The JBL JR POP is an entry-level Bluetooth speaker that was first announced in early 2019. The compact speaker is designed to appeal to kids since it comes with RGB lighting and is also available in five color choices. It also features a strap and has decent build quality. The speaker was designed with an IPX7 waterproof rating to make it more suitable for use outdoors. The most popular speakers in this category have both dust and water resistance, but the JR POP should still be able to withstand splashes or rain. Its battery life can last almost six hours, and like most highly rated Bluetooth speakers, it can handle up to two simultaneous connections. It also has a latency of 134ms and 70ms for both iOS and Android devices, so owners will be able to watch videos and play music without any discernible lag.
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JBL Jr Pop Review
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Absolutely Fresh
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Specialists were impressed with how compact and well-built the JBL JR POP was. They liked that the speaker had a balanced sound profile and could remember a previous device with which it had paired. However, some complained that it got too loud for kids and lamented its lack of a speakerphone and WiFi connectivity.
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Product Snapshot
Overview
The JBL JR POP is an entry-level Bluetooth speaker that was first announced in early 2019. The compact speaker is designed to appeal to kids since it comes with RGB lighting and is also available in five color choices. It also features a strap and has decent build quality. The speaker was designed with an IPX7 waterproof rating to make it more suitable for use outdoors. The most popular speakers in this category have both dust and water resistance, but the JR POP should still be able to withstand splashes or rain. Its battery life can last almost six hours, and like most highly rated Bluetooth speakers, it can handle up to two simultaneous connections. It also has a latency of 134ms and 70ms for both iOS and Android devices, so owners will be able to watch videos and play music without any discernible lag.
Consensus
our Verdict
Expert testers lauded the JBL JR POP for its small size and portable design. Specialists from PC Mag liked that the speaker was very light and fully waterproof. They were also delighted that the speaker could ‘remember’ a device it had paired with before and had a reasonably balanced sound profile. They also noted that its bass levels were not as deep because of its size, but if this is something that you cannot compromise on, make sure to take a look at our JBL PartyBox 100 review. On the other hand, analysts from Rtings liked that the speaker had a wide soundstage, and during their music tests, it lasted about 5.6 hours.
Still, some testers felt it got too loud for children, and they were disappointed that it didn’t have any WiFi connectivity. This also meant that it couldn’t support a voice assistant. It also doesn’t have speakerphone functionality.
ReasonS to Buy
- Compact and Lightweight
- RGB lighting
- Waterproof
- Multi-device pairing
Reason to Avoid
- Mediocre bass levels
- No WiFi connectivity
- No speakerphone/voice assistant functionality
JBL Jr Pop Specs
 | Battery Life | 5 hrs |
 | Built In Microphone | Yes |
 | Charge Time | 2 hrs |
 | Size | 5.5" (w) x 3.54" (h) x 8.07" (d) |
 | Smart App | Yes |
 | Speaker Pairing | Yes |
 | Water Resistant | Yes |
 | Wattage | 30W |
 | Wireless Range | 30 ft |
All Specs
Test Results
These are the most important criteria to test for Speakers based on our comprehensive Testing Methodology.
| Battery Life (Hours) | 5.6 |
| Volume Output (dB) | 74 |
| Low End Roll Off (Hz) | 201.587 |
| High End Roll Off (Hz) | 2,873.503 |
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Product Comparison
 JBL Jr Pop Review | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
True Score | 82 | 83 | 70 | NR |
Ranking | # 40 / 109 | # 17 / 109 | # 100 / 109 | # / |
Market Context |
The JBL JR POP is an entry-level Bluetooth speaker that was first announced in early 2019. The compact speaker is designed to appeal to kids… |
While the JBL JR POP and the JBL Clip 4 are both compact speakers, the JR POP weighs half as much as the Clip 4,… While the JBL JR POP and the JBL Clip 4 are both compact speakers, the JR POP weighs half as much as the Clip 4, making it slightly more portable. The JR POP can also connect to two devices while the Clip 4 can only connect with one, and it also features RGB lighting, which is missing on the Clip 4. |
The JBL JR POP has a wider soundstage compared to the Sony SRS-XB01, but the Sony speaker has both speakerphone and voice assistant functionality –… The JBL JR POP has a wider soundstage compared to the Sony SRS-XB01, but the Sony speaker has both speakerphone and voice assistant functionality – missing features on the JBL JR POP. Still, the JBL JR POP comes with RGB lighting, while the Sony SRS-XB01 does not. We’ve also covered it in our Sony SRS-XB01 review. |
The JBL JR POP also has RGB lighting that the JBL Go 3 does not have, and it weighs 0.2 pounds, which is half as… The JBL JR POP also has RGB lighting that the JBL Go 3 does not have, and it weighs 0.2 pounds, which is half as much as the JBL Go 3’s weight of 0.4 pounds. The JBL JR POP also lasts 5.6 hours, which is slightly more than the 5-hour battery life of the JBL Go 3. It also works with two devices, while the JBL Go 3 is restricted to one device. Go ahead and get through our JBL Go 3 review to see what else it has in store. |
Battery Life | 5 hrs | 10 hrs | 6 hrs | – |
Built In Microphone | Yes | No | Yes | – |
Charge Time | 2 hrs | 3 hrs | 3 hrs | – |
Size | 5.5" (w) x 3.54" (h) x 8.07" (d) | – | 81.5 mm (w) x 57.5 mm (h) x 56.5 mm (d) | – |
Smart App | Yes | n/a | Yes | – |
Speaker Pairing | Yes | n/a | Yes | – |
Water Resistant | Yes | Yes | Yes | – |
Wattage | 30W | 5W | 5W | – |
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
60The JBL JR POP speaker is alright for outdoor use. It’s very small and lightweight,… Read MoreBy:
Tim Gideon
43.6Category Trust Rating
70The JBL JR Pop is a kid-friendly portable waterproof speaker with a low price, though… Read MoreBy:
John Panoryios
Customer Scores
- 96
(
4.8/5
)
3270Ratings
- NR
(
NR/5
)
Ratings
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