Best JBL Bluetooth Speakers in the UK

The Charge 3 is, first and foremost, is a JBL Bluetooth speaker with one of the longest working times on the market, depending on the volume and the quality of your audio content, you will have up to 20 hours of listening before you need to recharge this gadget. That's enough for a couple of average-length audiobooks to pass. Moreover, this charge can be used for more than just listening to music or books, the speaker also offers a 6000mAh power bank functionality so you can charge your iPhone 5s almost four times or your Samsung Galaxy S5 twice. For this very reason, the Charge 3 is the most often choice among frequent hikers and travellers to places with limited access to electricity.

Another incentive to buy this model for wildlife tourism is that its housing has an IPX7 protection certification, therefore, if you drop it in water (up to 1.5 metres deep for no longer than half an hour) it will live and still play just fine afterwards.

Charge 3 originally supports the older JBL Connect but the firmware can be updated to Connect+ if you wish to link more than 2 speakers. However, do keep in mind that Connect+ is not backwards compatible so if your other speakers are just Connect without "+" we recommend you to really consider whether you need this firmware update.

Finally, the sound quality of this travel JBL mini speaker is superb, especially when it comes to low frequencies; the only models that deliver better bass are the Xtreme series and the newest JBL Boombox. Very high frequencies might behave a little poorer but still at a very nice level. And you can connect up to 3 gadgets simultaneously to stream sound in turns.

The JBL Xtreme Bluetooth speaker is a model for those who sway towards the loud low-frequency stereo sound. Though its lowest frequency point is a little higher than that of the Charge 3 (70Hz to Charge's 65Hz), for example, thanks to two subwoofers at the sides of the speaker, the bass sounds better and bears no distortion at louder volumes. In fact, it doesn't just "sound", it "booms" heavily. The drivers here are also more powerful, 20W each.

However, to get a result like this, some sacrifices had to be made. This speaker is one of the biggest in the JBL's portable list and it weighs a little over 2 kilos so you'll hardly want to carry it in your backpack the whole day. At the same time, its value can't be overestimated when you're having a picnic by the riverside thanks to the long battery life (up to 15 hours depending on the volume and your music quality) and protection against splashes. It is not recommended to submerge this portable JBL Bluetooth speaker in the water fully but neither a drizzle nor splashes near the pool are of any danger for it.

The Xtreme model is fully functional as a speakerphone with echo and noise cancelling and can be used with a virtual assistant like Siri or Google Now.

The next generation model from JBL features an improved housing with an IPX7 protection index that offers an exceptional water resistance to the speakers. With an almost completely waterproof body, the JBL Flip 4 will be your true companion no matter where are you plan to go.

As for the specifications of this model, it offers a frequency response range from 70 Hz to 20 kHz, which is quite wide for such a small model. Additionally, the upgraded wireless system allows for a better and almost seamless connection, thanks to the Bluetooth 4.1 pairing.

The speaker is really easy to hold, thanks to its cylindrical shape and relatively light weight of 520 grammes, compared to other models in its price range. Optionally, this model is available in a variety of different colours and patterns so you can choose the one that fits your personal style.

With a 3000 mAh battery on board, you will be able to enjoy listening to your favourite artists for 12 hours from a single charge. Moreover, it takes only 1.5 hours to completely recharge the battery. A highly versatile stereo speaker, the JBL Flip 4 offers a high-quality sound in a compact body and will be suitable for those who can’t imagine their life without music.

The JBL Clip 2 is a very little speaker and a very convenient one to carry around. The first thing you notice when laying your eyes on it is that big carabiner attached to the housing; it's almost half the size of the speaker itself. Use the carabiner to hold this JBL mini speaker in your hand, to hang it to your backpack, a fence surrounding the skateboard park where you like to chill with your friends, or even your dog's collar—the pet will hardly even notice the extra 184 grammes. That's right, this model is ultra lightweight. Furthermore, the 8 hours of playback on a single charge are enough for most commuting or long walks if not hiking, especially considering the speakerphone feature and the possibility of wired connection via integrated 3.5mm cable; you don't even need Bluetooth.

It is not very powerful, though, and is not too good with low frequencies, the cons of being small and lightweight. But it does provide solid midrange sound and if you need it to be louder there is a way to do that despite low power: the speaker has a feature called the Wireless Daisy Chain that allows you to connect two of these models, which will amplify the volume to some extent. It is no JBL Connect but something similar.

This JBL Bluetooth speaker also offers IPX7 protection against water—you can take it along when you go lounge on your pool mattress without worrying about possible damage if you happen to drop it or your friends decide you need a soak in the water instead of the sun.

When you only need a to-go cheap speaker without a lot of fancy features, the JBL GO Bluetooth speaker is perfect. It is pretty basic: no JBL Connect, not too loud, low-frequency sounds are hardly over-the-top. However, it is a good speaker still: for commuting, walking, having a picnic on the roof with your special person, under the moonlight and with an accompaniment of your favourite love song.

This model is small and lightweight, only 130 grammes. Its simple rectangular shape makes it convenient to put in your backpack or hide in a corner of that roof we were talking about just now. There is a hook built in to attach a strap and hang the speaker on your belt. It works for solid 5 hours on a single charge, more or less enough to get to school or work and back, and it only takes a little over an hour to charge whereas, with bigger and fancier wireless speakers, it sometimes takes over 4.5 hours. If 5 hours are not enough, you can charge it on the go from a power bank.

You can use the JBL GO Bluetooth speaker either wirelessly or with a cord and it does feature a speakerphone functionality so that you could answer calls without fuss. The materials used are of great quality, which goes for all JBL products. All in all, the model is a perfect choice for budget-strapped students who love music.