Short answer: the JBL Go 3. It ranks #26 of 47 small speakers by sound quality, rated 3.2/5, at $39.95; the Boat Stone 190/193 ranks #32, rated 2.9/5, at $39. The price gap is small enough that the sound-quality ranking should decide it.
The case for the JBL Go 3: Genuinely pocket-sized at 209g. The catch: Not much bass at all, strange mids peak.
Why pick the Boat Stone 190/193: Quite light for the performance. Watch for: Not much bass, mids slightly boosted, highs a little rolled off.Same hardware as the Monster Bluetooth Speaker and Dayton Audio Boost Mini.
Buy the JBL Go 3. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $0.95 with the Boat Stone 190/193 does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Go 3 | Boat Stone 190/193 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $39.95 | $39 |
| Ranked | #26 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #32 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 87Hz | 95Hz |
| Battery Life | 5 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 6.5 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | No | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX7 |
| Maximum SPL | 88dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Party Mode | No | No |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | Pointing up |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (209 g) | 0.4 lbs (185 g) |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 5.0 |
| Frequency Response | 110Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 70Hz - 70kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Dimensions | 3.4” x 2.7” x 1.6” (86 x 69 x 40 mm) | 4.1” x 4.1” x 2.6” (105 x 105 x 67 mm) |
| Charging Time | 2.5 hours | 1.5 hours |
| Amplifier Power | 4.2W | 5W |
| Drivers | 36mm full-range driver | 52mm |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) | - |
| MicroSD Playback | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for JBL Go 3:
- Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 vs JBL Go 3
- Soundcore Boom Go 3i vs JBL Go 3
- Minirig Mini 2 vs JBL Go 3
- JBL Go 3 vs Tribit Stormbox Micro
- JBL Go 3 vs Tribit Stormbox Micro 3
Prices on this page were last checked September 26, 2026 at 11:14 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 Go 3: $39.95 Amazon eBay
Newer model: the JBL Go 5, rated 3.2/5.
Pros: Genuinely pocket-sized at 209g. IP67 rated, survives full submersion in a meter of water for 30 minutes. Rope loop for clipping to a bag. Measured bass extension of 87Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Not much bass at all, strange mids peak.
Full JBL Go 3 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 4.2W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 87Hz |
| Battery Life | 5 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Charging Time | 2.5 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 3.4” x 2.7” x 1.6” (86 x 69 x 40 mm) |
| Drivers | 36mm full-range driver |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 110Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 88dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (209 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL GO 3 Review - vs Tribit Stormbox Micro - best small cheap speaker? More from alanrossreviews →
- DLX Willington: Jbl Go 3 vs Sony XB12 Sound Battle With Sound Sample More from DLXWillington →
- Stereo Specs: JBL GO 4 vs JBL GO 3 : Is there more bass or not?Unboxing,Features,Specs,Sound Test & Comparison !
- StereoSpecs: JBL GO 4 vs JBL GO 3 : Worth the upgrade?
- Techder Audios: JBL GO 3 VS XIAOMI PORTABLE OUTDOOR SPEAKER "BEST COMPACT SPEAKERS!?" More from techderaudios →
- Techder Audios: HOPESTAR H54 VS JBL GO 3 "SIMILAR DESIGN BUT SOUND IS DIFFERENT?!’’
- Alan Ross Reviews: Harman Kardon Neo vs JBL GO 3 - best bluetooth micro speaker❗❗❗
- Techder Audios: JBL GO 3 VS ORTIZAN X10
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Boat Stone 190/193: $39 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 Monster Bluetooth Speaker and Dayton Audio Boost Mini
Full Boat Stone 190/193 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 5W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 95Hz |
| Battery Life | 6.5 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Charging Time | 1.5 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 4.1” x 4.1” x 2.6” (105 x 105 x 67 mm) |
| Drivers | 52mm |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 70Hz - 70kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| 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
- Boat Stone 190/193 vs Xiaomi Mi Portable Mini
- Boat Stone 190/193 vs Tribit PocketGo
- Boat Stone 190/193 vs JBL Go 4
- Boat Stone 190/193 vs JBL Go 5
- Boat Stone 190/193 vs Soundcore Select 4 Go
- Boat Stone 190/193 vs JBL Clip 5
- Boat Stone 190/193 vs Xiaomi Sound Pocket
- Boat Stone 190/193 vs Bose Soundlink Micro
- See all 16 comparisons