JBL Clip 5 vs. JBL Clip 4: Which one to choose

Key Takeaways

• JBL Clip 5 has better sound quality than JBL Clip 4 due to 7W power output.
• A long battery life of 12 hours and an additional 3 hours with the Playtime Boost feature sets the Clip 5 ahead.
• Advanced pairing features such as stereo pairing and Auracast make the Clip 5 very versatile at an affordable price.

A good bathroom speaker is one of those purchases that can have a big impact on your daily life for a small cost, at least for me. Even though most premium smartphones aren't waterproof enough to put on a shelf or door to listen to while you shower, it's great to listen to a speaker that you know is safe and can sound louder and better than your speaker. the phone.

As always, choosing the right speaker for you comes down to balancing the price and features you really need. Having spent the last few weeks reviewing the JBL Clip 5 and Clip 4, I can confidently say that they come very close to finding the recipe almost perfect, even if they share important similarities such as their built-in carabiners, IP67 waterproof and dustproof rating, and the price. . In my book, for your $80, the JBL Clip 5 is a smart speaker to choose, whether you want to upgrade your showers or just need a cheap, solid speaker. Here's why I would choose the JBL Clip 5 over the JBL Clip 4.

1 The JBL Clip 5 sounds better than the JBL Clip 4

It comes down to power output and EQ

The JBL Clip 5 has the same dynamic driver as the JBL Clip 4, but the power is noticeably different. The power of the Clip 4 is rated at 5W, which was still loud in my experience, but the JBL Clip 5 can go up to 7W, allowing it to produce sound that I thought sounded fuller and more detailed than its predecessor.

Because of the sound of running water, that may not make much of a difference, but if you plan to use the JBL Clip 5 elsewhere, especially if you plan to listen to more music than just podcasts, I think you'll appreciate the nuance the Clip 5 is able to reproduce. Plus, its ability to connect to the JBL Portable app makes it more customizable in nature than the Clip 5. With EQ presets, you can quickly switch between different sound profiles and there are fully customizable EQ settings if you want to get more granular.

2 The battery life of the JBL Clip 5 lasts a long time

The software can improve it continuously, too

I found that if you turn off the Clip 5 or 4 you can extend its battery life for days. Still, out of the box, the JBL Clip 5's 12 hours of battery life is longer than the Clip 4's 10 hours. Additionally, by enabling a feature called Playtime Boost, you can add an extra three hours of battery life to the Clip 5's playtime. Audio is played in mono when this feature is enabled, which softens everything, but it's better than nothing.

Take the Clip 5 to a beach barbecue or a long hike, and you'll likely enjoy its extra longevity.

In the grand scheme of things, a difference of two hours (or five, software tweaks enabled) may not make a difference to a committed listener at home, but take the Clip 5 to a beach barbecue or a long drive. , and you will probably enjoy its longevity even more.

3 Pairing features make the JBL Clip 5 better in numbers

A speaker becomes more useful when you have more

In my experience, if you own one cheap speaker, you probably don't have many, but I understand the appeal of trying to recreate some of the magic of a Sonos speaker pairing on a budget. The main difference between Clip 5 and Clip 4 is its support for stereo pairing with the JBL Portable app, and Auracast, using a dedicated button on the side of Clip 5.

It is better if you buy JBL speakers.

Stereo pairing is self-explanatory, you connect the two speakers to the app and go from there, but the Auracast is more interesting. The Auracast is built on the Bluetooth standard, and works as effectively as a Bluetooth transmitter. You make sure your Auracast-enabled speakers are turned on, start playing music, press its Auracast button, then press the Auracast button on the other speakers you want to send audio to, and they should all sync and play your songs, podcasts. , or anything else. It's a feature that may not be immediately useful, but it gets better when you buy JBL speakers, unlike being in the Sonos sytem, ​​which is more valuable when you buy Sonos speakers. It's not as consistent or high-quality as Wi-Fi streaming yet, but it's available at a much lower price, including a nice $80 speaker.

The JBL Clip 5 strikes an even better balance between features and price

I didn't buy the Sonos Roam to be a shower speaker, but it was because of how amazing it sounded. Unfortunately, that didn't make me any more comfortable getting wet. I'd honestly rather use something more affordable and simple than a speaker like the Sonos Roam 2.

From what I've seen and tested, the JBL Clip 5 fits the bill. Its basic design means it's safe to use in the shower, and easy to clip or hang in various places, but what's more, it sounds great, lasts a long time on a single charge, and is very easy to top up. detailed speaker configuration if you really want. You can't expect miracles from a speaker this cheap or small, but the thing is, even a small upgrade, even the smallest of extra comfort or entertainment, can go a long way in improving your life. I think the JBL Clip 5 is perfect for doing just that.