Short answer: the JBL Go 4, and it isn’t especially close. It ranks #25 of 47 small speakers against the Sound Pocket’s #45, which sits near the very bottom of the class.
Both speakers share the same core weakness: thin bass. Our notes on the Go 4 say it has a little more bass than the Go 3 and fixed a strange mids peak, but still describe it as not having much bass at all, especially once electronic or bass-heavy tracks are pushed past about 50% volume. The midrange can also sound grainy with a bit of sizzle in the treble at higher volumes. The Sound Pocket is worse off: our notes call its bass light and its vocals harsh above about 80% volume, and it can vibrate and walk across hard surfaces at higher volume when standing upright.
The Sound Pocket’s appeal is entirely about price and portability. At 200g it is genuinely pocketable, matches the Go 4’s IP67 rating, and its 10-hour battery beats the Go 4’s 7 hours. Its charge time is a slow 3 hours, though, and it lacks the Go 4’s app-based EQ and Auracast party pairing.
Buy the JBL Go 4 for meaningfully better everyday sound quality and the flexibility of app EQ and Auracast pairing with other JBL speakers.
Buy the Xiaomi Sound Pocket only if price and pocket size are your only concerns, since it ranks near the bottom of the small speaker class on sound quality.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Xiaomi Sound Pocket. It ranks near the bottom of the 47 small speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Go 4 | Xiaomi Sound Pocket | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $49.95 | $22.51 |
| Ranked | #25 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #45 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~82Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 7 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes | - |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | - |
| Power Bank | 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 / 200 g |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.4 |
| Frequency Response | 90Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 100Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Dimensions | 3.7" x 3" x 1.7" (94.3 x 75.7 x 42.2 mm) | 3.6" x 2.9" x 1.7" (90.8 x 74.4 x 42.6 mm) |
| Charging Time | 3 hours | - |
| Drivers | 45mm | Full-range driver + passive radiator |
| Output Power | 4.2W | 5W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Battery Capacity | - | 1000mAh |
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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 Sound Pocket: $22.51 Amazon Aliexpress eBay
Pros: A genuinely pocketable 200g speaker with IP67 protection, USB-C charging, speakerphone capability and TWS pairing. Independent listening finds it surprisingly loud and clear for hotel rooms, patios and travel, with acceptable sound at moderate volume.
Cons: Its 5W driver has little real bass, and vocals can become harsh as volume rises beyond roughly 80%. When upright on a hard surface it can vibrate or walk around, and the claimed 10-hour battery life applies only at modest volume; full recharging is slow at around three hours.
Full Xiaomi Sound Pocket review and specifications →
| Aux Input | No |
|---|---|
| Battery Capacity | 1000mAh |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 3.6" x 2.9" x 1.7" (90.8 x 74.4 x 42.6 mm) |
| Drivers | Full-range driver + passive radiator |
| Frequency Response | 100Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Output Power | 5W |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.4 lbs / 200 g |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Xiaomi Sound Pocket vs Harman Kardon Neo
- Xiaomi Sound Pocket vs Harman Kardon Esquire Mini 2
- Xiaomi Sound Pocket vs Sony SRS-XB12
- Xiaomi Sound Pocket vs Xiaomi Mi Portable Mini
- Xiaomi Sound Pocket vs JBL Clip 3
- Xiaomi Sound Pocket vs JBL Clip
- Xiaomi Sound Pocket vs Sony SRS-XB13
- Xiaomi Sound Pocket vs Sony SRS-XB100
- See all 21 comparisons