Short answer: the Xiaomi Sound Outdoor. It ranks #46 of 177 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 3.7/5, at $49.99; the JBL Grip ranks #98, rated 3.1/5, and costs $69.95, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
The JBL Grip is the lighter choice. A small, fully waterproof speaker with app EQ, ambient lighting, Auracast linking and USB-C audio input. At 0.8 lbs (385 g) it weighs noticeably less than the Xiaomi Sound Outdoor at 1.3 lbs (597 g). It has an adjustable EQ, which the Xiaomi Sound Outdoor lacks. Watch for: Lacking deeper bass, definitely the worst of the JBL line until you get to the smaller clip.
The Xiaomi Sound Outdoor is the better-sounding pick. An affordable waterproof outdoor speaker with a separate tweeter, decent battery life and linking to many more speakers. Watch for: Bass reach is limited for the cabinet size, with a rated lower limit of 60Hz, and the boosted bass gets somewhat uncontrolled at high levels.
Buy the Xiaomi Sound Outdoor. It is rated higher for sound quality than the JBL Grip and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
A small, fully waterproof speaker with app EQ, ambient lighting, Auracast linking and USB-C audio input.
An affordable waterproof outdoor speaker with a separate tweeter, decent battery life and linking to many more speakers.
Prices on this page were last checked October 31, 2026 at 7:11 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 Grip | Xiaomi Sound Outdoor | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $69.95 | $49.99 |
| Ranked | #98 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #46 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Battery Life | 14 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~68Hz | - |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| EQ | Yes (7 band) | No |
| IP Rating | IP68 | IP67 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (Speakersync, up to 100 speakers) |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs (385 g) | 1.3 lbs (597 g) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.4 |
| Drivers | 1x 43x80mm fullrange | 20W woofer, 10W tweeter + 2x passive radiators |
| Dimensions | 2.5” x 6” x 2.6” (64 x 152 x 65 mm) | 7.7” x 2.7” x 2.6” (196.6 x 68 x 66 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 70Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | 16W | 30W |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Strap | Yes (strap) | - |
| Built-in Microphone | - | Yes |
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