Short answer: the JBL Go 4 for better sound quality, the Xiaomi Mi Portable Mini for the lower price. The Go 4 ranks #25 of 47 small portable speakers at $49.95, the Mi Portable Mini ranks #37 at $21.99, $27.96 cheaper, and both land in the lower half of the class.
The Go 4’s pros are narrow but real. It has a little more bass than its predecessor, the Go 3, and fixes a strange mids peak that model had. Its cons are still significant though: not much bass at all once electronic or bass-heavy tracks push past around half volume, plus a midrange that can turn grainy and treble that gets sizzly and loses clarity at higher volumes. The Mi Portable Mini’s issues are simpler and expected at its price: not much bass and rolled-off treble, without the added midrange grain or volume-dependent clarity loss the Go 4’s own review calls out.
The Go 4 has the more complete feature set. It adds a companion app with EQ control and JBL’s Auracast party mode, both absent on the Mi Portable Mini. The Mi Portable Mini counters with a bass boost equalizer built into the hardware itself, TWS stereo pairing with a second unit, and a slightly longer 10 hour battery rating against the Go 4’s 7.
Everything else matches closely: both are IP67 rated, both weigh under 200 grams, both use SBC-only Bluetooth, and both fire upward from a single small driver.
Buy the JBL Go 4 if app-based EQ control and party pairing matter enough to justify the higher price.
Buy the Xiaomi Mi Portable Mini if you want the cheapest usable option and don’t mind similarly thin bass either way.
Skip the Xiaomi Mi Portable Mini if sound quality matters to you. It ranks near the bottom of the 47 small speakers.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Go 4 | Xiaomi Mi Portable Mini | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $49.95 | $21.99 |
| Ranked | #25 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #37 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~82Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 7 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | No |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | Pointing up |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 0.4 lbs / 190 g | 0.4 lbs / 185 g |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.0 |
| Frequency Response | 90Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 200Hz - 15kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Dimensions | 3.7" x 3" x 1.7" (94.3 x 75.7 x 42.2 mm) | 3.4" x 3.4" x 1.8" (86 x 86 x 45 mm) |
| Charging Time | 3 hours | - |
| Drivers | 45mm | 2x drivers (rare-earth magnet, long-fibre diaphragm) + passive radiator |
| Output Power | 4.2W | Not published |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Battery Capacity | - | 2000mAh |
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Prices on this page were last checked September 8, 2026 at 6:02 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 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.
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 →
| 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 |
| 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 |
- 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
Xiaomi Mi Portable Mini: $21.99 eBay
Pros: IP67 waterproof, TWS stereo pairing, 10-hour battery life, Bluetooth 5.0, compact 185g design, bass boost equalizer, dual drivers with passive radiator, built-in microphone, USB-C charging, affordable price
Cons: Not much bass, treble rolled off
Full Xiaomi Mi Portable Mini review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Capacity | 2000mAh |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 3.4" x 3.4" x 1.8" (86 x 86 x 45 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x drivers (rare-earth magnet, long-fibre diaphragm) + passive radiator |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 200Hz - 15kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Output Power | Not published |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.4 lbs / 185 g |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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- Xiaomi Mi Portable Mini vs Boat Stone 190/193
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