Short answer: the Minirig 4. It ranks #7 of 182 medium speakers by sound quality (rated 4.3/5) at $229.95 and is still sold new; the JBL Charge 4 ranks #59 (rated 3.5/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used. The JBL Charge 4’s replacement, the JBL Charge 6, is rated 4.2/5 at $149.95.
The Minirig 4 is the better-sounding, louder pick. A small, long lasting speaker that gets loud and can add a matching subwoofer, with a 30 hour battery. Alan Ross Reviews measured it at 106dB at full volume, against 99dB for the JBL Charge 4. It is rated for 30 hours of battery against 20 for the JBL Charge 4. At 1.2 lbs (550 g) it weighs much less than the JBL Charge 4 at 2.1 lbs (960 g). Watch for: Calls itself splash resistant and has no official water rating.
The JBL Charge 4 is the tougher pick. A rugged waterproof speaker that floats, charges your phone, lasts a long time per charge and links with other JBL speakers. It is rated IPX7 against Splash resistant for the Minirig 4. Watch for: 1 Oval driver.
Buy the Minirig 4. It is rated higher for sound quality and still sold new, while the JBL Charge 4 is discontinued.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Measured Differences
- Output: the Minirig 4 was measured at 106 dB maximum against 99 dB for the JBL Charge 4, so it gets clearly louder before it runs out of headroom.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Minirig 4 | JBL Charge 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $229.95 | $119.95 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #7 of 182 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #59 of 182 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 0ms | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 56Hz | 54Hz |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC | SBC |
| EQ | Yes | No |
| IP Rating | Splash resistant | IPX7 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 60ms | 330ms |
| Maximum SPL | 106dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 99dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2A) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | No |
| TWS | Yes (Bluetooth or cable) | No |
| Weight | 1.2 lbs (550 g) | 2.1 lbs (960 g) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 4.2 |
| Dimensions | 4” x 2.9” (101.6 x 73 mm) (diameter x height) | 8.7” x 3.7” x 3.7” (220 x 95 x 93 mm) |
| Drivers | 70mm custom driver | 1x 51x89mm fullrange |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 18kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | 50W | 30W RMS |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Party Mode | - | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) |
| Strap | - | No |
Where the Ratings Come From
- Minirig 4: reviews by Oluv, Alan Ross and Beautiful Zar DJ.
- JBL Charge 4: reviews by Alan Ross, Flossy Carter and DankPods.
This comparison is generated from the ratings, specifications and measurements on each product’s own page, and it updates when that data changes. How we rank explains how each rating is decided.
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