The JBL Xtreme 3 is a high-end portable Bluetooth speaker that was first launched in early 2022. The Xtreme 3 has an IP67 rating for both water and dust resistance, so it is one of the best speakers to consider for outdoor use. Owners will also be able to adjust its sound quality or pair it with another speaker through the JBL Portable app, and it also has a battery life of up to 12.7 hours. Like most highly rated Bluetooth speakers, the Xtreme 3 also comes with a power-saving feature that shuts it down after being idle for 20 minutes to conserve battery life, and it also supports multi-device pairing. It doesn’t have a speakerphone and voice assistant functionality, but for this, you might want to check out its predecessor, which we covered in our JBL Xtreme 2 review. Otherwise, if you’re not too keen on portability and would be satisfied with a regular yet stylish indoor speaker, then our Klipsch The One II review might be worth a look.
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JBL Xtreme 3 Review
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The JBL Xtreme 3 was hailed by product testers for its impressive build quality, neutral sound profile, and easy-to-use app. They also appreciated its long battery life but were slightly disappointed with its mediocre bass depth and lack of WiFi connectivity.
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Product Snapshot
Overview
The JBL Xtreme 3 is a high-end portable Bluetooth speaker that was first launched in early 2022. The Xtreme 3 has an IP67 rating for both water and dust resistance, so it is one of the best speakers to consider for outdoor use. Owners will also be able to adjust its sound quality or pair it with another speaker through the JBL Portable app, and it also has a battery life of up to 12.7 hours. Like most highly rated Bluetooth speakers, the Xtreme 3 also comes with a power-saving feature that shuts it down after being idle for 20 minutes to conserve battery life, and it also supports multi-device pairing. It doesn’t have a speakerphone and voice assistant functionality, but for this, you might want to check out its predecessor, which we covered in our JBL Xtreme 2 review. Otherwise, if you’re not too keen on portability and would be satisfied with a regular yet stylish indoor speaker, then our Klipsch The One II review might be worth a look.
Consensus
our Verdict
The JBL Xtreme 3 was credited by expert testers for its sturdy build quality, balanced mid-range vocals, and stereo soundstage. Product analysts from SoundGuys noted that it came with a carrying strap for more convenient carrying and had bumpers on both sides to prevent excessive damage in case it gets dropped. They liked how clear vocals and mids sounded during their sound tests and were impressed with how loud it got. Specialists from Rtings liked that its JBL Portable app (which also works on the JBL had a graphic EQ for easy sound customization and that its latency on Android and iOS devices was OK for listening to music or movie watching with no lag. Its 12-hour battery life was also impressive, but the JBL Charge 3 seems to last significantly longer. Have a look at it in our JBL Partybox 710 Review.
However, testers noted that the speaker did not have the best bass output (see our Kove Commuter 2 review if this is an area of focus for you). They also complained about its lack of WiFi connectivity.
ReasonS to Buy
- Great build quality
- Neutral sound profile
- Long battery life
- Multi-device connectivity
- Water and dust resistant
Reason to Avoid
- No WiFi connectivity
- Mediocre bass depth
- No speakerphone/voice assistant functionality
JBL Xtreme 3 Specs
 | Battery Life | 15 hrs |
 | Built In Microphone | n/a |
 | Charge Time | 2.5 hrs |
 | Size | 11.8" (w) x 5.3" (d) x 5.4" (h) |
 | Smart App | Yes |
 | Speaker Pairing | Yes |
 | Water Resistant | Yes |
 | Wattage | 50W |
 | Wireless Range | n/a |
All Specs
Test Results
These are the most important criteria to test for Speakers based on our comprehensive Testing Methodology.
| Battery Life (Hours) | 13.85 |
| Volume Output (dB) | 91 |
| Low End Roll Off (Hz) | 62.586 |
| High End Roll Off (Hz) | 6,544.625 |
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Product Comparison
 JBL Xtreme 3 Review | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
True Score | 82 | 84 | 80 | 80 |
Ranking | # 39 / 109 | # 5 / 109 | # 58 / 109 | # 57 / 109 |
Market Context |
The JBL Xtreme 3 is a high-end portable Bluetooth speaker that was first launched in early 2022. The Xtreme 3 has an IP67 rating for… |
The Mpow X6 Truly Wireless Earbuds have a much better sound leakage performance than the Mpow X3 ANC Bluetooth Earphones. However, the Mpow X3 has… The Mpow X6 Truly Wireless Earbuds have a much better sound leakage performance than the Mpow X3 ANC Bluetooth Earphones. However, the Mpow X3 has a slightly higher total battery life of 22.9 hours than the Mpow X6, which averages 19 hours. Also, the Mpow X6 can be used while charging while the X3 cannot, but while they both support Active Noise Cancelling, the X3 has a superior noise-canceling ability. |
The JBL Xtreme 3 is much smaller than the JBL Boombox 2 and, therefore, a lot lighter. However, the Boombox 2 offers a much longer… The JBL Xtreme 3 is much smaller than the JBL Boombox 2 and, therefore, a lot lighter. However, the Boombox 2 offers a much longer battery life of almost 24 hours than the Xtreme 3, which only lasts 12.7 hours. The Boombox 2 also has a broader range of up to 334.6ft compared to the Xtreme 3’s 190.3 ft. |
The JBL Xtreme 3 has a graphic equalizer, while the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 6 does not. The Xtreme 3 is lighter than the Studio… The JBL Xtreme 3 has a graphic equalizer, while the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 6 does not. The Xtreme 3 is lighter than the Studio 6 and capable of a stereo output, while the Studio 6 is not. |
Battery Life | 15 hrs | 20+ hrs | 24 hrs | 8 hrs |
Built In Microphone | n/a | No | Yes | Yes |
Charge Time | 2.5 hrs | 4 hrs | 6.5 hrs | 5 hrs |
Size | 11.8" (w) x 5.3" (d) x 5.4" (h) | – | 19.1" (w) x 7.9" (h) x 10.1" (d) | 11.2" (h) x 11.5" (w) x 5" (d) |
Smart App | Yes | JBL Portable | Yes | Yes |
Speaker Pairing | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Water Resistant | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Wattage | 50W | 30W | 4 x 40W | 50W |
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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 80 is a Absolutely Fresh
Expert Scores
Publications with higher Trust Ratings are given more weight.
100.6Category Trust Rating
69JBL’s Xtreme 3 speaker delivers robust bass depth in a rugged, waterproof build ideal for… Read MoreBy:
What Hi-Fi?
81.17Category Trust Rating
NRThe JBL Xtreme 3 is a versatile and talented wireless speaker that’s as happy chilling… Read MoreBy:
Zak Khan
43.6Category Trust Rating
80The JBL Xtreme 3 improves upon its predecessor by adding dust-resistance (part of the IP67… Read MoreBy:
Mike Lowe
45.5Category Trust Rating
80JBL’s signature Bluetooth speaker design is a cylinder, and the JBL Xtreme 3 doesn’t stray… Read MoreBy:
Yasmine Crossland
52.7Category Trust Rating
90Fantastic sound quality with a rugged design – this speaker is waterproof and can withstand… Read MoreBy:
Andrew Williams
45Category Trust Rating
80The JBL Xtreme 3 is alright for music. Out of the box, it reproduces voices… Read MoreBy:
Tim Gideon
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