Short answer: the Soundcore Glow. It ranks #43 of 136 medium speakers by sound quality at $80; the JBL Charge 4 ranks #50 and costs $119.95, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
On the Soundcore Glow side: Nice light show. Treble boosted 7db. Not technically a 360 speaker, only front and rear. Watch for: Bass falls off quickly at louder volumes, leaving mostly treble; distortion on bass-heavy tracks at full volume.
What the JBL Charge 4 gets right: Doubles as a power bank for charging phones/tablets. IPX7 rated and floats. ~20 hour battery life; wirelessly links with 100+ JBL Connect+ speakers. The tradeoff: Not stereo. 1 Oval driver. Boosted bass, top a little rolled off, warm sound.
Buy the Soundcore Glow. It ranks higher for sound quality than the JBL Charge 4 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| Soundcore Glow | JBL Charge 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $80 | $119.95 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #43 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #50 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 54Hz | 54Hz |
| Max Volume | 100dB | 99dB |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | Yes | No |
| App | Yes | - |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Battery Life | 18 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 4.2 |
| Dimensions | 11.4" x 4.7" x 4.3" (290 x 120 x 110 mm) | 8.7" x 3.7" x 3.7" (220 x 95 x 93 mm) |
| Drivers | 63.5mm full-range driver + 2x passive radiators | 1x 51x89mm fullrange |
| EQ | Yes | - |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX7 |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyCast up to 100 speakers) | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Input | USB-C | - |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Weight | 1.8 lbs / 800 g | 2.1 lbs / 960 g |
| Output Power | 30W | 30W RMS |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 330ms |
| Power Bank | - | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2A) |
| Frequency Response | - | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
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The Two Speakers In Full
Soundcore Glow: $80 Amazon Bhphotovideo
Pros: Nice light show. Treble boosted 7db. Not technically a 360 speaker, only front and rear.
Cons: Bass falls off quickly at louder volumes, leaving mostly treble; distortion on bass-heavy tracks at full volume. Light effects and bass-boost noticeably shorten battery life. USB-C port doesn’t support power-bank charging.
Full Soundcore Glow review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 54Hz |
| Battery Life | 18 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 11.4" x 4.7" x 4.3" (290 x 120 x 110 mm) |
| Drivers | 63.5mm full-range driver + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 100dB |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Output Power | 30W |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyCast up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.8 lbs / 800 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
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JBL Charge 4: $119.95 Discontinued Amazon
Pros: Doubles as a power bank for charging phones/tablets. IPX7 rated and floats. ~20 hour battery life; wirelessly links with 100+ JBL Connect+ speakers.
Cons: Not stereo. 1 Oval driver. Boosted bass, top a little rolled off, warm sound. Not as loud as a Charge 3. Discontinued.
Full JBL Charge 4 review and specifications →
| Aux Input | Yes |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 54Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Latency | 330ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8.7" x 3.7" x 3.7" (220 x 95 x 93 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 1x 51x89mm fullrange |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Max Volume | 99dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 30W RMS |
| Party Mode | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2A) |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs / 960 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
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