The JBL GO 4 Review: Britain’s New Favourite Pocket-Sized Speaker?

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Picture this: it’s one of those rare, properly lovely British afternoons. The sun’s out, you’ve grabbed a blanket and some snacks, and you’re heading to the local park with your mates. Everything’s perfect, except for one thing – the only sound is the distant rumble of traffic. You need some tunes, but nobody wants to lug a massive speaker around. You just want something small, simple, and loud enough to set the mood.

This is where the JBL GO 4 comes in. It’s a tiny speaker that fits in the palm of your hand but promises a sound that’s anything but small. For years, JBL’s GO series has been the go-to choice for anyone needing a cheap, cheerful, and surprisingly decent portable speaker. But in 2025, with more competition than ever, is the fourth version still the king of the micro-speakers?

This isn’t just another quick review. This is the definitive guide to the JBL GO 4. We’re going to dive into every nook and cranny of this little box of noise. We’ll test its sound, see if the battery really lasts, find out just how waterproof it is (spoiler: very), and explore the clever new tech that sets it apart. By the end, you’ll know for sure whether the GO 4 is the right pocket-sized powerhouse for your adventures.

What Exactly is the JBL GO 4? A Quick Look

First off, what are we dealing with here? The JBL GO 4 belongs to a category called micro Bluetooth speakers. The whole point of these is to be ridiculously portable. They’re for people who want to take their music with them without a second thought – chucking it in a backpack, hanging it from a bike’s handlebars, or just carrying it from the kitchen to the garden.

The GO 4 promises to do all this better than its ancestors. JBL’s big claims are:

• JBL Pro Sound: A rich, clear sound with surprisingly punchy bass for its size.
• Tough as Nails: It’s fully waterproof and dustproof, ready for British weather and clumsy owners.
• All-Day Battery: Up to 7 hours of playtime, with a clever trick to stretch it even longer.
• A New Party Trick: You can now link it up with other JBL speakers for bigger sound.

On paper, it sounds like the perfect little companion. But let’s see how it holds up in the real world.

A Trip Down Memory Lane: The Evolution of the JBL GO

To understand the GO 4, it helps to know where it came from. JBL has been a massive name in sound for over 75 years, making everything from huge speakers for cinemas and rock concerts to top-notch headphones. They know a thing or two about making things sound good. The GO series is their attempt to squeeze all that knowledge into the smallest possible package.

The Original GO: A Colourful Start

The first JBL GO, launched way back in 2015, was a simple, colourful little box. It was basic, but it did the job. It connected via Bluetooth, had a rubbery feel, and gave you about 5 hours of music. It wasn’t waterproof and the sound was decent for its size, but it wouldn’t blow your socks off. Its main appeal was the price and the JBL name.

GO 2: Getting Smarter and Splash-proof

The GO 2 arrived a few years later with a smoother, more rounded design. The big upgrade was its IPX7 rating, which meant it was properly waterproof. You could drop it in the bath, and it would survive. The sound was a bit better, and it even included a speakerphone for calls. It was a solid improvement that made the GO series a serious contender for the best travel speaker.

GO 3: A Major Redesign and Proper Waterproofing

In 2020, the GO 3 changed the game. It ditched the boxy look for a trendy, fabric-covered design with a built-in loop. It looked fantastic and felt much more modern. It also got an upgrade to IP67, meaning it was now dustproof as well as waterproof. The sound got another boost with more noticeable bass, and it switched to the modern USB-C charging port. The only thing it lost was the speakerphone.

GO 4: Refining a Classic with Modern Tech

And that brings us to today’s model, the GO 4. At first glance, it looks a lot like the GO 3. But the changes are all on the inside. It promises better sound, longer battery life, and, most importantly, a new feature called Auracast™ that lets you connect multiple speakers together. JBL has taken a winning formula and given it a 2025 tech upgrade.

Design and Build: Small, Sturdy, and Ready for Anything

Let’s get our hands on this thing. From the moment you pick it up, the GO 4 feels solid and well-made.

First Impressions: In the Palm of Your Hand

The unboxing is simple and no-fuss, with mostly recyclable cardboard, which is a nice touch. Inside, you get the speaker itself, a USB-C charging cable, and some paperwork.

The speaker is tiny. It really does fit comfortably in your palm. It weighs just 190 grams, which is less than a modern smartphone or a can of Coke. You can chuck it in a bag or a coat pocket and completely forget it’s there until you need it.

The design is very similar to the GO 3. It’s wrapped in a tough, woven fabric and has rubberised ends to protect it from bumps and drops. The big JBL logo on the front looks cool without being too shouty. On the top, you have simple buttons for play/pause, volume up/down, and Bluetooth pairing. They’re raised and easy to press without looking. The integrated loop is also chunkier and feels more robust than the one on the GO 3, making it easier to clip onto things.

Built for Britain: The IP67 Waterproof and Dustproof Rating

This is one of the GO 4’s most important features, especially in the UK. The IP67 rating sounds technical, but it’s easy to understand.

• Simplified Explanation: It’s basically life-proof. You can drop it in a puddle on a hike in the Peak District, take it to a sandy beach in Cornwall, or get caught in a classic British downpour during a BBQ, and it’ll be absolutely fine. You don’t need to worry about it.
• Detailed Explanation: The ‘6’ in IP67 means it’s completely sealed against dust and sand. Nothing’s getting in. The ‘7’ means it can be fully submerged in up to 1 metre of water for 30 minutes. So, if it falls in the pool on holiday or you want to use it in the shower, it won’t just survive; it’s designed to handle it.

This ruggedness makes the GO 4 a brilliant, worry-free companion for almost any activity.

Colours and Style: A Splash of Personality

JBL knows that these little speakers are as much a fashion accessory as a piece of tech. The GO 4 comes in a whole range of colours, from standard black and blue to vibrant red and camo. It means you can pick one that matches your style, your bike, or your backpack.

The Sound Test: Does it Live Up to the “JBL Pro Sound” Hype?

Okay, it looks good and it’s built like a tiny tank. But how does it sound? A speaker this small has no right to sound good. Physics is against it. Yet, somehow, the GO 4 really delivers.

The Science Bit, Made Simple

• Simplified Explanation: How can something so small be so loud and clear? Think of it like a tiny Tardis for sound. It uses a very clever speaker component (a driver) and some digital wizardry to make the sound waves seem much bigger than they should be. It processes the music in real-time to boost the bass and keep everything clear, even when you crank up the volume.
• Detailed Explanation: The GO 4 uses a single, full-range driver paired with a passive radiator (which helps produce bass). But the real magic comes from Digital Signal Processing (DSP). This is a small computer chip inside the speaker that acts like a sound engineer. It analyses the music and adjusts the output to maximise bass without it sounding muddy and to prevent the speaker from distorting (crackling) at high volumes. This is what JBL calls “Pro Sound” in its marketing.

Putting it to the Test: Music, Podcasts, and More

We tested the GO 4 with a bit of everything to see where it shines.

• Pop and Dance Music: For bass-heavy tracks from artists like Dua Lipa or Disclosure, the GO 4 is seriously impressive. The bass is punchy and present. You won’t feel it rattling your chest like a big subwoofer, of course, but you can clearly hear the low-end notes, which is amazing for a speaker this size. It makes music sound fun and energetic.
• Rock and Acoustic: Listening to rock from bands like Sam Fender or acoustic tunes from Ed Sheeran, the GO 4 does a great job with vocals and guitars. The sound is surprisingly clear and detailed. It doesn’t sound tinny or thin. You can easily pick out different instruments, and voices come through with warmth.
• Podcasts and Audiobooks: For spoken word, the clarity is excellent. If you’re listening to a podcast in the kitchen while cooking or Radio 4 in the garden, voices are crisp and easy to understand, even with a bit of background noise.

Volume and Room-Filling Power

So, how loud does it get? Surprisingly loud. It can easily fill a small room like a bedroom, kitchen, or uni dorm room with sound. It’s more than loud enough for a picnic with a few friends. If you’re having a proper garden party with 20 people, you might want something bigger, but for personal use and small groups, the volume is fantastic. It also performs brilliantly as a shower speaker, with the sound bouncing off the tiles to make it seem even bigger.

Features and Connectivity: The Brains Behind the Brawn

A modern speaker is about more than just sound. The GO 4 is packed with the latest tech to make it easy and fun to use.

Bluetooth and Pairing: Quick and Painless

The GO 4 uses Bluetooth 5.3, which is the latest and greatest version. This means it connects to your phone or laptop quickly and maintains a stable, stutter-free connection. Pairing is as simple as pressing the Bluetooth button on the speaker and selecting it on your device. It takes about five seconds.

The Game-Changer: Auracast™ and Multi-Speaker Pairing

This is the GO 4’s killer feature and a huge upgrade over the GO 3.

• Simplified Explanation: Imagine you and a few friends all have a GO 4. With the press of a button, you can link all of them together to play the same music in perfect sync. You can spread them around the garden or the beach for a much bigger sound. You can even connect two of them to create a proper stereo pair, with one acting as the left speaker and the other as the right. It’s like having your own mini festival sound system.
• Detailed Explanation: The technology is called Auracast™. It’s a new Bluetooth feature that allows one device (your phone) to broadcast audio to an unlimited number of other devices (speakers, headphones etc.) nearby. This is different from older “party pairing” tech which was often limited to just a few speakers and could be a bit laggy. Auracast™ is more robust and opens up a lot of cool possibilities. You can also pair just two GO 4s for stereo sound using the JBL Portable app.

The JBL Portable App: Is It Worth Downloading?

Yes, absolutely. Connecting the GO 4 to the JBL Portable app on your phone unlocks its full potential. With the app, you can:

• Customise the Sound: There’s an equaliser (EQ) that lets you adjust the bass, mids, and treble to your liking. This is a brilliant feature for a speaker at this price.
• Manage Speaker Pairing: Set up a stereo pair or connect to other speakers via Auracast™.
• Toggle PlaytimeBoost: We’ll get to this in a moment.
• Update the Software: Get the latest firmware updates from JBL to improve performance.

The app is simple to use and adds a lot of value.

A Note on Calls

One important thing to know: the JBL GO 4 does not have a built-in microphone. This means you can’t use it as a speakerphone to take calls. If a call comes in while you’re listening to music, the music will pause, and you’ll have to take the call on your phone. This is a feature the old GO 2 had, but JBL removed it on the GO 3 and 4, likely to save costs and improve waterproofing. For most people, this won’t be a dealbreaker.

Battery Life and Charging: Power for Your Playlist

A portable speaker is useless if the battery dies after an hour. So, how does the GO 4 hold up?

The 7-Hour Promise: Reality Check

JBL claims up to 7 hours of playtime on a single charge. In our tests, this is pretty accurate if you’re listening at around 50-60% volume, which is plenty loud for most situations. If you constantly have it at maximum volume, you’re more likely to get around 4-5 hours. This is still very respectable for a speaker this small and is a definite improvement on the GO 3’s 5-hour battery. It’s enough to get you through an afternoon at the park or a full day of listening in the office.

What is PlaytimeBoost?

This is a clever new feature you can activate in the app or by pressing a button combo on the speaker. It gives you an extra 2 hours of battery life, taking the total up to 9 hours. How does it work? It uses the DSP chip to subtly adjust the sound, likely by dialling back the heaviest bass and compressing the dynamics slightly. The difference in sound is noticeable but not dramatic. It’s a fantastic option to have if you’re running low on power and just need the music to last a bit longer.

Charging Up

The GO 4 charges via a standard USB-C port, which is great. It’s the same cable used by most modern phones, tablets, and laptops, so you don’t need to carry an extra one around. A full charge from empty takes about 3 hours.

How Does the GO 4 Stack Up? vs. The Competition and Its Predecessor

So the GO 4 is great. But is it the best option for you?

JBL GO 4 vs. JBL GO 3: Is it Worth the Upgrade?

If you already have a GO 3, should you rush out and buy a GO 4? Maybe not. The GO 3 is still a fantastic little speaker. But the GO 4 is undeniably better.

Feature	JBL GO 3	JBL GO 4	Winner
Battery Life	Up to 5 hours	Up to 7 hours (+2 with Boost)	GO 4
Connectivity	Bluetooth 5.1	Bluetooth 5.3 with Auracast™	GO 4
App Support	No	Yes (with Custom EQ)	GO 4
Sound	Very Good	Slightly Fuller and Clearer	GO 4
Design	Almost Identical	Slightly Refined, Better Loop	Tie

Verdict: If you’re buying new, the GO 4 is a no-brainer. The longer battery, customisable sound, and the ability to pair with other speakers make it a huge step up. If you have a GO 3 and are happy with it, you don’t need to upgrade, but the new features are very tempting.

JBL GO 4 vs. The Rivals

The micro-speaker market is crowded. Here are a couple of key rivals in the UK:

• Anker Soundcore Mini 3: Another tiny speaker that’s very popular. It also has an app with a custom EQ, and its battery life is even longer (around 15 hours). However, the JBL GO 4 generally has a punchier, more refined sound, and it doesn’t have the advanced multi-speaker pairing of Auracast™.
• Tribit Stormbox Micro 2: This little square speaker is famous for its surprisingly powerful bass and a handy rubber strap on the back for attaching it to things. Its sound is excellent, often rivalling the GO 4. Again, it lacks the broader ecosystem of JBL’s Auracast™ and some people prefer the look and feel of the JBL.

Ultimately, the choice comes down to small preferences. The Anker wins on pure battery life, the Tribit is great for bass and its strap, but the JBL GO 4 offers the best overall package of sound quality, rugged design, and future-proof connectivity features.

The Verdict: Who Should Buy the JBL GO 4 in 2025?

After spending a lot of time with the JBL GO 4, it’s clear that this is a brilliant piece of kit. It takes everything that made the GO 3 great and improves on it in meaningful ways. The sound is fantastic for its size, it’s tough enough to handle anything you throw at it, and the new features like app support and Auracast™ make it smarter and more versatile than ever before.

You should absolutely buy the JBL GO 4 if:

• You’re a traveller or holidaymaker who needs a speaker that takes up almost no space in your luggage.
• You’re a student who wants a great-sounding speaker for your room that you can also take to the park.
• You’re a gardener, hiker, cyclist, or beach-goer who wants a rugged, worry-free speaker for outdoor adventures.
• You want the latest technology and love the idea of linking multiple speakers with Auracast™.
• You simply want a small, reliable speaker for listening to music, podcasts, or the radio around the house and garden.

You should maybe look at other options if:

• You need a speaker to be the main sound system for large parties (look at the JBL Charge or Flip series instead).
• You absolutely need a speakerphone to make and take calls.
• You’re a dedicated audiophile who demands perfect stereo imaging from a single box (which is impossible at this size and price).

For its price (around £40), the JBL GO 4 offers incredible value. It’s a small, simple, and superb-sounding speaker that punches well above its weight. It proves that you don’t need to spend a fortune or carry a heavy box around to have great music wherever you go. It’s not just a worthy successor to the GO 3; it has set a new standard for micro Bluetooth speakers.

Further Reading

For more expert opinions and technical deep-dives, check out these highly respected resources:

• What Hi-Fi?: A leading UK-based publication for audio reviews.
• TechRadar: Provides thorough reviews on a wide range of consumer electronics.
• SoundGuys: Offers in-depth audio testing and explanations.