Announced in late 2020, the JBL Clip 4 is a basic Bluetooth speaker available in about six colors. Its design is reminiscent of a padlock, as it has a carabiner hook that allows owners to hang it onto a backpack or a belt loop. The speaker is more ideal for music than movies, and it has a battery life of up to 10 hours which is pretty standard even among the best speakers in the industry. Weighing only 0.4 pounds, it could be one of the best Bluetooth speakers to consider for portability, especially for people who want to enjoy their music on the go. Its Bluetooth connectivity has a range of 237.9ft, but it can only be paired to one device at a time. If you’d like an alternative that can handle two simultaneous connections, check out our Bose SoundLink Micro review.
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JBL Clip 4 Review
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True Score
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Absolutely Fresh
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Top-tier testers liked how lightweight and portable the JBL Clip 4 was. They were also happy with its build quality and appreciated its balanced sound profile. However, they agreed it struggled with bass depth and were disappointed with its missing WiFi connectivity.
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Product Snapshot
Overview
Announced in late 2020, the JBL Clip 4 is a basic Bluetooth speaker available in about six colors. Its design is reminiscent of a padlock, as it has a carabiner hook that allows owners to hang it onto a backpack or a belt loop. The speaker is more ideal for music than movies, and it has a battery life of up to 10 hours which is pretty standard even among the best speakers in the industry. Weighing only 0.4 pounds, it could be one of the best Bluetooth speakers to consider for portability, especially for people who want to enjoy their music on the go. Its Bluetooth connectivity has a range of 237.9ft, but it can only be paired to one device at a time. If you’d like an alternative that can handle two simultaneous connections, check out our Bose SoundLink Micro review.
Consensus
our Verdict
The JBL Clip 4 had experts delighted with its incredible portability and sturdy build. Product testers from Rtings liked that it was dust and water-resistant, making it well suited for the outdoors. During their tests, it lasted up to 5.5 hours and would only take a short 2.7 hours to get charged. Reviewers from PC Mag were also satisfied with its audio quality, as they noted that the speaker had a balanced sound profile. You won’t be able to adjust its sound quality, but if this sounds like something you’d want to do, then the JBL Charge 5 would be an alternative worth considering. Have a look at it in our JBL Charge 5 review.
Testers were not entirely sold on the JBL Clip 4 due to its lack of WiFI connectivity, missing speakerphone function, and lack of support for a voice assistant. The speaker also struggled with producing low bass and couldn’t play audio in stereo format.
ReasonS to Buy
- Long battery life
- Compact and lightweight
- Sturdy build quality
- Balanced sound profile
- Long Bluetooth range
Reason to Avoid
- No WiFi connectivity
- No speakerphone function
- No support for voice assistant
JBL Clip 4 Specs
 | Battery Life | 10 hrs |
 | Built In Microphone | No |
 | Charge Time | 3 hrs |
 | Depth | 1.8" |
 | Height | 5.3" |
 | IPX Rating | IP67 |
 | Smart App | n/a |
 | Speaker Pairing | n/a |
 | Water Resistant | Yes |
 | Wattage | 5W |
 | 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) | 14.1667 |
| Volume Output (dB) | 81.3 |
| Low End Roll Off (Hz) | 119.865 |
| High End Roll Off (Hz) | 10,240 |
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Product Comparison
 JBL Clip 4 Review | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
True Score | 83 | 82 | 82 | 74 |
Ranking | # 17 / 109 | # 35 / 109 | # 34 / 109 | # 96 / 109 |
Market Context |
Announced in late 2020, the JBL Clip 4 is a basic Bluetooth speaker available in about six colors. Its design is reminiscent of a padlock,… |
Buyers comparing the JBL Clip 4 to the JBL Flip 5 will want to consider that the Clip 4 is much smaller in size and… Buyers comparing the JBL Clip 4 to the JBL Flip 5 will want to consider that the Clip 4 is much smaller in size and therefore more portable, but the Flip 5 offers a longer 8.2-hour battery life compared to the Flip 4, which has a battery that can last up to 5.5 hours. The Flip 5 also has a companion app, while the Clip 4 does not. Learn more about the Flip 5 through our JBL Flip 5 review. |
The JBL Clip 4 has a larger soundstage than the JBL GO 3, and its 5.5-hour batter lasts slightly longer than the 5-hour battery on… The JBL Clip 4 has a larger soundstage than the JBL GO 3, and its 5.5-hour batter lasts slightly longer than the 5-hour battery on the GO 3. However, the GO 3 charges faster, taking only 2 hours to charge, compared to the Clip 4, which takes up to 2.7 hours. We’ve looked more deeply into it in our JBL GO 3 review. |
The JBL Clip 4 does not have a speakerphone functionality and support for a voice assistant, while the Sony SRS-XB13 does. The XB13 also has… The JBL Clip 4 does not have a speakerphone functionality and support for a voice assistant, while the Sony SRS-XB13 does. The XB13 also has a longer battery life, offering up to 11.5 hours compared to the Clip 4, which only lasts up to 5.5 hours. |
Battery Life | 10 hrs | 12 hrs | 5 hrs | 16 hrs |
Built In Microphone | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Charge Time | 3 hrs | 2.5 hrs | 2.5 hrs | 4.5 hrs |
Depth | 1.8" | 2.71" | 1.6" | – |
Height | 5.3" | 2.9" | 2.7" | – |
IPX Rating | IP67 | IPX7 | IP67 | – |
Smart App | n/a | JBL Portable | n/a | Yes |
Speaker Pairing | n/a | Yes | n/a | Yes |
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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
57Right out-of-the-box, the JBL Clip 4 reproduces voices and lead instruments with clarity and detail,… Read MoreBy:
Tim Gideon
81.17Category Trust Rating
75The JBL Clip 4 is a portable Bluetooth speaker for the masses, and it makes… Read MoreBy:
John Panoryios
43.1Category Trust Rating
NRThe JBL Clip 4 is a rough and tumble go-anywhere option for folks who want… Read MoreBy:
Lily Katz
43.6Category Trust Rating
70The JBL Clip 4 delivers crisp, rich audio, but its best features are its waterproof… Read MoreBy:
JBL
36.25Category Trust Rating
81JBL Clip speakers have always been easy to recommend because they deliver decent sound for… Read MoreBy:
David Carnoy
30.5Category Trust Rating
NRThe main purpose of small Bluetooth speakers is convenience. The rugged and waterproof Clip 4… Read MoreBy:
Bill Henderson
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