Scored using Portable Speakers Methodology v1.0
Portable Speakers Methodology v1.0
Mathematical & Unbiased Scoring
Products in this category are scored under Frontum Portable Speakers Methodology v1.0: technical specifications plus authentic consumer ratings, with 0% commercial bias.
Explore Portable Speakers Methodology v1.0

JBL Go 4 Review | 130 Data compared

Avg. price:~£35Audio output power:4.00 WBattery life:7 hoursIP rating:IP67Bluetooth version:5.3Weight:190 g

JBL Go 4 Review: Compare 130 technical specifications and user reviews to see how this product ranks in the Portable Speakers category and whether it is worth buying.

JBL Go 4
7.0/10

Overall score

Score
7.0/ 10
✕
What it is
An overall evaluation of products in the Portable Speakers category, based on technical analysis and user reviews.
When it matters
When you need a quick reference for identifying the best products in the Portable Speakers category.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
Score components

80%

6.3

Technical score

20%

9.7

User score

â–²Better than 66% of portable speakers
7.9

Value for money

Value for money
7.9/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator that combines the overall score of products in the Portable Speakers category with their prices.
When it matters
When you are comparing products in the Portable Speakers category and want a good balance between quality and price.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
Score components

70%

7.0

Overall score

30%

10

Price

â–²Better than 76%
6.3

Technical score

Technical score
6.3/ 10
✕
What it is
An assessment of technical performance for products in the Portable Speakers category across these key areas: Audio, Connectivity, Battery, Durability, Controls, Design, Smart features.
When it matters
When you want to compare products in the Portable Speakers category by technical performance, specifications, and available features.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
Score components

32%

4.7

Audio

20%

4.4

Battery

18%

9.5

Durability

16%

6.3

Connectivity

8%

8.7

Controls

3%

9.5

Design

3%

6.4

Smart features

â–¼Worse than 66%
9.7

User score

User score
9.7/ 10
✕
What it is
A rating that combines user reviews with the total review volume for products in the Portable Speakers category.
When it matters
When you want to know how products in the Portable Speakers category perform in everyday use and how reliable owners find them over time.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
Score components

70%

9.5

User ratings

30%

10

Number of reviews

Based on ratings from across the web.
★Better than 99%
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Where to buy
*As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Best rankings
Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).All: ranking among all products in the database.
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Technical Specifications of portable speaker JBL Go 4

Technical score
Technical score
6.3/ 10
✕
What it is
An assessment of technical performance for products in the Portable Speakers category across these key areas: Audio, Connectivity, Battery, Durability, Controls, Design, Smart features.
When it matters
When you want to compare products in the Portable Speakers category by technical performance, specifications, and available features.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
Score components:

32%

4.7

Audio

20%

4.4

Battery

18%

9.5

Durability

16%

6.3

Connectivity

8%

8.7

Controls

3%

9.5

Design

3%

6.4

Smart features

6.3
User score
User score
9.7/ 10
✕
What it is
A rating that combines user reviews with the total review volume for products in the Portable Speakers category.
When it matters
When you want to know how products in the Portable Speakers category perform in everyday use and how reliable owners find them over time.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
Score components

70%

9.5

User ratings

30%

10

Number of reviews

Based on ratings from across the web.
9.7
Popularity
Popularity
10/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator based on the number of reviews received by products in the Portable Speakers category.
When it matters
When you prefer products in the Portable Speakers category that have been chosen and reviewed by many other buyers.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
Popularity:
JBL Go 4 has a popularity score of 10 points, which is higher than 92% of products in this category.
10
Value for money
Value for money
7.9/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator that combines the overall score of products in the Portable Speakers category with their prices.
When it matters
When you are comparing products in the Portable Speakers category and want a good balance between quality and price.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
Score components:

70%

7.0

Overall score

30%

10

Price

7.9
Audio output power
4 W
This portable speaker has an audio output power of 4 W which is lower than that of 89% of portable speakers and equal to that of 2.6% of portable speakers.
Driver unit size
45 mm
This portable speaker has a driver unit size of 45 mm which is smaller than that of 60.9% of portable speakers and equal to that of 8.6% of portable speakers.
Number of drivers
1
This portable speaker has 1 drivers, which is fewer than 75.6% of portable speakers and equal to the number in 24.4% of portable speakers.
Frequency response tolerance
?
Lowest frequency
90 Hz
This portable speaker has a lowest frequency of 90 Hz which is higher than that of 79.3% of portable speakers and equal to that of 2.6% of portable speakers.
Show more
Bluetooth connectivity
yes
This portable speaker supports Bluetooth audio. 5.4% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Bluetooth version
5.3
This portable speaker supports Bluetooth version 5.3 which is newer than that of 78.7% of portable speakers and equal to that of 17.6% of portable speakers.
Maximum Bluetooth range
10 m
This portable speaker has a maximum Bluetooth range of 10 m which is longer than that of 4.3% of portable speakers and equal to that of 70.2% of portable speakers.
Bluetooth profiles supported
A2DP; AVRCP
Bluetooth LE Audio
yes
This portable speaker supports Bluetooth LE Audio. 97.6% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Show more
Battery life
7 hours
This portable speaker has a battery life of 7 hours which is shorter than that of 80.7% of portable speakers and equal to that of 3.3% of portable speakers.
Battery capacity
850 mAh
This portable speaker has a battery capacity of 850 mAh which is smaller than that of 90.4% of portable speakers and equal to that of 0.3% of portable speakers.
Charging time
3 hours
This portable speaker has a charging time of 3 hours which is shorter than that of 35.5% of portable speakers and equal to that of 35.1% of portable speakers.
Maximum charging input power
5 W
This portable speaker has a maximum charging input power of 5 W which is lower than that of 58.7% of portable speakers and equal to that of 38.5% of portable speakers.
Built-in rechargeable battery
yes
This portable speaker has a built-in rechargeable battery. 18.7% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Show more
IP rating
IP67
This portable speaker has an IP rating of IP67 which provides better ingress protection than 80% of portable speakers and the same ingress protection as 19.1% of portable speakers.
Water resistance
yes
This portable speaker is water resistant. 38.3% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Dust resistance
yes
This portable speaker is dust resistant. 48.6% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Waterproof depth rating
1 m
This portable speaker has a waterproof depth rating of 1 m which is deeper than that of 52.6% of portable speakers and equal to that of 47.4% of portable speakers.
Drop resistance
yes
This portable speaker resists accidental impacts. 67.3% of portable speakers offer this feature.
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On-device controls placement
top; side
Touchscreen
no
This portable speaker does not have a touchscreen. 0.3% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Smartphone app control
yes
This portable speaker supports smartphone app control. 46.1% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Compatible mobile app provides speaker control or settings.
Remote control
no
This portable speaker does not include a remote control. 15% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Fast pairing
no
This portable speaker does not support fast pairing. 22.5% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Show more
Weight
190 g
This portable speaker weighs 190 g which is lighter than that of 91.7% of portable speakers and equal to that of 0.3% of portable speakers.
Height
7.57 cm
This portable speaker has a height of 7.57 cm which is shorter than that of 75% of portable speakers.
Width
9.43 cm
This portable speaker has a width of 9.43 cm which is narrower than that of 77.6% of portable speakers.
Depth
4.22 cm
This portable speaker has a depth of 4.22 cm which is shallower than that of 90.8% of portable speakers.
Carry options
strap/handle
Show more
Companion app name
JBL Portable
Firmware updates
yes
This portable speaker supports firmware updates. 52.9% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Supports user-accessible firmware updates.
Firmware update method
?
Voice assistant support
no
This portable speaker does not support voice assistants. 26.5% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Spotify Connect
no
This portable speaker does not support Spotify Connect. 10.8% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Show more

JBL Go 4 vs the average portable speaker

246810TotalAudioConnectivityBatteryDurabilityControlsDesignSmart features
  • Better ingress protection
    This portable speaker has better ingress protection than the average portable speaker (IP67 vs IPX5).
    IP67 vs IPX5
  • 1 m deeper waterproof rating
    This portable speaker has a deeper waterproof depth rating than the average portable speaker (1 m vs 0 m).
    1 m vs 0 m
  • 1 more multipoint connections
    This portable speaker has more multipoint connections than the average portable speaker (2 vs 1).
    2 vs 1
  • 5 more adjustable EQ bands
    This portable speaker has more adjustable EQ bands than the average portable speaker (5 vs 0).
    5 vs 0
  • 4 more EQ presets
    This portable speaker has more EQ presets than the average portable speaker (4 vs 0).
    4 vs 0
  • Has an equalizer
    This portable speaker has an equalizer, while the average portable speaker does not have an equalizer.
    Offers user-selectable EQ, tone adjustment, or sound presets.
  • Resists accidental impacts
    This portable speaker resists accidental impacts, while the average portable speaker lacks an impact-resistance rating.
  • Supports Auracast
    This portable speaker supports Auracast, while the average portable speaker does not support Auracast.
  • 20.7% higher user score
    User score
    9.7/ 10
    ✕
    What it is
    A rating that combines user reviews with the total review volume for products in the Portable Speakers category.
    When it matters
    When you want to know how products in the Portable Speakers category perform in everyday use and how reliable owners find them over time.
    Score distribution
    â–¼
    â–¼
    <55-66-77-88-99-10
    JBL Go 4
    the average portable speaker
    JBL Go 4 has a higher user score than the average portable speaker (9.65 vs 8).
    9.65 vs 8
  • 2.38x more popular
    JBL Go 4 is more popular than the average portable speaker (10 vs 4.21).
    10 vs 4.21
  • 2.57x cheaper
    JBL Go 4 is cheaper than the average portable speaker (£35 vs £90).
    £35 vs £90
  • 5 dB higher signal-to-noise ratio
    This portable speaker has a higher signal-to-noise ratio than the average portable speaker (85 dB vs 80 dB).
    85 dB vs 80 dB
  • 1 more multipoint connections
    This portable speaker has more multipoint connections than the average portable speaker (2 vs 1).
    2 vs 1
  • Supports Auracast
    This portable speaker supports Auracast, while the average portable speaker does not support Auracast.
  • Supports Bluetooth LE Audio
    This portable speaker supports Bluetooth LE Audio, while the average portable speaker does not support Bluetooth LE Audio.
  • Has a USB Type-C port
    This portable speaker has a USB Type-C port, while the average portable speaker does not have a USB Type-C port.
    Has a physical USB-C port.
  • 0.3 Bluetooth levels newer
    This portable speaker has a newer Bluetooth version than the average portable speaker (5.3 vs 5).
    5.3 vs 5
  • Has a removable battery
    This portable speaker has a removable battery, while the average portable speaker does not have a removable battery.
  • Better ingress protection
    This portable speaker has better ingress protection than the average portable speaker (IP67 vs IPX5).
    IP67 vs IPX5
  • 1 m deeper waterproof rating
    This portable speaker has a deeper waterproof depth rating than the average portable speaker (1 m vs 0 m).
    1 m vs 0 m
  • Resists accidental impacts
    This portable speaker resists accidental impacts, while the average portable speaker lacks an impact-resistance rating.
  • Floats in water
    This portable speaker floats in water, while the average portable speaker does not float in water.
  • 5 °C higher maximum operating temperature
    This portable speaker has a higher maximum operating temperature than the average portable speaker (45 °C vs 40 °C).
    45 °C vs 40 °C
  • 5 more adjustable EQ bands
    This portable speaker has more adjustable EQ bands than the average portable speaker (5 vs 0).
    5 vs 0
  • 4 more EQ presets
    This portable speaker has more EQ presets than the average portable speaker (4 vs 0).
    4 vs 0
  • Has an equalizer
    This portable speaker has an equalizer, while the average portable speaker does not have an equalizer.
    Offers user-selectable EQ, tone adjustment, or sound presets.
  • Supports party mode
    This portable speaker supports party mode, while the average portable speaker does not support party mode.
    Supports synchronized multi-speaker party/group playback.
  • 610 g lighter
    This portable speaker is lighter than the average portable speaker (190 g vs 800 g).
    190 g vs 800 g
  • 4.08 cm shallower
    This portable speaker is shallower than the average portable speaker (4.2 cm vs 8.3 cm).
    4.22 cm vs 8.3 cm
  • 8.67 cm narrower
    This portable speaker is narrower than the average portable speaker (9.4 cm vs 18.1 cm).
    9.43 cm vs 18.1 cm
  • 4.83 cm shorter
    This portable speaker is shorter than the average portable speaker (7.6 cm vs 12.4 cm).
    7.57 cm vs 12.4 cm
  • Supports firmware updates
    This portable speaker supports firmware updates, while the average portable speaker does not support firmware updates.
    Supports user-accessible firmware updates.
  • 5 newer
    This portable speaker was released more recently than the average portable speaker (2024 vs 2019).
    2024 vs 2019
  • 5 hours shorter battery life
    This portable speaker has a shorter battery life than the average portable speaker (7 hours vs 12 hours).
    7 hours vs 12 hours
  • 10 dB SPL lower maximum sound pressure
    This portable speaker has a lower maximum sound pressure level than the average portable speaker (82 dB SPL vs 92 dB SPL).
    82 dB SPL vs 92 dB SPL
  • 1,750 mAh less battery capacity
    This portable speaker has a smaller battery capacity than the average portable speaker (850 mAh vs 2,600 mAh).
    850 mAh vs 2,600 mAh
  • 1 fewer microphones
    This portable speaker has fewer microphones than the average portable speaker (0 vs 1).
    0 vs 1
  • 16 W less audio output power
    This portable speaker has less audio output power than the average portable speaker (4 W vs 20 W).
    4 W vs 20 W
  • 30 Hz less deep bass extension
    This portable speaker has less deep bass extension than the average portable speaker (90 Hz vs 60 Hz).
    90 Hz vs 60 Hz
  • Does not have a 3.5 mm AUX input
    This portable speaker does not have a 3.5 mm AUX input, while the average portable speaker has a 3.5 mm AUX input.
    No built-in 3.5 mm AUX input.
  • 5 W lower charging input power
    This portable speaker has lower charging input power than the average portable speaker (5 W vs 10 W).
    5 W vs 10 W
  • 10 dB SPL lower maximum sound pressure
    This portable speaker has a lower maximum sound pressure level than the average portable speaker (82 dB SPL vs 92 dB SPL).
    82 dB SPL vs 92 dB SPL
  • 16 W less audio output power
    This portable speaker has less audio output power than the average portable speaker (4 W vs 20 W).
    4 W vs 20 W
  • 1 fewer microphones
    This portable speaker has fewer microphones than the average portable speaker (0 vs 1).
    0 vs 1
  • 30 Hz less deep bass extension
    This portable speaker has less deep bass extension than the average portable speaker (90 Hz vs 60 Hz).
    90 Hz vs 60 Hz
  • 1 fewer speaker drivers
    This portable speaker has fewer speaker drivers than the average portable speaker (1 vs 2).
    1 vs 2
  • 5 mm smaller main driver
    This portable speaker has a smaller main driver than the average portable speaker (45 mm vs 50 mm).
    45 mm vs 50 mm
  • Does not have a 3.5 mm AUX input
    This portable speaker does not have a 3.5 mm AUX input, while the average portable speaker has a 3.5 mm AUX input.
    No built-in 3.5 mm AUX input.
  • 5 hours shorter battery life
    This portable speaker has a shorter battery life than the average portable speaker (7 hours vs 12 hours).
    7 hours vs 12 hours
  • 1,750 mAh less battery capacity
    This portable speaker has a smaller battery capacity than the average portable speaker (850 mAh vs 2,600 mAh).
    850 mAh vs 2,600 mAh
  • 5 W lower charging input power
    This portable speaker has lower charging input power than the average portable speaker (5 W vs 10 W).
    5 W vs 10 W

Video reviews

Hands-on testing, unboxing, and real-world video evaluations

Expert reviews

In-depth analysis and verdict from leading tech publications

W
whathifi.com
29/08/2024
Summary of the review
R
rtings.com
24/09/2024
Summary of the review
T
tomsguide.com
07/06/2024
Summary of the review
T
techradar.com
22/08/2024
Summary of the review
H
howtogeek.com
27/12/2024
Summary of the review
S
soundguys.com
16/12/2025
Summary of the review
B
basic-tutorials.com
31/08/2024
Summary of the review
M
makeuseof.com
01/11/2024
Summary of the review
W
whatsthebest.co.uk
10/01/2025
Summary of the review
N
nytimes.com
08/05/2025
Summary of the review
S
stereoguide.com
18/06/2024
Summary of the review
H
hifi.de
17/07/2024
Summary of the review
K
kopfhoerer.de
04/12/2025
Summary of the review
A
allround-pc.com
06/05/2024
Summary of the review
H
heise.de
18/03/2026
Summary of the review
S
stereoguide.de
17/06/2024
Summary of the review
C
computerbild.de
12/04/2024
Summary of the review
O
outdoortest.info
23/02/2026
Summary of the review
I
id.nl
20/04/2024
Summary of the review
T
techpulse.be
31/07/2024
Summary of the review

Third-party reviews

Based on ratings from across the web.
Reviews last updated: August 2026 · How we calculate this

What customers like about JBL Go 4

  • Incredibly compact and pocket-sized design
  • Lightweight and highly portable construction
  • IP67 waterproof and dustproof rating, and it floats
  • Robust build quality with upgraded silicone edge protection
  • Surprisingly loud, clear sound and balanced mids/highs for its size
  • Added companion app support with customizable EQ presets
  • Auracast support for multi-speaker and stereo pairing
  • Improved 7-hour battery life compared to the previous generation

What customers don't like about JBL Go 4

  • Inherent physical size limits deep bass and low-end response
  • Audio compresses noticeably at high or maximum volumes
  • Downmixes standalone stereo audio to a single mono channel
  • Playtime Boost feature extends battery but heavily reduces sound quality
  • Lacks a 3.5mm auxiliary audio input jack
  • Bluetooth latency can occasionally cause minor audio-to-video lip-sync mismatch
  • Does not include a built-in microphone for hands-free calls or voice assistants
  • Cannot wirelessly pair or group with older-generation JBL speakers

Verdict

The JBL Go 4 is an ultra-portable Bluetooth 5.3 speaker delivering 4.2W RMS output power with a frequency response of 90 Hz to 20 kHz. Weighing just 190 grams and measuring 9.4 x 7.8 x 4.2 cm, it features a rugged, IP67 waterproof and dustproof design, an integrated carrying loop, and multi-speaker Auracast connectivity alongside JBL Portable app support with a 5-band custom EQ. Its main advantages include a highly pocketable form factor, surprisingly loud audio for its size, and a 7-hour battery life that can be extended by up to 2 hours using the Playtime Boost feature. However, its notable drawbacks include a lack of deep sub-bass due to the absence of a passive radiator, noticeable audio compression at maximum volumes, no built-in microphone for speakerphone functionality, and an inability to pair wirelessly with older-generation JBL models.

Compare JBL Go 4 with other products in the Portable Speakers category

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