Short answer: the JBL Go 3. It ranks #26 of 47 small speakers by sound quality, rated 3.2/5, at $39.95; the Noxgear 39g ranks #46, rated 2.2/5, and costs $69.95, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the JBL Go 3 does well: Genuinely pocket-sized at 209g. The tradeoff: Not much bass at all, strange mids peak.
What the Noxgear 39g does well: Magnetic clip attaches through a shirt/jacket without pins. Watch for: It sounds worse than a clock radio with the worst bass of any speaker.
Buy the JBL Go 3. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Noxgear 39g and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Battery life favors the Noxgear 39g: rated for 15 hours against 5 hours for the JBL Go 3.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Go 3 | Noxgear 39g | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $39.95 | $69.95 |
| Ranked | #26 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #46 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 87Hz | ~300Hz |
| Battery Life | 5 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 15 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 | No |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (209 g) | 0.1 lbs (39 g) |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | - |
| Frequency Response | 110Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Dimensions | 3.4” x 2.7” x 1.6” (86 x 69 x 40 mm) | 2.6” x 1.6” x 0.9” (66 x 41 x 23 mm) |
| Charging Time | 2.5 hours | 3 hours |
| Amplifier Power | 4.2W | - |
| Drivers | 36mm full-range driver | N52 neodymium |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) | - |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How JBL Go 3 compares with other leading options:
- 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
Noxgear 39g: $69.95 Amazon eBay
Pros: Magnetic clip attaches through a shirt/jacket without pins. Blue safety light for visibility when running in low light. It’s only 39g of weight. ~15 hour battery life. Measured bass extension of ~300Hz (-10dB).
Cons: It sounds worse than a clock radio with the worst bass of any speaker. It’s a huge compromise in sound for the small weight.
Full Noxgear 39g review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~300Hz |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Charging Time | 3 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 2.6” x 1.6” x 0.9” (66 x 41 x 23 mm) |
| Drivers | N52 neodymium |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 0.1 lbs (39 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Noxgear 39g vs Xiaomi Sound Pocket
- Noxgear 39g vs Lenovo 700 Ultraportable Bluetooth Speaker
- Noxgear 39g vs Harman Kardon Neo
- Noxgear 39g vs Harman Kardon Esquire Mini 2
- Noxgear 39g vs Monster Atomic Atom
- Noxgear 39g vs Tribit PocketGo
- Noxgear 39g vs JBL Go 4
- Noxgear 39g vs JBL Go 5
- See all 18 comparisons