Short answer: the JBL Go 4 for better sound quality, the Onn Small Rugged Speaker for the lower price. The JBL Go 4 ranks #25 of 47 small speakers at $49.95. The Onn Small Rugged Speaker ranks #28 at $15, $34.95 cheaper.
What the JBL Go 4 offers: A little more bass than the Go 3 and they fixed the strange mids peak. Watch for: 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.
What the Onn Small Rugged Speaker offers: A highly portable 286g, IPX7-rated speaker with USB-C charging, a built-in mic, aux input and Party Sync support. For a very small, single-driver speaker it is easy to throw in a bag and owner feedback is consistently positive about its straightforward setup, toughness and everyday sound. Watch for: Its 1.5-inch driver cannot create meaningful deep bass (about 66Hz at -10dB) or the clarity and scale of better small speakers. It is mono, has no app or EQ, and the upward-facing driver makes it more of a close-range tabletop speaker than a room-filling one.
Buy the JBL Go 4 if sound quality is the priority over the price, or the Onn Small Rugged Speaker if the price is the priority over sound quality.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Go 4 | Onn Small Rugged Speaker | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $49.95 | $15 |
| Ranked | #25 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #28 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~82Hz | 66Hz |
| Battery Life | 7 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX7 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (Party Sync Mode) |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | Pointing up |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Weight | 0.4 lbs (190 g) | 0.6 lbs (286 g) |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | - |
| Frequency Response | 90Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Dimensions | 3.7" x 3" x 1.7" (94.3 x 75.7 x 42.2 mm) | 4.7" x 2.3" x 2.6" (119.9 x 57.9 x 65 mm) |
| Charging Time | 3 hours | - |
| Drivers | 45mm | 1.5" (38mm) full-range driver |
| Amplifier Power | 4.2W | 3-5W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
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- JBL Go 4 vs Tribit Stormbox Micro 3
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Prices on this page were last checked September 16, 2026 at 12:41 AM 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 4: $49.95 Amazon B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: A little more bass than the Go 3 and they fixed the strange mids peak. Measured bass extension of ~82Hz (-10dB).
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.
Full JBL Go 4 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 4.2W |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 3.7" x 3" x 1.7" (94.3 x 75.7 x 42.2 mm) |
| Drivers | 45mm |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 90Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.4 lbs (190 g) |
- Links
- 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) More from Oluv’Sone →
- Storytripper HD: JBL GO 4 vs TRIBIT MICRO 2 vs KLIPSCH AUSTIN vs SONY SRS-XB100 More from storytripperhd →
- GYMCADDY: Soundcore Select 4 Go Vs JBL Clip 5 And JBL Go 4 More from GYMCADDY →
- M1MTechChannel: Welche JBL Partybox ist die BESTE ? Alle Partyboxen im Vergleich | 2026 More from M1MTechChannel →
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Onn Small Rugged Speaker: $15 Walmart eBay
Pros: A highly portable 286g, IPX7-rated speaker with USB-C charging, a built-in mic, aux input and Party Sync support. For a very small, single-driver speaker it is easy to throw in a bag and owner feedback is consistently positive about its straightforward setup, toughness and everyday sound. Measured bass extension of 66Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Its 1.5-inch driver cannot create meaningful deep bass (about 66Hz at -10dB) or the clarity and scale of better small speakers. It is mono, has no app or EQ, and the upward-facing driver makes it more of a close-range tabletop speaker than a room-filling one.
Full Onn Small Rugged Speaker review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 3-5W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 66Hz |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 4.7" x 2.3" x 2.6" (119.9 x 57.9 x 65 mm) |
| Drivers | 1.5" (38mm) full-range driver |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Sync Mode) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (286 g) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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- Onn Small Rugged Speaker vs Tribit PocketGo
- Onn Small Rugged Speaker vs Dayton Audio Boost Mini
- Onn Small Rugged Speaker vs JBL Go 3
- Onn Small Rugged Speaker vs Monster Bluetooth Speaker
- Onn Small Rugged Speaker vs JBL Go 5
- Onn Small Rugged Speaker vs Soundcore Select 4 Go
- Onn Small Rugged Speaker vs Sony SRS-XB100
- See all 21 comparisons