Although JBL appears to have a portable Bluetooth speaker for every requirement and price range, some of which are enormous, the Clip series has always been about being portable. The new JBL Clip 4 is completely waterproof and features a built-in carabiner. It provides strong sound without making you feel heavy and is designed for use outdoors. A speaker this size and price won’t, as you might assume, produce a bass feast or include a tonne of extra capabilities. However, the Clip 4 excels in the crucial areas, providing clear, rich audio from a waterproof case, making it a reliable, cost-effective portable solution.
JBL wants you to be able to, or at least have the option of, taking this fun Bluetooth speaker anyplace. The inbuilt carabiner makes attaching it to the exterior of your backpack simple, and the IP67 construction shields it from water and dust. The front and back portions of the speaker are wrapped in a recognisable fabric, making it simple to hold it in any circumstance. Similar to the JBL Xtreme 3, rubberized ribs line the back of this speaker to prevent sliding when it is laid flat on a table. The company’s emblem takes up the majority of the front panel and serves primarily to advertise to onlookers that you bought a JBL speaker.
[content-egg-block template=offers_logo hide=price]In contrast to the Clip 3, which requires you to pull back a flap to access the microUSB and auxiliary ports, the Clip 4 has a fully accessible USB-C input. The carabiner was modified by JBL as well. The most fragile portions of the clip were incorporated into the case this time around by JBL because the previous model was prone to breaking along the hinge. It’s easy to use the clip with one hand, which is perfect for commuting by bike in the city.
On the speaker, there are five buttons: three on the front and two on the left. The side buttons are used for pairing and turning the speaker on and off, while the button trio controls playback and volume. While JBL’s design may not be to everyone’s taste, the location and definition of the buttons are excellent, making it simple to locate and distinguish between controls without turning to face the speaker.
The JBL Clip 4 uses Bluetooth 5.1 and has a standard 10-meter Bluetooth speaker range. If you’re in an open area, the range can increase to 15 metres, according to JBL support. Although Bluetooth 5.1 sounds like a nice feature, its primary advantage is battery efficiency, which accounts for the Clip 4’s longer playback time than the Clip 3’s.