- Table of Contents
- Intro
- Our Verdict
- Test Results
- Differences
- Compared To Others
- Deals
- Discussions
The JBL GO 3 is a portable, budget-friendly speaker. It's well-built, and it has an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, though we don't test for this. You can even use the attached strap to hang it off your backpack when you're on-the-go. While its sound profile is quite balanced, it lacks a lot of low-bass, which can be disappointing for fans of bass-heavy music. Also, it doesn't support voice assistant technology.
Our Verdict
The JBL GO 3 is middling for music. Its balanced mid and treble ranges allow for clear and accurate reproduction of vocals and lead instruments. However, it lacks low-bass, which is disappointing for fans of bass-heavy genres like EDM. Unfortunately, you can't customize its sound profile, and it doesn't get very loud.
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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 is disappointing for videos and movies. Its balanced mid-range helps it reproduce voices and dialogue clearly, but it lacks low-bass, so you don't feel the deep thump and rumble in action-packed scenes. It also doesn't get very loud, and its soundstage isn't very wide. However, its latency with iOS and Android devices is low, which is good.
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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. Its balanced mid-range can reproduce voices clearly. However, it doesn't get very loud, and you can't pair it with other speakers to make your audio cover a large area. On the upside, its portable design makes it easy to bring the speaker on-the-go.
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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. Since it can be powered by a battery, you don't need to plug it into an outlet to use it. Also, it's rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, though we don't test for this. Unfortunately, it doesn't get very loud, and its sound profile lacks a lot of low-bass.
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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 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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Test Results
The JBL GO 3 is a small speaker that fits easily in your hand. There's a built-in hook on the side, so 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 outstandingly portable. It's smaller and more lightweight than the Sony SRS-XB12. You can also carry it with one hand and it doesn't need to be plugged into an outlet to work, which makes it easy to bring with you outdoors.
The 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, though we don't test for this.
Update 01/18/2020: After reviewing our subjective testing scores, we determined that the Ease of Use for this speaker's controls should be changed to Great. We often re-evaluate our subjective scoring to provide greater consistency and accuracy across our reviews.
The controls are sub-par. 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 you enter pairing mode. Also, a small light flashes when the battery is low.
The JBL GO 3 has middling frequency response accuracy. When sitting horizontally on its rubber base, the speaker struggles to reproduce low-bass, which can be disappointing for fans of bass-heavy genres like EDM. However, its balanced mid and treble ranges help reproduce voices in podcasts and audiobooks clearly and accurately. If you're looking for a small portable speaker you can take with you on-the-go, and that can produce a deeper bass, check out the Sony SRS-XB13.
The soundstage 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.
This speaker has passable dynamics. It doesn't get very loud, so it may not be ideal to use at parties. There isn't a lot of compression at max volume, resulting in a clean and clear sound.
The JBL GO 3 has an acceptable battery performance. It 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 vary. Also, the speaker shuts off automatically after about 20 minutes without audio, which helps conserve battery life. If you want a portable speaker with a 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, the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 Gen 2, or the OontZ Angle 3 ULTRA.
This speaker doesn't have a companion app. If you want a speaker with an app that offers a graphic EQ so you can customize its sound profile, check out the Anker Soundcore Flare 2.
The JBL GO 3 can't be used wired. It just has a USB-C port for charging.
This speaker has very good Bluetooth connectivity. It has an incredible range, so you don't need to keep your phone or tablet 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 so your experience may vary. Unlike the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2, you can't pair it with more than one device at a time, which can be disappointing for some listeners.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The JBL GO 3 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 so we can 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, though we don't test for this. Like many small speakers, it struggles to reproduce low-bass. Also, it doesn't support voice assistants. However, its latency with iOS and Android devices is low enough to be suitable for watching videos and movies.
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, while we don't currently test for it, the JBL has an IP6X rating for dust resistance.
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 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 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 JBL Flip 4 is a better speaker than the JBL GO 3 overall. 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 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 overall. 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, though we don’t test this.
The JBL Charge 5 is a better speaker than the JBL GO 3, though you may prefer one over the other depending on your listening habits. The Charge 5 can produce a deeper bass than the GO 3. It can get louder, and has a longer-lasting battery life, though this can depend on your usage. You can also pair it to other PartyBoost-compatible speakers when you want your audio to fill a large space without increasing the volume. That said, the GO 3 is a more compact speaker with a built-in carrying strap, so you can easily take it on the go with you. It also offers a slightly wider-sounding soundstage.
The JBL GO 3 and the Sony SRS-XB01 are very similar speakers, so 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 Anker Soundcore Motion+ is a better speaker than the JBL GO 3 overall. 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 for dust and water resistance, though we don't currently test for this.
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 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 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 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 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 OontZ Angle 3 ULTRA and the JBL GO 3 have different strengths and depending on your usage, 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 it has lower latency on iOS and Android, although some apps and devices compensate for this differently.