Even the carabiner clip feels like a strong aluminum hiking accessory—unlike the cheap carabiners you’re used to seeing on non-climbing products (though it is most certainly not actually safe for climbing). In fact, the chassis is so rigid that the imprinted buttons along the side are a bit too hard to press when you want to turn it on and pair a device. It’s a small gripe, and is likely a product of how sealed the device is, but it isn’t super-satisfying to use these controls.

In terms of other features, there’s little to separate the two speakers. Both the Clip 2 and Clip 3 use Bluetooth 4.0 and are waterproof to the IPX7 standard, meaning they can be submerged under 1m of water for up to 30 minutes (neither speaker is dust resistant, though, so you’ll have to be careful not to clog the grille up with sand if you take either speaker to the beach). Both models also have a built-in microphone and dedicated button for answering incoming calls – a double tap of this button skips to the next song when music is playing. Due to its lower frequency range of 100 Hz as opposed to the Clip 3’s 120 Hz, the Clip 4 is able to generate more sub-bass sounds. Additionally, the Clip 4’s low-end tuning is more focused, and the treble is dialed down a touch to minimize an excessive hissing sound. The Clip 4 is compatible with Bluetooth 5.1, and supports AAC and SBC Bluetooth codecs, but not AptX. JBL estimates battery life to be roughly 10 hours, but your results will vary with your volume levels. Powerful for the Price

Let’s dive into the face-to-face comparison of JBL Clip 3 vs Clip 4 as we explain every feature. Sound Quality

So, which one sounds better? There’s no question, the older Clip 2 is the clear winner. That’s not to say that the Clip 3 is awful, or that it doesn’t do anything better than the Clip 2 from a sonic perspective. High frequencies, for example, are better represented on the Clip 3 and its maximum volume has also been improved.The JBL Clip 3 is a mono portable speaker that offers a variety of features for audio enjoyment. It consists of a single driver with a diameter of 40 mm, providing a decent audio output. With a rated power of 3.3 W, it is designed to deliver sound at an acceptable volume level. The USB-C port is uncovered, which is of note because the Clip 4 still manages an IP67 rating, meaning that it's fully waterproof and resistant to dust. The speaker can be submerged for up to 30 minutes in a meter of water without issue. Bluetooth signal can’t play underwater, but the point is, you can get the Clip 4 exceedingly wet without harming it. The only included accessory is a USB-C-to-USB-A charging cable. Despite being an older model, we still suggest the JBL Clip 3 over the JBL Clip 4. It includes a built-in microphone, a 3.5mm port for wired connection, and sounds almost identical to the Clip 4 in terms of sound quality. This is a Bluetooth speaker that gets plenty loud, takes up no more space than a softball, and will still get you through a full Friday night party. Software and Extra Features: Fairly simple with one twist In terms of general construction and operation, there aren’t many differences between the JBL Clip 3 vs Clip 4.

JBL includes almost nothing other than the speaker. There's no audio cable for the aux input, and the included orange micro USB charging cable is annoyingly short. But at this price there's not much room for complaint in the accessories department.Both JBL clip 3 and clip 4 offer a battery life of up to 10 hours. Charging time for both speakers is three hours. The JBL Clip 3 has a micro USB support which is quite dated, but the Clip 4 comes with USB-C support.