JBL Go 4 Review: A Pocket Speaker That Punches Above Its Size

JBL launched the Go 4 in 2024 as the successor to the Go 3, keeping the same pocket-size formula and adding the one thing owners of the older model kept asking for: support for the JBL Portable app. This review pulls together JBL's own specifications, published reviews from SoundGuys, TechRadar and Tom's Guide, and owner ratings reported from Amazon listings. JudgeAny runs no test lab of its own, so every measurement and listening impression below belongs to one of those published sources, not to this site.

Sound: small speaker, mid-heavy stock tuning

JBL rates the Go 4 at 4.2 W of output through a 45 mm transducer, with a dynamic frequency response range of 90 Hz to 20 kHz. SoundGuys, which ran the speaker for six days on firmware 0.4.6.0, found the stock sound mid-heavy with limited low-end response, and pointed out that the Go 4 has no passive radiator, unlike the Clip 5. That design choice keeps the speaker light, and it sets a clear ceiling on bass. Tom's Guide heard the same ceiling in practice: on drum and bass tracks, the sub-bass was inaudible and only the drums came through. TechRadar, meanwhile, found the default JBL Signature EQ preset flat and lacking in clarity at moderate volumes, though switching to another preset improved vocal definition and punch noticeably. The honest summary across all three outlets is that the Go 4 sounds pleasant on pop, podcasts and lo-fi, and it runs out of depth on bass-heavy music. Tom's Guide also noted the speaker stayed distortion-free at high volume on the material it played, which matters more than it sounds for a speaker this small.

The app rescue: EQ that actually changes the speaker

The JBL Portable app is the Go 4's most meaningful upgrade over the Go 3, and SoundGuys treated it that way. The app offers a customizable 5-band EQ, and SoundGuys found that lifting the 64 Hz and 250 Hz sliders and pulling the 1 kHz slider down gave the speaker more low end and a more familiar snare tone within seconds. TechRadar reached a similar conclusion by a different route, improving the sound with other presets or a custom EQ after finding the default preset lacking. The catch, documented by SoundGuys, is that Auracast multi-speaker playback forces the EQ back to the default JBL Signature setting and delivers mono sound only. Stereo playback needs a second, identical Go 4 paired through the app. Buyers who plan to use the EQ daily should also know that the Playtime Boost mode bypasses EQ settings entirely, a point covered in the battery section below.

Battery: the rated 7 hours looks conservative

JBL rates the Go 4 at up to 7 hours of playtime on a single charge, with a 3-hour charging time over USB-C, and says Playtime Boost adds up to 2 hours by tuning performance for louder and crisper sound. TechRadar's reviewer measured nearly 10 hours of continuous playback at 50% volume on the default EQ preset, well past the rated figure. That result comes with the usual caveat that volume and EQ change runtime, and SoundGuys warned that boosting the low end trims playback time. Playtime Boost itself is a trade, not a free lunch: SoundGuys found it eliminates low-end frequencies and leaves a very treble-heavy sound, closer to a voice preset than a music preset. For a day trip, the practical reading is that moderate-volume listening should clear the rated 7 hours comfortably, while loud playback with boosted bass will land shorter. A portable battery bank is the sensible backup if the speaker has to last a full day outdoors.

Design and durability: built to be tossed in a bag

The Go 4 measures 9.4 x 7.8 x 4.2 cm and weighs 190 g, per JBL, which puts it in jeans-pocket territory rather than jacket-pocket territory. JBL redesigned the integrated loop and moved the USB-C port and loop attachment to the right side, with a recessed control panel on the left holding power, Bluetooth and the Auracast button. SoundGuys praised the added rubberized silicone around the edges, which protects the speaker in the hand and leaves less fabric to fray than the Go 3 showed. The IP67 rating means the speaker is dustproof and can survive submersion in up to a meter of water for 30 minutes, per SoundGuys, so beach sand and poolside splashes are within its brief. One detail worth knowing before buying: the box holds the speaker, a USB-C cable, a quick start guide, a safety sheet and a warranty card, per JBL, and no carabiner is included, so the loop needs a hook or strap of your own.

Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3, multipoint, and Auracast

JBL lists Bluetooth 5.3 with A2DP and AVRCP profiles, multipoint connection for two devices at once, and Auracast support for linking multiple Auracast-enabled JBL speakers. SoundGuys confirmed multipoint switching between two devices worked seamlessly in its testing. Auracast is genuinely useful for anyone already invested in JBL speakers, since it can spread one playlist across several speakers, though the mono-only output and EQ reset noted above limit it as a serious listening mode. There is no AUX input, per SoundGuys, so Bluetooth is the only connection option, and the speaker has no microphone for phone calls, per SoundGuys. TechRadar hit one connectivity glitch during testing, when the speaker connected to two source devices but produced no sound, and a restart fixed it straight away. That is a minor blemish rather than a pattern, but it is worth knowing.

The conflicting evidence, and why the verdict still holds

Here is where the published record pulls in two directions. TechRadar measured nearly 10 hours of playback, far beyond JBL's 7-hour rating, while SoundGuys warned that EQ tweaks and Playtime Boost both change what the battery and the sound actually do. On sound, Tom's Guide praised the mid and bass frequencies on lo-fi tracks and found the speaker distortion-free at volume, while SoundGuys called the stock tuning mid-heavy and Tom's Guide itself found sub-bass inaudible on drum and bass. The most sensible reading is that the Go 4 is two speakers depending on setup: a likeable, clear-sounding pocket speaker on the default preset at moderate volume, and a noticeably better one once the app EQ is tuned, with shorter battery life as the price. The verdict survives because none of the negative findings contradict the core claim. Nobody expected a 190 g speaker to reproduce sub-bass or fill a large room, and every outlet that criticized the bass still recommended the speaker for its size and price. What Hi-Fi went furthest, calling the Go 4 its go-to recommendation when the budget is limited. The case for buying it rests on portability, durability and the app, not on bass.

Who should buy it

Buy the Go 4 if you want a speaker that disappears into a bag, survives a beach day, and sounds good on podcasts, pop and acoustic music, especially once you spend a minute with the app EQ. It suits commuters, hikers, cyclists and anyone who wants background music for a small group outdoors, and laying it on its back fires sound upward for a circle of listeners, a placement both TechRadar and Tom's Guide found better than standing it upright. Skip it if you need deep bass, room-filling volume, an AUX input, a microphone for calls, or a speaker for a full-day event without a charger nearby. Owner data supports the mainstream call: Keenrove's fact-check of the black Amazon listing reported 4.6 stars from 19,295 reviews, and SlashGear's roundup of highly rated budget speakers reported the same 4.6-star average. Check the current price on Amazon before deciding.