Short answer: the Tronsmart T8. It ranks #54 of 182 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 3.6/5, at $49.99; the JBL Grip ranks #98, rated 3.1/5, and costs $69.95, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
The Tronsmart T8 is the better-sounding pick. An affordable waterproof speaker with upward firing drivers that spread sound around, plus lights, app EQ, an aux input and stereo pairing. It keeps a wired aux input, which the JBL Grip lacks. The tradeoff: 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 JBL Grip is the lighter option. A small, fully waterproof speaker with app EQ, ambient lighting, Auracast linking and USB-C audio input. At 0.8 lbs (385 g) it weighs much less than the Tronsmart T8 at 1.8 lbs (800 g). The catch: Lacking deeper bass, definitely the worst of the JBL line until you get to the smaller clip.
Buy the Tronsmart T8. It is rated higher for sound quality than the JBL Grip and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Prices on this page were last checked November 14, 2026 at 6:17 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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Specifications Side By Side
| Tronsmart T8 | JBL Grip | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $49.99 | $69.95 |
| Ranked | #54 of 182 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #98 of 182 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Stereo | Partially | No |
| Amplifier Power | 40W | 16W |
| App | Yes (Tronsmart) | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Battery Life | 18 hours at 50% volume, lights off (Manufacturer specified) | 14 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.4 |
| Charging Time | 4.5 hours | - |
| Dimensions | 8.6”H x 3.2”W x 3.2”D (218 x 82 x 82 mm) | 2.5” x 6” x 2.6” (64 x 152 x 65 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x upward firing full-range drivers + 1x woofer + 2x passive radiators | 1x 43x80mm fullrange |
| EQ | Yes (app) | Yes (7 band) |
| Frequency Response | 56Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 70Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IP68 |
| Lights | Yes | Yes |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes | - |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Strap | Yes (lanyard) | Yes (strap) |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 1.8 lbs (0.80 kg) | 0.8 lbs (385 g) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | ~68Hz |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC |
| Party Mode | - | Yes (Auracast) |
| Digital Aux Input | - | Yes (USB-C) |
Where the Ratings Come From
- Tronsmart T8: reviews by Mateusz Cholewa, Techder Audios and Jagist.
- JBL Grip: reviews by Oluv, M1MTechChannel and Speaker Fan.
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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