Short answer: the JBL Charge 4 for better sound quality, the Altec Lansing Lifejacket 3 for the lower price. The JBL Charge 4 ranks #53 of 140 medium speakers at $119.95. The Altec Lansing Lifejacket 3 ranks #139 at $79.99, $39.96 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 is the priority over the price, or the Altec Lansing Lifejacket 3 if the price is the priority over sound quality.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Altec Lansing Lifejacket 3. It ranks near the bottom of the 140 medium speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
There is a real battery-life gap here: the Altec Lansing Lifejacket 3 is rated for 30 hours, the JBL Charge 4 only 20 hours.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Charge 4 | Altec Lansing Lifejacket 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $119.95 Discontinued | $79.99 |
| Ranked | #53 of 140 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #139 of 140 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 | - |
| Omnidirectional | No | 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 |
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Prices on this page were last checked September 1, 2026 at 2:15 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
JBL Charge 4: $119.95 Discontinued Amazon eBay
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 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| 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 |
- 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? More from alanrossreviews →
- 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 More from FlossyCarter →
- 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?
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- JBL Charge 4 vs Tribit Stormbox Flow
- JBL Charge 4 vs Bose Soundlink Revolve
- JBL Charge 4 vs Turtlebox Ranger
- JBL Charge 4 vs Sonos Play
- JBL Charge 4 vs Soundcore 3/Soundcore Select 2
- JBL Charge 4 vs Bose Soundlink Revolve+
- JBL Charge 4 vs Bose Soundlink Mini 2
- JBL Charge 4 vs Bose Soundlink Mini
- See all 77 comparisons
Altec Lansing Lifejacket 3: $79.99 Amazon eBay
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. True wireless pairing lets you link two units.
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 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 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 80W |
| Power Bank | Yes |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 2.7 lbs / 1.22 kg |
- 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❓ More from JaysStraightUpReviews →
- 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
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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