Short answer: the Tribit Stormbox Micro 3, if you are buying new. The Tribit Stormbox Micro ranks higher than the JBL Go 3 (#5 vs #31 of 62 small speakers) but is discontinued; its replacement, the Tribit Stormbox Micro 3, is rated 4.2/5 at $56.76 and is still sold new.
The Go 3’s cons are blunt. Not much bass at all, plus a strange peak in the mids. The Stormbox Micro isn’t flawless either: it gets murky and slightly sharp near max volume, and its down-firing passive radiator needs a flat surface underneath or the bass gets muffled.
Our own notes on the Stormbox Micro recommend spending $4.05 more anyway. They highly suggest the Stormbox Micro 2 instead, which goes louder and deeper for not much extra money and sits at the top of this same class for sound quality.
Buy the Stormbox Micro over the Go 3 at this price. Buy the Stormbox Micro 2 instead if you can stretch another $10, which our own notes say is worth it.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
A pocket sized waterproof speaker with a rope loop for clipping to a bag.
A discontinued strap on mini speaker with quite neutral sound and waterproofing, still worth buying used for bikes and bags.
Prices on this page were last checked November 7, 2026 at 7:34 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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Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Go 3 | Tribit Stormbox Micro | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $35.95 | $40 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #31 of 62 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #5 of 62 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 87Hz | 62Hz |
| Battery Life | 5 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | No | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 88dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 93dB (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) | 0.7 lbs (295 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 | 5.0 |
| Frequency Response | 110Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Dimensions | 3.4” x 2.7” x 1.6” (86 x 69 x 40 mm) | 3.9” x 3.9” x 1.4” (99.1 x 99.1 x 35.6 mm) |
| Charging Time | 2.5 hours | - |
| Amplifier Power | 4.2W | 13W |
| Drivers | 36mm full-range driver | 48mm NdFeB |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) | Yes (built-in strap) |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 180ms |
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