Short answer: the JBL Clip 5. Both are rated 3.4/5 for sound quality (#22 and #23 of 62 small speakers), and the JBL Clip 5 costs $59.95 against $64.95 for the JBL Clip 4, with sound quality a draw, the lower price decides it.
The Clip 4 is extremely light and its spring clip is a genuine advantage for bags and belts. It has very little bass, however, and its compact form is fundamentally more useful for convenience than full-range music.
The Clip 5 keeps that portability while adding the JBL Portable app, custom EQ, an improved carabiner, thicker rear padding, and Auracast. Its sound is broadly similar to the Clip 4, so choose it for the feature update rather than a dramatic acoustic leap.
Buy the JBL Clip 4 if you find it at the better value and only need the lightest basic clip-on speaker.
Buy the JBL Clip 5 if custom EQ, Auracast, and the improved clip design are worth the newer model.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
A very light clip on speaker with a sturdy carabiner that hooks onto bags and belts and outlasts its rated battery.
A waterproof clip on speaker with a wide carabiner, a long battery, app EQ, and Auracast linking to other speakers.
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 Clip 4 | JBL Clip 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $64.95 | $59.95 |
| Ranked | #23 of 62 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #22 of 62 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 80Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | No | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | Pointing up |
| TWS | No | No |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (239 g) | 0.6 lbs (285 g) |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 5.3 |
| Frequency Response | 100Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 95Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Dimensions | 3.4” x 5.3” x 1.8” (86 x 135 x 46 mm) | 3.4” x 5.3” x 1.8” (86 x 134.5 x 46 mm) |
| Amplifier Power | 5W | 7W |
| Drivers | 1x 40mm (1.57”) full-range driver + 1x passive radiator | 1x ~50mm (2”) full-range driver + 1x passive radiator |
| Maximum SPL | 79dB (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in carabiner) | Yes (built-in carabiner) |
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