Short answer: the Tronsmart T8. It ranks #52 of 150 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 3.6/5, at $49.99; the JBL Charge 4 ranks #56, rated 3.5/5, and costs $94.99, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The case for the Tronsmart T8: Two upward firing drivers, a woofer and two passive radiators spread sound evenly around the speaker, so placement matters less. Watch for: Against the Xiaomi Sound Outdoor, listeners in Mateusz Cholewa’s comparison found the T8 harsh and tiring, and Techder Audios’ test showed the Xiaomi Sound Party with deeper, heavier bass.
The case for the JBL Charge 4: Doubles as a power bank for charging phones/tablets. Watch for: Not stereo.
One note: the JBL Charge 4 is discontinued, but it still ranks #56 of 150 medium speakers by sound quality, ahead of most of what is still sold new, so it is worth considering used.
Buy the Tronsmart T8. It is rated higher for sound quality than the JBL Charge 4 and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Tronsmart T8 | JBL Charge 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $49.99 | $94.99 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #52 of 150 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #56 of 150 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Amplifier Power | 40W | 30W RMS |
| App | Yes (Tronsmart) | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 18 hours at 50% volume, lights off (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 4.2 |
| Charging Time | 4.5 hours | - |
| Dimensions | 8.6”H x 3.2”W x 3.2”D (218 x 82 x 82 mm) | 8.7” x 3.7” x 3.7” (220 x 95 x 93 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x upward firing full-range drivers + 1x woofer + 2x passive radiators | 1x 51x89mm fullrange |
| EQ | Yes (app) | No |
| Frequency Response | 56Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IPX7 |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes | - |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Strap | Yes (lanyard) | No |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Weight | 1.8 lbs (0.80 kg) | 2.1 lbs (960 g) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 54Hz |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 330ms |
| Maximum SPL | - | 99dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Party Mode | - | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | - | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2A) |
| Stereo | - | No |
| Digital Aux Input | - | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Tronsmart T8:
- Soundcore Motion 300 vs Tronsmart T8
- JBL Charge 6 vs Tronsmart T8
- JBL Flip 6 vs Tronsmart T8
- JBL Flip 7 vs Tronsmart T8
- Xiaomi Sound Party vs Tronsmart T8
Prices on this page were last checked September 30, 2026 at 2:57 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
Tronsmart T8: $49.99 Best Buy Tronsmart eBay
Pros: Two upward firing drivers, a woofer and two passive radiators spread sound evenly around the speaker, so placement matters less. In AudioPro Reviews’ and Dresser’s comparisons most listeners preferred it to the JBL Flip 6, JBL Flip 7 and Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 for its fuller body and less fatiguing treble, and Audioreviews.org found it stayed clean at maximum volume. It is rated for 40W, with IPX7 waterproofing, an 18 hour battery rating, app EQ, lights, a volume wheel, aux input, TF card playback, a lanyard and stereo pairing.
Cons: Against the Xiaomi Sound Outdoor, listeners in Mateusz Cholewa’s comparison found the T8 harsh and tiring, and Techder Audios’ test showed the Xiaomi Sound Party with deeper, heavier bass. Josh’s Gadgets and More preferred the cheaper Vortex Blast for smoother highs and deeper bass. Bass is rated only down to 56Hz.
Full Tronsmart T8 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 40W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (Tronsmart) |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 18 hours at 50% volume, lights off (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Charging Time | 4.5 hours |
| Dimensions | 8.6”H x 3.2”W x 3.2”D (218 x 82 x 82 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x upward firing full-range drivers + 1x woofer + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (app) |
| Frequency Response | 56Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Lights | Yes |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Strap | Yes (lanyard) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.8 lbs (0.80 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- AudioPro Reviews: Tronsmart T8 vs JBL Flip 6 | Which one sounds BETTER?
- Dresser: JBL Flip 7 vs Tronsmart T8 Bluetooth speaker sound test
- Dresser: Tronsmart T8 vs UE mega boom 3 sound test
- Mateusz Cholewa: Tronsmart T8 vs Xiaomi Sound Outdoor & Opinion in Subtitles More from Mateusz Cholewa →
- Techder Audios: Xiaomi Sound Party 50w VS Tronsmart T8 More from techderaudios →
- Techder Audios: Xdobo X8 IV VS Tronsmart T8
- Josh’s Gadgets and More: Tronsmart T8 vs Vortex Blast
- Audioreviews.org: Tronsmart T8 Portable Bluetooth 5.3 Speaker Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Tronsmart T8 vs Tribit Stormbox Flow
- Tronsmart T8 vs W-King D320
- Tronsmart T8 vs Xiaomi Sound Outdoor
- Tronsmart T8 vs Soundcore 3/Soundcore Select 2
- Tronsmart T8 vs Earfun Uboom Slim
- Tronsmart T8 vs JBL Charge Essential 3 SE
- Tronsmart T8 vs Sony ULT Field 3
- Tronsmart T8 vs JBL Charge Essential 2
- See all 33 comparisons
JBL Charge 4: $94.99 Discontinued Amazon eBay
Newer model: the JBL Charge 6, ranked higher, rated 4.2/5.
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. Measured bass extension of 54Hz (-10dB).
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 →
| Amplifier Power | 30W RMS |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 54Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| 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) |
| Drivers | 1x 51x89mm fullrange |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Maximum SPL | 99dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2A) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs (960 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Charge 5 vs JBL Charge 4 and Charge 3 - best JBL charge 5 review 2021? More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: jbl Charge 4 unboxing first impressions - vs Charge 3
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Charge 5 vs JBL Charge 4 and Charge 3 - best JBL charge 5 review 2021?
- Alan Ross Reviews: W King D8 Mini review vs JBL Charge 4 vs Maxsound Plus
- Alan Ross Reviews: Sony XB33 vs XB32 vs JBL Charge 4 best £120 bluetooth speaker?
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Flip 6 vs JBL Charge 4 and JBL Charge 3 - small one or a large one? 🤷♂️
- Flossy Carter: JBL Charge 5 vs JBL Charge 4 vs JBL Charge Essential More from FlossyCarter →
- Naresh Lal: JBL Charge 4 Vs Xdobo X8 Tell me Which one is the BEST?
- Alan Ross Reviews: LG Xboom Go PL7 vs JBL Charge 4 and Sony XB33 - best Bluetooth speaker?
- Head-to-Head Comparisons