The JBL Pulse 4 is a mid-range portable Bluetooth speaker released in 2019, promising 360-degree LED lighting and outstanding battery life for campers and picnic goers. Equipped with an IPX7 submersible waterproof design, this system is ideal for the outdoors. Check out our best speakers for similar waterproof speakers. It’s battery-powered, offering an impressive 11.5 hours of battery life on a single charge. It runs on Bluetooth 5.1, featuring dual-device pairing and a good 187-foot range. Examine the details of the JBL Pulse 4 below and see how it compares with the best-ranked Bluetooth speakers today.
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JBL Pulse 4 Review
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Updated Jan 25, 2024 6:27 PM
Published
True Score
True Score is an AI-powered algorithm of product tests and customer reviews.
77
Mixed Reviews
76
6
Experts
88
3,410
Consumers
Expert Rankings
(
6
)
Critics liked the JBL Pulse 4 and recommended it for music, podcasts, and the outdoors. They loved its 360-degree customizable RGB lighting, portable design, and remarkably wide sound-stage performance. However, they were disappointed that it does not support stereo and voice assistants.
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Product Snapshot
Overview
The JBL Pulse 4 is a mid-range portable Bluetooth speaker released in 2019, promising 360-degree LED lighting and outstanding battery life for campers and picnic goers. Equipped with an IPX7 submersible waterproof design, this system is ideal for the outdoors. Check out our best speakers for similar waterproof speakers. It’s battery-powered, offering an impressive 11.5 hours of battery life on a single charge. It runs on Bluetooth 5.1, featuring dual-device pairing and a good 187-foot range. Examine the details of the JBL Pulse 4 below and see how it compares with the best-ranked Bluetooth speakers today.
Consensus
our Verdict
Top experts hailed the JBL Pulse 4, endorsing it for podcasts, music, and the outdoors. Editors at TechRadar hailed its outstanding 0.88 dB directivity index and wide soundstage. However, it has a subdued 83.3 dB maximum SPL, although the 1.99 dB DRC shows good sound quality at the maximum volume. Analysts at Expert Reviewers loved the 2.6-lb portable IPX7 waterproof design and customizable 360-degree RGB lighting. See our iFox iF012 review if you prefer an IP67-rated dustproof and waterproof speaker. The Pulse 4 has a 91.1Hz to 17.5kHz frequency response range, and the high 4.09 dB standard error shows weak bass. See our JBL PartyBox On-The-Go review if you require better bass. Testing revealed a so-so 154 ms iOS Bluetooth latency and 93 ms Android latency. This battery-powered speaker offered a good 11.5-hour battery life during experiments. However, it doesn’t support stereo and lacks voice assistant functionality. See our Kove Commuter 2 review if you prefer stereo speakers. It also lacks an EQ or speakerphone function.
ReasonS to Buy
- IPX7 water-resistant design
- Remarkably lightweight, portable construction
- Customizable 360-degree RGB lighting
- Outstanding soundstage and good battery life
- Low sound deterioration rate at the highest volume
Reason to Avoid
- No speakerphone functions
- Lacks a graphic EQ
- Lacks low bass and is not ideal for movie buffs
- Sub-par frequency response range accuracy out-of-the-box
- Doesn’t support voice assistant
JBL Pulse 4 Specs
 | Battery Life | 12 hrs |
 | Built In Microphone | Yes |
 | Charge Time | 3.5 hrs |
 | Size | 8.15" (h) x 3.78" (w) x 3.78" (d) |
 | Smart App | Yes |
 | Speaker Pairing | Yes |
 | Water Resistant | Yes |
 | Wattage | 20W |
 | 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) | 11.5 |
| Volume Output (dB) | 83.3 |
| Low End Roll Off (Hz) | 142.544 |
| High End Roll Off (Hz) | 6,639.818 |
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Product Comparison
 JBL Pulse 4 Review |  Bose Soundlink Revolve Review | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
True Score | 77 | 83 | 84 | NR |
Ranking | # 82 / 109 | # 22 / 109 | # 5 / 109 | # / 109 |
Market Context |
The JBL Pulse 4 is a mid-range portable Bluetooth speaker released in 2019, promising 360-degree LED lighting and outstanding battery life for campers and picnic… |
Producing more extended bass, the JBL Xtreme 2 is better for movie and EDM music enthusiasts than the JBL Pulse 4. The Xtreme 2 is… Producing more extended bass, the JBL Xtreme 2 is better for movie and EDM music enthusiasts than the JBL Pulse 4. The Xtreme 2 is also compatible with smartphone voice assistants, unlike the Pulse speaker. However, the JBL Pulse 4 has customizable RGB lights, unlike the Xtreme 2 speaker. See our JBL Xtreme 2 review for details about the Xtreme speaker. |
Unlike the JBL Pulse 4, which has an IPX7-rated waterproof design, the JBL Charge 5 has a better IP67 waterproof and dustproof design. The Charge… Unlike the JBL Pulse 4, which has an IPX7-rated waterproof design, the JBL Charge 5 has a better IP67 waterproof and dustproof design. The Charge 5 has a louder 88.9 dB maximum SPL than the 83.3 dB maximum SPL of the Pulse 4 speaker. That said, the JBL Pulse 4 speaker has customizable RGB lights, which are lacking on the Charge 5. |
Supporting smartphone-based voice assistants, the Bose SoundLink Revolve has more smart features than the JBL Pulse 4, which doesn’t support voice assistants. However, the JBL… Supporting smartphone-based voice assistants, the Bose SoundLink Revolve has more smart features than the JBL Pulse 4, which doesn’t support voice assistants. However, the JBL device has a better 0.88 dB directivity index, providing a wider soundstage than the Bose SoundLink Revolve, which has a 1.53 dB directivity index. |
Battery Life | 12 hrs | 15 hrs | 20+ hrs | – |
Built In Microphone | Yes | Yes | No | – |
Charge Time | 3.5 hrs | 3.5 hrs | 4 hrs | – |
Size | 8.15" (h) x 3.78" (w) x 3.78" (d) | 5.2" (h) x 11.3" (w) x 5.4" (d) | – | – |
Smart App | Yes | Yes | JBL Portable | – |
Speaker Pairing | Yes | Yes | Yes | – |
Water Resistant | Yes | Yes | Yes | – |
Wattage | 20W | 40W | 30W | – |
Dig Deeper |
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Score Card
E
Expert Score
76
*.75
We place a 75% weighted value on Expert Test Scores
C
Customer Score
88
*.25
We place a 25% weighted value on Customer Scores
True Score
77
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
65The JBL Pulse 4 speaker delivers strong sound and a hypnotic LED light show in… Read MoreBy:
Tim Gideon
43.6Category Trust Rating
80The JBL Pulse 4 offers an even more eye-catching look than before with the same… Read MoreBy:
John Panoryios
45.5Category Trust Rating
70The JBL Pulse 4 is reasonable for outdoor use. It has a sturdy build and… Read MoreBy:
Unknown
43Category Trust Rating
70A portable rave machine? Or maybe a 21st-century lava lamp? JBL’s latest version of its… Read MoreBy:
Lewis Leong
15.6Category Trust Rating
NR“No bottom line found for this product” Read MoreBy:
Unknown
44.8Category Trust Rating
NR“No bottom line found for this product” Read MoreBy:
Unknown
Customer Scores
- 94
(
4.7/5
)
3178Ratings
- NR
(
NR/5
)
Ratings
- 86
(
4.3/5
)
232Ratings
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