit Stormbox Flow
- Tribit Stormbox Flow vs JBL Charge 4
- JBL Charge 4 vs JBL Charge Essential
The Two Speakers In Full
JBL Charge 4: $119.95 Discontinued Amazon
Pros: Doubles as a power bank for charging phones/tablets. IPX7 rated and floats. ~20 hour battery life; wirelessly links with 100+ JBL Connect+ speakers.
Cons: Not stereo. 1 Oval driver. Boosted bass, top a little rolled off, warm sound. Not as loud as a Charge 3. Discontinued.
Full JBL Charge 4 review and specifications →
| Aux Input | Yes |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 54Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Latency | 330ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8.7" x 3.7" x 3.7" (220 x 95 x 93 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 1x 51x89mm fullrange |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Max Volume | 99dB |
| Output Power | 30W RMS |
| Party Mode | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2A) |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs / 960 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Charge 5 vs JBL Charge 4 and Charge 3 - best JBL charge 5 review 2021?
- Alan Ross Reviews: jbl Charge 4 unboxing first impressions - vs Charge 3
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Charge 5 vs JBL Charge 4 and Charge 3 - best JBL charge 5 review 2021?
- Alan Ross Reviews: W King D8 Mini review vs JBL Charge 4 vs Maxsound Plus
- Alan Ross Reviews: Sony XB33 vs XB32 vs JBL Charge 4 best £120 bluetooth speaker?
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Flip 6 vs JBL Charge 4 and JBL Charge 3 - small one or a large one? 🤷♂️
- Flossy Carter: JBL Charge 5 vs JBL Charge 4 vs JBL Charge Essential
- Naresh Lal: JBL Charge 4 Vs Xdobo X8 Tell me Which one is the BEST?
- Alan Ross Reviews: LG Xboom Go PL7 vs JBL Charge 4 and Sony XB33 - best Bluetooth speaker?
- Reddit Search for JBL Charge 4 Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Altec Lansing Lifejacket 2/ Lifejacket 3: $60 Amazon
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.
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 2/ Lifejacket 3 review and specifications →
| Aux Input | Yes |
|---|---|
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| 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 |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Output Power | 80W |
| Power Bank | Yes |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 2.7 lbs / 1.22 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- 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❓
- 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
- GYMCADDY: Best $100 Speaker? JBL Flip 4 Vs Sony XB20 Vs UE WONDERBOOM Vs Altec Mini Lifejacket 2
- Reddit Search for Altec Lansing Lifejacket 2/ Lifejacket 3 Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Altec Lansing Lifejacket 2/ Lifejacket 3 vs Skullcandy Terrain/Terrain XT/Terrain XL
- Altec Lansing Lifejacket 2/ Lifejacket 3 vs W-King D8 Mini
- Altec Lansing Lifejacket 2/ Lifejacket 3 vs JBL Charge Essential
- Altec Lansing Lifejacket 2/ Lifejacket 3 vs JBL Charge 3
- Altec Lansing Lifejacket 2/ Lifejacket 3 vs JBL Flip 5
- Altec Lansing Lifejacket 2/ Lifejacket 3 vs Beats Pill 2024