JBL Go 4
A tough pocket speaker with clear sound for its size, but little bass or volume.
The short version
- Travelers who want a speaker that fits in a pocket
- Shower, pool or beach listening where water is a risk
- Podcasts and background music at a desk
- You want strong bass or party volume
- You plan to pair it with an older JBL Go 3
- You care about higher quality Bluetooth codecs
What owners like
- Clearer vocals and more detail than the Go 3
- Small and light enough for a pocket or bag
- Tough build with IP67 protection
- Custom EQ in the app
Common complaints
- Limited bass and a mid heavy default sound
- Not loud enough for larger groups
- Playtime Boost makes music sound noticeably worse
- Will not pair with older Go 3 speakers, and Auracast pairing plays in mono
- Short charging cable and no wall adapter in the box
Based on Hands-on reviews from SoundGuys and MakeUseOf plus the Amazon listing's product details..
Research scores
Scored from the maker's specs and what owners report. Drew's own notes and photos will refine these.
Ownership
- Jul 2025
First bought.
Drew's hands-on notes for this product are on the way. Long-term updates will be added to this timeline.
What it does
A palm sized Bluetooth speaker from JBL with IP67 water and dust protection, a carry loop and about 7 hours of battery.
- Multipoint lets two phones stay connected at once
- Auracast links several Auracast speakers together for more coverage
- JBL Portable app adds a 5 band custom EQ
- Playtime Boost stretches battery life at the cost of sound quality
- Built in loop for clipping to a bag
- Made in part with recycled materials, per JBL
A good pick for travel, the shower or a small desk when size and toughness matter more than volume. The trade-off is sound: reviewers find it clear for its size but light on bass and not loud enough for a group, so a larger speaker is the better buy for parties.
How it compares
Specs
- Battery
- Up to 7 hours, a little more with Playtime Boost on
- Water and dust
- IP67
- Output
- 4.2 W
- Weight
- About 190 g
- Size
- 94 x 78 x 42 mm
- Bluetooth
- 5.3 with LE Audio, multipoint, Auracast
- Codec
- SBC
- Charging
- USB-C, about 3 hours to full
Questions
Is the JBL Go 4 waterproof?
It is rated IP67, so it is dust tight and can be submerged. SoundGuys lists the limit as 1 meter for 30 minutes.
How long does the JBL Go 4 battery last?
JBL rates it at up to 7 hours. Playtime Boost adds a little more, and a full charge takes about 3 hours over USB-C.
Can two JBL Go 4 speakers play together?
Yes, through Auracast. Reviewers note that a linked pair plays in mono, not stereo.
Does the JBL Go 4 work with the JBL Go 3?
No. SoundGuys notes the Go 4 cannot link with previous generation Go speakers.
Is the Go 4 better than the Go 3?
Reviewers find it clearer and more detailed, and it adds multipoint, Auracast and app EQ.
Sources
Researched 2026-10-02. We bought this product; our page is built from the maker's details and what owners report across reviews and forums. We never copy Amazon customer reviews.
