- Table of Contents
- Intro
- Our Verdict
- Differences
- Compared To Others
- Test Results
- Retailers
- Deals
- Discussions
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. There aren't any customization options for its sound, either.
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Bluetooth-compatible.
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Lacks low-bass.
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Doesn't get very loud.
The JBL GO 3 isn't designed for use with videos or movies. Since it's an outdoor speaker, it has a small and compact design that fails to bring the deep rumble in the bass during action-packed scenes. There's some latency, too, especially with iOS devices, so audio can appear out of sync with the video you see. It's fine if you want to catch up on a quick video while scrolling your phone, but it isn't meant to be added to a home theater system.
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Low Android and iOS latency.
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Lacks low-bass.
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Doesn't get very loud.
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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Portable design.
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Doesn't get very loud.
The JBL GO 3 doesn't support voice assistant technology.
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.
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Lacks low-bass.
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Doesn't get very loud.
- 5.5 Music
- 5.3 Videos/Movies
- 7.1 Podcasts
- 2.8 Voice Assistant
- 6.3 Outdoors
- Updated Jan 03, 2023: Updated the review text for clarity and consistency. No changes to test results.
- Updated Dec 20, 2022: Changed Track Next/Previous from No to Forward Only (Physical).
- Updated Jan 04, 2022: Updated review for accuracy and clarity.
- Updated Jan 18, 2021: After re-evaluating our subjective scoring, we updated the Ease of Use score for this speaker's controls to 'Great'.
- Updated Jan 11, 2021: Review published.
- Updated Jan 05, 2021: Early access published.
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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.
If you come across another version, let us know in the discussions, 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 rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, meaning it's dust-tight and can immerse in up to a meter of water for 30 minutes. However, like many speakers its size, it struggles to reproduce low-bass. Also, it doesn't support voice assistants. That said, its latency with iOS and Android devices is low enough to be suitable for watching videos and movies.
Check out our recommendations for the best Bluetooth speakers, the best portable Bluetooth speakers, and the best JBL speakers.
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 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 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 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 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 longer battery life.
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 outlasts that of the JBL by around 17 hours. 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 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 longer-lasting continuous battery life, and can 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 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 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 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 longer battery life.
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 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 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 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 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 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.
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.
Test Results
This small and compact speaker fits easily in your hand. There's a built-in hook on the side, meaning you can hang it from your bag or backpack. There's a large JBL logo on the front, and you can choose from lots of different color variants based on your preferences.
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 GO3 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 the small, compact size of this speaker, 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.
This speaker's soundstage performance is mediocre. Its directivity is decent, but the soundstage isn't perceived to be as large as some of the other speakers we've tested, like the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 or the JBL JR POP. Also, it has to downmix stereo content into mono, which doesn't sound as immersive.
Its dynamics performance isn't bad. Like most speakers its size, it doesn't get very loud. That said, there aren't a lot of compression artifacts present at max volume, so your audio sounds mostly clean when the speaker is pushed to its louder volume levels.
This speaker only lasts five hours off a single charge, which may not 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 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 portable speaker with an app that offers a graphic EQ so you can customize its sound profile, check out the Anker Soundcore Flare 2.
This speaker comes with a USB-C port for charging, but that's it.
This speaker has incredible range, so you don't need to keep your paired device very close to the speaker to play your audio. Also, it has low audio latency on iOS and Android, so it's suitable for watching videos, though some apps compensate for latency, meaning your experience may vary. However, unlike the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2, you can only pair it to one device at a time. It can make it difficult to quickly switch between audio sources.
