JBL Clip 3 vs JBL Clip 4 an In-Depth Comparison on the Go

If you’re looking for a JBL Clip 3 vs JBL Clip 4 in-depth comparison, this is the right place to be!

We’re going to check out the features of these clever waterproof portable Bluetooth speakers individually, and then have them compared, so you know which one is the right choice for you.

JBL Clip 3 vs JBL Clip 4

Spending money is never easy but you should always make sure that you are choosing something which will suit your needs. You can do this by researching these two options before making a decision.

Features of the JBL Clip 3

This powerful little Bluetooth wireless speaker is equipped with Bluetooth 4.1 for wireless streaming of audio from your mobile device. It delivers a high-quality sound.

The speaker is made from a strong fabric material making it ultra-rugged and durable. It clips onto your bag or belt with a secure strong metal carabiner and offers a range of great features to its users.

Measuring at just 137 x 97 x 46 mm, it is light and easy to transport. Its integrated battery will provide you with up to 10 hours of audio from a single charge and requires 3 hours to be fully charged.

This Bluetooth speaker has a dual USB charging hub and features a built-in echo and noise-canceling speakerphone function.

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It’s waterproof as well, which is perfect if you suddenly get caught in a heavy rain shower on your next adventure.

Thanks to its IPX7 waterproof rating and the ability to float, you will not be afraid to use this portable Bluetooth speaker at the pool, on the beach, and for that matter, anywhere near water.

It will even make a good option for streaming audio while you’re in the shower.

Excellent reviews and a range of color choices add to its appeal, and at a reasonably low price point, it’s perfect for users from all walks of life.

JBL Clip 3
  • Bluetooth 4.1
  • Speakerphone
  • Battery life 10hrs 
  • IPX7 rating
  • Integrated carabiner

Features of the JBL Clip 4

The JBL Clip 4 Bluetooth speaker is an upgrade in style and some other features. This waterproof portable speaker is equipped with Bluetooth 5.1.

Just like its predecessor, the JBL Clip 3, it offers 10 hours of battery life. Its battery also only takes 3 hours to charge, which is perfect if you’re in a hurry.

The speaker’s case is also made from a durable fabric, however, in addition to being waterproof, it is also dustproof backed by its IP67 rating.

Built-in a powerful 5-watt speaker that delivers an amazing JBL Original Pro Sound. The integrated carabiner holds it in place no matter what you attach it to.

Due to its small size, measuring at just 134.5 x 86.3 x 46 mm, this wireless speaker is ultra-portable and fits easily in your hand, so you can take it with you where you go.

The speaker only weighs 0.239 kg, slightly heavier than the JBL Clip 3 but unnoticeable, so it’s perfect for traveling and days out.

If you’re looking to lighten a load of your gadgets without sacrificing functionality, this handy little Bluetooth speaker is the way to go.

The Clip 4 Bluetooth speaker also boasts a great color range with multiple color options, so there’s something to suit everyone.

JBL Clip 4 Best Portable
  • Bluetooth 5.1
  • 10hrs playtime 
  • USB Type C
  • Waterproof IP67
  • Integrated carabiner

What’s the Difference Between Clip 3 and Clip 4?

Though the two speakers are quite similar, there are a couple of big differences between the JBL Clip 3 and the JBL Clip 4 in terms of both aestheticism and functionality.

The Clip 3 wireless speaker, for example, has a speakerphone function, which the Clip 4 does not offer, so if you’re going to be taking calls using your Bluetooth speaker, the Clip 3 will definitely be a better choice.

Both of these portable speakers are waterproof. However, the JBL Clip 4 is dustproof, which the JBL Clip 3 isn’t. For those out on the trails or anyone who wants to listen to music in a dusty environment (e.g. workmen), this is a major plus that will make your JBL Clip 4 last a lot longer.

The JBL Clip 4 is the newer model, so the tech like Bluetooth is, of course, also updated. This speaker’s Bluetooth version has been upgraded from 4.1 to 5.1.

In terms of battery life, the two are comparable. Both provide up to 10 hours of audio, depending on their content and volume levels.

The Clip 3 is a little larger than the Clip 4, meaning that the JBL Clip 4 is slightly more portable, but it does weigh 19 grams more. That’s not a big amount, though, and even if you’re going to be carrying heavy loads on a hiking trip, it won’t really make much difference compared to the JBL Clip 3.

The JBL Clip 4 features a more elongated design than the Clip 3, which is rounded with a clip sticking out at the top.

Answers to a Few Common Questions on These JBL Speakers

JBL Clip 3
  • Bluetooth 4.1
  • Speakerphone
  • Battery life 10hrs 
  • IPX7 rating
  • Integrated carabiner
JBL Clip 4 Best Portable
  • Bluetooth 5.1
  • 10hrs playtime 
  • USB Type C
  • Waterproof IP67
  • Integrated carabiner

How Waterproof are the JBL Clip 3 and Clip 4: What is their Rating?

It’s important to check just how waterproof “waterproof” is – especially if you’re going to be testing the waterproofing out in some way!

The JBL Clip 3 has a waterproof rating of IPX7, which means it will survive being submerged in water for up to a meter for up to 30 minutes. It’s perfect if you’re heading to the beach (though be careful not to get sand onto it) or dealing with wet conditions while on an outdoor adventure.

The JBL Clip 4 has an IP67 waterproof rating, which indicates that this speaker is also dustproof. It gives you the same level of protection against water, with up to 30 minutes at a meter deep, as the JBL Clip 3 does.

That’s really all you should need to protect against accidents or general activity, though – you probably won’t be deep-sea diving with either of these two speakers.

Do These Bluetooth Speakers Float?

JBL Clip 3
  • Bluetooth 4.1
  • Speakerphone
  • Battery life 10hrs 
  • IPX7 rating
  • Integrated carabiner

Both the JBL Clip 3 and JBL Clip 4 wireless speakers float beautifully when dropped into water, so if you dropped either of them into a pool by accident, you won’t need to dive in for them as they will resurface immediately.

It makes it so much easier to recover before the 1-meter safety cut-off, if you happen to lose your speaker overboard while on a boat, etc.

Can My Clip 3 and Clip 4 Be Renamed?

Sometimes you want to change the name of something to make it quicker and easier to find via Bluetooth, or to make it more thoroughly “yours.” Everyone likes to give their gadgets cool and cute little names, bringing a bit of personality to the tech.

Also, if you have several Bluetooth speakers of the same kind in the house, this is a good way to reduce any potential confusion.

The JBL products tend to have a default name showing the model, e.g. “JBL Clip 3,” but if you want to change it, you will not be able to do so as the JBL app, unfortunately, doesn’t recognize either of these wireless speakers.

Can The Clip 3 and Clip 4 Be Used While Charging?

You can use both of these wireless speakers while charging, but they will take longer to charge if you do.

You might think there aren’t many instances when you’d want to use a portable speaker at the same time as charging it.

But, remember that you can charge it from your car or an external battery pack, meaning you can enjoy your music while on the move, even if you haven’t remembered to charge the speaker at home.

Reducing the audio volume while the speaker is on charge can help to speed up the process a bit, while still giving you access to your favorite tunes. It’s really useful to be able to use the speakers while they charge, as not being able to do so – especially on a long drive – can be really frustrating!

Is it Possible to Check the Battery Level on a Clip 3 or 4?

Of course, sometimes you want to know whether your speaker needs charging before you’re going somewhere, and it isn’t super easy to tell.

Underneath the carabiner, each of the speakers has a white LED light, which serves as a battery indicator.

This light is solid until the battery level goes low, then the light turns red and starts flashing.

It will inform you if your speaker’s battery is getting low, but this doesn’t help enormously if you can’t remember how much you’ve used it and that light isn’t yet on.

JBL Clip 4 Best Portable
  • Bluetooth 5.1
  • 10hrs playtime 
  • USB Type C
  • Waterproof IP67
  • Integrated carabiner

This isn’t really a great way to check the battery level, so if in doubt, you should probably charge it up, especially if you’re going somewhere that you won’t have access to AC power or other means of charging for a while.

It’s annoying that this feature isn’t included, but it would probably reduce the portability and increase the price to some degree if it was, so perhaps the manufacturers have made the right decision.

How to Tell when Your Clip 3 and Clip 4 are Charged

When you plug your Clip 3 or 4 speakers into a charger, you should see a red light come on. This red light will remain steady throughout the charging time, and will then switch off when the battery is full.

There is no green light to indicate that the charge is completed, so you can just take it off the charge when the light turns off.

This is the easiest way to check if your JBL Clip 3 or 4 speaker is fully charged.
Resetting JBL Clip Bluetooth Speakers
Even the best tech can let us down at times, and in those moments, it’s useful to know how to do a hard reset.

The JBL speakers all have similar (but slightly differing) methods for resetting them, which usually involves holding down a combination of two buttons at once. It’s not clear why JBL didn’t standardize their reset combination, but you do need to check your model to find out how to do it.

A JBL Clip 3 speaker can be reset by holding the play/pause button and the power button for 30+ seconds. Make sure the device is on, first! Once you’ve done that, the device should fully reboot.

With a JBL Clip 4 make sure the speaker is on, then hold the volume up and the power button down at the same time. Wait for at least 10 seconds at which time you should hear the speaker power down. Once this happens your Bluetooth speaker is reset.

Side By Side Comparison Of The JBL Clip 3 And JBL Clip 4

ImageProductFeaturesPrice
JBL Clip 3

JBL Clip 3

  • Bluetooth version 4.1
  • Output power 3.3 watts RMS
  • Sound transducer 40mm
  • Charging time 3hrs
  • Battery life 10hrs
  • Waterproof IPX7
  • Dimensions 137 x 97 x 46mm
  • Weight 220g
Buy on Amazon
JBL Clip 4

JBL Clip 4

  • Bluetooth version 5.1
  • Output power 5.0 watts RMS
  • Sound transducer 40mm
  • Charging time 3hrs
  • Battery life 10hrs
  • Waterproof IP67
  • Dimensions 134 x 86 x 46mm
  • Weight 239g
Buy on Amazon

So Which Clip is The Best Bluetooth Speaker?

As always, making such a decision will depend to some degree on what you are looking for. Different buyers will value different functions and dismiss others. For example, if you are going to be using your wireless speaker to take a lot of phone calls, you might find that the JBL Clip 3 portable Bluetooth speaker is a better option due to its speakerphone functionality.

However, if you’re particularly interested in a small size, dust proofing, and a little bit more power, the Clip 4 portable Bluetooth speaker may be the better option. If you’re a beach-goer or hiker, then dust proofing could make a big difference to the longevity of your product and how comfortable you feel using it in a dusty environment.

However, in terms of battery life, basic functions, size, weight, charge time, and being waterproof, these two portable wireless Bluetooth speakers are very similar. So, you may find that the JBL Clip 3 wireless speaker is generally a little cheaper.

It may not be the most up-to-date speaker now, but it can do almost anything that the Clip 4 can (plus that extra speakerphone function) and is a very neat little gadget that costs a bit less than the Clip 4 for almost the same gains!

Also, if you don’t have a TV at home and want to watch a video on your mobile phone but the in-built speakers aren’t great, connect it to your Clip, be it 3 or 4, and you are ready for an awesome high-quality audio output.

Using either of these portable wireless speakers, you can also watch your favorite movies or youtube videos on your mobile phone.

It doesn’t matter which one you choose, what matters is that the JBL products almost never disappoint.

compare the jbl clip 3 and 4