The JBL Go is a pocket-sized Bluetooth speaker that serves as a trusty daily driver. While the Go 3 was already one of our top picks on its release, the Go 4 arrives with a multitude of improvements, including the addition of mobile app support along with custom EQ, and even multispeaker pairing. Here’s how the Go 4 compares to its predecessor.
Winner
JBL Go 4
The JBL GO 4 is an easy choice over its predecessor, now with mobile app support, multispeaker pairing, and improved audio quality and battery.
JBL Go 4 (Left) & JBL Go 3 (Right)
| Model | Go 3 | Go 4 |
| Water Resistance | IP67 | IP67 |
| Output Power | 4.2W | 4.2W |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 5.3 |
| Bluetooth Profiles | A2DP 1.3, AVRCP 1.6 | A2DP 1.4, AVRCP 1.6 |
| Battery Life | Up to 5 Hours | Up to 9 Hours |
| Charging Time | 2 Hours | 3 Hours |
| Frequency Response | 110 Hz – 20 kHz | 90 Hz – 20 kHz |
| Auracast (TWS/Pairing) | No | Yes |
| Weight | 7.2 oz | 6.72 oz |
| Dimensions | 2.7 x 3.4 x 1.6″ | 3 x 3.7 x 1.7″ |
| App Support | None | JBL Portable |
| Price: | Check Price | Check Price |
Design, Build, & Durability
The Go 3 and Go 4 have very similar designs, with the Go 4 adopting a slightly softer appearance with softer corners. Still, the Go 4 retains the traditional rectangle shape, inherent to the Go style. The changes in shape, while minimal, do make the Go 4 look a bit more stylish and modern.
Durability
Winner: Go 4
Both the Go 3 and 4 are rugged little speakers that incorporate a fabric wrap that protects the majority of the body from damage in the outdoors. There are no plastics that can easily be scratched on either speaker. It’s built for the outdoors and can survive challenging environmental conditions.
The Go 4 has improved on the Go 3 design by also changing the stability padding for something more durable. While I never experienced this problem with my use of the Go 3, some users reported having come loose during its use.
Similarly, the rear stability block on the Go 3 has been replaced with a grippier rubber that offers better stability across more types of surfaces.
Waterproofing
Winner: Tied
Both speakers are well waterproofed, boasting IP67 ratings. This means both speakers can be used outdoors without worrying about water or dust damage. This rating ensures the speaker is sealed from dust intrusion while protecting it from water splashes, sprays, and submergence in water (up to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes). This makes it suitable for use on kayaks, adventures in the rain, around the swimming pool, and more.
Portability
Winner: Tied
Both Bluetooth speakers are well-suited for use on the go, incorporating a lightweight and compact design paired with a carry handle. The Go 4 (6.72 oz) is marginally lighter than the Go 3 (7.2 oz) but is a tiny bit larger in dimensions (3 x 3.7 x 1.7″ vs 2.7 x 3.4 x 1.6″). Both speakers can effortlessly be carried in one hand, or placed into a standard-sized pocket for easy transportation. The carry loop on the Go 4 is slightly better as it positions the controls in an easier-to-reach orientation, facing slightly upwards towards the user when hung.
Controls, Connectivity & App Support
The Go 4 has undergone several changes in its controls, connectivity, and app support. Now offering full app support through the JBL Portable app and introducing Auracast multispeaker pairing. This is where it differentiates itself from the previous Go series and carves out a new path for the future of mini Bluetooth speakers.
Controls
Winner: Go 4
The Go 4 introduces various changes to the controls. The play controls are situated at the top of each speaker but use a different design. The most important of which is the added ability to skip tracks backward when pressing the play button three times in a row.
The Go 3 features tactile play buttons that ensure an easy press every time. In contrast, the Go 4 has a button style for the play controls that uses a small activation area in the center of the button. Sometimes, pressing the edges of the button doesn’t trigger the activation, meaning users need to ensure they click the center of the button.
The power and pairing buttons moved from the left side of the speaker to the right side with the Go 4, and now includes an Auracast pairing button that lets you pair multiple JBL speakers together in a group or TWS (True Wireless Stereo) pairing.
Bluetooth
Winner: Go 4
The Go 4 comes with Bluetooth 5.3, an upgrade from the Bluetooth 5.1 on the Go 3. This newer version of Bluetooth helps to improve latency, and increase range. It also supports LE Audio (Low-Energy Audio) and Auracast pairing.
Multi-Speaker Pairing
Winner: Go 4
In contrast to the Go 3, which lacks multispeaker support, the Go 4 introduces Auracast pairing. Auracast is a new protocol for wireless connectivity that replaces JBL’s proprietary PartyBoost and allows users to connect two Go 4s in a grouping or TWS pairing. TWS pairing will split each speaker into a dedicated left and right channel, for improved soundstage and broader coverage.
Auracast also lets you connect the Go 4 to any of JBL’s other Auracast speakers in a group pairing and has the potential for global multispeaker support, depending on how other manufacturers approach the technology. This is a big win for the Go 4.
App Support
Winner: Go 4
The Go 3 doesn’t have a supporting mobile app, but the Go 4 does. It makes use of JBL’s Portable app (available on Apple and Android). Through this app, you can customize the way the Go 4 sounds using the EQ presets or the 5-band custom EQ. Giving users the ability to change how their speaker sounds is a massive benefit for small speakers like these. The app also provides a battery indicator, pairing capabilities, and the option to use PlaytimeBoost for additional battery performance.
Audio Performance
The Go 3 and Go 4 are both good-sounding speakers, they achieve impressive clarity at moderate volume levels. However, the two speakers have very different sounds to them, the Go 3 has dominant highs that make it sound great for podcasts and vocal-forward tracks but it lacks bass. The Go 4, in contrast, has a bit deeper bass and more midrange presence, which helps chunky electric guitars come to life. The best of both worlds can be achieved with the Go 4 using the JBL Portable’s custom EQ.
Highs
Winner: Go 3
Out of the box, the Go 3 comes out on top with its inherently bright sound. The highs make female vocals sound vibrant and clear, making the Go 3 a great podcast speaker. The Go 4 isn’t a slouch in this area, but the strong midrange can take away from the highs. It’s important to remember that this isn’t something you’re stuck with, as you can tune up the highs in the JBL Portable app and create a similar sound from the Go 4. So while we select the Go 3 as the winner here, with some EQ, the Go 4 can just sound as good.
Mids
Winner: Go 4
The Go 4 has meatier mids that add depth to the speaker and make it sound better in a wider range of genres. The Go 3 can sound a little empty towards the lower midrange with heavy guitars not carrying the power they should. The Go 4, on the other hand, does particularly well with genres like rock and metal.
Bass
Winner: Go 4
Neither speaker is particularly bass-heavy, something that’s a given in small speakers. Still, the Go 4 does a better job than the Go 3 at producing stronger bass, owed mostly to its deeper bass extension. The Go 4’s deeper bass makes it slightly better for electronic music genres where bass is the driving force of the track. The Go 3 could produce frequencies as low as 110 Hz, while the Go 4 produces frequencies down to 90 Hz.
Soundstage & Dynamics
Winner: Go 4
The Go 4 has better dynamics than the Go 3. JBL hasn’t been shy about discussing the dynamic improvements in their new releases. The improved dynamics produce a slightly more nuanced sound, with subtle details more apparent than in the Go 3. Dynamics refers to the speaker’s ability to reproduce subtle changes in volume across frequencies, such as the decay of a crashed symbol.
While the soundstage is somewhat limited on both speakers due to the small (1.75″) single driver, the Go 4 can be paired with another Go 4 to produce stereo sound and improve the overall soundstage.
Volume
Winner: Go 4
The Go 4 gets slightly louder than the Go 3. They can fill a small room with sound but aren’t well suited for larger areas (consider the Clip 5 if a lot of volume is essential to you). While both speakers are somewhat modest in their max volume levels, the Go 3 peaks at 80.1 dB while the Go 4 produces around a decibel more during our testing, peaking at 81 dB. The Go 4 also retains more clarity at max volume compared to the Go 3.
Battery Life
Winner: Go 4
The JBL Go 4 offers a significant battery upgrade from the Go 3. The Go 3 has a limited playtime of around 5 hours while the Go 4 can provide up to 7 hours of playtime with the traditional settings, or 9 hours when using the PlaytimeBoost feature. PlaytimeBoost optimizes the audio performance, removing a lot of the bass and in turn, creating less draw on the battery. So while you can get more playtime out of the feature, it does come at a cost.
The Go 4’s improved battery life makes it better suited for traveling and camping, where a power source may not always be available.
The Go 3 is faster to charge, by around an hour. But its limited battery life negates this benefit.
Price & Value
Both speakers are available for under $50 making them extremely affordable. The Go 3 has recently seen a $10 discount since the release of the Go 4 and is available for $39, offering good value at this price point, but the Go 4 is the best value between the two at a retail price of $49.95. There is no better value on the market currently than the Go 4.
Conclusion
Overall, both speakers hold value – but the Go 4 is the better of the two. Its improved battery life is a standout feature, and its inclusion of Auracast pairing is an exciting addition with a lot of potential for additional speaker pairing compatibility in the future. The addition of app support is the cherry on top of the Go 4. If you’re trying to decide which to buy, the Go 4 is the best choice. If you’re considering upgrading from the Go 3, it’s most certainly worth doing.
The Go 4 is a durable, yet highly portable speaker that can be used as a daily driver around the house, placed in your backpack while you travel, or taken to college and enjoyed between classes. It is the most notable upgrade for the Go series since its inception.
We have also published full reviews of each speaker if you’re looking for a deeper dive:
Frequently Asked Questions
How Loud Is The JBL GO 4?
The Go 4 reached 81dB at a distance of 1 meter, making it just shy of a decibel louder than its predecessor.
When was the JBL GO 4 released?
It was officially released in May 2024.
How many watts is the GO 4?
It has an output of 4.2W
How to check the battery life on the JBL GO 4?
The easiest way to track your battery life is to use JBL’s associated mobile app.
Is it worth upgrading from the Go 3 to the Go 4?
The Go 4 is a fairly substantial upgrade from the GO 3. The inclusion of EQ, longer battery life, improved sound and multispeaker pairing makes it a worthwhile upgrade.
