The JBL Clip 5 is the next generation of the JBL Clip 4. This popular portable speaker is easily identifiable by its signature carabiner 'clip' that helps it tag along with any activities you have lined up. This iteration promises a redesigned, wider carabiner hook, Bluetooth multipoint connectivity, and AuraCast support for easy pairing with other compatible JBL speakers. It's rated IP67 for protection against water submersion and dust damage, ensuring it'll perform come rain or shine.
Our Verdict
The JBL Clip 5 is acceptable for music. Its small form factor means it can't deliver much bass at all. But the mid and treble ranges are quite well-balanced, so vocals and lead instruments sound clear and detailed; plus, there's a graphic EQ and presets in the app to help tweak the sound. While it can't playback stereo content, it has very good directivity, so you don't need to worry much about your positioning around the speaker. That said, it can't get very loud.
- Bluetooth multipoint with up to two devices.
- Outstanding directivity.
- Extremely lightweight and portable.
- Just six hours of battery life at higher volumes.
- Can't get very loud.
- Can't play stereo content. Must downmix to mono.
The JBL Clip 5 is disappointing for videos and movies. While its reasonably low latency with iOS and Android devices might tempt you to pair it with a phone while watching YouTube videos, it shouldn't be used for much more than that. It lacks the requisite bass response for intense movie sequences, though its balanced mid-range reproduces dialogue clearly. While it can't playback stereo content without downmixing to mono, it has very good directivity, meaning it sounds consistent regardless of the listening angle.
- Bluetooth multipoint with up to two devices.
- Outstanding directivity.
- Just six hours of battery life at higher volumes.
- Can't get very loud.
- Can't play stereo content. Must downmix to mono.
The JBL Clip 5 is great for podcasts. It reproduces voices with detail and clarity. While it can't get very loud, there's little compression at max volume, and you can always clip it on your person so the audio follows you around. This is aided by its very good directivity, which ensures consistent audio delivery regardless of the listening angle.
- IP67 rated against dust and water damage.
- Bluetooth multipoint with up to two devices.
- Outstanding directivity.
- Extremely lightweight and portable.
- Just six hours of battery life at higher volumes.
- Can't get very loud.
The JBL Clip 5 doesn't support any voice assistants.
The JBL Clip 5 is decent for outdoor use. It's immensely portable and lightweight, and its IP67 rating for protection against dust and water makes it a good fit for braving the elements on a camping trip. That said, its battery life isn't the best at just over six hours, though you can extend it by using the Playtime Boost feature or keeping the volume on the lower side. It doesn't get very loud, but it can keep you company while you're trekking around, aided by its very good directivity.
- IP67 rated against dust and water damage.
- Outstanding directivity.
- Extremely lightweight and portable.
- Just six hours of battery life at higher volumes.
- Can't get very loud.
- Can't play stereo content. Must downmix to mono.
Changelog
- Updated Aug 28, 2026: This review has been updated to Test Bench 1.0.1. This includes the Test Bench 1.0 updates to all of our Sound tests: Frequency Response Accuracy, Raw Frequency Response, Directivity, and Loudness, as well as the revised Low-Frequency Extension calculation and related DRC updates introduced in Test Bench 1.0.1. There have also been text changes throughout the review, including to the usages and product comparisons, where applicable, to match these results. You can read more about these changes in our Test Bench 1.0 changelog and Test Bench 1.0.1 changelog.
- Updated Aug 11, 2026: This review has been updated to Test Bench 1.0, which includes new results for all of our Sound tests: Frequency Response Accuracy, Raw Frequency Response, Directivity, and Loudness. There have also been text changes made throughout the review, including to the usages and product comparisons, to match these results. You can read more about these changes in our changelog.
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Updated Feb 05, 2026:
We added a reference to the Bose SoundLink Micro (2nd Gen) in the Portability box.
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Updated Jan 30, 2026:
The Build Quality box was updated to mention the JBL Grip.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The JBL Clip 5 is the next generation of the JBL Clip 4. It's available in quite a few color variants, including 'Red,' 'Purple,' 'Blue,' 'Black,' 'White,' 'Pink,' 'Sand,' 'Black and Orange' and 'Squad (camo).' You can see our unit's label.
If you encounter another variant of this speaker, please let us know in the comments, and we'll update our review.
Popular Speaker Comparisons
Following in the footsteps of the JBL Clip 4, the fifth generation of the Clip introduces several performance and feature upgrades that make it a more attractive buy. While the new iteration keeps the same IP67 rating and carabiner hook design, it adds handy features like Bluetooth multipoint connectivity, a companion app (with graphic EQ and presets), and AuraCast support (for easy pairing with other compatible JBL speakers). That said, it doesn't get very loud, and its six-hour battery life leaves something to be desired. The JBL Xtreme 4 trades off size and portability for a louder, more balanced sound and an impressive 27 hours of battery life.
See also our recommendations for the best portable Bluetooth speakers, the best Bluetooth speakers under $100, and the best golf cart speakers.
The JBL Clip 5 and the JBL Go 5 are two of JBL's most portable speakers. As the name implies, the Clip 5 features an integrated carabiner for easy fastening to bags and keychains, while the Go 5 has a slightly less practical carrying strap. While both can easily be stowed in a pocket or tote bag, they have different trade-offs in terms of performance. The Go 5 has a better build quality and a higher IP68 rating against water and dust damage. It also has a slightly longer battery life, making it a solid choice for outdoor excursions. The Clip 5 has better directivity, though, making for a more consistent listening experience across different angles, as well as a more controlled treble range reproduction.
Both the JBL Go 4 and JBL Clip 5 are very portable IP67-rated speakers with app support and Auracast. Which is better depends on how you want to use them because the Go 4 is a bit smaller and easier to pocket, but the carabiner on the Clip 5 offers a secure attachment to bags. The Go 4 can also float, and its battery life is a bit longer. That said, the Clip 5 has a more consistent sound across angles and slightly better bass extension.
The JBL Clip 5 is the next generation of the JBL Clip 4 and comes with a host of improvements while maintaining the formula that has made the Clip series popular. Both speakers are well-built, extremely portable, and IP67-rated. With the new generation, the distinctive carabiner hook has been redesigned to be wider and easier to clip onto things. JBL has also added Bluetooth multi-device pairing, as well as companion app compatibility, so you can tweak the sound via a graphic EQ and presets. For these reasons, it's well worth picking up the Clip 5 over the Clip 4.
The JBL Clip 5 and the Bose SoundLink Micro are both extremely portable speakers with small footprints. They have different mechanisms for fastening to bags or bikes, with the JBL sporting a carabiner while the Bose features a strap on the back. Their differences extend beyond this, however, as the JBL has a more balanced treble, and you can tune its sound via a graphic EQ and presets. It can also get louder than the Bose. That said, the Bose can be a more versatile option, as it offers longer continuous battery life and voice assistant capabilities when paired with a compatible Siri or Google Assistant device.
Test Results
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