Short answer: the Go 4, at the same price. These cost $35.95 each and rank #31 and #30 out of 62 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 0 lbs (19 g) lighter (190 g against 0.5 lbs (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.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
A pocket sized waterproof speaker with a rope loop for clipping to a bag.
A pocket sized waterproof mini speaker with a loop for hanging and app EQ.
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Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Go 3 | JBL Go 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $35.95 | $49.95 |
| Ranked | #31 of 62 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #30 of 62 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 |
| Maximum SPL | 88dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | Pointing up |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (209 g) | 0.4 lbs (190 g) |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| 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 | 3.4” x 2.7” x 1.6” (86 x 69 x 40 mm) | 3.7” x 3” x 1.7” (94.3 x 75.7 x 42.2 mm) |
| Charging Time | 2.5 hours | 3 hours |
| Amplifier Power | 4.2W | 4.2W |
| Drivers | 36mm full-range driver | 45mm |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) | Yes (built-in loop) |
Watch Them Compared
Videos and reviews that test both speakers side by side.
- StereoSpecs: JBL GO 4 vs JBL GO 3 : Worth the upgrade?
- Stereo Specs: JBL GO 4 vs JBL GO 3 : Is there more bass or not?Unboxing,Features,Specs,Sound Test & Comparison !
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