The JBL Go 3 is a compact, entry-level speaker that was first released in early 2021. The speaker is available in three different colors, and thanks to its IP67 waterproof and dustproof rating, it is an excellent pick for use outdoors. Weighing only 0.4 pounds, the Go 3 is one of the best speakers to consider in terms of portability, and its battery lasts up to five hours on a single charge. It also has a power-saving feature to conserve battery life when not in use, and with a Bluetooth latency of 109ms and 65ms on both Android and iOS devices, it works well for music and watching videos since there won’t be any lag. With a range of up to 226ft, its Bluetooth connectivity is also at par with some of the highest-rated Bluetooth speakers, and owners won’t need to keep it near the music source for music to continue playing.
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JBL Go 3 Review
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The JBL Go 3 had experts praise its robust build quality and compact design. They were pleased with its power-saving feature and satisfied with its audio quality. Still, they didn’t like that it couldn’t float on water and that it lacked a speakerphone and voice assistant functionality.
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Product Snapshot
Overview
The JBL Go 3 is a compact, entry-level speaker that was first released in early 2021. The speaker is available in three different colors, and thanks to its IP67 waterproof and dustproof rating, it is an excellent pick for use outdoors. Weighing only 0.4 pounds, the Go 3 is one of the best speakers to consider in terms of portability, and its battery lasts up to five hours on a single charge. It also has a power-saving feature to conserve battery life when not in use, and with a Bluetooth latency of 109ms and 65ms on both Android and iOS devices, it works well for music and watching videos since there won’t be any lag. With a range of up to 226ft, its Bluetooth connectivity is also at par with some of the highest-rated Bluetooth speakers, and owners won’t need to keep it near the music source for music to continue playing.
Consensus
our Verdict
Product reviewers liked that the JBL Go 3 was water and dust-resistant and agreed that its compact design made it ideal for users who value portability. Testers from Rtings liked that it shipped with a built-in carrying strap, and during their tests, they noted that it would shut off after 20 minutes of inactivity to conserve battery life. They also found its five-hour battery life to be pretty okay. It lasts as long as the JBL JR POP, which we’ve also covered in our JBL JR POP review. The JBL Flip 6 lasts about an hour longer, and we’ve delved more into it in our JBL Flip 6 review. Product experts from Sound Guys were also satisfied with its sound quality, as vocals were clear and it got loud enough for its size.
However, testers didn’t like that it couldn’t float in water and that it was missing a speakerphone and voice assistant functionality. They also didn’t like its lack of WiFi connectivity.
ReasonS to Buy
- Compact and lightweight
- Dust and water resistant
- Good sound quality
- Power saving feature
- Long range of connectivity
Reason to Avoid
- No speakerphone or voice assistant functionality
- Doesn’t float on water
- No WiFI connectivity
JBL Go 3 Specs
 | Battery Life | 5 hrs |
 | Built In Microphone | Yes |
 | Charge Time | 2.5 hrs |
 | Depth | 1.6" |
 | Height | 2.7" |
 | IPX Rating | IP67 |
 | Smart App | n/a |
 | Speaker Pairing | n/a |
 | Water Resistant | Yes |
 | Wattage | 4.2W |
 | Width | 3.4" |
 | Wireless Range | 10 m |
All Specs
Test Results
These are the most important criteria to test for Speakers based on our comprehensive Testing Methodology.
| Battery Life (Hours) | 7.57 |
| Volume Output (dB) | 77.3 |
| Low End Roll Off (Hz) | 142.544 |
| High End Roll Off (Hz) | 9,255.497 |
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Product Comparison
 JBL Go 3 Review | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
True Score | 82 | 83 | 82 | 74 |
Ranking | # 34 / 109 | # 17 / 109 | # 35 / 109 | # 96 / 109 |
Market Context |
The JBL Go 3 is a compact, entry-level speaker that was first released in early 2021. The speaker is available in three different colors, and… |
The JBL GO 3 and the JBL Clip 4 are both aimed at customers who value portability because of their compact sizes. However, the GO… The JBL GO 3 and the JBL Clip 4 are both aimed at customers who value portability because of their compact sizes. However, the GO 3 sounds better than the Clip 4 at max volume, despite the Clip 4 having deeper bass levels. The Clip 4 also has a slightly longer battery life of 5.5 hours than the Go 3, which lasts 30 minutes less. Take a look at our JBL Clip 4 review to see what else it’s got in store. |
The JBL Go 3 is more portable than the JBL Flip 5, but the Flip 5 has a longer-lasting 8.2-hour battery compared to the JBL… The JBL Go 3 is more portable than the JBL Flip 5, but the Flip 5 has a longer-lasting 8.2-hour battery compared to the JBL Go 3, which only lasts 5 hours. The Flip 5 also has a companion app, while the JBL Go 3 does not. |
The JBL GO 3 is slightly smaller than the Sony SRS-XB13, making it more portable. However, the XB13 has a speakerphone and voice assistant functionality… The JBL GO 3 is slightly smaller than the Sony SRS-XB13, making it more portable. However, the XB13 has a speakerphone and voice assistant functionality that is missing on the JBL GO 3 and a much longer 11.5-hour battery life compared to the GO 3, which only lasts 5 hours. |
Battery Life | 5 hrs | 10 hrs | 12 hrs | 16 hrs |
Built In Microphone | Yes | No | No | Yes |
Charge Time | 2.5 hrs | 3 hrs | 2.5 hrs | 4.5 hrs |
Depth | 1.6" | 1.8" | 2.71" | – |
Height | 2.7" | 5.3" | 2.9" | – |
IPX Rating | IP67 | IP67 | IPX7 | – |
Smart App | n/a | n/a | JBL Portable | Yes |
Speaker Pairing | n/a | n/a | Yes | Yes |
Dig Deeper |
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Score Card
E
Expert Score
*.75
We place a 75% weighted value on Expert Test Scores
C
Customer Score
*.25
We place a 25% weighted value on Customer Scores
True Score
Any product with a True Score above 70 is a Mixed Reviews
Expert Scores
Publications with higher Trust Ratings are given more weight.
100.6Category Trust Rating
54The JBL GO 3 is middling for music. It’s designed to help you bring your… Read MoreBy:
Yasmine Crossland
81.17Category Trust Rating
75The JBL GO 3 is a cheap and simple Bluetooth speaker built to handle whatever… Read MoreBy:
James Archer
43.6Category Trust Rating
80JBL’s Go 3 speaker delivers solid wireless audio performance in a waterproof, easily portable design… Read MoreBy:
Tim Gideon
65.58Category Trust Rating
80While it doesn’t entirely avoid the weaknesses of small, cheap Bluetooth speakers, the JBL Go… Read MoreBy:
Sam Moore
36.25Category Trust Rating
82While the Go 3 has its sonic limitations, it plays bigger than you’d think for… Read MoreBy:
David Carnoy
45Category Trust Rating
80The JBL Go 3 is a tiny portable speaker that you can easily carry around… Read MoreBy:
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