The JBL Go 3 is a portable Bluetooth speaker that's designed to bring your favorite songs with you on the go. It's one of the manufacturer's smaller offerings, with a built-in hook so you can attach it to your bag or backpack, as well as an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance. This simple speaker doesn't offer access to any of JBL's companion apps, and you can't customize its sound, but it's still a solid Bluetooth device for your next outdoor adventure.
Our Verdict
The JBL Go 3 is middling for music. It's designed to help you bring your favorite tunes with you on the go, with a small and compact build that means you don't get a lot of thump in the low-bass. Still, it's suitable for lots of other genres, as voices and lead instruments reproduce with clarity and accuracy. It's loud enough to keep you entertained on your next hike. However, it can't fill larger rooms with sound. You can't customize its frequency response, either.
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Bluetooth compatible.
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No sound customization features.
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Lacks low-bass.
The JBL Go 3 isn't really designed for movies, and it's not meant to connect to your TV. Still, it's an okay choice for watching videos from a paired smartphone. Latency with iOS and Android devices is fairly low, so you don't have to deal with lip-synching issues. Dialogue is clearly reproduced, too. Of course, given its small size, it doesn't get loud enough or bring as much rumble in the bass as more home-cinema oriented speakers.
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Bluetooth compatible.
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Lacks low-bass.
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Not as loud as other speakers.
The JBL Go 3 is decent for podcasts. With its balanced mids, voices are reproduced with great clarity and accuracy, so dialogue is easy to follow in your favorite shows. Its lightweight design makes it easy to bring with you, too, so you can move your show from room to room as you listen. It's better for smaller rooms since it doesn't get loud enough to fill more open areas with sound.
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Bluetooth compatible.
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Portable design.
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No sound customization features.
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Not as loud as other speakers.
This speaker doesn't support voice assistants.
The JBL Go 3 is acceptable for outdoor use. This speaker has a really small and lightweight design that's ideal for taking your music with you on the go, and you can clip it to your bag using its built-in hook. It's sturdy and solid, too, with an IP67 rating to protect it against exposure to dust and water. It doesn't get very loud, but if you just want to clip it to your bag on your next outdoor hike, it's a solid pick.
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Portable design.
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IP67 rating for dust and water resistance.
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Lacks low-bass.
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Not as loud as other speakers.
- 5.5 Music
- 5.3 Videos/Movies
- 7.1 Podcasts
- 2.8 Voice Assistant
- 6.1 Outdoors
Changelog
- Updated Sep 24, 2024: The Compared To Other Speakers section mentions the JBL Go 4.
- Updated Dec 21, 2023: Minor text edits for clarity. No changes in test results.
- Updated Jul 05, 2023: Added market comparison with the Sony SRS-XB100 in the Frequency Response Accuracy box.
- Updated Apr 18, 2023: Added the Go 3 Eco series to the Variants box.
- Updated Jan 03, 2023: Updated the review text for clarity and consistency. No changes to test results.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
This speaker comes in lots of different color variants, including 'Red', 'Black', 'Blue', "Teal', 'White', 'Yellow', 'Squad' (Camo), 'Green', 'Orange', 'Pink', 'Grey', and 'Blue/Pink'. We tested the 'Red' variant, and you can see the label for the model we tested here. We expect the other color variants to perform similarly.
Also, you can find the Go 3 Eco series in 'Blue', 'Green', and 'White'. These versions are made of recycled materials.
If you come across another version, let us know in the forums, and we'll update our review.
Compared To Other Speakers
The JBL Go 3 is a budget-friendly speaker with a portable design. It's designed for on-the-go listening thanks to its built-in hook and IP67 rating for dust and water resistance. Of course, there are some trade-offs in the sound, given its smaller size, especially when it comes to dynamics and bass reproduction. It lacks a lot of features common with more premium speakers too, like sound customization. That said, it has been surpassed in most regards by the JBL Go 4, which has app support and a slightly longer battery life.
Check out our recommendations for the best Bluetooth speakers, the best portable Bluetooth speakers, and the best JBL speakers.
The JBL Go 4 is better than the JBL Go 3, though they're quite similar. The Go 4 has a longer battery life and adds companion app support alongside Auracast to connect to multiple compatible speakers at a time. At high volumes, the Go 3 compresses a little less, but the difference is not worth picking the Go 3 instead.
The JBL Clip 4 is a slightly better speaker than the JBL Go 3. While both speakers have a great build quality and are very portable, the Clip 4 can reproduce slightly more bass and has a wider soundstage. It also has lower audio latency on iOS and Android, although some apps compensate for this differently. However, the Go 3 can reach max volume with fewer compression artifacts.
The JBL Go 3 and the Anker Soundcore 2 are very similarly-performing speakers, so depending on your listening habits, you may prefer one over the other. The JBL is better built, and while it doesn't get as loud as the Anker, it has less compression at max volume. The Anker, meanwhile, supports voice assistants from your phone, and it has a longer battery life.
The Sony SRS-XB100 is better than the JBL Go 3. They're both small portable Bluetooth speakers, but the Sony performs better. Its low-frequency extension is better, so you get more bass in the mix. Its battery life is better, too, and its companion app makes it easier to control through your paired smartphone. Plus, with a 360-degree design, the Sony has a better soundstage than the JBL.
The JBL Flip 4 is a better speaker than the JBL Go 3. The Flip 4 has a better-balanced sound profile out-of-the-box that can produce a more extended low-bass than that of the Go 3. It can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono and supports voice assistants via your smartphone. That said, the Go 3 is smaller, making it more portable. It's also better built with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, so it's fully dust-tight and submersible in up to a meter of water for 30 minutes.
The JBL Flip 5 is a better speaker than the JBL Go 3. The Flip 5 can produce a more extended low-bass than the Go 3 and can get louder. It also has a longer-lasting battery life, lasting a little over 8 hours in our tests, though this can vary depending on your usage habits, and your experience may differ. That said, the Go 3 is smaller and more portable. It's also better built and has less compression present at max volume, resulting in cleaner audio at louder volume levels.
The Bose SoundLink Micro is a better speaker than the JBL Go 3. The Bose has a better soundstage and longer battery life. It also supports voice assistants, though its performance is sub-par. However, the JBL has an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, meaning it's certified to be dust-tight and immersible in up to a meter of water for 30 minutes.
The JBL Go 3 is a better speaker than the OontZ Angle 3. The JBL is better built, and it has lower latency with iOS and Android devices. While both speakers struggle to reproduce low-bass, the JBL has a better-balanced sound profile. However, the OontZ gets louder, and it has longer battery life.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 is a better speaker than the JBL Go 3. The Ultimate Ears can get louder, has a better soundstage, and has longer battery life. While both speakers struggle to reproduce low-bass, the Ultimate Ears has a more extended low-bass. That said, the JBL has lower latency with Android and iOS devices.
The Sony SRS-XB13 is a better speaker than the JBL Go 3 overall. The Sony can produce deeper bass than the JBL and has better directivity, resulting in a wider-sounding soundstage. It also has a longer battery life, though this depends on your usage, and your experience may vary. Additionally, it has less compression present at max volume, resulting in a cleaner sound. That said, the JBL is slightly smaller than the Sony, making it a bit more portable. It can also get slightly louder than the Sony.
The Sony SRS-XB12 is a better speaker than the JBL Go 3. The Sony has a slightly better-balanced sound profile and a wider soundstage. It also has a longer-lasting continuous battery life, and it can utilize your smartphone's voice assistant. However, the JBL is better built, and some users may prefer its smaller design.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 3 is a better speaker than the JBL Go 3. The Ultimate Ears can produce a more extended low bass and can get louder. It can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono, resulting in a more immersive soundstage overall. Its battery life is also much longer than that of the JBL model. It's also better built, and the manufacturer advertises it to float in water. That said, the JBL is smaller, making it more portable.
The Anker Soundcore 3 is a better speaker than the JBL Go 3. The Anker can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono and comes with a graphic EQ and presets you can use to customize its sound to your liking. It also has a longer battery life, though this can depend on your usage habits, so your experience may vary. That said, the JBL is smaller and more portable. It's also better built with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, certifying it to be dust-tight and immersible in up to a meter of water for 30 minutes.
The Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 Gen 2 is a better speaker than the JBL Go 3. Only the Bang & Olufsen has voice assistant support, and it gets slightly louder. Although both lack low-bass, the Bang & Olufsen has a more extended bass, so you feel more of the deep, rumbling bass in genres like EDM and hip-hop. Also, the Bang & Olufsen has better directivity, resulting in a more open soundstage. However, the JBL has less Bluetooth latency with Android devices, so it's more suitable for watching videos over this connection.
The Anker Soundcore Motion+ is a better speaker than the JBL Go 3. The Anker has a better-balanced sound profile and can produce a more extended low-bass than the JBL. You can customize its sound to your liking, thanks to the graphic EQ and presets featured in its companion app. It can also play stereo content without downmixing it to mono, which is more immersive. That said, the JBL is smaller and comes with a small, built-in carrying strap, making it more portable. It's also better built with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, certifying it to be dust-tight and immersible in up to a meter of water for 30 minutes.
The OontZ Angle 3 ULTRA and the JBL Go 3 have different strengths, and you may prefer one over the other. The OontZ can play stereo content, and it can get louder. It also has a longer-lasting battery life, and it supports voice assistants. Its companion app allows you to customize its sound to your liking via the bass and treble sliders too. However, the JBL has a more neutral sound profile, feels better-built, and has lower latency on iOS and Android, although some apps and devices compensate for this differently.
The Anker Soundcore Flare 2 is a better speaker than the JBL Go 3. The Anker has a more balanced sound profile, and its graphic EQ and presets offer more sound customization options. Its soundstage is better, its battery life is longer, and it supports voice assistants. However, the JBL is better built.
The JBL Go 3 and the iFox iF012 are both small, well-built speakers that perform fairly similarly. The JBL offers a more neutral sound profile suitable for listening to many different types of audio content. It also has lower Bluetooth latency with iOS and Android devices, making it better suited for watching videos and movies. The iFox is designed to be used in the shower and comes with a removable suction cup to secure it somewhere in your shower. It can get slightly louder than the JBL with less compression present at max volume. It also has a longer battery life of just under eight hours, though this can vary depending on your usage.
The JBL Go 3 and the Sony SRS-XB01 are very similar speakers, meaning you may prefer one over the other depending on your listening habits. The JBL is better built, and it has a better soundstage. However, the Sony supports voice assistants, and it has a longer battery life.
The JBL JR POP and the JBL Go 3 are similar speakers, and depending on your listening habits, you may prefer one over the other. The Go 3 is better built, and it has a more neutral sound profile. However, the JR POP is smaller and designed for kids, and it has a better soundstage performance.
The Bose SoundLink Revolve is a better speaker than the JBL Go 3. The Bose is better built with longer battery life, and it supports voice assistants. Also, it has a more balanced sound profile and a better soundstage. However, the JBL has a lower latency with Android and iOS devices.
Test Results
This small and compact speaker is designed with portability in mind. It fits easily into your hand, or you can use the built-in hook to strap it to your bag. It's available in lots of different colors to suit your style.
The JBL Go 3 is incredibly portable. You can easily carry it in one hand, and you can use its built-in carrying strap to attach it to your bag or suspend it from a hook.
Its build quality is impressive. Just like the JBL Clip 4, its materials feel solid, and there's a tight netting that wraps around most of the speaker and its carrying strap. The sides and the rear have a rubber finish. It also has an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, so it's certified to be fully dust-tight and immersible in up to a meter of water for 30 minutes.
You can turn the speaker on/off, pair it with a Bluetooth device, play/pause your music, and adjust the volume. If you press the Play button twice, it skips ahead to the next track, but you can't skip back to the previous track. The buttons are easy to press, and there's audible feedback when you reach max volume and when entering pairing mode. Also, a small light flashes when the battery is low.
The JBL Go 3 is suitable for listening to most types of audio content. Thanks to its even frequency response, especially in the mids, dialogue in podcasts is clear and easy to follow, and instruments are reproduced with clarity and fidelity. That said, given this speaker's small, compact size, it's not a surprise that it can't reproduce much bass, so you don't feel the rumble in bass-heavy genres like EDM and hip-hop. Still, it does even worse in this regard than other small speakers like the Sony SRS-XB100.
This speaker has to downmix stereo content into mono in order to play it back. Plus, it has a more front-facing design, so you don't get consistent audio from all angles like with more 360-degree speakers such as the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 or the JBL JR POP.
This speaker gets loud enough to fill an average-sized living room with sound. Like most small speakers though, it's not ideal for listening in larger and more open spaces. There's a touch of compression as you push it to max volume, too.
This speaker only lasts five hours off a single charge, which won't last through long days outside. However, battery life can vary according to usage, so your experience may differ. Also, the speaker shuts off automatically after about 20 minutes without audio, which helps conserve battery life. If you want a portable speaker with longer battery life, check out the Sony SRS-XB01 instead.
This speaker doesn't have voice assistant support. If you want a similarly-priced speaker that supports voice assistants from your smartphone, check out the Anker Soundcore 2 or the OontZ Angle 3 ULTRA.
If you're looking for a similarly-priced portable speaker with an app, check out the Anker Soundcore Flare 2. It even has a graphic EQ so you can customize its sound profile.
This speaker comes with a USB-C port for charging, but that's it.
This Bluetooth-compatible speaker makes it easy to wirelessly stream content from your mobile devices. Latency is fairly low when paired to both iOS and Android devices, so you can watch videos without any lip-synching issues. Some apps compensate for latency differently, though. One drawback is that compared to other speakers like the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2, you can only pair it with one device at a time.