Short answer: the JBL Go 3. It ranks #26 of 47 small speakers by sound quality at $39.95; the JBL Clip 3 ranks #36 and costs $49.99, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the JBL Go 3 gets right: Genuinely pocket-sized at 209g. The catch: Not much bass at all, strange mids peak.
What the JBL Clip 3 offers: Aux in. Watch for: Less bass than the Clip.
Buy the JBL Go 3. It ranks higher for sound quality than the JBL Clip 3 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the JBL Clip 3. It ranks near the bottom of the 47 small speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
If battery life is a priority, the JBL Clip 3 is rated for 10 hours versus 5 hours for the JBL Go 3.
If water resistance matters to you, the JBL Go 3 at IP67 (brief submersion) holds up far better than the JBL Clip 3 at no water resistance.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Go 3 | JBL Clip 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $39.95 | $49.99 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #26 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #36 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 87Hz | ~100Hz |
| Battery Life | 5 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | No | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 | None |
| Max Volume | 88dB | - |
| Party Mode | No | No |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | No | No |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs / 209 g | 0.5 lbs / 227 g |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Power Input | USB-C | Micro USB |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 4.1 |
| Frequency Response | 110Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 120Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Dimensions | 3.4" x 2.7" x 1.6" (86 x 69 x 40 mm) | 3.8" x 5.4" x 1.8" (97 x 137 x 46 mm) |
| Charging Time | 2.5 hours | 3 hours |
| Output Power | 4.2W | 3.3W |
| Drivers | 36mm full-range driver | 1.57" (40mm) driver |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- JBL Go 4 vs JBL Clip
- Tribit PocketGo vs Sony SRS-XB13
- Tribit PocketGo vs JBL Clip 5
- JBL Go 4 vs JBL Clip 3
- JBL Go 3 vs JBL Clip
The Two Speakers In Full
JBL Go 3: $39.95 Amazon
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.
Cons: Not much bass at all, strange mids peak.
Full JBL Go 3 review and specifications →
| 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 |
| Max Volume | 88dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 4.2W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs / 209 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL GO 3 Review - vs Tribit Stormbox Micro - best small cheap speaker?
- DLX Willington: Jbl Go 3 vs Sony XB12 Sound Battle With Sound Sample
- 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!?”
- 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
- Reddit Search for JBL Go 3 Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
JBL Clip 3: $49.99 Discontinued Amazon
Pros: Aux in. Very portable with a built-in carabiner; genuinely waterproof. Real-world battery often beats the 10-hour rating, sometimes lasting close to 18 hours.
Cons: Less bass than the Clip. Quite a lack of bass. Discontinued.
Full JBL Clip 3 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~100Hz |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.1 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Charging Time | 3 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 3.8" x 5.4" x 1.8" (97 x 137 x 46 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 1.57" (40mm) driver |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 120Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | None |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 3.3W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs / 227 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons