Short answer: the Soundcore Select 4 Go. It ranks #23 of 47 small speakers by sound quality at $19.39; the JBL Clip 3 ranks #36 and costs $49.99, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Soundcore Select 4 Go gets right: Quite inexpensive for what you get. The catch: Not as deep of bass as higher ranked speakers.
On the JBL Clip 3 side: Aux in. Set against that: Less bass than the Clip.
Buy the Soundcore Select 4 Go. It ranks higher for sound quality than the JBL Clip 3 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the JBL Clip 3. It ranks near the bottom of the 47 small speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
If battery life is a priority, the Soundcore Select 4 Go is rated for 20 hours versus 10 hours for the JBL Clip 3.
If water resistance matters to you, the Soundcore Select 4 Go at IP67 (brief submersion) holds up far better than the JBL Clip 3 at no water resistance.
Specifications Side By Side
| Soundcore Select 4 Go | JBL Clip 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $19.39 | $49.99 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #23 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #36 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 | None |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs / 265 g | 0.5 lbs / 227 g |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Party Mode | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 4.1 |
| Frequency Response | 90Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 120Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Dimensions | 4.8" x 3.3" x 1.9" (121 x 83 x 48.5 mm) | 3.8" x 5.4" x 1.8" (97 x 137 x 46 mm) |
| Charging Time | 4 hours | 3 hours |
| Drivers | 1.75" (44mm) full range | 1.57" (40mm) driver |
| Output Power | 5W | 3.3W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | ~100Hz |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- JBL Go 5 vs Tozo PE1
- JBL Go 5 vs Xiaomi Sound Pocket
- Tribit PocketGo vs JBL Clip
- Soundcore Select 4 Go vs Ultimate Ears Miniroll
- Soundcore Select 4 Go vs JBL Clip
The Two Speakers In Full
Soundcore Select 4 Go: $19.39 Aliexpress Amazon Bhphotovideo
Pros: Quite inexpensive for what you get
Cons: Not as deep of bass as higher ranked speakers. Doesn’t get very loud before sound quality drops; some sibilance on snare/stick transients. No built-in mic; playback is mono unless you buy a second unit.
Full Soundcore Select 4 Go review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Charging Time | 4 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 4.8" x 3.3" x 1.9" (121 x 83 x 48.5 mm) |
| Drivers | 1.75" (44mm) full range |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 90Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 5W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs / 265 g |
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- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Soundcore Select 4 Go vs JBL Go 5
- Soundcore Select 4 Go vs JBL Clip 4
- Soundcore Select 4 Go vs JBL Clip 5
- Soundcore Select 4 Go vs JBL Go 4
- Soundcore Select 4 Go vs JBL Go 3
- Soundcore Select 4 Go vs Tribit PocketGo
- Soundcore Select 4 Go vs Bose Soundlink Micro
- Soundcore Select 4 Go vs Bose Soundlink Micro 2
- See all 19 comparisons
JBL Clip 3: $49.99 Discontinued Amazon
Pros: Aux in. Very portable with a built-in carabiner; genuinely waterproof. Real-world battery often beats the 10-hour rating, sometimes lasting close to 18 hours.
Cons: Less bass than the Clip. Quite a lack of bass. Discontinued.
Full JBL Clip 3 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~100Hz |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.1 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Charging Time | 3 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 3.8" x 5.4" x 1.8" (97 x 137 x 46 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 1.57" (40mm) driver |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 120Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | None |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 3.3W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs / 227 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons