JBL Clip 5 vs. JBL Go 4: Which Bluetooth speaker is the best?

Battle of the ultra-portable! Over the years, you’ve probably seen a JBL Clip or Go series speaker hanging off someone’s backpack at some point. With the release of the new Clip 5 and Go 4, we discovered significant upgrades to the latest iteration of these outdoor-ready, budget-friendly speakers. In this JBL Clip 5 vs. JBL Go 4 article, we’ll discuss the differences to help you choose the right on-the-go speaker for your next adventure.

Editor’s note: this article was published on July 12th, 2024, and is the first version of the article. Updates will follow as the market changes.

What’s it like to use the JBL Clip 5 compared to the JBL Go 4?

While the new Clip 5 and new Go 4 are both ultra-portable, the Go 4 is the smaller and lighter of these two speakers. It’s small enough to fit in the back pocket of your jeans, and you won’t even notice it in your bag, weighing less than half a pound. However, the Clip 5 isn’t much heavier, and with its signature carabiner, it allows you plenty of placement options, like clipping it onto your backpack, but you’ll know it’s there.

Both units also retain their IP67 rating, making them dustproof and waterproof. They’re also wrapped in a combination of durable fabric and rubberized silicone. These speakers are ready for travel; you don’t have to baby them. As with the previous models, both of these units are also designed to be used as upward-firing speakers, and we see some added protection and grip on the back to help with stability on a tabletop, for example.

How do you control the JBL Clip 5 and JBL Go 4?

Both the Clip 5 and Go 4 have very similar control layouts. Your raised playback controls are along the top in typical JBL fashion. On the left side of both units, you’ll find a recessed mini-control strip containing your power, Bluetooth, and Auracast buttons. Auracast allows you to connect to other Auracast-supported JBL speakers, which you can configure via the JBL Portable app.

Should you use the JBL Portable app with the JBL Clip 5 or JBL Go 4?

Yes, you should absolutely use the JBL Portable app with the new Clip 5 and Go 4. App support is the most significant upgrade to these refreshed speakers since the Clip 4 and Go 3 had no software support. The JBL Portable app gives you access to several EQ options, including a 5-band customizable EQ. You can also pair an identical speaker for stereo performance or, as mentioned, link up other Auracast-supported JBL speakers.

Another huge plus of the companion app is access to future firmware updates.

Is battery life better on the JBL Clip 5 or JBL Go 4?

The Clip 5 wins this round, advertising 12 hours of playback off a single charge, while the Go 4 offers 10 hours. Of course, your mileage will vary depending on a few factors, such as your EQ settings and overall volume usage.

Regarding battery life, just a heads up about the new “PlaytimeBoost” feature in the JBL app. While it’s meant to increase your playback time by a few hours, it’s worth noting it only accomplishes this by bypassing your current EQ settings and reducing all low-end frequencies to save battery life. This results in a sound that’s very heavy on the treble, similar to a Podcast or Voice Enhancer EQ setting—not ideal.

Does the JBL Clip 5 sound better than the JBL Go 4?

Getting down to the brass tacks, while the Clip 5 and Go 4 share the same 1.75″ driver, the Clip 5 is simply the better sounding speaker, thanks to the 7W of output compared to 4.2W of output provided by the Go 4. The difference is bass response is quite noticeable.

The Go 4 has a fairly mid-heavy stock sound. This tends to change the sounds of instruments like a snare drum and pushes the vocals to the front of the mix when listening to rock music. With the new 5-band EQ, you can certainly dial back the mid-range and squeeze a bit more low end out of the Go 4, but if you’re more keen on the steady thump of your favorite EDM track while out and about, the Go 4 can’t compete with the bass response from the Clip 5.

That being said, it’s important to remember that the main priority of the Clip 5 and Go 4 is portability. While the Clip 5 can offer more bass response, your music will start to sound a little crowded if you plan on cranking either of these speakers up to 10. You don’t get any left-right separation, and you might miss out on some of the production details from your favorite instrumental track, but this is just one of the many sonic trade-offs that come with smaller, mono Bluetooth speakers.

Should you get the JBL Clip 5 or JBL Go 4?

If you’re packing for a trip where every pound and square inch counts, or you’re simply looking for a budget-friendly speaker to have around at all times for those impromptu park hangs, go for the Go 4 ($49.95 at Amazon). It’s incredibly lightweight and durable and now offers customizable sound.

Personally, I’m going with the Clip 5 ($79.95 at Amazon). For an additional $30, you get a better battery life and bass response from this slightly bigger, higher-wattage speaker. The extra weight is almost negligible, and with its signature carabiner, you can still easily carry it around. For less than $80, either speaker makes a great shower speaker.

What should you get instead of the JBL Clip 5 and JBL Go 4?

If you need something larger than the JBL Clip 5 or Go 4 for your next outing, look at the Soundcore Motion 300 ($79.99 at Amazon). This 30W speaker provides stereo playback and is designed to perform in three different positions. Standing, laying, and hanging. You can assign a different EQ to each position, and simply changing the speaker orientation will trigger the EQ change. It’s also ready for travel with an IPX7 water resistance rating and a durable rubberized finish.

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