Short answer: the Go 4, at the same price. These cost $39.95 each and rank #24 and #25 out of 45 small speakers - a single place apart, which is close enough that the tie-breaker is what actually changed between them.
JBL fixed a specific, named flaw. The Go 3 has a strange peak in the mids; the Go 4 corrects it and adds a little more bass on top. That is a real, if modest, improvement rather than a marketing refresh.
Neither is a bass speaker, and that isn’t going to change. Both are honest about it: this is a genuinely pocket-sized class, and the Go 4’s extra bass still falls apart on electronic or bass-heavy tracks past about half volume. If bass matters to you at all, the small class has better options - see best speakers under $50.
What else moved: the Go 4 is 19 g lighter (190 g against 209 g), adds Auracast party mode the Go 3 doesn’t have, and gets 2 more hours of battery (7 against 5). The Go 3’s one advantage is a slightly more polite midrange at moderate volume - the Go 4’s fix comes with mild grain and a bit of treble sizzle at higher volumes.
Buy the Go 4. Same price, the specific flaw JBL heard about is gone, and Auracast is a free addition. The only reason to choose the Go 3 is a clearance discount.
Last updated: August 08, 2026
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Go 3 | JBL Go 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $39.95 | $39.95 |
| Ranked | #25 of 45 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #24 of 45 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 87Hz | ~82Hz |
| Battery Life | 5 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 7 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | No | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 88dB | - |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Stereo | No | No |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs / 209 g | 0.4 lbs / 190 g |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 5.3 |
| Frequency Response | 110Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 90Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Dimensions | 3.39" x 2.72" x 1.57" (86 x 69 x 40 mm) | 3.71" x 2.98" x 1.66" (94.3 x 75.7 x 42.2 mm) |
| Charging Time | 2.5 hours | 3 hours |
| Output Power | 4.2W | 4.2W |
| Drivers | 36mm full-range driver | 45mm |
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.
| 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 |
| Dimensions | 3.39" x 2.72" x 1.57" (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 |
| Output Power | 4.2W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs / 209 g |
- 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
- Links
JBL Go 4: $39.95 Amazon Bhphotovideo
Pros: A little more bass than the Go 3 and they fixed the strange mids peak.
Cons: Not much bass at all, especially with electronic/bass-heavy tracks pushed past ~50% volume. Midrange can sound grainy and treble a bit sizzly; loses clarity at higher volumes.
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~82Hz |
| Battery Life | 7 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Charging Time | 3 hours |
| Dimensions | 3.71" x 2.98" x 1.66" (94.3 x 75.7 x 42.2 mm) |
| Drivers | 45mm |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 90Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Output Power | 4.2W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.4 lbs / 190 g |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- 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?
- Oluv Patreon: JBL Go 4 - first impressions (how to waste your money)
- Storytripper HD: JBL GO 4 vs TRIBIT MICRO 2 vs KLIPSCH AUSTIN vs SONY SRS-XB100
- GYMCADDY: Soundcore Select 4 Go Vs JBL Clip 5 And JBL Go 4
- Links
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Product prices and availability were last checked August 7, 2026 at 5:43 AM UTC 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.