Short answer: the Soundcore Boom Go 3i for better sound quality, the JBL Go 3 for the lower price. The Soundcore Boom Go 3i ranks #2 of 47 small speakers at $79.99. The JBL Go 3 ranks #26 at $39.95, $40.04 cheaper.
What the Soundcore Boom Go 3i offers: IP68 rated (full submersion + dustproof). ~24 hour battery life. RGB light strip syncs to the music. USB-C port doubles as a power bank for charging your phone. Watch for: Sounds a bit piercing and metallic. Bass knocks a little bit. Peak at 10khz
What the JBL Go 3 offers: Genuinely pocket-sized at 209g. IP67 rated, survives full submersion in a meter of water for 30 minutes. Rope loop for clipping to a bag. Watch for: Not much bass at all, strange mids peak.
Buy the Soundcore Boom Go 3i when sound quality outweighs the price for you, and the JBL Go 3 when the price outweighs sound quality instead.
Battery life favors the Soundcore Boom Go 3i: rated for 24 hours against 5 hours for the JBL Go 3.
Specifications Side By Side
| Soundcore Boom Go 3i | JBL Go 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $79.99 | $39.95 |
| Ranked | #2 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #26 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 5 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | Yes | No |
| IP Rating | IP68 | IP67 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | Pointing up |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs / 380 g | 0.5 lbs / 209 g |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 | 5.1 |
| Output Power | 15W | 4.2W |
| Dimensions | 4" x 4.2" x 1.8" (102.1 x 105.9 x 45.5 mm) | 3.4" x 2.7" x 1.6" (86 x 69 x 40 mm) |
| Drivers | 25mm tweeter + 42mm woofer + passive radiators | 36mm full-range driver |
| Max Volume | 92dB | 88dB |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 87Hz |
| Frequency Response | - | 110Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Charging Time | - | 2.5 hours |
Related Speaker Comparisons
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- Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 vs Bose Soundlink Micro 2
- JBL Clip 5 vs JBL Go 4
- Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 vs Klipsch Austin
- Bose Soundlink Micro 2 vs JBL Go 3
- Klipsch Austin vs JBL Go 3
Prices on this page were last checked August 27, 2026 at 10:09 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
Soundcore Boom Go 3i: $79.99 Amazon Aliexpress eBay
Pros: IP68 rated (full submersion + dustproof). ~24 hour battery life. RGB light strip syncs to the music. USB-C port doubles as a power bank for charging your phone.
Cons: Sounds a bit piercing and metallic. Bass knocks a little bit. Peak at 10khz
Setup: Try out Oluv’s EQ which slightly improves the sound
Full Soundcore Boom Go 3i review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 4" x 4.2" x 1.8" (102.1 x 105.9 x 45.5 mm) |
| Drivers | 25mm tweeter + 42mm woofer + passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP68 |
| Max Volume | 92dB |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Output Power | 15W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs / 380 g |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Oluv Patreon: SoundCore Boom Go 3i - first look More from Oluv’Sone →
- Techder Audios: Soundcore Boom Go 3i - Soundtest HOW GOOD IS 15W? WITH BASS UP 2.0!? More from techderaudios →
- Storytripper HD: Bose Micro 2 vs Soundcore Boom Go 3i vs Tribit Micro 2 More from storytripperhd →
- Gi Rides: Soundcore Boom Go 3i vs Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 Binaural Audio
- TecH Moe: Soundcore Boom Go 3i: The Mini Speaker to Buy!
- Reddit Search for Soundcore Boom Go 3i Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Soundcore Boom Go 3i vs Tribit Stormbox Micro 2
- Soundcore Boom Go 3i vs Minirig Mini 2
- Soundcore Boom Go 3i vs Minirig Mini
- Soundcore Boom Go 3i vs Tribit Stormbox Micro
- Soundcore Boom Go 3i vs Tribit Stormbox Micro 3
- Soundcore Boom Go 3i vs Teufel Boomster Go
- Soundcore Boom Go 3i vs Soundcore Mini 3 Pro
- Soundcore Boom Go 3i vs Soundcore Mini 3
- See all 32 comparisons
JBL Go 3: $39.95 Amazon eBay
Pros: Genuinely pocket-sized at 209g. IP67 rated, survives full submersion in a meter of water for 30 minutes. Rope loop for clipping to a bag.
Cons: Not much bass at all, strange mids peak.
Full JBL Go 3 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 87Hz |
| Battery Life | 5 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Charging Time | 2.5 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 3.4" x 2.7" x 1.6" (86 x 69 x 40 mm) |
| Drivers | 36mm full-range driver |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 110Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 88dB |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Output Power | 4.2W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs / 209 g |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL GO 3 Review - vs Tribit Stormbox Micro - best small cheap speaker? More from alanrossreviews →
- DLX Willington: Jbl Go 3 vs Sony XB12 Sound Battle With Sound Sample More from DLXWillington →
- 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?
- Techder Audios: JBL GO 3 VS XIAOMI PORTABLE OUTDOOR SPEAKER “BEST COMPACT SPEAKERS!?” More from techderaudios →
- Techder Audios: HOPESTAR H54 VS JBL GO 3 “SIMILAR DESIGN BUT SOUND IS DIFFERENT?!’’
- Alan Ross Reviews: Harman Kardon Neo vs JBL GO 3 - best bluetooth micro speaker❗❗❗
- Techder Audios: JBL GO 3 VS ORTIZAN X10
- Reddit Search for JBL Go 3 Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons